Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Our consolidated financial statements include our accounts and those of our majority-owned and controlled subsidiaries after elimination of intercompany accounts and transactions. Equity investments over which we are able to exercise significant influence but do not control the investee are accounted for using the equity method.

We determine whether we have a controlling financial interest in an entity by first evaluating whether the entity is a voting interest entity or a variable interest entity, or VIE. Voting interest entities are entities that have sufficient equity and provide equity investor voting rights that give them power to make significant decisions relating to the entity’s operations. The usual condition for a controlling financial interest in a voting interest entity is ownership of a majority voting interest. In VIEs, a controlling financial interest is attained through means other than voting rights and the entities lack one or more of the characteristics of a voting entity.

We account for our unconsolidated investments in businesses under the cost or equity method dependent on factors such as percent ownership and factors that would determine significant influence. Our cost method investments are recorded at cost. Equity method investments are recorded at cost and adjusted to record our share of the company’s undistributed gains and losses in our consolidated statements of operations. We evaluate our cost and equity method investments for impairment whenever events or circumstances indicate that carrying amount of such investments may not be recoverable.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, or GAAP, requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Our estimates, judgments and assumptions are continually evaluated based on available information and experience. Because of the use of estimates inherent in the financial reporting process, actual results could differ from those estimates. Estimates are used when accounting for revenue recognition, allowances for doubtful accounts, allowance for hardware returns, estimates of obsolete inventory, long-term incentive compensation, stock-based compensation, income taxes, legal reserves, contingent consideration and goodwill and intangible assets.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

We consider all highly liquid instruments purchased with an original maturity from the date of purchase of three months or less to be cash equivalents.

Accounts Receivable and Notes Receivable

Accounts Receivable

Accounts receivable are principally derived from sales to customers located in the United States and Canada. Substantially all of our sales in Canada are transacted in U.S. dollars. Revenue in countries outside of North America accounted for 1% of our total revenue for the year ended December 31, 2017 and less than 1% of our total revenue for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015. As of December 31, 2017 and 2016, approximately 4% and 3% of accounts receivable balances were related to service providers partners outside of North America. Our accounts receivable are stated at estimated realizable value. We utilize the allowance method to provide for doubtful accounts based on management’s evaluation of the collectibility of the amounts due. Our estimate is based on historical collection experience and a review of the current status of accounts receivable. Each of our service provider partners is evaluated for creditworthiness through a credit review process at the inception of the arrangement or if risk indicators arise during our arrangement at such other time. Our terms for hardware sales to our service provider partners and distributors typically allow for returns for up to one year. We apply our estimate as a percentage of sales monthly, based on historical data, as a reserve against revenue to account for our provision for returns. We have not experienced write-offs for uncollectible accounts or sales returns that have differed significantly from our estimates.

Notes Receivable

Notes receivable are presented net of an allowance for uncollectibility, if any. We accrue interest on notes receivable based on the contractual terms of the note. Outstanding notes receivable that are aged 30 days or more from the contractual payment date are considered past due. We do not accrue interest on notes receivable that are considered impaired or are greater than 90 days past due based on their contractual payment terms. Notes receivable may be placed on nonaccrual status earlier if, in management’s opinion, a timely collection of the full principal and interest becomes uncertain. After a note receivable has been placed in nonaccrual status, interest will be recognized when cash is received. A note receivable may be returned to accrual status after all of the customer’s delinquent balances of principal and interest have been settled, and collection of all remaining contractual amounts due is reasonably assured.

Inventory

Our inventory, which is comprised of raw materials and finished goods, includes materials used to produce our wireless communications network enabled radios, video cameras, home automation system parts and peripherals, is stated at the lower of cost or market, and is charged to cost of sales on a first in, first out, or FIFO, basis when the inventory is shipped from our manufacturer and received by our service provider partners. We periodically evaluate our inventory quantities for obsolescence based on criteria such as customer demand and changing technology and record an obsolescence write-off when necessary.

Internal-Use Software

We capitalize the costs directly related to the development of internal-use software for our platforms during the application development stage of the projects. Such costs primarily include payroll and payroll-related costs for engineers and product development employees directly associated with the development project. Our internal-use software is reported at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation begins once the project is ready for its intended use, which is usually when the code goes into production in weekly software builds on our platforms. We depreciate the asset on a straight-line basis over a period of three years, which is the estimated useful life. We update our software for our SaaS multi-tenant platforms on a weekly basis utilizing continuous agile development methods, which primarily consists of bug-fixes and user interface changes. We evaluate whether a project should be capitalized if it adds significant functionality to our platforms. Maintenance activities or minor upgrades are expensed in the period performed.

External Software

Costs incurred in researching and developing a computer software product that will be marketed and sold are charged to expense when incurred until technological feasibility is established. Technological feasibility is established upon completion of a detailed program design or, in its absence, completion of a working model (a beta version). After technological feasibility is established, certain payroll and payroll-related costs are capitalized for engineers and product development employees directly associated with the development project. Cost capitalization ceases when the product is available for general release. The Connect software is typically developed in an agile environment with frequent revisions to product release features and functions. Agile development results in a short duration between completion of the detailed program design and beta release.

Revenue Recognition and Deferred Revenue

We derive our revenue from three primary sources: the sale of cloud-based SaaS services on our integrated Alarm.com platform, the sale of licenses and services on the Connect software platform and the sale of hardware products. We sell our platform and hardware solutions to service provider partners that resell our solutions and hardware to residential and commercial property owners, who are the service provider partners’ customers. Our subscribers consist of all of the properties maintained by those residential and commercial property owners to which we are delivering at least one of our solutions. We also sell our hardware to distributors who resell the hardware to service provider partners. We enter into contracts with our service provider partners that establish pricing for access to our platform solutions and for the sale of hardware. These contracts typically have an initial term of one year, with subsequent renewal terms of one year. Our service provider partners typically enter into contracts with our subscribers, which our service provider partners have indicated range from three to five years in length.

Our hardware includes cellular radio modules that enable access to our cloud-based platforms, as well as video cameras, image sensors and other peripherals. Our service provider partners may purchase our hardware in anticipation of installing the hardware in a residential or commercial property when they create a new subscriber account, or for use in existing subscriber properties. The purchase of hardware occurs in a transaction that is separate and typically in advance of the purchase of our platform services. Service provider partners transact with us to purchase our platform solutions and resell our solutions to a new subscriber, or to upgrade or downgrade the solutions of an existing subscriber, at which time the subscriber’s access to our platform solutions is enabled and the delivery of the services commences. The purchase of platform solutions and the purchase of hardware are separate transactions because at the time of sale of the hardware, the service provider partner is not obligated to and may not purchase a platform solution for the hardware sold, and the level and duration of platform solutions, if any, to be provided through the hardware sold cannot be determined.

We recognize revenue with respect to our solutions when all of the following conditions are met:


•	Persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists;


•	Delivery to the customer, which may be either a service provider partner, distributor or a subscriber, has occurred or service has been rendered;


•	Fees are fixed or determinable; and


•	Collection of the fees is reasonably assured.

We consider a signed contract with a service provider partner to be persuasive evidence that an agreement exists, and the fees to be fixed or determinable if the fees are contractually agreed to with our service provider partners. Collectibility is evaluated based on a number of factors, including a credit review of new service provider partners, and the payment history of existing service provider partners. If collectibility is not reasonably assured, revenue is deferred until collection becomes reasonably assured, which is generally upon the receipt of payment.

SaaS and License Revenue

We generate the majority of our SaaS and license revenue primarily from monthly fees charged to our service provider partners sold on a per subscriber basis for access to our cloud-based intelligently connected property platform and related solutions. Our fees per subscriber vary based upon the service plan and features utilized.

Under terms in our contractual arrangements with our service provider partners, we are entitled to payment and recognize revenue based on a monthly fee that is billed in advance of the month of service. We have demonstrated that we can sell our SaaS offering on a stand-alone basis, as it can be sold separately from hardware and activation services. As there is neither a minimum required initial service term nor a stated renewal term in our contractual arrangements, we recognize revenue over the period of service, which is monthly. Our service provider partners typically incur and pay the same monthly fee per subscriber account for the entire period a subscriber account is active.

We also generate SaaS and license revenue from monthly fees charged to service providers sold on a per subscriber basis for access to our Connect software platform. The Connect software for interactive security, automation and related solutions is typically deployed and operated by the service provider in its own network operations center. Our agreements for the Connect platform solution typically include software and services, such as post-contract customer support, or PCS. Software sales that include multiple elements are typically allocated to the various elements based on vendor-specific objective evidence of fair value, or VSOE. There have been no separate sales of PCS, as PCS is always bundled with the software license for the Connect platform solution. Therefore, the VSOE of fair value for PCS cannot be established. The entire Connect arrangement fee is recognized ratably over the period during which the services are expected to be performed or the PCS period, whichever is longer, once the software is delivered and services have commenced, if all the other basic revenue recognition criteria have been met. Under the terms of our contractual arrangements with our service provider partners, we are entitled to the payment of a monthly fee for Connect that is billed per subscriber for the month of service. We recognize revenue over the period of service, which is monthly. Our service provider partners typically incur and pay the same monthly fee per subscriber account for the entire period a subscriber account is active.

We offer multiple service level packages for our platform solutions including a range of solutions and a range of a la carte add-ons for additional features. The fee paid by our service provider partners each month for the delivery of our solutions is based on the combination of packages and add-ons enabled for each subscriber. We utilize tiered pricing plans where our service provider partners may receive prospective pricing discounts driven by volume.

We also generate SaaS and license revenue from the fees paid to us when we license our intellectual property to third parties on a per customer basis for use of our patents. In addition, in certain markets our EnergyHub subsidiary sells its demand response software with an annual service fee, with pricing based on the number of subscribers or amount of aggregate electricity demand made available for a utility’s or market’s control.

Hardware and Other Revenue

We generate hardware and other revenue primarily from the sale of video cameras and cellular radio modules that provide access to our cloud-based platforms and, to a lesser extent, the sale of other devices, including image sensors and peripherals. We recognize hardware and other revenue when the hardware is received by our service provider partner or distributor, net of a reserve for estimated returns. Amounts due from the sale of hardware are payable in accordance with the terms of our agreements with our service provider partners or distributors, and are not contingent on resale to end-users, or to service provider partners in the case of sales of hardware to distributors. Our terms for hardware sales sold directly to either service provider partners or distributors typically allow for the return of hardware up to one year past the date of sale. Our distributors sell directly to our service provider partners under terms between the two parties. We record a reserve against revenue for hardware returns based on historical returns, which was 2% of hardware and other revenue for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015. We evaluate our hardware reserve on a quarterly basis or if there is an indication of significant changes in return experience. Historically, our returns of hardware have not significantly differed from our estimated reserve.

Hardware and other revenue also includes activation fees charged to service provider partners for activation of a new subscriber account on our platforms, as well as fees paid by service provider partners for our marketing services. Our service provider partners use services on our platforms, such as support tools and applications, to assist in the installation of our solutions in subscriber properties. This installation marks the beginning of the service period on our platforms and on occasion, we earn activation revenue for fees charged for this service. The activation fee is non-refundable, separately negotiated and specified in our contractual arrangements with our service provider partners and is charged to the service provider partner for each subscriber activated on our platforms. Activation fees are not offered on a stand-alone basis separate from our SaaS offering and are billed and received at the beginning of the arrangement. We record activation fees initially as deferred revenue and we recognize these fees ratably over the expected term of the subscribers’ account which we estimate is ten years based on our annual attrition rate. The portion of these activation fees included in current and long-term deferred revenue as of our balance sheet date represents the amounts that will be recognized ratably as revenue over the following twelve months, or longer as appropriate, until the ten-year expected term is complete.

Cost of Revenue

Our cost of SaaS and license revenue primarily includes the amounts paid to wireless network providers and, to a lesser extent, the costs of running our network operation centers which are expensed as incurred. We record the payroll and payroll-related costs of the department dedicated to providing service exclusively to a specific service provider for the Connect platform to cost of SaaS and license revenue. Our cost of hardware and other revenue primarily includes cost of raw materials and amounts paid to our third-party manufacturer for production and fulfillment of our cellular radio modules and image sensors, and procurement costs for our video cameras, which we purchase from an original equipment manufacturer, and other devices. Our cost of revenue excludes amortization and depreciation.

Fair Value Measurements

The accounting standard for fair value measurements provides a framework for measuring fair value and requires disclosures regarding fair value measurements. Fair value is defined as the price that would be received for an asset or the exit price that would be paid to transfer a liability in the principal or most advantageous market in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. This accounting standard established a fair value hierarchy, which requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs, where available. The following summarizes the three levels of inputs:

Level 1 - Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the reporting entity can access at the measurement date;

Level 2 - Inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for similar assets and liabilities, either directly or indirectly; quoted prices in markets that are not active; and

Level 3 - Unobservable inputs supported by little or no market activity.

The carrying amount of financial assets, including cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable and accounts payable approximates fair value because of the short maturity and liquidity of those instruments.

Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis - in 2017, 2016 and 2015, we recorded liabilities for subsidiary unit awards and a contingent consideration liability related to acquisitions at fair value on a recurring basis.

Assets Measured at Fair Value on a Nonrecurring Basis - We measure certain assets, including property and equipment, goodwill, intangible and long-lived assets, cost and equity method investments at fair value on a nonrecurring basis. These assets are recognized at fair value when they are deemed to be other-than-temporarily impaired.

The liability for the subsidiary unit awards relates to agreements established with employees of our subsidiaries for cash awards contingent upon the subsidiary companies meeting certain financial milestones such as revenue, working capital, EBITDA and EBITDA margin. We account for these subsidiary awards using fair value and establish liabilities for the future payment for the repurchase of subsidiary units under the terms of the agreements based on estimating revenue, working capital, EBITDA and EBITDA margin of the subsidiary units over the periods of the awards through the anticipated repurchase dates. We estimated the fair value of each liability by using a Monte Carlo simulation model for determining each of the projected measures by using an expected distribution of potential outcomes. The fair value of each liability is calculated with thousands of projected outcomes, the results of which are averaged and then discounted to estimate the present value. At each reporting date until the respective payment dates, we will remeasure these liabilities, using the same valuation approach based on the applicable subsidiary's revenue, an unobservable input, and we will record any changes in the employee's compensation expense. Some of the awards are subject to the employees' continued employment and therefore recorded on a straight-line basis over the remaining service period.

Concentration of Credit Risk

The financial instruments that potentially subject us to concentrations of credit risk consists principally of cash and cash equivalents and accounts receivables. All of our cash and cash equivalents are held at financial institutions that management believes to be of high credit quality. Our cash and cash equivalent accounts may exceed federally insured limits at times. We have not experienced any losses on cash and cash equivalents to date. To manage accounts receivable risk, we evaluate the credit worthiness of our service provider partners and maintain an allowance for doubtful accounts. The majority of our accounts receivable balance is due from our service provider partners in North America. We assess the concentrations of credit risk with respect to accounts receivables based on one industry and geographic region and believe that our reserve for uncollectible accounts is appropriate based on our history and this concentration.

Stock-Based Compensation

We compensate our executive officers, board of directors, employees and consultants with stock-based compensation plans under our 2015 Equity Incentive Plan, or 2015 Plan. We record stock-based compensation expense based upon the award’s grant date fair value and use an accelerated attribution method, net of actual forfeitures, in which compensation cost for each vesting tranche in an award is recognized ratably from the service inception date to the vesting date for that tranche. Our equity awards generally vest over five years and are settled in shares of our common stock. During 2017, 2016 and 2015, we recognized compensation expense of $7.4 million, $4.0 million and $4.1 million, respectively, and associated income tax benefit of $12.7 million, $5.0 million and $0.7 million, respectively, in connection with our stock-based compensation plans. We account for stock-based compensation arrangements with non-employees using a fair value approach. The fair value of these options is measured using the Black-Scholes option pricing model reflecting the same assumptions as applied to employee options in each of the reported periods, other than the expected life, which is assumed to be the remaining contractual life of the option.

Our Employee Stock Purchase Plan, or 2015 ESPP, allows eligible employees to purchase shares of our common stock at 90% of the fair market value of the closing price on the purchase date. The maximum number of shares of our common stock that a participant may purchase during any calendar year is limited to the lesser of 10% of the participant's base compensation for that year or the number of shares with a fair market value of $15,000. The 2015 ESPP is considered compensatory for purposes of share-based compensation expense. Compensation expense is recognized for the amount of the discount, net of actual forfeitures, over the six-month purchase period.

We value our stock options using the Black-Scholes option pricing model, which requires the input of subjective assumptions, including the risk-free interest rate, expected term, expected stock price volatility and dividend yield. The risk-free interest rate assumption is based upon observed interest rates for constant maturity U.S. Treasury securities consistent with the expected term of our stock options. The expected term represents the period of time the stock options are expected to be outstanding and is based on the “simplified method.” Under the “simplified method,” the expected term of an option is presumed to be the mid-point between the vesting date and the end of the contractual term. We use the “simplified method” due to the lack of sufficient historical exercise data to provide a reasonable basis upon which to otherwise estimate the expected term of the stock options. Expected volatility is based on historical volatilities of our stock and publicly traded stock of comparable companies over the estimated expected term of the stock options.

401(k) Defined Contribution Plan

We adopted the Alarm.com Holdings 401(k) Plan ("the Plan") on April 30, 2009. All of our employees are eligible to participate in the Plan. Our discretionary match is 100% of employee contributions up to 6% of salary and up to a $3,000 maximum match.

Business Combinations

We are required to allocate the purchase price of acquired companies to the identifiable tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the acquisition date based upon their estimated fair values. The net assets and results of operations of an acquired entity are included in our consolidated financial statements from the acquisition date. Acquisition-related costs are expensed as incurred. Goodwill as of the acquisition date represents the excess of the purchase consideration of an acquired business over the fair value of the underlying net tangible and intangible assets acquired net of liabilities assumed. This allocation and valuation require management to make significant estimates and assumptions, especially with respect to long-lived and intangible assets.

Critical estimates in valuing intangible assets include, but are not limited to, estimates about future expected cash flows from customer contracts, customer lists, proprietary technology and non-competition agreements, the acquired company’s brand awareness and market position, assumptions about the period of time the brand will continue to be used in our solutions, as well as expected costs to develop the in-process research and development into commercially viable products and estimated cash flows from the projects when completed, and discount rates. Our estimates of fair value are based upon assumptions we believe to be reasonable, but which are inherently uncertain and unpredictable. Assumptions may be incomplete or inaccurate, and unanticipated events and circumstances may occur.

Other estimates associated with the accounting for these acquisitions may change as additional information becomes available regarding the assets acquired and liabilities assumed.

Goodwill, Intangible Assets and Long-lived Assets

Goodwill

Goodwill represents the excess of (1) the aggregate of the fair value of consideration transferred in a business combination, over (2) the fair value of assets acquired, net of liabilities assumed. Goodwill is allocated to our reporting units, which are our operating segments or one level below our operating segments. Goodwill is not amortized, but is subject to annual impairment tests. We perform our annual impairment review of goodwill on October 1 and when a triggering event occurs between annual impairment tests. We test our goodwill at the reporting unit level. We perform either a qualitative analysis or a quantitative analysis every year depending on the changes to our goodwill balance as well as changes in our business and the economy. Qualitative factors we consider include, but are not limited to, macroeconomic conditions, industry and market conditions, company specific events, changes in circumstances and market capitalization. In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04, "Intangibles - Goodwill and Other (Topic 350) - Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment," which removes Step 2 of the goodwill impairment test, which requires a hypothetical purchase price allocation. A goodwill impairment amount will now be the amount by which a reporting unit's carrying value exceeds its fair value, not to exceed the carrying amount of goodwill. We elected to early adopt ASU 2017-04, therefore, a Step 2 analysis will not be performed in the event that a reporting unit fails Step 1 of the impairment test.

For our 2017 annual impairment review, we performed a quantitative assessment for our Alarm.com reporting unit, our only reporting unit with a goodwill balance. This reporting unit had a fair value that exceeded its carrying value by more than 100%, therefore, we concluded that there was no goodwill impairment as of October 1, 2017. Our assessment was performed as of October 1, 2017, and we have determined there have been no triggering events from our assessment date through December 31, 2017.

Intangible Assets and Long-lived Assets

Intangible assets are initially valued at fair value using generally accepted valuation methods appropriate for the type of intangible asset. Intangible assets with definite lives are amortized over their estimated useful lives. We evaluate the recoverability of our intangible assets with definite lives and long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the assets may not be recoverable. Recoverability of intangible assets with definite lives and long-lived assets are measured by comparison of the carrying amount of the asset to the future undiscounted cash flows the asset is expected to generate. If the asset is considered to be impaired, the amount of any impairment is measured as the difference between the carrying value and the fair value of the impaired asset.

Advertising Costs

We expense advertising costs as incurred. Advertising costs totaled $4.1 million, $4.6 million and $3.7 million for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015. Advertising costs are included within sales and marketing expenses on our consolidated statements of operations.

Accounting for Income Taxes

We account for income taxes under the asset and liability method as required by accounting standards codification, or ASC 740, “Income Taxes,” which requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that are included in the financial statements. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the differences between the financial statements and tax basis of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. The effect of a change in tax rates on deferred tax assets and liabilities is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.

We record net deferred tax assets to the extent we believe these assets will more likely than not be realized. In making such a determination, we consider all available positive and negative evidence, including future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences, projected future taxable income, tax-planning strategies, and results of recent operations. During 2013, in connection with the EnergyHub acquisition, we acquired significant net operating losses, a deferred tax asset, which we recorded at its expected realizable value. Based on our historical and expected future taxable earnings, we believe it is more likely than not that we will realize all of the benefit of the existing deferred tax assets as of December 31, 2017 and 2016. Accordingly, we have not recorded a valuation allowance as of December 31, 2017 and 2016.

We are subject to income taxes in the United States and foreign jurisdictions based upon our business operations in those jurisdictions. Significant judgment is required in evaluating uncertain tax positions. We record uncertain tax positions in accordance with ASC 740-10 on the basis of a two-step process whereby (1) we determine whether it is more likely than not that the tax positions will be sustained based on the technical merits of the position, and (2) with respect to those tax positions that meet the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold, we recognize the largest amount of tax benefit that is greater than 50% likely to be realized upon ultimate settlement with the related tax authority. We record interest and penalties as a component of our income tax provision.

We recognize a valuation allowance if, based on the weight of available evidence, both positive and negative, it is more likely than not that some portion, or all, of net deferred tax assets will not be realized.

Earnings per Share, or EPS

Our basic net income / (loss) per share attributable to common stockholders is calculated by dividing the net income attributable to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding for the period.

Our diluted net income / (loss) per share attributable to common stockholders is calculated by giving effect to all potentially dilutive common stock when determining the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding. For purposes of the diluted net income / (loss) per share calculation, options to purchase common stock, redeemable convertible preferred stock, restricted stock units and unvested shares issued upon the early exercise of options that are subject to repurchase are considered to be potential common stock.

We have issued securities other than common stock that participate in dividends (“participating securities”), and therefore utilize the two-class method to calculate net income / (loss) per share. These participating securities include redeemable convertible preferred stock and unvested shares issued upon the early exercise of options that are subject to repurchase, both of which have non-forfeitable rights to participate in any dividends declared on our common stock. The two-class method requires a portion of net income to be allocated to the participating securities to determine the net income / (loss) attributable to common stockholders. Net income / (loss) attributable to the common stockholders is equal to the net income less dividends paid on redeemable convertible preferred stock and unvested shares with any remaining earnings allocated in accordance with the bylaws between the outstanding common and preferred stock as of the end of each period.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Adopted

On March 30, 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, issued ASU 2016-09, “Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting,” which simplifies several aspects of the accounting for employee share-based payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, and classification on the statement of cash flows. The update is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within those fiscal years, and we adopted ASU 2016-09 during the first quarter of 2017.

The adoption of this standard had the following impact on our financial statements:


•	Tax windfall benefits or deficiencies from stock-based awards are now recorded in provision for income taxes in the period incurred, whereas previous guidance required the tax windfall benefits to be recorded in additional paid-in capital. This change has been applied prospectively.

•

Tax windfall benefits from stock-based awards after adoption are reported in cash flows from operating activities in the statement of cash flows. For comparability, we elected to retrospectively apply this guidance which resulted in a reclassification of $5.1 million and $0.9 million from tax windfall benefit from stock options (a financing activity) to deferred income taxes (an operating activity) for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

•

We elected to record forfeitures as they occur in our calculation of stock-based compensation expense. In prior periods, we estimated forfeitures for the calculation of stock-based compensation expense. We adopted this change using the modified retrospective method, which resulted in an increase of less than $0.1 million to accumulated deficit, additional paid-in capital and deferred tax assets as of January 1, 2017.


•	Cash flows from tax windfall benefits from stock-based awards will no longer factor into the calculation of the number of shares for diluted earnings per share. This change was applied prospectively and did not have a material impact on diluted earnings per share for the year ended December 31, 2017.

On July 22, 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-11, “Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory,” which requires entities to measure most inventory "at the lower of cost and net realizable value," thereby simplifying the current guidance under which an entity must measure inventory at the lower of cost or market (market in this context is defined as one of three different measures). The guidance does not apply to inventories that are measured by using either the last-in, first-out method or the retail inventory method. Under current guidance, an entity subsequently measures inventory at the lower of cost or market, with market defined as replacement cost provided that it is not above the ceiling (net realizable value) or below the floor (net realizable value less an approximately normal profit margin) which is unnecessarily complex. The amendment does not change other guidance on measuring inventory. The amendment is effective for annual periods, including periods within those annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016 with early adoption permitted. We adopted this pronouncement prospectively in the first quarter of 2017, and the adoption of this pronouncement did not have a material effect on our financial statements.

On January 26, 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04, "Intangibles - Goodwill and Other (Topic 350) - Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment," which removes step two of the goodwill impairment test, which requires a hypothetical purchase price allocation. A goodwill impairment amount will now be the amount by which a reporting unit's carrying value exceeds its fair value, not to exceed the carrying amount of goodwill. The amendment is effective for annual or interim goodwill impairment tests in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019 with early adoption permitted for goodwill impairment tests performed after January 1, 2017. We adopted this guidance prospectively in the first quarter of 2017. Our goodwill impairment test is performed annually on October 1. Based on our October 1, 2017 goodwill impairment test, we concluded that our goodwill was not impaired. Therefore, the adoption of this pronouncement had no impact on our financial statements.

Not Yet Adopted

Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606):

In May 2014, the FASB and International Accounting Standards Board jointly issued ASU 2014-09, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)," a new revenue recognition standard that provides a framework for addressing revenue issues, improves the comparability of revenue recognition practices across industries, provides useful information to users of financial statements through improved disclosure requirements and simplifies the presentation of financial statements. From March to December 2016, amendments to Topic 606 were issued to clarify numerous accounting topics, including, but not limited to: (i) the implementation guidance on principal versus agent considerations, (ii) the identification of performance obligations, (iii) the licensing implementation guidance, (iv) the objective of the collectibility criterion, (v) the application of the variable consideration guidance and modified retrospective transition method, (vi) the way in which impairment testing is performed and (vii) the disclosure requirements for revenue recognized from performance obligations. This guidance permits the use of either a full retrospective method or a modified retrospective method. We will adopt Topic 606 on January 1, 2018, using the modified retrospective transition method. The modified retrospective transition method applies only to the most current period presented along with a cumulative-effect adjustment at the date of adoption. As a result of the January 1, 2018 adoption of Topic 606, we identified and implemented appropriate changes to our business processes and controls to support the recognition and disclosure requirements under the new standard.

Our assessment of Topic 606 focused on our (i) standard service provider partner agreements, (ii) the largest non-standard service provider partner agreements, including distributors of our hardware and licensees of our intellectual property, (iii) subsidiaries’ service provider partner agreements and, (iv) commissions paid to employees. Based on our assessment, we do not believe Topic 606 will have a material impact on our revenue recognition policies.

The adoption of the new standard will change our current treatment of commissions paid to employees, which we currently expense as incurred. Under the new standard, we will capitalize a portion of our commission costs as an incremental cost of obtaining a contract and will amortize our commission costs over a period of three years, which is consistent with the period over which the products and services related to the commission are transferred to the customer. The three-year period was determined based on our review of historical enhancements and upgrades to our products and services. These changes in the treatment of commissions paid to employees are not expected to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

Other Accounting Standards:

On May 10, 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-09, "Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718) - Scope of Modification Accounting," which amends the scope of modification accounting for share-based payment arrangements. The update provides guidance on the types of changes to the terms or conditions of share-based payment awards to which an entity would be required to apply modification accounting under ASC 718. Specifically, an entity would not apply modification accounting if the fair value, vesting conditions and classification of the awards are the same immediately before and after the modification. The amendment is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted. We are required to adopt ASU 2017-09 in the first quarter of 2018 and we do not anticipate the adoption will have a material impact on our financial statements.

On January 5, 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-01, "Business Combinations (Topic 805) - Clarifying the Definition of a Business," which provides guidance to assist entities in evaluating when a set of transferred assets and activities is a business. To be considered a business, an acquisition would have to include an input and a substantive process that together significantly contribute to the ability to create outputs. The amendment is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted. We are required to adopt ASU 2017-01 no later than the first quarter of 2018. This guidance is not expected to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

On June 16, 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, "Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326)," which provides guidance designed to provide financial statement users with more information about the expected credit losses on financial instruments and other commitments to extend credit held by a reporting entity at each reporting date. When determining such expected credit losses, the guidance requires companies to apply a methodology that reflects expected credit losses and requires consideration of a broader range of reasonable and supportable information to inform credit loss estimates. The amendment is effective on a modified retrospective basis for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2018. We are currently assessing the impact this pronouncement may have on our trade receivables and notes receivables.

On February 25, 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, “Leases (Topic 842),” which requires lessees to recognize operating and financing lease liabilities and corresponding right-of-use assets on the balance sheet. The update also requires improved disclosures to help users of financial statements better understand the amount, timing and uncertainty of cash flows arising from leases. The amendments in this update are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted. We are required to adopt ASU 2016-02 no later than the first quarter of 2019, and we are currently assessing the impact of this pronouncement on our financial statements. We have begun to evaluate our existing leases which all have been classified as operating leases under Topic 840. We anticipate using some of the available practical expedients upon adoption. We have not yet determined the amount of operating and financing lease liabilities and corresponding right-of-use assets we will record on our balance sheet; however, we anticipate that most of our operating lease commitments will be subject to the new standard.

Property and Equipment, Net

Furniture and fixtures, computer software and equipment and leasehold improvements are recorded at cost and presented net of depreciation. Furniture and fixtures and computer software and equipment are depreciated on a straight-line basis over lives ranging from three to five years. Internal-use software is amortized on a straight-line basis over a three-year period. During the application development phase, we categorize capitalized costs in our construction in progress account until the build is put into production and we move the asset to internal-use software. We record land at historical cost. Leasehold improvements are amortized on a straight-line basis over the shorter of the lease terms or the asset lives.

Leases

We recognize rent expense for lease payments on a straight-line basis over the expected lease term and amortize tenant improvement allowances over the term of the lease.