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Summary of Business and Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”). We consolidate all majority-owned subsidiaries and companies over which we exercise control through majority voting rights. No entities are consolidated due to control through operating agreements, financing agreements or as the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity. The consolidated financial statements include our accounts after elimination of all significant intercompany balances and transactions. All dollar amounts in the financial statements and the tables in the notes, except per share amounts, are stated in thousands of U.S. dollars unless otherwise indicated. All amounts in the notes reference results from continuing operations unless otherwise indicated.

The preparation of these annual financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires that certain amounts be recorded based on estimates and assumptions made by management. Actual results could differ from these estimates and assumptions. Our accounting policies, which include significant estimates and assumptions, include, among other things, estimation of the collectability of accounts receivable, estimation of future cancellations of bookings processed through the Sabre global distribution system ("GDS"), revenue recognition for Software-as-a-Service ("SaaS") arrangements, determination of the fair value of assets and liabilities acquired in a business combination, determination of the fair value of derivatives, the evaluation of the recoverability of the carrying value of intangible assets and goodwill, assumptions utilized in the determination of pension and other postretirement benefit liabilities, the evaluation of the recoverability of capitalized implementation costs, assumptions utilized to evaluate the recoverability of deferred customer advance and discounts, estimation of loss contingencies, and evaluation of uncertainties surrounding the calculation of our tax assets and liabilities.

In the first quarter of 2018, we adopted the comprehensive update to revenue recognition guidance Revenue from Contracts with Customers ("ASC 606"), which replaced the previous standard ("ASC 605"), using the modified retrospective approach, applied to contracts that were not completed as of the adoption date. Our 2018 results are reported under ASC 606, while results prior to 2018 are reported under ASC 605. Under ASC 606, revenue is recognized when a company transfers the promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration that is expected to be received for those goods and services. See Note 2. Revenue from Contracts with Customers.

Revenue Recognition

Travel Network and Hospitality Solutions’ revenue recognition is primarily driven by GDS and central reservation system transactions, respectively. Airline Solutions’ revenue recognition is primarily driven by passengers boarded or other variable metrics relevant to the software service provided. Timing of revenue recognition is primarily based on the consistent provision of services in a stand-ready series SaaS environment and the amount of revenue recognized varies with the volume of transactions processed.

Performance Obligations

A performance obligation is a promise in a contract to transfer a distinct good or service to the customer and is the unit of account under ASC 606. The transaction price is allocated to each performance obligation and recognized as revenue when, or as, the performance obligation is satisfied. Most of our contracts in the Travel Network and Hospitality Solutions businesses have a single performance obligation. In the Airline Solutions business, many of our contracts may have multiple performance obligations, which generally include software and product solutions through SaaS and hosted delivery, and other service fees. In addition, at times we enter into agreements with customers to provide access to Travel Network’s GDS and, at or near the same time, enter into a separate agreement to provide Airline Solutions' software solutions through SaaS and hosted delivery, resulting in multiple performance obligations within a combined agreement.

Our significant product and services and methods of recognition are as follows:

Stand-ready series revenue recognition

Travel Network—Travel Network's service offering is a GDS or GDS services linking and engaging transactions between travel agents (those that seek travel on behalf of travelers) and travel suppliers (such as airlines, hotels, car rental companies and cruise lines). Revenue is generated from contracts with the travel suppliers as each booking is made or transaction occurs and represents a stand-ready performance obligation where our systems perform the same service each day for the customer, based on the customer’s level of usage. Variability in the amounts billed to the customer and revenue recognized coincides with the customer’s level of usage or value received by the customer. Travel Network's revenue for air transactions is recognized at the time of booking of the reservation, net of estimated future cancellations. Travel Network's revenue for car rental, hotel transactions and other travel providers is recognized at the time the reservation is used by the customer.

Airline Solutions and Hospitality Solutions—Airline Solutions and Hospitality Solutions provide technology solutions and other professional services to airlines, hotels and other business consumers in the travel industry. The technology solutions are primarily provided in a SaaS or hosted environment. Customers are normally charged an upfront solutions fee and a recurring usage-based fee for the use of the software, which represents a stand-ready performance obligation where our systems perform the same service each day for the customer, based on the customer’s level of usage. Upfront solutions fees are recognized primarily on a straight-line basis over the relevant contract term, upon cut-over of the primary SaaS solution. Variability in the usage-based fee that does not align with the value provided to the customer can result in a difference between billings to the customer and the timing of contract performance and revenue recognition, which may result in the recognition of a contract asset. This can result in a requirement to forecast expected usage-based fees and volumes over the contract term in order to determine the rate for revenue recognition. This variable consideration is constrained if there is an inability to reliably forecast this revenue.

Contract Assets and Deferred Customer Advances and Discounts

Deferred customer advances and discounts are amortized against revenue in future periods as the related revenue is earned. Our contract assets include revenue recognized for services already transferred to a customer, for which the fulfillment of another contractual performance obligation is required, before we have the unconditional right to bill and collect based on contract terms. Contract assets are reviewed for recoverability on a periodic basis based on a review of impairment indicators. Deferred customer advances and discounts are reviewed for recoverability based on future contracted revenues and estimated direct costs of the contract when a significant event occurs that could impact the recoverability of the assets, such as a significant contract modification or early renewal of contract terms. For the year ended December 31, 2019, we did not impair any of these assets as a result of the related contract becoming uncollectable, modified or canceled. See Note 4. Impairment and Related Charges regarding 2017 impairments. Contracts are priced to generate total revenues over the life of the contract that exceed any discounts or advances provided and any upfront costs incurred to implement the customer contract.

Other revenue recognition patterns

Airline Solutions also provides other services including development labor or professional consulting. These services can be sold separately or with other products and services, and Airline Solutions may bundle multiple technology solutions in one arrangement with these other services. Revenue from other services consisting of development services that represent minor configuration or professional consulting is generally recognized over the period the services are performed or upon completed delivery.

Airline Solutions also directly licenses certain software to its customers where the customer obtains control of the license. Revenue from software license fees is recognized when the customer gains control of the software enabling them to directly use the software and obtain substantially all of the remaining benefits. Fees for ongoing software maintenance are recognized ratably over the life of the contract. Under these arrangements, often we are entitled to minimum fees which are collected over the term of the agreement, while the revenue from the license is recognized at the point when the customer gains control, which results in current and long-term unbilled receivables for these arrangements.

Variability in the amounts billed to the customer and revenue recognized coincides with the customer’s level of usage with the exception of upfront solution fees, non-usage based variable consideration, license and maintenance agreements and other services including development labor and professional consulting. Contracts with the same customer which are entered into at or around the same period are analyzed for revenue recognition purposes on a combined basis across our businesses which can impact timing of revenue recognition.

For contracts with multiple performance obligations, we account for separate performance obligations on an individual basis with value assigned to each performance obligation based on our best estimate of relative standalone selling price ("SSP"). Judgment is required to determine the SSP for each distinct performance obligation. SSP is assessed annually using a historical analysis of contracts with customers executed in the most recently completed calendar year to determine the range of selling prices applicable to a distinct good or service. In making these judgments, we analyze various factors, including discounting practices, price lists, contract prices, value differentiators, customer segmentation and overall market and economic conditions. Based on these results, the estimated SSP is set for each distinct product or service delivered to customers. As our market strategies evolve, we may modify pricing practices in the future which could result in changes to SSP.

Revenue recognition from our Airline Solutions business requires significant judgments such as identifying distinct performance obligations including material rights within an agreement, estimating the total contract consideration and allocating amounts to each distinct performance obligation, determining whether variable pricing within a contract meets the allocation objective, and forecasting future volumes. For a small subset of our contracts, we are required to forecast volumes as a result of pricing variability within the contract in order to calculate the rate for revenue recognition. Any changes in these judgments and estimates could have an impact on the revenue recognized in future periods.We evaluate whether it is appropriate to record the gross amount of our revenues and related costs by considering whether the entity is a principal (gross presentation) or an agent (net presentation) by evaluating the nature of our promise to the customer. We report revenue net of any revenue based taxes assessed by governmental authorities that are imposed on and concurrent with specific revenue producing transactions.

Incentive Consideration

Certain service contracts with significant travel agency customers contain booking productivity clauses and other provisions that allow travel agency customers to receive cash payments or other consideration. We establish liabilities for these commitments and recognize the related expense as these travel agencies earn incentive consideration based on the applicable contractual terms. Periodically, we make cash payments to these travel agencies at inception or modification of a service contract which are capitalized and amortized to cost of revenue over the expected life of the service contract, which is generally three to five years. Deferred charges related to such contracts are recorded in other assets, net on the consolidated balance sheets. The service contracts are priced so that the additional airline and other booking fees generated over the life of the contract will exceed the cost of the incentive consideration provided. Incentive consideration paid to the travel agency represents a commission paid to the travel agency for booking travel on our GDS.

Advertising Costs

Advertising CostsAdvertising costs are expensed as incurred.

Cash and Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash

We classify all highly liquid instruments, including money market funds and money market securities with original maturities of three months or less, as cash equivalents.

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts and Concentration of Credit Risk

We evaluate the collectability of our accounts receivable based on a combination of factors. In circumstances where we are aware of a specific customer’s inability to meet its financial obligations to us, such as bankruptcy filings or failure to pay amounts due to us or others, we record a specific reserve for bad debts against amounts due to reduce the recorded receivable to the amount we reasonably believe will be collected. For all other customers, we record reserves for bad debts based on historical experience and the length of time the receivables are past due. We maintained an allowance for doubtful accounts of approximately $58 million and $45 million at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. See “—Recent Accounting Pronouncements" below for information on recently issued accounting guidance regarding the allowance for doubtful accounts.

Our customers are primarily located in the United States, Canada, Europe, Latin America and Asia, and are concentrated in the travel industry. We generate a significant portion of our revenues and corresponding accounts receivable from services provided to the commercial air travel industry. Our other accounts receivable are generally due from other participants in the travel and transportation industry. As of December 31, 2019 and 2018, approximately $375 million, or 82%, and $334 million, or 81%, respectively, of our trade accounts receivable were attributable to services provided to the commercial air travel industry and travel agency customers. Substantially all of our accounts receivable represents trade balances. We generally do not require security or collateral from our customers as a condition of sale.

We regularly monitor the financial condition of the air transportation industry. We believe the credit risk related to the air carriers’ difficulties is significantly mitigated by the fact that we collect a significant portion of the receivables from these carriers through the Airline Clearing House and other similar clearing houses (“ACH”). As of December 31, 2019, approximately 59% of our air customers make payments through the ACH which accounts for approximately 89% of our air revenue. For these carriers, we believe the use of ACH mitigates our credit risk with respect to airline bankruptcies. For those carriers from which we do not collect payments through the ACH or other similar clearing houses, our credit risk is higher. We monitor these carriers and account for the related credit risk through our normal reserve policies.

Derivative Financial Instruments

We recognize all derivatives on the consolidated balance sheets at fair value. If the derivative is designated as a hedge, depending on the nature of the hedge, changes in the fair value of derivatives are offset against the change in fair value of the hedged item through earnings (a “fair value hedge”) or recognized in other comprehensive income until the hedged item is recognized in earnings (a “cash flow hedge”). For derivative instruments not designated as hedging instruments, the gain or loss resulting from the change in fair value is recognized in current earnings during the period of change. No hedging ineffectiveness was recorded in earnings during the periods presented.

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization, which is calculated on the straight-line basis. Our depreciation and amortization policies are as follows:


Buildings			Lesser of lease term or 35 years
Leasehold improvements			Lesser of lease term or useful life
Furniture and fixtures			5 to 15 years
Equipment, general office and computer			3 to 5 years
Software developed for internal use			3 to 5 years

We capitalize certain costs related to our infrastructure, software applications and reservation systems under authoritative guidance on software developed for internal use. Capitalizable costs consist of (a) certain external direct costs of materials and services incurred in developing or obtaining internal use computer software and (b) payroll and payroll related costs for employees who are directly associated with and who devote time to our GDS and SaaS-related development projects. Costs incurred during the preliminary project stage or costs incurred for data conversion activities and training, maintenance and general and administrative or overhead costs are expensed as incurred. Costs that cannot be separated between maintenance of, and relatively minor upgrades and enhancements to, internal use software are also expensed as incurred. See Note 6. Balance Sheet Components, for amounts capitalized as property and equipment in our consolidated balance sheets. Depreciation and amortization of property and equipment totaled $295 million, $288 million and $256 million for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Amortization of software developed for internal use, included in depreciation and amortization, totaled $241 million, $236 million and $203 million for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively. During the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, we capitalized $89 million, $252 million, and $251 million, respectively, related to software developed for internal use.

We also evaluate the useful lives of these assets on an annual basis and test for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the assets used in combination to generate cash flows largely independent of other assets may not be recoverable. We did not record any property and equipment impairment charges for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017.

Leases

We lease certain facilities under long term operating leases. We determine if an arrangement is a lease at inception. Operating lease assets are included in operating lease right-of-use (“ROU”) assets within other noncurrent assets and operating lease liabilities are included in other current liabilities and other noncurrent liabilities in our consolidated balance sheets. Finance lease assets are included in property and equipment with associated liabilities included in current portion of debt and long-term debt in our consolidated balance sheets.

ROU assets represent our right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent our obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. Operating lease ROU assets and liabilities are recognized at the commencement date based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term. As most of our leases do not provide an implicit rate, we use our internal borrowing rate for leases with a lease term of less than or equal to five years. For leases with a lease term greater than five years, we use our incremental borrowing rate based on the estimated rate of interest for corporate bond borrowings over a similar term of the lease payments. Certain of our lease agreements contain renewal options, early termination options and/or payment escalations based on fixed annual increases, local consumer price index changes or market rental reviews. We recognize rent expense with fixed rate increases and/or fixed rent reductions on a straight line basis over the term of the lease.

Business Combinations

Business combinations are accounted for under the acquisition method of accounting. Under this method, the assets acquired and liabilities assumed are recognized at their respective fair values as of the date of acquisition. The excess, if any, of the acquisition price over the fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed is recorded as goodwill. For significant acquisitions, we utilize third-party appraisal firms to assist us in determining the fair values for certain assets acquired and liabilities assumed. The measurement of these fair values requires us to make significant estimates and assumptions which are inherently uncertain.

Adjustments to the fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed are made until we obtain all relevant information regarding the facts and circumstances that existed as of the acquisition date (the “measurement period”), not to exceed one year from the date of the acquisition. We recognize measurement-period adjustments in the period in which we determine the amounts, including the effect on earnings of any amounts we would have recorded in previous periods if the accounting had been completed at the acquisition date.

Goodwill and Intangible Assets

Goodwill is the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of identifiable tangible and intangible assets acquired in business combinations. Goodwill is not amortized but is reviewed for impairment on an annual basis or more frequently if events and circumstances indicate the carrying amount may not be recoverable. Definite-lived intangible assets are amortized on a straight-line basis and assigned useful economic lives of two to thirty years, depending on classification. The useful economic lives are evaluated on an annual basis.

We perform our annual assessment of possible impairment of goodwill as of October 1 of each year. We begin with the qualitative assessment of whether it is more likely than not that a reporting unit’s fair value is less than its carrying value before applying the quantitative assessment described below. If it is determined through the evaluation of events or circumstances that the carrying value may not be recoverable, we perform a comparison of the estimated fair value of the reporting unit to which the goodwill has been assigned to the sum of the carrying value of the assets and liabilities of that unit. If the sum of the carrying value of the assets and liabilities of a reporting unit exceeds the estimated fair value of that reporting unit, the carrying value of the reporting unit’s goodwill is reduced to its fair value through an adjustment to the goodwill balance, resulting in an impairment charge. We have three reporting units associated with our continuing operations: Travel Network, Airline Solutions and Hospitality Solutions. We did not record any goodwill impairment charges for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017. See Note 5. Goodwill and Intangible Assets, for additional information.

Definite-lived intangible assets are evaluated for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of definite lived intangible assets used in combination to generate cash flows largely independent of other assets may not be recoverable. If impairment indicators exist for definite-lived intangible assets, the undiscounted future cash flows associated with the expected service potential of the assets are compared to the carrying value of the assets. If our projection of undiscounted future cash flows is in excess of the carrying value of the intangible assets, no impairment charge is recorded. If our projection of undiscounted cash flows is less than the carrying value, the intangible assets are measured at fair value and an impairment charge is recorded based on the excess of the carrying value of the assets to its fair value. We did not record material intangible asset impairment charges for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017. See Note 5. Goodwill and Intangible Assets, for additional information.

Equity Method Investments

Equity Method InvestmentsWe utilize the equity method to account for our interests in joint ventures that we do not control but over which we exert significant influence. We periodically evaluate equity and debt investments in entities accounted for under the equity method for impairment by reviewing updated financial information provided by the investee, including valuation information from new financing transactions by the investee and information relating to competitors of investees when available. We own voting interests in various national marketing companies ranging from 20% to 49%, a voting interest of 40% in ESS Elektroniczne Systemy Spzedazy Sp. zo.o, and a voting interest of 20% in Asiana Sabre, Inc. The carrying value of these equity method investments in joint ventures amounts to $24 million as of December 31, 2019 and 2018.

Contract Acquisition Costs and Capitalized Implementation Costs

We incur contract acquisition costs related to new contracts with our customers in the form of sales commissions based on estimated contract value for our Airline Solutions and Hospitality Solutions businesses. These costs are capitalized and reviewed for impairment on an annual basis. We generally amortize these costs, and those for renewals, over the average contract term for those businesses, excluding commissions on contracts with a term of one year or less, which are generally expensed in the period earned and recorded within selling, general and administrative expenses.

We incur upfront costs to implement new customer contracts under our SaaS revenue model. We capitalize these costs, including (a) certain external direct costs of materials and services incurred to implement a customer contract and (b) payroll and payroll related costs for employees who are directly associated with and devote time to implementation activities. Capitalized implementation costs are amortized on a straight-line basis over the related contract term, ranging from three to ten years, as they are recoverable through deferred or future revenues associated with the relevant contract. These assets are reviewed for recoverability on a periodic basis or when an event occurs that could impact the recoverability of the assets, such as a significant contract modification or early renewal of contract terms. Recoverability is measured based on the future estimated revenue and direct costs of the contract compared to the capitalized implementation costs. See Note 6. Balance Sheet Components and Note 2. Revenue from Contracts with Customers, for amounts capitalized within other assets, net in our consolidated balance sheets. Amortization of capitalized implementation costs, included in depreciation and amortization, totaled $39 million, $38 million and $40 million for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively. See Note 4. Impairment and Related Charges.

Income Taxes

Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are determined based on differences between financial reporting and income tax basis of assets and liabilities and are measured using the tax rates and laws enacted at the time of such determination. We regularly review our deferred tax assets for recoverability and a valuation allowance is provided when it is more likely than not that some portion, or all, of a deferred tax asset will not be realized. In assessing the need for a valuation allowance, we make estimates and assumptions regarding projected future taxable income, our ability to carry back operating losses to prior periods, the reversal of deferred tax liabilities and implementation of tax planning strategies. We reassess these assumptions regularly which could cause an increase or decrease to the valuation allowance, resulting in an increase or decrease in the effective tax rate, and could materially impact our results of operations.

We recognize liabilities when we believe that an uncertain tax position may not be fully sustained upon examination by the tax authorities. We use significant judgment in determining whether a tax position's technical merits are more likely than not to be sustained and in measuring the amount of tax benefit that qualifies for recognition. For matters that are determined will more likely than not be sustained, we measure the tax benefit as the largest amount which is more than 50% likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement. We recognize penalties and interest accrued related to income taxes as a component of the provision for income taxes. As the matters challenged by the taxing authorities are typically complex and open to subjective interpretation, their ultimate outcome may differ from the amounts recognized.

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “TCJA”), which was enacted on December 22, 2017, imposes a tax on global low-taxed intangible income (“GILTI”) in tax years beginning after December 31, 2017. GILTI provisions are applicable to certain profits of a controlled foreign corporation that exceed the U.S. stockholder's deemed “routine” investment return under the TCJA and results in income includable in the return of U.S. shareholders. We recognize liabilities, if any, related to this provision of the TCJA in the year in which the liability arises and not as a deferred tax liability.

Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits

We recognize the funded status of our defined benefit pension plans and other postretirement benefit plans in our consolidated balance sheets. The funded status is the difference between the fair value of plan assets and the benefit obligation as of the balance sheet date. The fair value of plan assets represents the cumulative contributions made to fund the pension and other postretirement benefit plans which are invested primarily in domestic and foreign equities and fixed income securities. The benefit obligation of our pension and other postretirement benefit plans are actuarially determined using certain assumptions approved by us. The benefit obligation is adjusted annually in the fourth quarter to reflect actuarial changes and may also be adjusted upon the adoption of plan amendments. These adjustments are initially recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) and are subsequently amortized over the life expectancy of the plan participants as a component of net periodic benefit costs.

Equity-Based Compensation

We account for our stock awards and options by recognizing compensation expense, measured at the grant date based on the fair value of the award, on a straight-line basis over the award vesting period, giving consideration as to whether the amount of compensation cost recognized at any date is equal to the portion of grant date value that is vested at that date. We recognize equity-based compensation expense net of any actual forfeitures.

We measure the grant date fair value of stock option awards as calculated by the Black-Scholes option-pricing model which requires certain subjective assumptions, including the expected term of the option, the expected volatility of our common stock, risk-free interest rates and expected dividend yield. The expected term is estimated by using the “simplified method” which is based on the midpoint between the vesting date and the expiration of the contractual term. We utilized the simplified method due to the lack of sufficient historical experience under our current grant terms. The expected volatility is based on the historical volatility of our stock price. The expected risk-free interest rates are based on the yields of U.S. Treasury securities with maturities appropriate for the expected term of the stock options. The expected dividend yield was based on the calculated yield on our common stock at the time of grant assuming annual dividends totaling $0.56 per share for awards granted in 2019.

Foreign Currency

Foreign CurrencyWe remeasure foreign currency transactions into the relevant functional currency and record the foreign currency transaction gains or losses as a component of other, net in our consolidated statements of operations. We translate the financial statements of our non-U.S. dollar functional currency foreign subsidiaries into U.S. dollars in consolidation and record the translation gains or losses as a component of other comprehensive income (loss). Translation gains or losses of foreign subsidiaries related to divested businesses are reclassified into earnings as a component of other, net in our consolidated statements of operations once the liquidation of the respective foreign subsidiaries is substantially complete.

Adoption of New Accounting Standard/Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Adoption of New Accounting Standards

In July 2019, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued updated guidance that clarifies or improves the disclosure and presentation requirements of a variety of codification topics by aligning them with the SEC’s regulations, thereby eliminating certain redundancies and allowing for easier application of the codification. This standard is effective upon issuance and did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In October 2018, the FASB issued updated guidance that permits use of the Overnight Index Swap ("OIS") rate based on the Secured Overnight Financing Rate ("SOFR") as a U.S. benchmark interest rate for hedge accounting purposes in addition to the Direct Treasury obligations of the U.S. government, the London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR") swap rate, the OIS rate based on the Federal Funds Effective Rate, and the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association Municipal Swap Rate. We adopted this standard in the first quarter of 2019, which did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In February 2016, the FASB issued updated guidance requiring organizations that lease assets—referred to as "lessees"—to recognize on the balance sheet the assets and liabilities for the rights and obligations created by those leases, when the lease has a term of more than 12 months. The updated standard is effective for public companies for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2018. In the first quarter of 2019, we adopted the new

standard using the modified retrospective approach and elected the package of practical expedients and the hindsight practical expedient. See Note 11. Leases for more information on the impacts from adoption and ongoing considerations.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In December 2019, the FASB issued updated guidance which simplifies the accounting for income taxes, eliminates certain exceptions within existing income tax guidance, and clarifies certain aspects of the current guidance to promote consistency among reporting entities. The updated standard is effective for public companies for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2020, with early adoption permitted. We do not expect the adoption of this standard will have a material impact to our consolidated financial statements.

In October 2018, the FASB issued updated guidance that eliminates the requirement that entities consider indirect interests held through related parties under common control in their entirety when assessing whether a decision-making fee is a variable interest and instead requires entities to consider these indirect interests on a proportional basis. The updated standard is effective for public companies for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019, with early adoption permitted. We do not expect the adoption of this standard will have a material impact to our consolidated financial statements.

In August 2018, the FASB issued updated guidance on customer's accounting for implementation costs incurred in a cloud computing arrangement that is a service contract. Under this updated standard, a customer in a cloud-computing arrangement that is a service contract is required to follow guidance on software developed for internal use to determine which implementation costs to capitalize as assets or expense as incurred. This standard aligns the accounting for implementation costs for hosting arrangements, regardless of whether they convey a license to the hosted software. The standard requires that capitalized implementation costs related to a hosting arrangement that is a service contract be amortized over the term of the hosting arrangement, beginning when the component of the hosting arrangement is ready for its intended use, similar to requirements in guidance on software developed for internal use. In addition, costs incurred during the preliminary project and post-implementation phases are expensed as they are incurred. The updated standard is effective for public companies for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019, with early adoption permitted. We do not expect the adoption of this standard will have a material impact to our consolidated financial statements.

In June 2016, the FASB issued updated guidance for the measurement of credit losses for most financial assets and certain other instruments that are not measured at fair value through net income. Under this updated standard, the current "incurred loss" approach is replaced with an "expected loss" model for instruments measured at amortized cost. For available-for-sale debt securities, allowances for losses will now be required rather than reducing the instruments carrying value. The updated standard is effective for public companies for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019, with early adoption permitted. We anticipate that the impacts described above will result in a net increase of approximately $13 million to $23 million in our opening retained deficit as of January 1, 2020 with a corresponding decrease in accounts receivable, net and other in-scope assets. Implications to tax-related accounts are not included in these estimated amounts. Our assessment of the impact of this standard is ongoing and subject to finalization. We are continuing to evaluate the impacts of the new guidance to our results of operations, current accounting policies, processes, controls, systems and financial statement disclosures.