Adopted Accounting Standards

Improvements to Employee Share-Based Compensation Accounting

In March 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued updated guidance that simplifies several aspects of the accounting for employee share-based compensation including the accounting for income taxes, forfeitures, and statutory tax withholding requirements, as well as classification of related amounts within the statement of cash flows. The updated guidance requires that, prospectively, all tax effects related to share-based compensation be made through the statement of operations at the time of settlement. In contrast, the previous guidance required excess tax benefits to be recognized in paid-in capital. The updated guidance also removes the requirement to delay recognition of a tax benefit until it reduces current taxes payable. This change is required to be applied on a modified retrospective basis, with a cumulative effect adjustment to opening retained earnings. Additionally, all tax related cash flows resulting from share-based compensation are to be reported as operating activities on the statement of cash flows, a change from the existing requirement to present tax benefits as an inflow from financing activities and an outflow from operating activities. Finally, for tax withholding purposes, entities will be allowed to withhold an amount of shares up to the employee’s maximum individual tax rate (as opposed to the minimum statutory tax rate) in the relevant jurisdiction without resulting in liability classification of the award. The change in tax withholding is to be applied on a modified retrospective approach. This updated guidance became effective January 1, 2017. We have adopted this guidance for the period ending March 31, 2017 and as a result of the adoption:


•	We recognized discrete tax benefits of $1.5 million in the provision for income taxes on our statement of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2017 related to excess tax benefits upon vesting of stock-based awards during the period.


•	We recognized a cumulative effect adjustment related to the recognition of a deferred tax asset related to suspended tax benefits from vesting transactions occurring in prior years and from the elimination of our forfeiture estimate on stock-based awards, which was previously applied only to awards with service conditions.


•	Prior to adoption, cash flows related to excess tax benefits from share-based compensation were included in financing activities. We have reclassified excess tax benefits related to share-based compensation for the three months ended March 31, 2016 to operating activities.


•	Prior to adoption, cash flows related to employee taxes paid for withheld shares were included in operating activities. We have reclassified employee taxes paid for withheld shares for the three months ended March 31, 2016 to financing activities.

Prospective Accounting Standards

Premium Amortization on Purchased Callable Debt Securities

In March 2017, the FASB issued updated guidance to amend the amortization period for certain purchased callable debt securities held at a premium shortening the amortization period to the earliest call date. Under current GAAP, there is diversity in practice in the amortization period for premiums of callable debt securities and in how the potential for exercise of a call is factored into current impairment assessments. This updated guidance aligns with how callable debt securities, in the United States, are generally quoted, priced, and traded assuming a model that incorporates consideration of calls (also referred to as “yield-to-worst” pricing). The updated guidance is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those annual periods. We are currently evaluating the impacts the adoption of this guidance will have on our consolidated financial statements, but do not expect it to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements or disclosures. We currently account for premium amortization on our purchased callable debt securities on a yield-to-worst basis, which generally aligns with the earliest call date.

Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost

In March 2017, the FASB issued updated guidance that improves the reporting of net benefit cost in the financial statements. The updated guidance requires that an employer report the service cost component in the same financial statement caption as other compensation costs arising from services rendered by employees during the period. The other components of net benefit cost are required to be presented in the statement of operations separately from the service cost component and outside a subtotal of income from operations, if one is presented. Current guidance does not prescribe where the amount of net benefit cost should be presented in an employer’s statement of operations and does not require entities to disclose by line item the amount of net benefit cost that is included in the statement of operations. The updated guidance is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those annual periods. We are currently evaluating the impacts the adoption of this guidance will have on our consolidated financial statements, but do not expect it to have a material impact on our consolidated statement of operations or financial statement disclosures.

Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments

In June 2016, the FASB issued updated guidance that requires immediate recognition of estimated credit losses expected to occur over the remaining life of many financial instruments. Entities will be required to utilize a current expected credit losses (“CECL”) methodology that incorporates their forecasts of future economic conditions into their loss estimate unless such forecast is not reasonable and supportable, in which case the entity will revert to historical loss experience. Any allowance for CECL reduces the amortized cost basis of the financial instrument to the amount an entity expects to collect. Credit losses relating to available-for-sale fixed maturity securities are to be recorded through an allowance for credit losses, rather than a write-down of the asset, with the amount of the allowance limited to the amount by which fair value is less than amortized cost. In addition, the length of time a security has been in an unrealized loss position will no longer impact the determination of whether a credit loss exists. The updated guidance is not prescriptive about certain aspects of estimating expected credit losses, including the specific methodology to use, and therefore will require significant judgment in application. The updated guidance is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those annual periods. Early adoption is permitted for annual and interim periods in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018. We are currently evaluating the impacts the adoption of this guidance will have on our consolidated financial statements, but do not expect it to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements or disclosures.

Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities

In January 2016, the FASB issued updated guidance to address the recognition, measurement, presentation, and disclosure of certain financial instruments. The updated guidance requires equity investments, except those accounted for under the equity method of accounting, that have a readily determinable fair value to be measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in net income. Equity investments that do not have readily determinable fair values may be remeasured at fair value either upon the occurrence of an observable price change or upon identification of an impairment. A qualitative assessment for impairment is required for equity investments without readily determinable fair values. The updated guidance also eliminates the requirement to disclose the method and significant assumptions used to estimate the fair value of financial instruments measured at amortized cost on the balance sheet. The updated guidance is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those annual periods and will require recognition of a cumulative effect adjustment at adoption. We do not currently expect the adoption of this guidance to impact our consolidated financial position or liquidity.