SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Notes to Financial Statements

Principles of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries. The Company’s wholly-owned subsidiaries are XImage Corporation, a California Corporation, ImageWare Systems ID Group, Inc. a Delaware corporation (formerly Imaging Technology Corporation), I.W. Systems Canada Company, a Nova Scotia unlimited liability company, ImageWare Digital Photography Systems, Inc., LLC a Nevada limited liability company (formerly Castleworks LLC), Digital Imaging International GmbH, a company formed under German laws and Image Ware Mexico S de RL de CV, a company formed under Mexican laws. All significant intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated.

Operating Cycle

Assets and liabilities related to long-term contracts are included in current assets and current liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets, although they will be liquidated in the normal course of contract completion which may take more than one operating cycle.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenue and expense during the reporting period. Significant estimates include the allowance for doubtful accounts receivable, inventory carrying values, deferred tax asset valuation allowances, accounting for loss contingencies, recoverability of goodwill and acquired intangible assets and amortization periods, assumptions used in the Black-Scholes model to calculate the fair value of share based payments, assumptions used in the application of fair value methodologies to calculate the fair value of derivative liabilities, revenue and cost of revenues recognized under the percentage of completion method and assumptions used in the application of fair value methodologies to calculate the fair value of pension assets and obligations. Actual results could differ from estimates.

Cash and cash equivalents

The Company defines cash equivalents as highly liquid investments with original maturities of less than 90 days that are not held for sale in the ordinary course of business.

Accounts receivable

In the normal course of business, the Company extends credit without collateral requirements to its customers that satisfy pre-defined credit criteria. Accounts receivable are recorded net of an allowance for doubtful accounts. Accounts receivable are considered delinquent when the due date on the invoice has passed. The Company records its allowance for doubtful accounts based upon its assessment of various factors. The Company considers historical experience, the age of the accounts receivable balances, the credit quality of its customers, current economic conditions and other factors that may affect customers’ ability to pay to determine the level of allowance required.  Accounts receivable are written off against the allowance for doubtful accounts when all collection efforts by the Company have been unsuccessful.

Inventories

Finished goods inventories are stated at the lower of cost, determined using the average cost method, or market. See Note 6.

Property, Equipment and Leasehold Improvements

Property and equipment, consisting of furniture and equipment, are stated at cost and are being depreciated on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the assets, which generally range from three to five years. Maintenance and repairs are charged to expense as incurred. Major renewals or improvements are capitalized. When assets are sold or abandoned, the cost and related accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts and the resulting gain or loss is recognized. Expenditures for leasehold improvements are capitalized. Amortization of leasehold improvements is computed using the straight-line method over the shorter of the remaining lease term or the estimated useful lives of the improvements.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

For certain of the Company’s financial instruments, including accounts receivable, accounts payable, accrued expenses, deferred revenues and lines of credit payable to related parties, the carrying amounts approximate fair value due to their relatively short maturities.

Derivative Financial Instruments

The Company does not use derivative instruments to hedge exposures to cash flow, market or foreign currency risks.

The Company reviews the terms of the common and preferred stock, warrants and convertible debt it issues to determine whether there are embedded derivative instruments, including embedded conversion options, which are required to be bifurcated and accounted for separately as derivative financial instruments. In circumstances where the host instrument contains more than one embedded derivative instrument, including the conversion option, that is required to be bifurcated, the bifurcated derivative instruments are accounted for as a single, compound derivative instrument.

Bifurcated embedded derivatives are initially recorded at fair value and are then revalued at each reporting date with changes in the fair value reported as non-operating income or expense. When the equity or convertible debt instruments contain embedded derivative instruments that are to be bifurcated and accounted for as liabilities, the total proceeds received are first allocated to the fair value of all the bifurcated derivative instruments. The remaining proceeds, if any, are then allocated to the host instruments themselves, usually resulting in those instruments being recorded at a discount from their face value.

The discount from the face value of the convertible debt, together with the stated interest on the instrument, is amortized over the life of the instrument through periodic charges to interest expense, using the effective interest method.

Revenue recognition

The Company recognizes revenue from the following major revenue sources:

● Long-term fixed-price contracts involving significant customization;

● Fixed-price contracts involving minimal customization;

● Software licensing;

● Sales of computer hardware and identification media; and

● Post-contract customer support (“ PCS”).

The Company’s revenue recognition policies are consistent with U.S. GAAP including the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 985-605, “Software Revenue Recognition”, ASC 605-35 “Revenue Recognition, Construction-Type and Production-Type Contracts”, “Securities and Exchange Commission Staff Accounting Bulletin 104”, and ASC 605-25 “Revenue Recognition, Multiple Element Arrangements”. Accordingly, the Company recognizes revenue when all of the following criteria are met: persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, delivery has occurred or services have been rendered, the fee is fixed or determinable, and collectability is reasonably assured.

The Company recognizes revenue and profit as work progresses on long-term, fixed-price contracts involving significant amount of hardware and software customization using the percentage of completion method based on costs incurred to date compared to total estimated costs at completion. The primary components of costs incurred are third party software and direct labor cost including fringe benefits. Revenues recognized in excess of amounts billed are classified as current assets under “Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts”. Amounts billed to customers in excess of revenues recognized are classified as current liabilities under “Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted contracts”. Revenue from contracts for which the Company cannot reliably estimate total costs or there are not significant amounts of customization are recognized upon completion. For contracts that require significant amounts of customization that the Company accounts for under the completed contract method of revenue recognition, the Company defers revenue recognition until customer acceptance is received. For contracts containing either extended or dependent payment terms, revenue recognition is deferred until such time as payment has been received by the Company. The Company also generates non-recurring revenue from the licensing of its software. Software license revenue is recognized upon the execution of a license agreement, upon deliverance, when fees are fixed and determinable, when collectability is probable, when all other significant obligations have been fulfilled and the Company has obtained vendor specific objective evidence (“VSOE”) of the fair value of the undelivered element. VSOE of fair value for customer support services is determined by reference to the price the customer pays for such element when sold separately; that is, the renewal rate offered to customers. In those instances when objective and reliable evidence of fair value exists for the undelivered items but not for the delivered items, the residual method is used to allocate the arrangement consideration. Under the residual method, the amount of arrangement consideration allocated to the delivered items equals the total arrangement consideration less the aggregate fair value of the undelivered items. The Company also generates revenue from the sale of computer hardware and identification media. Revenue for these items is recognized upon delivery of these products to the customer. The Company’s revenue from periodic maintenance agreements is generally recognized ratably over the respective maintenance periods provided no significant obligations remain and collectability of the related receivable is probable. Pricing of maintenance contracts is consistent period to period and calculated as a percentage of the software or hardware revenue.  Amounts collected in advance for maintenance services are included in current liabilities under "Deferred revenue". Sales tax collected from customers is excluded from revenue.

Goodwill

The Company accounts for its intangible assets under the provisions of ASC 350, “Intangibles - Goodwill and Other”. In accordance with ASC 350, intangible assets with a definite life are analyzed for impairment under ASC 360-10-05 “Property, Plant and Equipment” and intangible assets with an indefinite life are analyzed for impairment under ASC 360 annually, or more often if circumstances dictate. The Company performs its annual goodwill impairment test in the fourth quarter of each year, or if required, at the end of each fiscal quarter.  In accordance with ASC 350, goodwill, or the excess of cost over fair value of net assets acquired is tested for impairment using a fair value approach at the “reporting unit” level. A reporting unit is the operating segment, or a business one level below that operating segment (referred to as a component) if discrete financial information is prepared and regularly reviewed by management at the component level. The Company’s reporting unit is at the entity level. The Company recognizes an impairment charge for any amount by which the carrying amount of a reporting unit’s goodwill exceeds its fair value. The Company uses fair value methodologies to establish fair values.

The Company did not record any goodwill impairment charges for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 or 2014.

Intangible and Long Lived Assets

Intangible assets are carried at their cost less any accumulated amortization.  Any costs incurred to renew or extend the life of an intangible or long lived asset are reviewed for capitalization.  The Company evaluates long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate their net book value may not be recoverable. When such factors and circumstances exist, the Company compares the projected undiscounted future cash flows associated with the related asset or group of assets over their estimated useful lives against their respective carrying amount. Impairment, if any, is based on the excess of the carrying amount over the fair value, based on market value when available, or discounted expected cash flows, of those assets and is recorded in the period in which the determination is made. The Company’s management currently believes there is no impairment of its long-lived assets. There can be no assurance, however, that market conditions will not change or demand for the Company’s products under development will continue. Either of these could result in future impairment of long-lived assets.

Concentration of Credit Risk

Financial instruments which potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist principally of cash and trade accounts receivable. The Company places its cash with high quality financial institutions and at times during the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 exceeded the FDIC insurance limits of $250,000. Sales are typically made on credit and the Company generally does not require collateral. The Company performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers’ financial condition and maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts. The Company considers historical experience, the age of the accounts receivable balances, the credit quality of its customers, current economic conditions and other factors that may affect customers’ ability to pay to determine the level of allowance required. Accounts receivable are presented net of an allowance for doubtful accounts of approximately $1,000 and $3,000 at December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

For the year ended December 31, 2016 two customers accounted for approximately 30% or $1,162,000 of total revenues and had trade receivables of $78,000 as of the end of the year.  For the year ended December 31, 2015 two customers accounted for approximately 37% or $1,753,000 of total revenues and had trade receivables of $78,000 as of the end of the year. For the year ended December 31, 2014, one customer accounted for approximately 17% or $725,000 of total revenues and $0 trade receivables as of the end of the year.

Stock-Based Compensation

At December 31, 2016, the Company had one stock-based compensation plan for employees and nonemployee directors, which authorize the granting of various equity-based incentives including stock options and restricted stock.

The Company estimates the fair value of its stock options using a Black-Scholes option-pricing model, consistent with the provisions of ASC 718, “Compensation – Stock Compensation”. The fair value of stock options granted is recognized to expense over the requisite service period. Stock-based compensation expense for all share-based payment awards is recognized using the straight-line single-option method. Stock-based compensation expense is reported in operating expenses based upon the departments to which substantially all of the associated employees report and credited to additional paid-in-capital. Stock-based compensation expense related to equity options was approximately $1,162,000, $744,000 and $618,000 for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

ASC 718 requires the use of a valuation model to calculate the fair value of stock-based awards. The Company has elected to use the Black-Scholes option-pricing model, which incorporates various assumptions including volatility, expected life, and interest rates. The Company is required to make various assumptions in the application of the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The Company has determined that the best measure of expected volatility is based on the historical weekly volatility of the Company’s Common Stock. Historical volatility factors utilized in the Company’s Black-Scholes computations for options granted during the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014 ranged from 65% to 116%. The Company has elected to estimate the expected life of an award based upon the SEC approved “simplified method” noted under the provisions of Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 110. The expected term used by the Company during the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014 was 5.17 years. The difference between the actual historical expected life and the simplified method was immaterial. The interest rate used is the risk-free interest rate and is based upon U.S. Treasury rates appropriate for the expected term. Interest rates used in the Company’s Black-Scholes calculations for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014 averaged 2.6%. Dividend yield is zero as the Company does not expect to declare any dividends on the Company’s common shares in the foreseeable future.

In addition to the key assumptions used in the Black-Scholes model, the estimated forfeiture rate at the time of valuation is a critical assumption. The Company has estimated an annualized forfeiture rate of approximately 0% for corporate officers, 4.1% for members of the Board of Directors and 6.0% for all other employees. The Company reviews the expected forfeiture rate annually to determine if that percent is still reasonable based on historical experience.

Restricted stock units are recorded at the grant date fair value with corresponding compensation expense recorded ratably over the requisite service period.

Income Taxes

Current income tax expense or benefit is the amount of income taxes expected to be payable or refundable for the current year. A deferred income tax asset or liability is computed for the expected future impact of differences between the financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities and for the expected future tax benefit to be derived from tax credits and loss carryforwards. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance when, in the opinion of management, it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized.

Foreign Currency Translation

The financial position and results of operations of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries are measured using the foreign subsidiary’s local currency as the functional currency. Revenues and expenses of such subsidiaries have been translated into U.S. dollars at weighted-average exchange rates prevailing during the period. Assets and liabilities have been translated at the rates of exchange on the balance sheet date. The resulting translation gain and loss adjustments are recorded directly as a separate component of shareholders’ equity, unless there is a sale or complete liquidation of the underlying foreign investments. The Company translates foreign currencies of its German, Canadian and Mexican subsidiaries. The cumulative translation adjustment, which is recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss, decreased approximately $1,000 for the year ended December 31, 2016, increased approximately $67,000 for the year ended December 31, 2015 and decreased approximately $20,000 for the year ended December 31, 2014.

Comprehensive Loss

Comprehensive loss consists of net gains and losses affecting shareholders’ equity that, under generally accepted accounting principles, are excluded from net loss. For the Company, the only items are the cumulative translation adjustment and the additional minimum liability related to the Company’s defined benefit pension plan, recognized pursuant to ASC 715-30, "Compensation - Retirement Benefits - Defined Benefit Plans – Pension".

Advertising Costs

The Company expenses advertising costs as incurred. The Company incurred approximately $24,000 in advertising expenses during the year ended December 31, 2016, $12,000 in advertising expenses during the year ended December 31, 2015 and $9,000 during the year ended December 31, 2014.

Loss Per Share

Basic loss per common share is calculated by dividing net loss available to common shareholders for the period by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted loss per common share is calculated by dividing net loss available to common shareholders for the period by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period, adjusted to include, if dilutive, potential dilutive shares consisting of convertible preferred stock, convertible notes payable, stock options and warrants, calculated using the treasury stock and if-converted methods.  For diluted loss per share calculation purposes, the net loss available to commons shareholders is adjusted to add back any preferred stock dividends and any interest on convertible debt reflected in the consolidated statement of operations for the respective periods.

(Amounts in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
	Year Ended December 31,
Numerator for basic and diluted loss per share:	2016			2015			2014
Net loss	$	(9,527	)	$	(8,534	)	$	(7,940	)
Preferred dividends		(1,347	)		(1,065	)		(51	)
Net loss available to common shareholders	$	(10,874	)	$	(9,599	)	$	(7,991	)
Denominator for basic loss per share — weighted-average shares outstanding		94,426,783			93,786,079			91,795,971
Effect of dilutive securities		—			—			—
Denominator for diluted loss per share — weighted-average shares outstanding		94,426,783			93,786,079			91,795,971
Basic and diluted loss per share:
Net loss	$	(0.10	)	$	(0.09	)	$	(0.09	)
Preferred dividends		(0.02	)		(0.01	)		(—	)
Net loss available to common shareholders	$	(0.12	)	$	(0.10	)	$	(0.09	)

 The following potential dilutive securities have been excluded from the computations of diluted weighted-average shares outstanding as their effect would have been antidilutive:

Potential Dilutive Securities:	Common Share Equivalents at December 31, 2016		Common Share Equivalents at December 31, 2015		Common Share Equivalents at December 31, 2014
Convertible lines of credit		2,201,903		—		1,649,548
Convertible redeemable preferred stock – Series B		46,029		46,029		46,029
Convertible redeemable preferred stock – Series E		6,315,789		6,442,105		—
Convertible redeemable preferred stock – Series F		1,333,333		—		—
Convertible redeemable preferred stock – Series G		4,014,000		—		—
Stock options		6,506,843		5,376,969		4,057,296
Warrants		175,000		450,000		977,778
Total Potential Dilutive Securities		20,592,897		12,315,103		6,730,651

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

From time to time, new accounting pronouncements are issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”), or other standard setting bodies, which are adopted by us as of the specified effective date. Unless otherwise discussed, the Company’s management believes the impact of recently issued standards not yet effective will not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements upon adoption.

FASB ASU No. 2014-09. In May 2014, FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, which requires an entity to recognize the amount of revenue to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers. ASU No. 2014-09 will replace most existing revenue recognition guidance in U.S. GAAP when it becomes effective. In July 2015, the FASB finalized a one-year deferral of the effective date of the new standard. For public entities, the deferral results in the new revenue standard being effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2017. Calendar year-end public companies are therefore required to apply the revenue guidance beginning in their 2018 interim and annual financial statements. The standard permits the use of either the retrospective or cumulative effect transition method. We currently anticipate adopting the standard using the cumulative effect transition method during the first fiscal quarter in 2018.

FASB ASU No. 2014-15. In August 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-15, Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern, which provides guidance on management’s responsibility in evaluating whether there is substantial doubt about a company’s ability to continue as a going concern and to provide related footnote disclosures. ASU No. 2014-15 became effective in the fourth quarter of 2016. The adoption of ASU No. 2014-15 did not have a significant impact on our consolidated financial statements.

FASB ASU No. 2015-03. In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-03, “Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs.” The standard requires debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability, consistent with debt discounts. The recognition and measurement guidance for debt issuance costs are not affected. The standard became effective for the Company beginning January 1, 2016. The adoption of ASU No. 2015-03 did not have a significant impact on our consolidated financial statements.

FASB ASU No. 2015-11. In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-11, “Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory (Topic 330): Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory”. The amendments in ASU No. 2015-11 require an entity of measure inventory at the lower of cost or market. Market could be replacement cost, net realizable value, or net realizable value less an approximately normal profit margin. The amendments do not apply to inventory that is measured using last-in, first out (LIFO) or the retail inventory method. The amendments apply to all other inventory, which includes inventory that is measured using first-in, first-out (FIFO) or average cost. For public business entities, the amendments in ASU No. 2015-11 are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The amendments should be applied prospectively with earlier application permitted as of the beginning of an interim or annual reporting period. The adoption of ASU No. 2015-11 did not have a significant impact on our consolidated financial statements.

FASB ASU No. 2016-01. In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01, “Financial Instruments—Overall - Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities”. The amendments in this ASU address certain aspects of recognition, measurement, presentation, and disclosure of financial instruments and apply to all entities that hold financial assets or owe financial liabilities. The amendments in this ASU also simplify the impairment assessment of equity investments without readily determinable fair values by requiring assessment for impairment qualitatively at each reporting period. That impairment assessment is similar to the qualitative assessment for long-lived assets, goodwill, and indefinite-lived intangible assets. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those fiscal years, with earlier application permitted for financial statements that have not been issued. An entity should apply the amendments by means of a cumulative-effect adjustment to the balance sheet as of the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption. We plan to adopt the provisions of this ASU for our fiscal year beginning January 1, 2018 and are currently evaluating the impact the adoption of this new accounting standard will have on our consolidated financial statements.

FASB ASU No. 2016-02. In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, “Leases”. This guidance will result in key changes to lease accounting and will aim to bring leases onto balance sheets to give investors, lenders, and other financial statement users a more comprehensive view of a company's long-term financial obligations as well as the assets it owns versus leases. The new leasing standard will be effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and for interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company is currently evaluating the impact this guidance will have on our consolidated financial statements and anticipates commencement of adoption planning in the fourth fiscal quarter of 2018.

FASB ASU No. 2016-06. In March 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-06, Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815) – Contingent Put and Call Options in Debt Instruments (“ASU 2016-06”), which will reduce diversity of practice in identifying embedded derivatives in debt instruments. ASU 2016-06 clarifies that the nature of an exercise contingency is not subject to the “clearly and closely” criteria for purposes of assessing whether the call or put option must be separated from the debt instrument and accounted for separately as a derivative. This guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016 and interim periods within those fiscal years. The adoption of ASU No. 2016-06 did not have a significant impact on our consolidated financial statements.

FASB ASU No. 2016-08. In March 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-08, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Principal versus Agent Considerations (Reporting Revenue Gross versus Net)(“ASU 2016-08”). ASU 2016-08 clarifies the implementation guidance on principal versus agent considerations. The guidance includes indicators to assist an entity in determining whether it controls a specified good or service before it is transferred to the customers. This guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017 including interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company is currently assessing the impact that adopting this new accounting standard will have on its consolidated financial statements and footnote disclosures.

FASB ASU No. 2016-09. In March 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-09, Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718) (“ASU 2016-09”). ASU 2016-09 identifies areas for simplification involving several aspects of accounting for share-based payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, an option to recognize gross stock compensation expense with actual forfeitures recognized as they occur, as well as certain classifications on the statement of cash flows. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016 and interim periods within those annual periods. The adoption ASU No. 2016-09 did not have a significant impact on our consolidated financial statements.

FASB ASU No. 2016-10. In April 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-10, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing (“ASU 2016-10”). ASU 2016-10 provides further implementation guidance on identifying performance obligations and also improves the operability and understandability of the licensing implementation guidance. This guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017 including interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company is currently assessing the impact that adopting this new accounting standard will have on its consolidated financial statements and footnote disclosures.

FASB ASU No. 2016-13. In June 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standard Update No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. ASU No. 2016-13 changes the impairment model for most financial assets and certain other instruments. For trade and other receivables, held-to-maturity debt securities, loans and other instruments, entities will be required to use a new forward-looking “expected loss” model that will replace today’s “incurred loss” model and generally will result in the earlier recognition of allowances for losses. For available-for-sale debt securities with unrealized losses, entities will measure credit losses in a manner similar to current practice, except that the losses will be recognized as an allowance. This guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019 including interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact of adoption of this standard on its consolidated financial statements.

FASB ASU No. 2016-15. In August 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230) Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments. ASU 2016-15 eliminates the diversity in practice related to the classification of certain cash receipts and payments for debt prepayment or extinguishment costs, the maturing of a zero coupon bond, the settlement of contingent liabilities arising from a business combination, proceeds from insurance settlements, distributions from certain equity method investees and beneficial interests obtained in a financial asset securitization. ASU 2016-15 designates the appropriate cash flow classification, including requirements to allocate certain components of these cash receipts and payments among operating, investing and financing activities. This guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017 including interim periods within those fiscal years. The retrospective transition method, requiring adjustment to all comparative periods presented, is required unless it is impracticable for some of the amendments, in which case those amendments would be prospectively as of the earliest date practicable. The Company is currently assessing the impact that adopting this new accounting standard will have on its consolidated financial statements and footnote disclosures.

FASB ASU No. 2017-04. In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-04, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment. The amendments of this ASU eliminate step 2 from the goodwill impairment test. The annual, or interim test is performed by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount. The amendments of this ASU also eliminate the requirements for any reporting unit with a zero or negative carrying amount to perform a qualitative assessment and if it fails that qualitative test, to perform step 2 of the goodwill impairment test. ASU No. 2017-04 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact of adoption of this standard on its consolidated financial statements.