Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Significant Accounting Policies

v3.8.0.1
Significant Accounting Policies
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2017
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Significant Accounting Policies
Significant Accounting Policies
 
Basis of Presentation
 
The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). Any reference in these notes to applicable guidance is meant to refer to the authoritative GAAP as found in the Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) and Accounting Standards Updates (“ASU”) of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”).

Principles of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Cerecor Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries after elimination of all intercompany balances and transactions.

Variable Interest Entities
The primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity (VIE) must consolidate the related assets and liabilities. Certain disclosures are required by sponsors, significant interest holders in VIE’s and potential VIE’s. The Company regularly assesses its relationships with contractual third party and other entities for potential VIE’s. In making this assessment, the Company considers the potential that its contracts or other arrangements provide subordinated financial support, absorb losses or rights to residual returns of the entity and the ability to directly or indirectly make decisions about the entities’ activities. Based on the Company’s assessments performed, management concluded that there were no relationships that constitute a VIE for which the Company was determined to be the primary beneficiary at December 31, 2017. If the Company’s management makes the determination that it is the primary beneficiary of a VIE, the Company will consolidate the statements of operations and financial condition of the VIE into its consolidated financial statements.

Fair Value Measurements

            Fair value is a market-based measurement, not an entity-specific measurement. The objective of a fair value measurement is to estimate the price to sell an asset or transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date under current market conditions. Such transactions to sell an asset or transfer a liability are assumed to occur in the principal market for that asset or liability, or in the absence of the principal market, the most advantageous market for the asset or liability.
        
Assets and liabilities subject to fair value measurement disclosures are required to be classified according to a three-level fair value hierarchy with respect to the inputs (or assumptions) used to determine fair value. The level in which an asset or liability is disclosed within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level input that is significant to the related fair value measurement in its entirety. The guidance under the fair value measurement framework applies to other existing accounting guidance in the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) codification that requires or permits fair value measurements. Refer to related disclosures in Note 5-Fair Value Measurements.

Use of Estimates
 
The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues, expenses, and related disclosures. On an ongoing basis, management evaluates its estimates, including estimates related to but not limited to, revenue recognition, share-based compensation, fair value measurements (including those relating to contingent consideration), income taxes, goodwill and other intangible assets, and clinical trial accruals. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience and other market‑specific or other relevant assumptions that it believes to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results may differ from those estimates or assumptions.

 
Net Income (Loss) per Share, Basic and Diluted

Earnings per share are computed using the two-class method. The two-class method of computing earnings per share is an earnings allocation formula that determines earnings per share for common stock and any participating securities according to dividends declared (whether paid or unpaid) and participation rights in undistributed earnings. Shares of the unexercised warrants issued in the Armistice Private Placement transaction are considered participating securities because these warrants contain a non-forfeitable right to dividends irrespective of whether the warrants are ultimately exercised. Under the two-class method, earnings per common share for the common stock and participating warrants are computed by dividing the sum of distributed earnings to common shareholders and undistributed earnings allocated to common shareholders by the weighted-average number of shares of Common stock and participating warrants outstanding for the period. In applying the two-class method, undistributed earnings are allocated to common stock and participating warrants based on the weighted-average shares outstanding during the period.

Diluted net income (loss) per share includes the potential dilutive effect of common stock equivalents as if such securities were converted or exercised during the period, when the effect is dilutive. Common stock equivalents include: (i) outstanding stock options issued under the Company's Long-Term Incentive Plans which are included under the "treasury stock method" when dilutive, (ii) common stock to be issued upon the assumed conversion of the Company's unit purchase option shares, which are included under the "if-converted method" when dilutive, (iii) the contingently issuable shares in the TRx acquisition if contingencies would have been satisfied if the end of the contingency period were as of the balance sheet date under the “if converted method” when dilutive, and (iv) common stock to be issued upon the exercise of outstanding warrants which are included under the "treasury stock method" when dilutive. Because the impact of these items is generally anti-dilutive during periods of net loss, there is no difference between basic and diluted loss per common share for periods with net losses. In addition, net losses are not allocated to the participating securities.

Contingently issuable shares are included in the calculation of basic income (loss) per share as of the beginning of the period in which all the necessary conditions have been satisfied. Contingently issuable shares are included in diluted net income (loss) per share based on the number of shares, if any, that would be issuable under the terms of the arrangement if the end of the reporting period was the end of the contingency period, if the results are dilutive.


Cash and Cash Equivalents
 
The Company considers all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. The carrying amounts reported in the balance sheets for cash and cash equivalents are valued at cost, which approximates their fair value.

Escrowed Cash Receivable

On August 14. 2017, the Company sold all of its rights to CERC-501 to Janssen in exchange for initial gross proceeds of $25.0 million, of which $3.75 million was deposited into a twelve month escrow to secure certain indemnification obligations to Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. The Company evaluates its escrowed cash receivable balance each reporting period and establishes a reserve for amounts deemed uncollectible. No reserve was recorded as of December 31, 2017.

Restricted Cash

The Company established the Employee Stock Purchase Plan in 2016. Eligible employees can purchase common stock through accumulated payroll deductions at such times as are established by the Plan administrator. At December 31, 2017, approximately $2,000 of deposits had been made by employees for potential future stock purchases.

In 2016 the Company entered into a bank services pledge agreement with Silicon Valley Bank. In exchange for receiving business credit card services from Silicon Valley Bank, the Company deposited $50,000 as collateral with Silicon Valley Bank. This amount will remain deposited with Silicon Valley Bank for the duration the business credit card services are used by the Company. In addition, the Company has deposited $13,000 with the landlord of the Company's office space as a security deposit. These deposits are recorded as restricted cash, net of current portion on the balance sheet at December 31, 2017 and 2016.
 
Accounts Receivable, net

Accounts receivable at December 31, 2017 are comprised of amounts due from customers in the ordinary course of business. Management considers all accounts receivable to be fully collectible at December 31, 2017, and accordingly, no allowance for doubtful accounts has been recorded. Bad debt expense is charged to operations as amounts are determined to be uncollectible. Accounts receivable are written off when deemed uncollectible and recoveries of receivables previously written off are recorded when received.

Accounts receivable are considered to be past due if any portion of the receivable balance is outstanding for more than the payment terms negotiated with the customer. The Company generally negotiates payment terms of 30 days. The Company offers wholesale distributors a prompt payment discount, which is typically 2% as an incentive to remit payment within this timeframe. Accounts receivable are stated net of the estimated prompt pay discount which has a balance of $57,705 at December 31, 2017.

Concentration of Credit Risk
 
Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk are primarily cash and cash equivalents. The Company maintains a portion of its cash and cash equivalent balances in the form of a money market account with a financial institution that management believes to be creditworthy. The Company has no financial instruments with off‑balance sheet risk of loss.
 
Inventory

Inventory consists of finished goods acquired through the Purchase Agreement with TRx on November 17, 2017, and is stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value, with cost determined on a first-in, first-out basis. The Company reviews the composition of inventory at each reporting period in order to identify obsolete, slow-moving, quantities in excess of expected demand, or otherwise non-saleable items. If non-saleable items are observed and there are no alternate uses for the inventory, the Company will record a write-down to net realizable value in the period that the decline in value is first recognized. These valuation adjustments are recorded based upon various factors for the Company’s products, including the level of product manufactured by the Company, the level of product in the distribution channel, current and projected product demand, the expected shelf life of the product and firm inventory purchase commitments.

Shipping, Handling, and Freight

The Company includes the cost of shipping, handling, and freight associated with product sales as part of cost of goods sold.

Debt and Equity Issuance Costs
 
The Company may record debt and equity discounts in connection with raising funds through the issuance of convertible notes or equity instruments. These discounts may arise from (i) the receipt of proceeds less than the face value of the convertible notes or equity instruments, (ii) allocation of proceeds to beneficial conversion features and/or (iii) recording derivative liabilities related to embedded features. For debt instruments, these costs are amortized over the life of the debt to interest expense utilizing the effective interest method. For equity instruments, these costs are netted against the gross proceeds received from the issuance of the equity.

Property and Equipment
 
Property and equipment consists of computers, office equipment, and furniture and is recorded at cost. Maintenance and repairs that do not improve or extend the lives of the respective assets are expensed to operations as incurred. Property and equipment are depreciated on a straight‑line basis over their estimated useful lives. The Company uses a life of four years for computers and software, and five years for equipment and furniture. Upon retirement or sale, the cost of the disposed asset and the related accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts and any resulting gain or loss is recognized.

Goodwill

Goodwill relates to the amount that arose in connection with the acquisition of TRx. Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the net assets acquired when accounted for using the acquisition method of accounting for business combinations. Goodwill is not amortized but is evaluated for impairment on an annual basis or more frequently if an event occurs or circumstances change that would more-likely-than-not reduce the fair value of the Company's reporting unit below its carrying amount.

Intangible Assets

Intangible assets with definite useful lives are amortized over their estimated useful lives and reviewed for impairment if certain events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Intangible assets subject to amortization are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an intangible asset may not be recoverable. Impairment losses are measured and recognized to the extent the carrying value of such assets exceeds their fair value. The Company recorded no impairment losses during the year ended December 31, 2017.

Contingent Consideration

The Company’s TRx acquisition involves the potential for future payment of consideration that is contingent upon the achievement of operational and commercial milestones. The preliminary fair value of contingent consideration liabilities was determined at the acquisition date using unobservable level 3 inputs. These inputs include the estimated amount and timing of projected cash flows, the probability of success (achievement of the contingent event) and the risk-adjusted discount rate used to present value the probability-weighted cash flows. Subsequent to the acquisition date, at each reporting period, the contingent consideration liability is remeasured at current fair value with changes recorded in the consolidated statements of operations. Changes in any of the inputs may result in a significantly different fair value adjustment.

License and Other Revenue

The Company recognizes revenues from collaboration, license or other research or sale arrangements when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, delivery has occurred or services have been rendered, the price is fixed or determinable and collectability is reasonably assured. Revenue from potential future milestones, if substantive, is recognized when the milestone is achieved and the payment is due and collectible. The sale of the CERC-501 license to Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in August 2017 was the sole source of license and other revenue.

Grant Revenue

The Company recognizes grant revenue when there is (i) reasonable assurance of compliance with the conditions of the grant and (ii) reasonable assurance that the grant will be received. In April 2016, the Company received a research and development grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse ("NIDA") at the National Institutes of Health ("NIH") to provide additional resources for the period of May 2016 through April 2017 for the Company’s now completed Phase 2 clinical trial for CERC-501, “A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover Design Study of CERC-501 in a Human Laboratory Model of Smoking Behavior.” The amount of the NIDA award was $1.02 million. Additionally, in July 2016, the Company received a research and development grant from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism ("NIAAA") at the NIH to provide additional resources for the period of July 2016 through June 2017 to progress the development of CERC-501 for the treatment of alcohol use disorder. The amount of the NIAAA award was $1.0 million. The Company recognizes revenue under grants in earnings on a systemic basis in the period the related expenditures for which the grants are intended to compensate are incurred. As such, the Company recognized revenue in the amounts of $0.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2017 for the NIAAA award and $1.02 million and $132,000 for the year ended December 31, 2016 for the NIDA award and NIAAA award, respectively. As of December 31, 2016, the Company had received the full $1.02 million of the revenue earned under the NIDA award.

Product Revenues, net

Product sales revenue is recognized when title has transferred to the customer and the customer has assumed the risks and rewards of ownership, which is typically on delivery to the customer and collectability is reasonably assured. Revenue from sales transactions where the buyer has the right to return the product is recognized at the time of sale only if (i) the seller’s price to the buyer is substantially fixed or determinable at the date of sale, (ii) the buyer has paid the seller, or the buyer is obligated to pay the seller and the obligation is not contingent on resale of the product, (iii) the buyer’s obligation to the seller would not be changed in the event of theft or physical destruction or damage of the product, (iv) the buyer acquiring the product for resale has economic substance apart from that provided by the seller, (v) the seller does not have significant obligations for future performance to directly bring about resale of the product by the buyer, and (vi) the amount of future returns can be reasonably estimated.

Revenues from sales of products are recorded net of estimated allowances for returns, wholesaler fees, prompt payment discounts, customer coupon redemptions, government rebates, and rebates under managed care plans. Provisions for returns, specialty distributor fees, wholesaler fees, government rebates, and rebates under managed care plans are included within current liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet. Provisions for prompt payment discounts are generally shown as a reduction in accounts receivable. Calculating these items involves estimates and judgments based on sales or invoice data, contractual terms, historical utilization rates, new information regarding changes in these programs’ regulations and guidelines that would impact the amount of the actual rebates, our expectations regarding future utilization rates for these programs, and channel inventory data.


Sales Force Revenue

Pursuant to a Marketing Agreement with Pharmaceutical Associates, Inc. (“PAI”), the Company receives a monthly marketing fee to promote, market and sell certain products on behalf of PAI. The Company also receives a matching fee payment for each month of the term of the Marketing Agreement if certain provisions calculated in accordance with the terms and inputs set forth in the Marketing Agreement are met. Marketing fees and any matching payments are recognized as sale force revenue when all the performance obligations have been satisfied and earned.

The Company and PAI also share the net revenues from sales of certain products, after reimbursing certain expenditures, in a manner designed to achieve a 50/50 split of net revenues above a “break even” point, calculated in accordance with the terms and inputs set forth in the agreement. We recognize these revenue sharing payments as earned under the terms of the agreement when collectability is reasonably assured.


Cost of Product Sales

Cost of product sales is comprised of (i) costs to acquire products sold to customers; (ii) royalty, license payments and other agreements granting the Company rights to sell related products; (iii) distribution costs incurred in the sale of products; and (iv) the value of any write-offs of obsolete or damaged inventory that cannot be sold. The Company acquired the rights to sell certain of its commercial products through license and assignment agreements with the original developers or other parties with interests in these products. These agreements obligate the Company to make payments under varying payment structures based on its net revenue from related products.

Concentration with Customer

The Company sells its prescription pharmaceutical products in the United States primarily through wholesale distributors and a specialty contracted pharmacy. Wholesale distributors account for substantially all of the Company’s net product revenues and trade receivables. In addition, the Company earns revenue from sales of its prescription pharmaceutical products directly to retail pharmacies and research and development grants. In August 2017, the Company sold all of its licensing rights for a prior product candidate, CERC-501, to a third party.

For the year ended December 31, 2017, the Company’s three largest customers accounted for approximately 40%, 25% and 22%, respectively, of the Company’s total net product revenues from sale of prescription pharmaceutical products. At December 31, 2017, these top three customers represented, in the aggregate, approximately 42%, 26% and 21%, respectively, of the Company’s consolidated accounts receivable balance.

The Company did not generate any product revenue for the year ended December 31, 2016.

Concentrations of Products and Sales

The Company’s five prescription pharmaceutical product lines accounted for 100% of the Company’s total product revenue, net for the year ended December 31, 2017.

The Company did not generate any product revenue for the year ended December 31, 2016.


Concentration with Vendor

The Company’s top five vendors accounted for approximately 60% and 70% of the Company’s accounts payable at December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively.

    
Research and Development
 
Research and development costs are expensed as incurred. These costs include, but are not limited to, employee‑related expenses, including salaries, benefits and stock‑based compensation of research and development personnel; expenses incurred under agreements with contract research organizations and investigative sites that conduct clinical trials and preclinical studies; the cost of acquiring, developing and manufacturing clinical trial materials; other supplies; facilities, depreciation and other expenses, which include direct and allocated expenses for rent, utilities and insurance; and costs associated with preclinical activities and regulatory operations.
 
Costs for certain development activities, such as clinical trials, are recognized based on an evaluation of the progress to completion of specific tasks using data such as patient enrollment, clinical site activations, or information provided to the Company by its vendors, such as clinical research organizations, with respect to their actual costs incurred. Payments for these activities are based on the terms of the individual arrangements, which may differ from the pattern of costs incurred, and are reflected in the financial statements as prepaid or accrued research and development expense, as the case may be.


Sales and Marketing Expenses

Sales and marketing expenses consist primarily of professional fees, advertising and marketing cost and salaries, benefits and related costs for sales and sales support personnel, including stock‑based compensation and travel expenses. Sales and marketing expense also includes amortization of marketing rights intangible assets acquired in the acquisition of TRx.

 
Comprehensive Loss
 
Comprehensive loss is defined as the change in equity of a business enterprise during a period from transactions and other events and circumstances from non‑owner sources. Comprehensive loss was equal to net loss for all periods presented.

Income Taxes
 
The Company accounts for income taxes under the asset and liability method in accordance with ASC 740, Income Taxes (“ASC 740”). Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to affect taxable income. Deferred tax assets primarily include net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards, accrued expenses not currently deductible and the cumulative temporary differences related to certain research and patent costs. Certain tax attributes, including net operating losses and research and development credit carryforwards, may be subject to an annual limitation under Sections 382 and 383 of the Internal Revenue Code (the "Code"). See Note 15 for further information. The portion of any deferred tax asset for which it is more likely than not that a tax benefit will not be realized must then be offset by recording a valuation allowance. The Company recognizes the tax benefit from an uncertain tax position only if it is more likely than not to be sustained upon examination based on the technical merits of the position. The amount for which an exposure exists is measured as the largest amount of benefit determined on a cumulative probability basis that the Company believes is more likely than not to be realized upon ultimate settlement of the position. The Company’s policy is to record interest and penalties on uncertain tax positions as income tax expense. As of December 31, 2017, the Company does not believe any material uncertain tax positions are present.

On December 22, 2017, President Trump signed into law the “Tax Cuts and Jobs Act,” or TCJA, that significantly reforms the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. The TCJA, among other things, includes changes to U.S. federal tax rates, imposes significant additional limitations on the deductibility of interest and net operating loss carryforwards, allows for the expensing of capital expenditures, and puts into effect the migration from a “worldwide” system of taxation to a territorial system. See the tax footnote below for further discussion related to the tax impact to the Company.

Stock‑Based Compensation
 
The Company applies the provisions of ASC 718, Compensation—Stock Compensation (“ASC 718”), which requires the measurement and recognition of compensation expense for all stock‑based awards made to employees and non‑employees, including employee stock options, in the statements of operations.

For stock options issued to employees and members of the board of directors for their services on the board of directors, the Company estimates the grant date fair value of each option using the Black‑Scholes option pricing model. The use of the Black‑Scholes option pricing model requires management to make assumptions with respect to the expected term of the option, the expected volatility of the common stock consistent with the expected life of the option, risk‑free interest rates and expected dividend yields of the common stock. For awards subject to service‑based vesting conditions, including those with a graded vesting schedule, the Company recognizes stock‑based compensation expense equal to the grant date fair value of stock options on a straight‑line basis over the requisite service period, which is generally the vesting term. Forfeitures are recorded as they are incurred as opposed to being estimated at the time of grant and revised.

For stock options issued to non‑employees, the Company initially measures the options at their grant date fair values and revalues as the underlying equity instruments vest and are recognized as expense over the earlier of the period ending with the performance commitment date or the date the services are completed in accordance with the provisions of ASC 718 and ASC 505‑50, Equity‑Based Payments to Non‑Employees (“ASC 505‑50”).
 
Clinical Trial Expense Accruals
 
As part of the process of preparing its financial statements, the Company is required to estimate its expenses resulting from its obligations under contracts with vendors, clinical research organizations and consultants and under clinical site agreements in connection with conducting clinical trials. The financial terms of these contracts are subject to negotiations, which vary from contract to contract and may result in payment flows that do not match the periods over which materials or services are provided under such contracts. The Company’s objective is to reflect the appropriate trial expenses in its financial statements by matching those expenses with the period in which services are performed and efforts are expended. The Company accounts for these expenses according to the progress of the trial as measured by subject progression and the timing of various aspects of the trial. The Company determines accrual estimates by taking into account discussion with applicable personnel and outside service providers as to the progress or state of consummation of trials, or the services completed. During the course of a clinical trial, the Company adjusts its clinical expense recognition if actual results differ from its estimates. The Company makes estimates of its accrued expenses as of each balance sheet date based on the facts and circumstances known to it at that time. The Company’s clinical trial accruals are dependent upon the timely and accurate reporting of contract research organizations and other third‑party vendors. Although the Company does not expect its estimates to be materially different from amounts actually incurred, its understanding of the status and timing of services performed relative to the actual status and timing of services performed may vary and may result in it reporting amounts that are too high or too low for any particular period. For the years ended December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, there were no material adjustments to the Company’s prior period estimates of accrued expenses for clinical trials.
 
Segment Information
 
Operating segments are identified as components of an enterprise about which separate discrete financial information is available for evaluation by the chief operating decision maker, or decision‑making group, in making decisions on how to allocate resources and assess performance. The Company’s chief operating decision maker is currently represented by the Company's management team which consists of our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Business Officer and Chief Financial Officer. The Company and the management team view the Company’s operations and manage its business as one operating segment. All long‑lived assets of the Company reside in the United States.
    
Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

In October 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-17, Consolidation (Topic 810): Interests Held through Related Parties That Are under Common Control, which amends the consolidation guidance on how a reporting entity that is a single decision maker of a variable interest entity should treat indirect interest in the entity held through related parties that are under common control. This guidance is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within those annual periods, with early adoption permitted. We adopted this standard in connection with our acquisition of TRx. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on our financial statements.

In March 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2016-09, Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting. The guidance is intended to simplify several areas of accounting for share-based compensation, classification on the statement of cash flows and forfeitures. The new standard was adopted by the Company effective January 1, 2017 and its adoption will have no impact on its financial position, results of operations or cash flows. Consistent with the update, the Company accounts for forfeitures as they occur as opposed to being estimated at the time of grant and revised. In connection with adoption, the Company has elected to account for forfeitures as they occur as opposed to being estimated at the time of grant and revised.

In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-11, “Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory” (ASU 2015-11). ASU 2015-11 states that an entity should measure inventory at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Net realizable value is the estimated selling prices in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal and transportation. For public entities, ASU 2015-11is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within those fiscal years. We adopted this standard in connection with our acquisition of TRx. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes.

In November 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-17, Income Taxes: Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes. This ASU simplifies the presentation of deferred income taxes and requires that deferred tax liabilities and assets be classified as noncurrent amounts in the consolidated balance sheets.  Such amounts were previously required to be classified as current and noncurrent assets and liabilities.  The Company adopted ASU 2015-17 effective January 1, 2017. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes.


Recent Accounting Pronouncements
 
In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606). Topic 606 supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in Topic 605, Revenue Recognition, including most industry-specific revenue recognition guidance throughout the Industry Topics of the Accounting Standards Codification. ASU 2014-09 provides a comprehensive new revenue recognition model that requires a company to recognize revenue to depict the transfer of goods or services to a customer in an amount that reflects the consideration it expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services.  Additional disclosures are required regarding the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from customer contracts, including significant judgments and changes in judgments and assets recognized from costs incurred to obtain or fulfill a contract. In addition, ASU 2014-09 defines a five-step process to achieve this core principle and, in doing so, more judgment and estimates may be required within the revenue recognition process than are required under existing U.S. GAAP. Under the new guidance, there are specific criteria to determine if a performance obligation should be recognized over time or at a point in time.
In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-04, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Deferral of the Effective Date. The amendment in this ASU defers the effective date of ASU No. 2014-09 for all entities for one year. Public business entities should apply the guidance in ASU 2014-09 to annual reporting periods beginning December 15, 2017, including interim reporting periods within that reporting period. Earlier application is permitted only as of annual reporting periods beginning after December 31, 2016, including interim reporting periods within that reporting period.

In March 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2016-08, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. The update addresses the implementation guidance on principal versus agent considerations in ASU 2014-09. The ASU clarifies how an entity should identify the unit of accounting (i.e. the specified good or service) for the principal versus agent evaluation and how it should apply the control principle to certain types of arrangements.

Subsequently, the FASB has issued the following updates related to ASU 2014-09 and ASU No. 2016-08: ASU No. 2016-10, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing (“ASU 2016-10”); ASU No. 2016-12, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Narrow-Scope Improvements and Practical Expedients (“ASU 2016-12”); ASU No. 2016-20, Technical Corrections and Improvements to Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASU 2016-20”); and, ASU 2017-05-Other Income-Gains and Losses from the Derecognition of Nonfinancial Assets (Subtopic 610-20): Clarifying the Scope of Asset Derecognition Guidance and Accounting for Partial Sales of Nonfinancial Assets (“ASU 2017-05). The Company must adopt ASU 2016-10, ASU 2016-12, ASU 2016-20 and ASU 2017-05 with ASU 2014-09 (collectively, the “new revenue standards”) effective January 1, 2018 (the “effective date”) using either a “full retrospective” approach for all periods presented in the period of adoption or a “modified retrospective” approach. On January 1, 2018, the Company adopted the new revenue standards for all contracts not completed as of the adoption date using the modified retrospective method.

The Company has completed an analysis of its existing contracts with customers and assessed the differences in accounting for such contracts under the new revenue standards compared with current revenue accounting standards. The Company has identified and implemented appropriate changes to its business policies, processes, and controls to support the adoption, recognition and disclosures under the new revenue standards. Based on the Company’s review of current customer contracts, the Company does not expect the implementation of the new revue standards to have a material quantitative impact on its consolidated financial statements as the timing of revenue recognition for product sales is not expected to significantly change. In addition, the Company does not expect a material cumulative effect adjustment to Retained earnings upon adoption of the new revenue standards on January 1, 2018.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) ("ASU 2016-02'). This guidance revises existing practice related to accounting for leases under ASC 840, Leases (“ASC 840”) for both lessees and lessors. The new guidance in ASU 2016-02 requires lessees to recognize a right-of-use asset and a lease liability for nearly all leases (other than leases that meet the definition of a short-term lease). The lease liability will be equal to the present value of lease payments and the right-of-use asset will be based on the lease liability, subject to adjustment such as for initial direct costs. For income statement purposes, the new standard retains a dual model similar to ASC 840, requiring leases to be classified as either operating leases or capital leases. For lessees, operating leases will result in straight-line expense (similar to current accounting by lessees for operating leases under ASC 840) while capital leases will result in a front-loaded expense pattern (similar to current accounting by lessees for capital leases under ASC 840). The new standard is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early application is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact of the adoption of this standard on its financial statements.
In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-15 Statement of Cash Flows, Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments (ASU 2016-15), which reduces existing diversity in the classification of certain cash receipts and cash payments on the statements of cash flows. ASU 2016-15 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and for interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. The Company expects to adopt this standard on January 1, 2018 and does not expect its adoption will have a significant impact on the Company’s financial statements.
In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-18, Restricted Cash ("ASU 2016-18"). The guidance is intended to address the diversity that currently exists in the classification and presentation of changes in restricted cash on the statement of cash flows. The new standard requires that entities show the changes in the total of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents on the statement of cash flows and no longer present transfers between cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents on the statement of cash flows. The new standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early application is permitted. The Company expects to adopt this standard on January 1, 2018 and does not expect its adoption will have a significant impact on the Company’s financial statements.
In October 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-16, “Income Taxes (Topic 740), Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other Than Inventory,” which requires companies to recognize the income tax consequences of an intra-entity transfer of an asset other than inventory when the transfer occurs. ASU 2016-16 is effective for annual reporting periods, and interim periods therein, beginning after December 15, 2017. The Company does not expect the adoption of ASU 2016-16 to have a significant impact on the Company’s financial statements.


In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-04 (ASU 2017-04) “Intangibles-Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment.” ASU 2017-04 eliminates step two of the goodwill impairment test and specifies that goodwill impairment should be measured by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount. Additionally, the amount of goodwill allocated to each reporting unit with a zero or negative carrying amount of net assets should be disclosed. ASU 2017-04 is effective for annual or interim goodwill impairment tests performed in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019; early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact of the adoption of this standard on its financial statements.
In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-01, Business Combinations (Topic 805): Clarifying the Definition of a Business ("ASU 2017-01"). The standard provides guidance to assist entities with evaluating whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions (or disposals) of assets or businesses. If substantially all of the fair value of the gross assets acquired (or disposed of) is concentrated in a single asset or a group of similar assets, the assets acquired (or disposed of) are not considered a business. ASU 2017-01 is effective for fiscal periods beginning after December 15, 2017 (including interim periods within those periods) with early adoption permitted. The Company expects to adopt this standard on January 1, 2018 and does not expect its adoption will have a significant impact on the Company’s financial statements.
In May 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-09, Compensation-Stock Compensation (Topic 718) - Scope of Modification Accounting (“ASU 2017-09”) to clarify when to account for a change to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award as a modification. Under the new guidance, modification accounting is required only if the fair value, the vesting conditions, or the classification of the award (as equity or liability) changes as a result of the change in terms or conditions. The guidance is effective prospectively for all companies for annual periods and interim periods within those annual periods, beginning on or after December 15, 2017. The Company expects to adopt this standard on January 1, 2018 and does not expect its adoption will have a significant impact on the Company’s financial statements.