2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation

The accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of Silvercrest and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, SLP, SAMG LLC, SFS, MCG, Silvercrest Investors LLC, Silvercrest Investors II LLC and Silvercrest Investors III LLC as of and for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017.  All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated.

The Company evaluates for consolidation those entities it controls through a majority voting interest or otherwise, including those Silvercrest Funds over which the general partner or equivalent is presumed to have control, e.g. by virtue of the limited partners not being able to remove the general partner. The initial step in the Company’s determination of whether a fund for which SLP is the general partner is required to be consolidated is assessing whether the fund is a variable interest entity or a voting interest entity.

SLP considers whether the fund is a voting interest entity (“VoIE”) in which the unaffiliated limited partners have substantive “kick-out” rights that provide the ability to dissolve (liquidate) the limited partnership or otherwise remove the general partner without cause. SLP considers the “kick-out” rights to be substantive if the general partner for the fund can be removed by the vote of a simple majority of the unaffiliated limited partners and there are no significant barriers to the unaffiliated limited partners’ ability to exercise these rights in that among other things, (1) there are no conditions or timing limits on when the rights can be exercised, (2) there are no financial or operational barriers associated with replacing the general partner, (3) there are a number of qualified replacement investment advisors that would accept appointment at the same fee level, (4) each fund’s documents provide for the ability to call and conduct a vote, and (5) the information necessary to exercise the kick-out rights and related vote are available from the fund and its administrator.

If the fund is a variable interest entity, SLP then determines whether it has a variable interest in the fund, and if so, whether SLP is the primary beneficiary.  In determining whether SLP is the primary beneficiary, SLP evaluates its control rights as well as economic interests in the entity held either directly or indirectly by SLP. The consolidation analysis can generally be performed qualitatively; however, if it is not readily apparent that SLP is not the primary beneficiary, a quantitative analysis may also be performed. Amendments to the governing documents of the respective Silvercrest Funds could affect an entity’s status as a VIE or the determination of the primary beneficiary. At each reporting date, SLP assesses whether it is the primary beneficiary and will consolidate or deconsolidate accordingly.

As of December 31, 2019 and 2018 and for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, each fund is deemed to be a VoIE and neither SLP nor Silvercrest consolidated any of the Silvercrest Funds.

Non-controlling interest

As of December 31, 2019 and 2018, Silvercrest holds approximately 64.8% of the economic interests in SLP. Silvercrest is the sole general partner of SLP and, therefore, controls the management of SLP. As a result, Silvercrest consolidates the financial position and the results of operations of SLP and its subsidiaries, and records a non-controlling interest, as a separate component of equity on its Consolidated Statement of Financial Condition for the remaining economic interests in SLP that is held by the limited partners. The non-controlling interest in the income or loss of SLP is included in the Consolidated Statement of Operations as a reduction or addition to net income derived from SLP.

Segment Reporting

The Company views its operations as comprising one operating segment, the investment management industry. Each of the Company’s acquired businesses have similar economic characteristics and have been fully integrated upon acquisition. Furthermore, our chief operating decision maker, which is the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, monitors and reviews financial information at a consolidated level for assessing operating results and the allocation of resources.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of the Consolidated Financial Statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the Consolidated Financial Statements and the reported amounts of revenues, expenses and other income reported in the Consolidated Financial Statements and the accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Significant estimates and assumptions made by management include the fair value of acquired assets and liabilities, equity based compensation, accounting for income taxes, the useful lives of long-lived assets and other matters that affect the Consolidated Financial Statements and related disclosures.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all highly liquid securities with original maturities of 90 days or less when purchased to be cash equivalents.

Equity Method Investments

Entities and investments over which the Company exercises significant influence over the activities of the entity but which do not meet the requirements for consolidation are accounted for using the equity method of accounting, whereby the Company records its share of the underlying income or losses of these entities. Intercompany profit arising from transactions with affiliates is eliminated to the extent of its beneficial interest. Equity in losses of equity method investments is not recognized after the carrying value of an investment, including advances and loans, has been reduced to zero, unless guarantees or other funding obligations exist.

The Company evaluates its equity method investments for impairment, whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amounts of such investments may not be recoverable. The difference between the carrying value of the equity method investment and its estimated fair value is recognized as an impairment when the loss in value is deemed other than temporary. The Company’s equity method investments approximate their fair value at December 31, 2018. The fair value of the equity method investments is estimated based on the Company’s share of the fair value of the net assets of the equity method investee. No impairment charges related to equity method investments were recorded during the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017.

Receivables and Due from Silvercrest Funds

Receivables consist primarily of amounts for advisory fees due from clients and management fees, and are stated as net realizable value. The Company maintains an allowance for doubtful receivables based on estimates of expected losses and specific identification of uncollectible accounts. The Company charges actual losses to the allowance when incurred.

Furniture, Equipment and Leasehold Improvements

Furniture, equipment and leasehold improvements consist primarily of furniture, fixtures and equipment, computer hardware and software and leasehold improvements and are recorded at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation and amortization are calculated using the straight-line method over the assets’ estimated useful lives, which for leasehold improvements is the lesser of the lease term or the life of the asset, generally 10 years, and 3 to 7 years for other fixed assets.

Business Combinations

The Company accounts for business combinations using the acquisition method of accounting. The acquisition method of accounting requires that purchase price, including the fair value of contingent consideration, of the acquisition be allocated to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed using the fair values determined by management as of the acquisition date. The method for determining relative fair value varied depending on the type of asset or liability and involved management making significant estimates related to assumptions such as future growth rates used to produce financial projections and the selection of unobservable inputs and other assumptions. The inputs used in establishing the fair value are in most cases unobservable and reflect the Company's own judgments about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the assets acquired and liabilities assumed. Contingent consideration is recorded as part of the purchase price when such contingent consideration is not based on continuing employment of the selling shareholders. Contingent consideration that is related to continuing employment is recorded as compensation expense. Payments made for contingent consideration recorded as part of an acquisition’s purchase price are reflected as financing activities in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

The Company remeasures the fair value of contingent consideration at each reporting period using a probability-adjusted discounted cash flow method based on significant inputs not observable in the market and any change in the fair value from either the passage of time or events occurring after the acquisition date, is recorded in earnings. Contingent consideration payments that exceed the acquisition date fair value of the contingent consideration are reflected as an operating activity in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

The excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the identifiable assets acquired, including intangibles, and liabilities assumed is recorded as goodwill. The Company generally uses valuation specialists to perform appraisals and assist in the determination of the fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed. These valuations require management to make estimates and assumptions that are critical in determining the fair values of the assets and liabilities. During the measurement period, the Company may record adjustments to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed. Any adjustments to provisional amounts that are identified during the measurement period are recorded in the reporting period in which the adjustment amounts are determined. Upon the conclusion of the measurement period, any subsequent adjustments are recorded to earnings.

Goodwill and Intangible Assets

Goodwill consists of the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of identifiable net assets of businesses acquired. Goodwill is not amortized but is evaluated for impairment at least annually, on October 1^st of each year, or whenever events or circumstances indicate that impairment may have occurred.

The Company accounts for goodwill under Accounting Standard Codification (“ASC”) No. 350, “Intangibles - Goodwill and Other,” which provides an entity the option to first perform a qualitative assessment of whether a reporting unit’s fair value is more likely than not less than its carrying value, including goodwill. In performing its qualitative assessment, an entity considers the extent to which adverse events or circumstances identified, such as changes in economic conditions, industry and market conditions or entity specific events, could affect the comparison of the reporting unit’s fair value with its carrying amount. If an entity concludes that the fair value of a reporting unit is more likely than not less than its carrying amount, the entity is required to perform the currently prescribed two-step goodwill impairment test to identify potential goodwill impairment and, accordingly, measure the amount, if any, of goodwill impairment loss to be recognized for that reporting unit. The Company utilized this option when performing its annual impairment assessment in 2019, 2018 and 2017, and concluded that its single reporting unit’s fair value was more likely than not greater than its carrying value, including goodwill.

The Company has one reporting unit at December 31, 2019 and 2018. No goodwill impairment charges were recorded during the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017.

Intangible assets of the Company are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the net carrying amount of the asset may not be recoverable. In connection with such review, the Company also re-evaluates the periods of amortization for these assets. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to undiscounted future net cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If such assets are considered to be impaired, the impairment to be recognized is measured by the amount by which the carrying amount of the assets exceeds their fair value.

Identifiable finite-lived intangible assets are amortized over their estimated useful lives ranging from 3 to 20 years. The method of amortization is based on the pattern over which the economic benefits, generally expected undiscounted cash flows, of the intangible asset are consumed. Intangible assets for which no pattern can be reliably determined are amortized using the straight-line method. Intangible assets consist primarily of the contractual right to future management, advisory and performance fees from customer contracts or relationships.

Long-lived Assets

Long-lived assets of the Company are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the net carrying amount of the asset may not be recoverable. In connection with such review, the Company also re-evaluates the periods of depreciation and amortization for these assets. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to undiscounted future net cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If such assets are considered to be impaired, the impairment to be recognized is measured by the amount by which the carrying amount of the assets exceeds their fair value.

Partner Distributions

Partner incentive allocations, which are determined by the general partner, can be formula-based or discretionary. Partner incentive allocations are treated as compensation expense and recognized in the period in which they are earned. In the event there is insufficient distributable cash flow to make incentive distributions, the general partner in its sole and absolute discretion may determine not to make any distributions called for under the partnership agreement. The remaining net income or loss after partner incentive allocations is generally allocated to unit holders based on their pro rata ownership.

Redeemable Partnership Units

If a principal of SLP is terminated for cause, SLP has the right to redeem all of the vested Class B units collectively held by the principal and his or her permitted transferees for a purchase price equal to the lesser of (i) the aggregate capital account balance in SLP of the principal and his or her permitted transferees or (ii) the purchase price paid by the terminated principal to first acquire the Class B units.

SLP also makes distributions to its partners of various nature including incentive payments, profit distributions and tax distributions.  The profit distributions and tax distributions are accounted for as equity transactions.

Class A Common Stock

The Company’s Class A stockholders are entitled to one vote for each share held of record on all matters submitted to a vote of the Company’s stockholders. Also, Class A stockholders are entitled to receive dividends, when and if declared by the Company’s board of directors, out of funds legally available therefor, subject to any statutory or contractual restrictions on the payment of dividends and to any restrictions on the payment of dividends imposed by the terms of any outstanding preferred stock. Dividends consisting of shares of Class A common stock may be paid only as follows: (i) shares of Class A common stock may be paid only to holders of shares of Class A common stock and (ii) shares will be paid proportionately with respect to each outstanding share of the Company’s Class A common stock. Upon the Company’s liquidation, dissolution or winding-up, or the sale of all, or substantially all, of the Company’s assets, after payment in full of all amounts required to be paid to creditors and to holders of preferred stock having a liquidation preference, if any, the Class A stockholders will be entitled to share ratably in the Company’s remaining assets available for distribution to Class A stockholders. Class B units of SLP held by principals will be exchangeable for shares of the Company’s Class A common stock, on a one-for-one basis, subject to customary adjustments for share splits, dividends and reclassifications.

Class B Common Stock

Shares of the Company’s Class B common stock are issuable only in connection with the issuance of Class B units of SLP. When a vested or unvested Class B unit is issued by SLP, the Company will issue the holder one share of its Class B common stock in exchange for the payment of its par value. Each share of the Company’s Class B common stock will be redeemed for its par value and cancelled by the Company if the holder of the corresponding Class B unit exchanges or forfeits its Class B unit pursuant to the terms of the Second Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of SLP and the terms of the Silvercrest Asset Management Group Inc. 2012 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2012 Equity Incentive Plan”). The Company’s Class B stockholders will be entitled to one vote for each share held of record on all matters submitted to a vote of the Company’s stockholders. The Company’s Class B stockholders will not participate in any dividends declared by the Company’s board of directors. Upon the Company’s liquidation, dissolution or winding-up, or the sale of all, or substantially all, of its assets, Class B stockholders only will be entitled to receive the par value of the Company’s Class B common stock.

Revenue Recognition

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued ASC 606 (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 entitles for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers.  The Company has evaluated the impact of ASC 606 on the Consolidated Financial Statements.  The impact of adopting ASC 606 (ASU No. 2014-09) is de minimis to the Company’s consolidated financial statements and recognition of revenue when compared to ASC 605. The new revenue standard requires more comprehensive revenue recognition disclosure in the Company’s notes to the consolidated financial statements.  

The Company generates revenue from management and advisory fees, performance fees, and family office services fees. Management and advisory fees are generated by managing assets on behalf of separate accounts and acting as investment adviser for various investment funds. Performance fees relate to assets managed in external investment strategies in which the Company has a revenue sharing arrangement and in funds in which the Company has no partnership interest. Management and advisory fees and family office services fees income is recognized through the course of the period in which these services are provided. Income from performance fees is recorded at the conclusion of the contractual performance period when all contingencies are resolved. In certain arrangements, the Company is only entitled to receive performance fees and allocations when the return on assets under management exceeds certain benchmark returns or other performance targets.

The discretionary investment management agreements for the Company’s separately managed accounts do not have a specified term. Rather, each agreement may be terminated by either party at any time, unless otherwise agreed with the client, upon written notice of termination to the other party. The investment management agreements for the Company’s private funds are generally in effect from year to year, and may be terminated at the end of any year (or, in certain cases, on the anniversary of execution of the agreement) (i) by the Company upon 30 or 90 days’ prior written notice and (ii) after receiving the affirmative vote of a simple majority of the investors in the private fund that are not affiliated with the Company, by the private fund on 60 or 90 days’ prior written notice. The investment management agreements for the private funds may also generally be terminated effective immediately by either party where the non-terminating party (i) commits a material breach of the terms subject, in certain cases, to a cure period, (ii) is found to have committed fraud, gross negligence or willful misconduct or (iii) terminates, becomes bankrupt, becomes insolvent or dissolves. Each of the Company’s investment management agreements contains customary indemnification obligations from the Company to their clients.

The management and advisory fees are primarily driven by the level of the Company’s assets under management. The assets under management increase or decrease based on the net inflows or outflows of funds into the Company’s various investment strategies and the investment performance of their clients’ accounts. In order to increase the Company’s assets under management and expand their business, the Company must develop and market investment strategies that suit the investment needs of their target clients and provide attractive returns over the long term. The Company’s ability to continue to attract clients will depend on a variety of factors including, among others:

The majority of management and advisory fees that the Company earns on separately-managed accounts are based on the value of assets under management on the last day of each calendar quarter. Most of the management and advisory fees are billed quarterly in advance on the first day of each calendar quarter. The Company’s basic annual fee schedule for management of clients’ assets in separately managed accounts is generally: (i) for managed equity or balanced portfolios, 1% of the first $10 million and 0.60% on the balance, (ii) for managed fixed income only portfolios, 0.40% on the first $10 million and 0.30% on the balance, (iii) for the municipal value strategy, 0.65%, (iv) for Cortina equity portfolios, 1.0% on the first $25 million, 0.90% on the next $25 million and 0.80% on the balance and (v) for outsourced chief investment officer portfolios, 0.40% on the first $50 million, 0.32% on the next $50 million and 0.24% on the balance. The Company’s fee for monitoring non-discretionary assets can range from 0.05% to 0.01%, but can also be incorporated into an agreed-upon fixed family office service fee. The majority of the Company’s client relationships pay a blended fee rate since they are invested in multiple strategies.

Management fees earned on investment funds that the Company advises are calculated primarily based on the net assets of the funds. Some funds calculate investment fees based on the net assets of the funds as of the last business day of each calendar quarter, whereas other funds calculate investment fees based on the value of net assets on the first business day of the month. Depending on the investment fund, fees are paid either quarterly in advance or quarterly in arrears. For the Company’s private funds, the fees range from 0.25% to 1.5% annually. Certain management fees earned on investment funds for which the Company performs risk management and due diligence services are based on flat fee agreements customized for each engagement.

The Company’s management and advisory fees may fluctuate based on a number of factors, including the following:

The Company’s performance fees and allocations may fluctuate based on performance with respect to accounts and funds on which the Company is paid incentive fees and allocations.

The Company’s family office services capabilities enable us to provide comprehensive and integrated services to their clients. The Company’s dedicated group of tax and financial planning professionals provide financial planning, tax planning and preparation, partnership accounting and fund administration and consolidated wealth reporting among other services. Family office services income fluctuates based on both the number of clients for whom the Company performs these services and the level of agreed-upon fees, most of which are flat fees. Therefore, non-discretionary assets under management, which are associated with family office services, do not typically serve as the basis for the amount of family office services revenue that is recognized. Family office services fees are also typically billed quarterly in advance at the beginning of the quarter or in arrears after the end of the quarter based on a contractual percentage of the assets managed or upon a contractually agreed-upon flat fee arrangement. Revenue is recognized on a ratable basis over the period in which services are performed.

The Company accounts for performance-based revenue in accordance with ASC 606 by recognizing performance fees and allocations as revenue only when it is certain that the fee income is earned and payable pursuant to the relevant agreements. In certain arrangements, the Company is only entitled to receive performance fees and allocations when the return on assets under management exceeds certain benchmark returns or other performance targets. The Company records performance fees and allocations as a component of revenue once the performance fee which is recognized at a point in time upon crystallization of the performance fee. As a result, there is no estimate or variability in the consideration when revenue is recorded.

Transition approach

The Company utilized the modified cumulative effect method as part its adoption of ASU 2014-09. The Company recognized the modified cumulative effective of initially applying ASU 2014-09 as an adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings of the annual reporting period that includes the date of initial application. As stated above, the impact of the adoption of ASU 2014-09 was immaterial.  This method was applied to either incomplete contracts the revenue of which had not been recognized in accordance with prior revenue guidance as of the date of initial application or all contracts as of, and new contracts after, the date of initial application. As of December 31, 2017, all revenue recognized was for complete contracts of revenue. As a result, there was no adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings of the annual reporting period that includes the date of adoption, which was January 1, 2018.

Equity-Based Compensation

Equity-based compensation costs relating to the issuance of share-based awards to employees are based on the fair value of the award at the date of grant, which is expensed ratably over the requisite service period, net of estimated forfeitures. The forfeiture assumption is ultimately adjusted to the actual forfeiture rate. Therefore, changes in the forfeiture assumptions may affect the timing of the total amount of expense recognized over the vesting period. The service period is the period over which the employee performs the related services, which is normally the same as the vesting period. Equity-based awards that do not require future service are expensed immediately. Equity-based awards that have the potential to be settled in cash at the election of the employee are classified as liabilities (“Liability Awards”) and are adjusted to fair value at the end of each reporting period.

Leases

In February 2016, the FASB established Topic 842, Leases, by issuing ASU No. 2016-02 (“ASC 842”), which requires lessees to recognize leases on-balance sheet and disclose key information about leasing arrangements. Topic 842 was subsequently amended by ASU No. 2018-01, Land Easement Practical Expedient for Transition to Topic 842; ASU No. 2018-10, Codification Improvements to Topic 842, Leases; and ASU No. 2018-11, Targeted Improvements. The new standard establishes a right-of-use model (“ROU”) that requires a lessee to recognize a ROU asset and lease liability on the balance sheet for all leases with a term longer than 12 months. Leases will be classified as finance or operating, with classification affecting the pattern and classification of expense recognition in the consolidated statement of operations.

The new standard became effective for the Company on January 1, 2019 and the Company adopted this standard on this date. A modified retrospective transition approach is required, applying the new standard to all leases existing at the date of initial application. An entity may choose to use either (1) the effective date of the standard or (2) the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements as its date of initial application. If an entity chooses the second option, the transition requirements for existing leases also apply to leases entered into between the date of initial application and the effective date. The entity must also recast its comparative period financial statements and provide the disclosures required by the new standard for the comparative periods. The Company elected to use the effective date as its date of initial application. Consequently, financial information will not be updated and the disclosures required under the new standard will not be provided for dates and periods prior to January 1, 2019.

The new standard provides a number of optional practical expedients as part of transition accounting. The Company elected the “package of practical expedients”, which allowed the Company to avoid reassessing its prior conclusions about lease identification, lease classification and initial direct costs under the new standard. The Company did not elect the use-of-hindsight or the practical expedient pertaining to land easements as these were not applicable to the Company.

This standard had a material effect on the Company’s financial statements. The most significant changes relate to (1) the recognition of new ROU assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet for its office equipment and real estate operating leases and (2) providing significant new disclosures about the Company’s leasing activities.

Upon adoption, the Company recognized additional operating liabilities of approximately $44.0 million, with corresponding ROU and other assets based on the present value of the remaining minimum rental payments under current leasing standards for existing operating leases.  The Company determines if an arrangement is a lease at inception. The Company used an incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at the commencement date of the lease in determining the present value of lease payments. In determining the ROU asset and lease liability at lease inception, the lease terms may include options to extend or terminate the lease when it is reasonably certain that we will exercise that option. Lease expense for lease payments is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term.

The new standard also provides practical expedients for an entity’s ongoing accounting for leases. The Company elected the short-term lease recognition exemption for office equipment leases. For those current and prospective leases that qualify as short-term, the Company will not recognize ROU assets or lease liabilities. The Company also elected the practical expedient to not separate lease and non-lease components for all of its leases.

Income Taxes

Silvercrest and SFS are subject to federal and state corporate income tax, which requires an asset and liability approach to the financial accounting and reporting of income taxes. SLP is not subject to federal and state income taxes, since all income, gains and losses are passed through to its partners. SLP is, however, subject to New York City unincorporated business tax. With respect to the Company’s incorporated entities, the annual tax rate is based on the income, statutory tax rates and tax planning opportunities available in the various jurisdictions in which the Company operates. Tax laws are complex and subject to different interpretations by the taxpayer and respective governmental taxing authorities. Judgment is required in determining the tax expense and in evaluating tax positions. The tax effects of any uncertain tax position (“UTP”) taken or expected to be taken in income tax returns are recognized only if it is “more likely-than-not” to be sustained on examination by the taxing authorities, based on its technical merits as of the reporting date. The tax benefits recognized in the consolidated financial statements from such a position are measured based on the largest benefit that has a greater than fifty percent likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement. The Company recognizes estimated accrued interest and penalties related to UTPs in income tax expense.

The Company recognizes the benefit of a UTP in the period when it is effectively settled. Previously recognized tax positions are derecognized in the first period in which it is no longer more likely than not that the tax position would be sustained upon examination.

On December 22, 2017, the tax legislation commonly known as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“TCJA”) was signed into law. Under FASB ASC 740 “Accounting for Income Taxes”, the effects of new legislation are recognized upon enactment. Accordingly, recognition of the tax effects of the TCJA is required in the interim and annual periods that include December 22, 2017. The TCJA reduces the corporate tax rate to 21 percent, effective January 1, 2018, for all corporations.  Because ASC 740-10-25-47 requires the effect of a change in tax laws or rates to be recognized as of the date of enactment, all corporations, regardless of their year-end, must adjust their deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities as of December 22, 2017, the enactment date. The effect of changes in tax laws or rates on deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities is allocated to continuing operations as a discrete item rather than through the annual effective tax rate.

The Company has completed the accounting for the income tax effects under the TCJA that is relevant to the Company and required to be recorded and disclosed pursuant to ASC 740. The Company believes that the accounting is final relative to the TCJA and there are no provisional amounts. The Consolidated Financial Statements reflect all such adjustments and disclosures related to the TCJA that are required under the guidance referenced above.

Recent Accounting Developments

In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01, "Financial Instruments—Overall (Topic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities." Although the ASU retains many current requirements, it significantly revises an entity’s accounting related to (1) the classification and measurement of investments in equity securities and (2) the presentation of certain fair value changes for financial liabilities measured at fair value. The ASU also amends certain disclosure requirements associated with the fair value of financial instruments.  Some of the amendments in ASU 2016-01 include the following: (1) requires equity investments (except those accounted for under the equity method of accounting or those that result in consolidation of the investee) to be measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in net income; (2) simplifies the impairment assessment of equity investments without readily determinable fair values by requiring a qualitative assessment to identify impairment; (3) requires public business entities to use the exit price notion when measuring the fair value of financial instruments for disclosure purposes; and (4) requires an entity to present separately in other comprehensive income the portion of the total change in the fair value of a liability resulting from a change in the instrument-specific credit risk when the entity has elected to measure the liability at fair value, among others. ASU 2016-01 became effective on January 1, 2018. The adoption of this ASU did not have a material effect on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, “Accounting for Credit Losses” which amends the Board’s guidance on the impairment of financial instruments. The ASU adds to U.S. GAAP an impairment model (known as the current expected credit loss (CECL) model) that is based on expected losses rather than incurred losses. Under the new guidance, an entity recognizes as an allowance its estimate of expected credit losses, which the FASB believes will result in more timely recognition of such losses. This amendment is effective for all entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company is in the process of evaluating the impact of the adoption of this guidance on its Consolidated Financial Statements.

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15, “Cash Flow Classification” which amends the guidance in ASC 230 on the classification of certain cash receipts and payments in the statement of cash flows. The amendment was effective for the Company on January 1, 2018. The adoption of this ASU did not have a material effect on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.

In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-18, “Restricted Cash” which requires that a statement of cash flows explain the change during a reporting period in the total of cash, cash equivalents, and amounts generally described as restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents. The amendment was effective for the Company on January 1, 2018. The adoption of this ASU did not have a material effect on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.

In January 2017, The FASB issued ASU 2017-01, “Business Combinations (Topic 85): Clarifying the Definition of a Business”.  The amendments in this update clarify the definition of a business with the objective of adding guidance to assist entities with evaluating whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions or disposals of assets or businesses.  ASU 2017-01 will be effective for the Company in fiscal year 2019 and interim reporting periods within that year.  Early adoption is permitted for transactions that have not been reported in financial statements that have been issued or made available for issuance.  The adoption of this ASU did not have a material effect on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.

In January 2017, The FASB issued ASU 2017-04, “Intangibles – Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment”.  ASU 2017-04 simplifies the subsequent measurement of goodwill by eliminating Step 2 from the goodwill impairment testing.  An entity will no longer determine goodwill impairment by calculating the implied fair value of goodwill by assigning the fair value of a reporting unit to all of its assets and liabilities as if that reporting unit had been acquired in a business combination.  Instead, an entity should perform its annual, or interim, goodwill impairment test by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount and recognize an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value.  The loss recognized should not exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit.  An entity has the option to perform the qualitative assessment for a reporting unit to determine if the quantitative impairment test is necessary.  ASU 2017-04 will be effective for the Company in fiscal year 2021 and interim reporting periods within that year.  Early adoption is permitted for interim or annual goodwill impairment tests performed on testing dates after January 1, 2017.  The Company expects the adoption of this guidance will not have a material effect on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.

In February 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 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”.  The ASU conforms the derecognition guidance on nonfinancial assets with the model for transactions in the new revenue standard (ASC 606, as amended).  Subtopic 610-20 was issued as part of the new revenue standard. It provides guidance for recognizing gains and losses from the transfer of nonfinancial assets in contracts with non-customers. The new guidance defines “in substance nonfinancial assets,” unifies guidance related to partial sales of nonfinancial assets, eliminates rules specifically addressing sales of real estate, removes exceptions to the financial asset derecognition model, and clarifies the accounting for contributions of nonfinancial assets to joint ventures. This ASU was effective for the Company on January 1, 2018. The adoption of this ASU did not have a material effect on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.

In May 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-09 “Compensation – Stock”.  The ASU amends the scope of modification accounting for share-based payment arrangements.  The ASU provides guidance on the types of changes to the terms or conditions of share-based payment awards to which an entity would be required to apply modification accounting under ASC 718.  Specifically, an entity would not apply modification accounting if the fair value, vesting conditions, and classification of the awards are the same immediately before and after the modification.  This ASU was effective for the Company on January 1, 2018. The adoption of this ASU did not have a material effect on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-15, “Customer’s Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That is a Service Contract.” The ASU provides guidance for entities to evaluate the accounting for fees paid by a customer in a cloud computing arrangement which includes a software license. ASU 2018-15 is effective for public entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, and interim periods within those fiscal years.  The Company expects the adoption of this guidance will not have a material effect on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.

In August 2018, the SEC issued Final Rule Release No. 33-10532, Disclosure Update and Simplification. The rule amends certain disclosure requirements that have become redundant, overlapping, outdated or superseded. The rule became effective for the Company’s quarterly report for the period ended September 30, 2018, with the ability to adopt the changes in that period, or defer until 2019.  As such, the Company elected to defer the changes to the interim period disclosure rules related to changes to shareholders’ equity until its first quarter report in 2019.  The adoption of this rule did not have a material effect on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.