Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2015

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]

These interim consolidated financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries are unaudited. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) and disclosures necessary for a fair presentation of these interim consolidated financial statements have been included. The results reported in the unaudited consolidated financial statements for any interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be reported for the entire year. The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and do not include all information and footnotes necessary for a complete presentation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”).

The unaudited consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated.

Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in the annual consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP have been condensed or omitted. These unaudited financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 10, 2015.

Use of estimates

The preparation of the unaudited consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues, expenses, and the related disclosures at the date of the financial statements and during the reporting period. Actual results could materially differ from these estimates. Significant estimates in the six months ended June 30, 2015 and 2014 include the allowance for doubtful accounts, the allowance for obsolete inventory, the useful life of property, plant and equipment, assumptions used in assessing impairment of long-term assets and valuation of deferred tax assets and accruals for taxes due.

Cash

Cash consists of cash on hand and cash in banks. The Company maintains cash with various financial institutions in China and Hong Kong and none of these deposits are covered by insurance. At June 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, cash balances in China are $25,387,888 and $12,486,630, respectively, and cash balances in Hong Kong are $823,110 and $265,642, respectively, and are uninsured. The Company has not experienced any losses in bank accounts and believes it is not exposed to any risks on its cash in bank accounts.

Fair value of financial instruments

The Company adopted the guidance of ASC Topic 820 for fair value measurements which clarifies the definition of fair value, prescribes methods for measuring fair value, and establishes a fair value hierarchy to classify the inputs used in measuring fair value as follows:

Level 1-Inputs are unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities available at the measurement date.

Level 2-Inputs are unadjusted quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets and liabilities in markets that are not active, inputs other than quoted prices that are observable, and inputs derived from or corroborated by observable market data.

Level 3-Inputs are unobservable inputs which reflect the reporting entity’s own assumptions on what assumptions the market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on the best available information.

The carrying amounts reported in the consolidated balance sheets for cash, accounts receivable, inventories, prepaid expenses, prepaid expenses – related parties, deferred expenses – related parties, other receivables, other receivable – related parties, accounts payable, accounts payable – related parties, advances from customers, bank loans, accrued liabilities and other payables, dividend payable and due to related parties approximate their fair market value based on the short-term maturity of these instruments. As of June 30, 2015, the Company does not have any assets or liabilities that are measured on a recurring basis at fair value. The Company’s short-term bank borrowings that are considered Level 2 financial instruments measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis as of June 30, 2015. The Company does not have any level 3 financial instruments.

ASC Topic 825-10 “Financial Instruments” allows entities to voluntarily choose to measure certain financial assets and liabilities at fair value (fair value option). The fair value option may be elected on an instrument-by-instrument basis and is irrevocable, unless a new election date occurs. If the fair value option is elected for an instrument, unrealized gains and losses for that instrument should be reported in earnings at each subsequent reporting date. The Company did not elect to apply the fair value option to any outstanding instruments.

Accounts receivable

Accounts receivable are presented net of an allowance for doubtful accounts. The Company maintains allowance for doubtful accounts for estimated losses. The Company reviews the accounts receivable on a periodic basis and makes general and specific allowance when there is doubt as to the collectability of individual balances. In evaluating the collectability of individual receivable balance, the Company considers many factors, including the age of the balance, a customer’s historical payment history, its current credit-worthiness and current economic trends. Accounts are written off after exhaustive efforts at collection. The Company only grants credit terms to established customers who are deemed to be financially responsible. Credit periods to customers are within 180 days after customers received the purchased goods. At June 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the Company has established, based on a review of its outstanding balances, an allowance for doubtful accounts in the amounts of $1,017,513 and $1,174,121, respectively.

Inventories

Inventories, consisting of frozen fish and marine catches, are stated at the lower of cost or market utilizing the weighted average method. The Cost of inventories comprises of fuel, freight, depreciation, direct labor, consumables, and government levied charges and taxes. Consumables include fishing nets and metal containers used by fishing vessels. The Company’s fishing fleets in Indian and Indonesian waters operate throughout the year, although the May to July period demonstrates lower catch quantities compared to the October to January period, which is the peak season.

An allowance is established when management determines that certain inventories may not be saleable. If inventory costs exceed expected market value due to obsolescence or quantities in excess of expected demand, the Company will record reserve for the difference between the cost and the market value. These reserves are recorded based on estimates. The Company did not record any inventory reserve at June 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014.

Fishing licenses

Each of the Company’s fishing vessels requires an approval from Ministry of Agriculture of the People's Republic of China to carry out ocean fishing projects in foreign territories. These approvals are valid for a period from three to twelve months, and are awarded to the Company at no cost. The Company applies for the renewal of the approval prior to expiration to avoid interruptions of fishing vessels’ operations.

Each of the Company’s fishing vessels operated in Indonesian waters requires a fishing license granted by the authority in Indonesia. Indonesian fishing licenses remain effective for a period of twelve months and the Company applies for renewal prior to expiration. The Company records the cost of Indonesian fishing licenses in deferred expenses on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and amortizes over the effective periods of the licenses.

Property, plant and equipment

Property, plant and equipment are carried at cost and are depreciated on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the assets. The cost of repairs and maintenance is expensed as incurred; major replacements and improvements are capitalized. When assets are retired or disposed of, the cost and accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts, and any resulting gains or losses are included in income in the year of disposition. The Company examines the possibility of decreases in the value of fixed assets when events or changes in circumstances reflect the fact that their recorded value may not be recoverable.

Included in property, plant and equipment are fishing vessels under construction which includes the costs of construction and any interest charges arising from borrowings used to finance these assets during the period of construction of the assets. No provision for depreciation is made on fishing vessels under construction until such time as the relevant assets are completed and ready for their intended use.

The estimated useful lives of the assets are as follows:

		Estimated useful life
Fishing vessels		10 - 20 Years
Vehicles		5 Years
Office and other equipment		3 - 5 Years

Expenditures for repairs and maintenance, which do not extend the useful life of the assets, are expensed as incurred.

Capitalized interest

Interest associated with the construction of fishing vessels is capitalized and included in the cost of the fishing vessels. When no debt is incurred specifically for the construction of a fishing vessel, interest is capitalized on amounts expended on the construction using weighted-average cost of the Company’s outstanding borrowings. Capitalization of interest ceases when the construction is substantially complete or the construction activity is suspended for more than a brief period. The Company capitalized interest of $0 and $214,911 for the three months ended June 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively, in the fishing vessels under construction. The Company capitalized interest of $0 and $592,998 for the six months ended June 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively, in the fishing vessels under construction.

Impairment of long-lived assets

In accordance with ASC Topic 360, the Company reviews long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the assets may not be fully recoverable, or at least annually. The Company recognizes an impairment loss when the sum of expected undiscounted future cash flows is less than the carrying amount of the asset. The amount of impairment is measured as the difference between the asset’s estimated fair value and its book value. The Company did not record any impairment charge for the three and six months ended June 30, 2015 and 2014.

Advances from customers

Advances from customers at June 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014 amounted to $0 and $164,724, respectively, and consist of prepayments from customers for merchandise that had not yet been shipped or delivered. The Company will recognize the deposits as revenue as customers take delivery of the goods and the purchase price is fixed and collectability is reasonably assured in accordance with the Company’s revenue recognition policy.

Revenue recognition

Pursuant to the guidance of ASC Topic 605 and ASC Topic 360, the Company recognizes revenue when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, delivery has occurred or services have been rendered, the purchase price is fixed or determinable and collectability is reasonably assured. With respect to the sale of frozen fish and other marine catches to third party customers, most of which are sole proprietor regional wholesalers in China, the Company recognizes revenue when customers pick up purchased goods at the Company’s cold storage warehouse, after payment is received by the Company or credit sale is approved by the Company for recurring customers who have a history of financial responsibility. The Company does not offer promotional payments, customer coupons, rebates or other cash redemption offers to its customers. The Company does not accept returns from customers.

Government grant

Government grants are recognized at their fair value where there is reasonable assurance that the grant will be received and all attaching conditions will be complied with. When the grant relates to an expense item, it is recognized as income over the periods necessary to match the grant on a systematic basis to the costs that it is intended to compensate. Where the grant relates to an asset, the fair value is credited to the cost of the asset and is released to the income statement over the expected useful life in a consistent manner with the depreciation method for the relevant asset.

Deferred grant income

Deferred grant income represents grant collected but not earned as of the report date. This is primarily composed of receipts of the government grants to construct new fishing vessels. Upon the completion of the construction of the fishing vessels, the grant is deducted from the cost of the fishing vessels. At June 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the Company did not record any deferred grant income.

Income taxes

Under the current laws of the Cayman Islands and British Virgin Islands, the Company and Merchant Supreme are not subject to any income or capital gains tax, and dividend payments that the Company may make are not subject to any withholding tax in the Cayman Islands or British Virgin Islands. Under the current laws of Hong Kong, Prime Cheer is not subject to any capital gains tax and dividend payments are not subject to any withholding tax in Hong Kong.

The Company is not incorporated nor does it engage in any trade or business in the United States and is not subject to United States federal income taxes. The Company did not derive any significant amount of income subject to such taxes after completion of the Share Exchange and accordingly, no relevant tax provision is made in the accompanying unaudited consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income.

The Company's subsidiary, Pingtan Fishing, is a qualified ocean fishing enterprise certified by the Ministry of Agriculture of the PRC. The qualification is renewed on April 1 each year. Pingtan Fishing is exempt from income tax derived from its ocean fishing operations in the periods it processes a valid Ocean Fishing Enterprise Qualification Certificate issued by the Ministry of Agriculture of the PRC.

The new China’s Enterprise Income Tax Law (“EIT Law”) also provides that an enterprise established under the laws of foreign countries or regions but whose “de facto management body” is located in the PRC be treated as a resident enterprise for PRC tax purposes and consequently be subject to the PRC income tax at the rate of 25% for its worldwide income. The Implementing Rules of the new EIT Law merely defines the location of the “de facto management body” as “the place where the exercising, in substance, of the overall management and control of the production and business operation, personnel, accounting, properties, etc., of a non-PRC company is located.” On April 22, 2009, the PRC State Administration of Taxation further issued a notice entitled “Notice Regarding Recognizing Offshore-Established Enterprises Controlled by PRC Shareholders as Resident Enterprises Based on Their Place of Effective Management.” Under this notice, a foreign company controlled by a PRC company or a group of PRC companies shall be deemed as a PRC resident enterprise if (i) the senior management and the core management departments in charge of its daily operations mainly function in the PRC; (ii) its financial decisions and human resource decisions are subject to decisions or approvals of persons or institutions in the PRC; (iii) its major assets, accounting books, company seals, minutes and files of board meetings and shareholders’ meetings are located or kept in the PRC; and (iv) more than half of the directors or senior management personnel with voting rights reside in the PRC. Based on a review of surrounding facts and circumstances, the company does not believe that it is likely that its operations outside of the PRC should be considered a resident enterprise for PRC tax purposes. However, due to limited guidance and implementation history of the new EIT Law, should the Company be treated as a resident enterprise for PRC tax purposes, the Company will be subject to PRC tax on worldwide income at a uniform tax rate of 25% retroactive to May 3, 2012.

In addition, Pingtan Fishing is not subject to foreign income taxes for its operations in either India and Indonesia Exclusive Economic Zones or the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission areas.

Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are determined based upon differences between the financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities and are measured using the enacted tax rates and laws that will be effective when the differences are expected to reverse.

Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance to the extent that management concludes it is more likely than not that the assets will not be realized. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in the consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income in the period that includes the enactment date.

The Company has not recorded deferred income taxes applicable to undistributed earnings of the subsidiaries located in the PRC because it is the present intention of management to reinvest the undistributed earnings indefinitely in PRC. The cumulative undistributed earnings from PRC subsidiaries amounted to approximately $179.5 million and $172.9 million as of June 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively, which are included in consolidated retained earnings. Generally, such earnings become subject to the PRC tax upon the remittance of dividends and under certain other circumstances. It is not practicable to estimate the amount of deferred tax liability on such undistributed earnings.

The Company prescribes a more-likely-than-not threshold for financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken in the tax return. This interpretation also provides guidance on de-recognition of income tax assets and liabilities, classification of current and deferred income tax assets and liabilities, accounting for interest and penalties associated with tax positions, accounting for income taxes in interim periods and income tax disclosures. As of June 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, there were no amounts that had been accrued with respect to uncertain tax positions.

Shipping and handling costs

Shipping and handling costs are included in selling expense and totaled $70,124 and $152,434 for the three months ended June 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively. Shipping and handling costs totaled $229,465 and $366,359 for the six months ended June 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

Employee benefits

The Company makes mandatory contributions to the PRC government’s health, retirement benefit and unemployment funds in accordance with the relevant Chinese social security laws. The costs of these payments are charged to the same accounts as the related salary costs in the same period as the related salary costs incurred. Employee benefit costs totaled $220,709 and $262,420 for the three months ended June 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively. Employee benefit costs totaled $475,026 and $554,224 for the six months ended June 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

Advertising

Advertising is expensed as incurred and is included in selling expense on the accompanying consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income and totaled $25,181 and $533 for the three months ended June 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively. Advertising expense totaled $90,372 and $533 for the six months ended June 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

Research and development

Research and development costs are expensed as incurred and are included in general and administrative expense. The Company did not incur any research and development costs during the three and six months ended June 30, 2015 and 2014.

Foreign currency translation

The reporting currency of the Company is the U.S. dollar. The functional currency of the parent company and subsidiaries of Merchant Supreme and Prime Cheer is the U.S. dollar and the functional currency of the Company’s subsidiaries of Pingtan Guansheng, Fujian Heyue and Pingtan Fishing is the Chinese Renminbi (“RMB”). For the subsidiaries of Pingtan Guansheng, Fujian Heyue and Pingtan Fishing, whose functional currencies are the RMB, results of operations and cash flows are translated at average exchange rates during the period, assets and liabilities are translated at the unified exchange rate at the end of the period, and equity is translated at historical exchange rates. As a result, amounts relating to assets and liabilities reported on the statements of cash flows may not necessarily agree with the changes in the corresponding balances on the balance sheets. Translation adjustments resulting from the process of translating the local currency financial statements into U.S. dollars are included in determining comprehensive income. The cumulative translation adjustment and effect of exchange rate changes on cash for the six months ended June 30, 2015 and 2014 was $41,522 and $(417,568), respectively. Transactions denominated in foreign currencies are translated into the functional currency at the exchange rates prevailing on the transaction dates. Assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into the functional currency at the exchange rates prevailing at the balance sheet date with any transaction gains and losses that arise from exchange rate fluctuations on transactions denominated in a currency other than the functional currency are included in the results of operations as incurred.

All of the Company’s revenue transactions are transacted in the functional currency of the operating subsidiaries. The Company does not enter into any material transaction in foreign currencies. Transaction gains or losses have not had, and are not expected to have, a material effect on the results of operations of the Company.

The foreign currency exchange rates were obtained from www.oanda.com. Asset and liability accounts at June 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014 were translated at 6.0888 RMB to $1.00 and at 6.1385 RMB to $1.00, respectively, which were the exchange rates on the balance sheet dates. Equity accounts were stated at their historical rate. The average translation rates applied to the statements of income and comprehensive income for the six months ended June 30, 2015 and 2014 were 6.1128 RMB and 6.1883 RMB to $1.00, respectively. Cash flows from the Company’s operations are calculated based upon the local currencies using the average translation rate.

Earnings per share

ASC Topic 260 “Earnings per Share,” requires presentation of both basic and diluted earnings per share (“EPS”) with a reconciliation of the numerator and denominator of the basic EPS computation to the numerator and denominator of the diluted EPS computation. Basic EPS excludes dilution. Diluted EPS reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue common stock were exercised or converted into common stock or resulted in the issuance of common stock that then shared in the earnings of the entity.

Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing net income available to common stockholders by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Diluted net income per share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of shares of common stock, common stock equivalents and potentially dilutive securities outstanding during each period. Potentially dilutive common shares consist of the common shares issuable upon the exercise of common stock warrants (using the treasury stock method). Common stock equivalents are not included in the calculation of diluted earnings per share if their effect would be anti-dilutive. The following table presents a reconciliation of basic and diluted net income per share:

	Three Months Ended June 30,					Six Months Ended June 30,
	2015			2014		2015		2014
Net (loss) income available to owners of the company for basic and diluted net (loss) income per share of ordinary stock	$	(1,481,996	)	$	14,842,361	$	6,741,251	$	38,231,077
Weighted average ordinary stock outstanding - basic and diluted		79,055,053			79,055,053		79,055,053		79,055,053
Net (loss) income per ordinary share - basic and diluted	$	(0.02	)	$	0.19	$	0.09	$	0.48

At June 30, 2015 and 2014, the warrants to purchase 8,966,667 shares of ordinary stock have not been included in the calculation of diluted earnings per share in order to avoid any anti-dilutive effect.

Related parties

Parties are considered to be related to the Company if the parties, directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, control, are controlled by, or are under common control with the Company. Related parties also include principal owners of the Company, its management, members of the immediate families of principal owners of the Company and its management and other parties with which the Company may deal with if one party controls or can significantly influence the management or operating policies of the other to an extent that one of the transacting parties might be prevented from fully pursuing its own separate interests. The Company discloses all significant related party transactions. Transactions are recorded at fair value of the goods or services exchanged, except for those under common control, which are recorded at carrying value of the transferor.

Comprehensive income

Comprehensive income is comprised of net income and all changes to the statements of stockholders’ equity, except those due to investments by stockholders, changes in paid-in capital and distributions to stockholders. For the Company, comprehensive income for the six months ended June 30, 2015 and 2014 included net income and unrealized gain/loss from foreign currency translation adjustments.

Segment information

ASC 280 “Segment reporting” establishes standards for reporting information on operating segments in interim and annual financial statements. All of the Company's operations are considered by the chief operating decision maker to be aggregated in one reportable operating segment. All of the Company’s operations and customers are in the PRC and all income is derived from ocean fishery.

Commitments and contingencies

In the normal course of business, the Company is subject to contingencies, including legal proceedings and environmental claims arising out of the normal course of businesses that relate to a wide range of matters, including among others, contracts breach liability. The Company records accruals for such contingencies based upon the assessment of the probability of occurrence and, where determinable, an estimate of the liability. Management may consider many factors in making these assessments including past history, scientific evidence and the specifics of each matter.

The Company’s management has evaluated all such proceedings and claims that existed as of June 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014. In the opinion of management, the ultimate disposition of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, liquidity or results of operations.

Concentrations of credit, economic and political risks

The Company’s operations are carried out in the PRC. Accordingly, the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations may be influenced by the political, economic and legal environment in the PRC, and by the general state of the PRC’s economy. The Company’s operation in the PRC is subject to special considerations and significant risks not typically associated with companies in North America and Western Europe. These include risks associated with, among others, the political, economic and legal environment and foreign currency exchange. The Company’s results may be adversely affected by changes in the political and social conditions in the PRC, and by changes in governmental policies with respect to laws and regulations, anti-inflationary measures, currency conversion, remittances aboard, and rates and methods of taxation, among other things.

Financial instruments which potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist principally of cash and trade accounts receivable. All of the Company’s cash is maintained with state-owned banks within the PRC and Hong Kong, and none of these deposits are covered by insurance. The Company has not experienced any losses in such accounts and believes it is not exposed to any risks on its cash in bank accounts. A portion of the Company’s sales are credit sales which are primarily to customers whose ability to pay is dependent upon the industry economics prevailing in these areas; however, concentrations of credit risk with respect to trade accounts receivables is limited due to generally short payment terms. The Company also performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers to help further reduce credit risk.

According to the sale agreement signed on December 4, 2013, the Company does not own 20 fishing vessels but has the leased operating rights to operate these vessels which are owned by a related company, Fuzhou Honglong Ocean Fishery Co., Ltd (“Hong Long”) and the Company is entitled to 100% of net profit (loss) of the vessels. The Company has latitude in establishing price and discretion in supplier selection. There were no economic risks associated with the leased operating rights but the Company may need to bear the operation risks and credit risks as aforementioned.

117 of the Company’s 135 vessels were operating in Indonesian waters and 91% of revenue was derived from them. Suspension of fishing operation in Indonesian waters has had and will continue to have a significant negative impact on the Company.

The Indonesian government's recent moratorium on fishing licenses renewals

In early December 2014, the Indonesian government introduced a six-month moratorium on issuing new fishing licenses and renewals so that the country’s Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (“MMAF”) could monitor the operations of existing fleets and to fight illegal fishing activities. As a result, all licensed fishing vessels operating in the Indonesian waters have been informed by the Indonesian government to only operate within strict guidelines in order to avoid potential enforcement actions by the Indonesian Navy such as boat seizures. We currently operate 135 fishing vessels and 117 of these vessels operate in the Arafura Sea of Indonesia. To cooperate and in compliance with the Indonesian government’s fishing license check procedures, in January 2015, we lowered our operation to approximately half of normal level; and from February 2015, we have temporarily ceased operations in the Indonesian waters. Since we derive a majority of our revenue from this area, this temporary ban caused a significant drop in our production. As a result, our sales for the three and six months ended June 30, 2015 decreased significantly as compared to the three and six months ended June 30, 2014. The Indonesian government had previously expected the license check of fishing vessels to be completed by April 30, 2015. As of the date of this report, the license check was still in process. While we believe that over the long-term the Indonesian government’s anti-illegal fishing measures will be beneficial to fully licensed fishing companies such as PME, the Company cannot guarantee when fishing will resume in this area, and our financial condition and results of operation will continue to be materially impacted while this moratorium is in existence.

Recent accounting pronouncements

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (ASU 2014-09), which supersedes nearly all existing revenue recognition guidance under U.S. GAAP. The core principle of ASU 2014-09 is to recognize revenues when promised goods or services are transferred to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which an entity expects to be entitled for those goods or services. 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. The standard is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods therein, using either of the following transition methods: (i) a full retrospective approach reflecting the application of the standard in each prior reporting period with the option to elect certain practical expedients, or (ii) a retrospective approach with the cumulative effect of initially adopting ASU 2014-09 recognized at the date of adoption (which includes additional footnote disclosures). Early adoption is not permitted. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In June 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-12, Compensation — Stock Compensation (Topic 718), Accounting for Share-Based Payments When the Terms of an Award Provide That a Performance Target Could Be Achieved after the Requisite Service Period (a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force) (ASU 2014-12). The guidance applies to all reporting entities that grant their employees share-based payments in which the terms of the award provide that a performance target that affects vesting could be achieved after the requisite service period. The amendments require that a performance target that affects vesting and that could be achieved after the requisite service period is treated as a performance condition. For all entities, the amendments in this Update are effective for annual periods and interim periods within those annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015. Earlier adoption is permitted. The effective date is the same for both public business entities and all other entities. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In August 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-15, Presentation of Financial Statements – Going Concern (Subtopic 205-40), Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entities Ability to Continue as a Going Concern (ASU 2014-15). The guidance in ASU 2014-15 sets forth management's responsibility to evaluate whether there is substantial doubt about an entity's ability to continue as a going concern as well as required disclosures. ASU 2014-15 indicates that, when preparing financial statements for interim and annual financial statements, management should evaluate whether conditions or events, in the aggregate, raise substantial doubt about the entity's ability to continue as a going concern for one year from the date the financial statements are issued or are available to be issued. This evaluation should include consideration of conditions and events that are either known or are reasonably knowable at the date the financial statements are issued or are available to be issued, as well as whether it is probable that management's plans to address the substantial doubt will be implemented and, if so, whether it is probable that the plans will alleviate the substantial doubt. ASU 2014-15 is effective for annual periods ending after December 15, 2016, and interim periods and annual periods thereafter. Early application is permitted. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Reclassification

Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation. These reclassifications have no effect on the previously reported financial position, results of operations and cash flows.