3.	New Accounting Pronouncements

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

The FASB previously issued five ASUs related to revenue recognition (“new revenue recognition guidance”). The ASUs issued were: (1) in May 2014, ASU 2014‑09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606);” (2) in March 2016, ASU 2016‑08, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Principal versus Agent Considerations (Reporting Revenue Gross versus Net);” (3) in April 2016, ASU 2016‑10, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing;” (4) in May 2016, ASU 2016‑12, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Narrow-scope Improvements and Practical Expedients;” and (5) in December 2016, ASU 2016‑20, “Technical Corrections and Improvements to Topic 606, Revenue From Contracts with Customers.” As mentioned in Note 2, we adopted the new revenue recognition guidance in the first quarter of 2018 using the full retrospective transition method. This resulted in a cumulative adjustment of $94.6 million to the accumulated earnings balance reflected in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets at December 31, 2017, including an $87.9 million impact of adoption effective January 1, 2016 as well as the impact from restatements of full year statements of operations for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 resulting in adjustments of $5.6 million and $1.1 million, respectively. The impact of the application of the new revenue recognition guidance resulted in an acceleration of revenues that were based, in part, on future contingent events. For example, some leasing commission revenues in various countries where we operate were recognized earlier. Under former GAAP, a portion of these lease commission revenues was deferred until a future contingency was resolved (e.g., tenant move-in or payment of first month’s rent). Under the new revenue guidance, our performance obligation will be typically satisfied at lease signing and therefore the portion of the commission that is contingent on a future event has been recognized earlier if deemed probable that there will not be significant reversal in the future. The acceleration of the timing of revenue recognition also resulted in the acceleration of expense recognition relating to direct commissions payable to brokers. In addition, the acceleration of these revenues and expenses resulted in an increase in total assets and liabilities to reflect contract assets and accrued commissions payable.

We evaluated the impact of the updated principal versus agent guidance on our consolidated financial statements. Under former GAAP, certain third-party costs associated with our facilities and project management contracts were accounted for on a net basis because the contracts include provisions such as “pay when paid” that mitigate payment risk with respect to services provided by third parties to our clients. Under the new revenue recognition guidance, control of the services before transfer to the client is the primary factor in determining principal versus agent assessments. Payment risk is no longer a determining factor under Topic 606. We have determined that we control the services provided by third parties on behalf of certain of our facilities and project management clients. Accordingly, under the new guidance, we are accounting for the cost of services provided by third parties and the related reimbursement revenue on a gross basis.

The following table presents the effects of the adoption of the new revenue recognition guidance on our consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2017 (dollars in thousands):

	As Reported			Adoption of New Revenue Recognition Guidance			As Adjusted
Receivables	$	3,207,285		$	(94,996	)	$	3,112,289
Contract assets		—			273,053			273,053
Total current assets		5,452,527			178,057			5,630,584
Other assets, net		422,965			56,509			479,474
Total assets		11,483,830			234,566			11,718,396
Accounts payable and accrued expenses		1,674,287			(100,615	)		1,573,672
Compensation and employee benefits payable		803,504			100,930			904,434
Accrued bonus and profit sharing		1,072,976			5,369			1,078,345
Contract liabilities		—			100,615			100,615
Total current liabilities		4,606,645			106,299			4,712,944
Deferred tax liabilities, net		114,017			33,201			147,218
Total liabilities		7,404,282			139,500			7,543,782
Accumulated earnings		3,348,385			94,622			3,443,007
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(552,858	)		444			(552,414	)
Total CBRE Group, Inc. stockholders' equity		4,019,430			95,066			4,114,496
Total liabilities and equity		11,483,830			234,566			11,718,396

The following tables present the effects of the adoption of the new revenue recognition guidance on our consolidated statements of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 (dollars in thousands, except share amounts):

	Three Months Ended September 30, 2017
	As Reported		Adoption of New Revenue Recognition Guidance		As Adjusted
Revenue	$	3,549,977	$	1,088,619	$	4,638,596
Cost of services		2,513,377		1,084,902		3,598,279
Operating, administrative and other		704,898		52		704,950
Operating income		235,291		3,665		238,956
Income before provision for income taxes		273,539		3,665		277,204
Provision for income taxes		76,178		894		77,072
Net income		197,361		2,771		200,132
Net income attributable to CBRE Group, Inc.		196,317		2,771		199,088
Earnings per share:
Basic income per share	$	0.58	$	0.01	$	0.59
Diluted income per share		0.58		—		0.58

	Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017
	As Reported		Adoption of New Revenue Recognition Guidance		As Adjusted
Revenue	$	9,873,396	$	3,255,737	$	13,129,133
Cost of services		6,919,018		3,235,278		10,154,296
Operating, administrative and other		2,023,503		688		2,024,191
Operating income		652,724		19,771		672,495
Income before provision for income taxes		723,073		19,771		742,844
Provision for income taxes		195,813		4,965		200,778
Net income		527,260		14,806		542,066
Net income attributable to CBRE Group, Inc.		523,079		14,806		537,885
Earnings per share:
Basic income per share	$	1.55	$	0.04	$	1.59
Diluted income per share		1.54		0.04		1.58

See Note 2 for further discussion of the effects of the adoption of ASU 2014-09 on our significant accounting policies.

In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016‑01, “Financial Instruments – Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities.” This ASU 2016-01 states that entities will have to measure equity investments (except those accounted for under the equity method, those that result in consolidation of the investee and certain other investments) at fair value and recognize any changes in fair value in net income. Under the new guidance, entities will measure equity investments in the scope of the guidance at the end of each reporting period. We will no longer be able to classify equity investments as trading or available for sale, and will no longer recognize unrealized holding gains and losses on equity securities previously classified as available for sale in other comprehensive income (loss). However, the guidance for classifying and measuring investments in debt securities and loans is unchanged. We adopted ASU 2016‑01 in the first quarter of 2018, which resulted in a cumulative adjustment to accumulated earnings of $4.0 million on January 1, 2018, representing the accumulated unrealized gains (net of tax) reported in accumulated other comprehensive loss for available for sale equity securities on December 31, 2017.

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016‑15, “Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments.” This ASU addressed eight specific cash flow issues with the objective of reducing the existing diversity in practice. We adopted ASU 2016‑15 in the first quarter of 2018. This resulted in changes to our consolidated statement of cash flows included in the accompanying consolidated financial statements, including:

•

An accounting policy election was made in the first quarter of 2018 to classify distributions from all of our equity method investments based on the “nature of distribution method”. Under this approach, we classify the distributions based on the nature of the activities of the investee that generated the distribution. This resulted in $138.3 million of distributions from equity method investments being reclassified from cash flows from investing activities to cash flows from operating activities for the first nine months of 2017;

•

Purchase price payments made related to acquisitions more than three months after the acquisition closed are to be reflected as cash flows from financing activities (assuming they do not exceed the amount recorded in the initial measurement period). If we record an increase to the estimated purchase price liability post-measurement period, then such increase (i.e. amounts we pay out above and beyond initial estimate of liability) would get recorded as an operating cash flow. This resulted in $23.3 million of cash paid for acquisitions being reclassified from cash used in investing activities to cash used in financing activities for the first nine months of 2017;

•

Payments for debt prepayment or debt extinguishment costs, including third-party costs, premiums paid, and other fees paid to lenders that are directly related to the debt prepayment or debt extinguishment are to be reflected as cash used in financing activities. During the nine months ended September 30, 2018, we paid a $20.0 million premium in connection with the early redemption of our 5.00% senior notes (see Note 9). Such premium has been reflected in cash used in financing activities in the consolidated statement of cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2018.

In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016‑18, “Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Restricted Cash.” This ASU requires that a statement of cash flows explain the change during the period in the total of cash, cash equivalents, and amounts generally described as restricted cash. We adopted ASU 2016-18 in the first quarter of 2018 and, as a result, restricted cash has been included with cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning-of-period and end-of-period total amounts shown on the statement of cash flows.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements Pending Adoption

The FASB previously issued three ASUs related to leases. The ASUs issued were: (1) in February 2016, ASU 2016-02, “Leases (Topic 842)”, (2) in July 2018, ASU 2018-10, “Codification Improvements to Topic 842, Leases” and (3) in July 2018, ASU 2018-11 “Target Improvements.” ASU 2016-02 requires lessees to recognize most leases on the balance sheet as liabilities, with corresponding right-of-use assets. For income statement recognition purposes, leases will be classified as either a finance or operating lease in a manner similar to the requirements under the current lease accounting literature, but without relying upon the bright-line tests. The amendments in ASU 2018-10 affect narrow aspects of the guidance issued in the amendments in ASU 2016-02. The amendments in ASU 2018-11 provide an optional method for adopting the new leasing guidance and provide lessors with a practical expedient to combine lease and associated non-lease components by class of underlying asset in contracts that meet certain criteria. These ASUs are effective for annual periods in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018. We plan to adopt these ASUs in the first quarter of 2019 by using the optional transitional method with a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings. We have identified our lease populations and believe the adoption of the ASUs will have a material impact on our financial statements. Furthermore, we have decided to elect certain practical expedients afforded by the ASUs, including the expedient to forego separating lease and non-lease components in our lessee contracts, which will increase the magnitude of our balance sheet gross-up. While we continue to validate our lease data, we are progressing with the implementation and testing of our lease accounting system.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016‑13, “Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments.” This ASU is intended to improve financial reporting by requiring timelier recording of credit losses on loans and other financial instruments held by financial institutions and other organizations. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, and interim periods within those years, with early adoption permitted. We are evaluating the effect that ASU 2016‑13 will have on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017‑04, “Intangibles – Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment.” This ASU eliminates Step 2 from the goodwill impairment test. This ASU also eliminates the requirements for any reporting unit with a zero or negative carrying amount to perform a qualitative assessment. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, and interim periods within those years, with early adoption permitted. We are evaluating the effect that ASU 2017‑04 will have on our goodwill assessment process, but do not believe the adoption of ASU 2017‑04 will have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017‑08, “Receivables – Nonrefundable Fees and Other Costs (Subtopic 310-20), Premium Amortization on Purchased Callable Debt Securities.” This ASU requires the premium to be amortized to the earliest call date. This ASU does not require an accounting change for securities held at a discount; the discount continues to be amortized to maturity. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those years, with early adoption permitted. We are evaluating the effect that ASU 2017‑08 will have on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In August 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017‑12, “Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities.” This ASU refines and expands hedge accounting for both financial and commodity risks. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those years, with early adoption permitted. We are evaluating the effect that ASU 2017‑12 will have on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In February 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018‑02, “Income Statement—Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income.” This ASU provides an option to reclassify stranded tax effects within accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings in each period in which the effect of the change in the U.S. federal corporate income tax rate in the Tax Act (or portion thereof) is recorded. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted. We are evaluating the effect that ASU 2018‑02 will have on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures, but do not expect it to have a material impact.

In July 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018‑09, “Codification Improvements.” The amendments in ASU 2018-09 represent changes to clarify, correct errors in, or make minor improvements to the Codification, eliminating inconsistencies and providing clarifications in current guidance. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018. We are evaluating the effect that ASU 2018‑09 will have on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures, but do not expect it to have a material impact.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018‑13, “Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure Framework—Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement.” This ASU eliminates, adds and modifies certain disclosure requirements for fair value measurements. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, with early adoption permitted. As ASU 2018-13 only revises disclosure requirements, it will not have any impact on our consolidated financial statements. We are evaluating the effect, if any, that ASU 2018‑13 will have on our disclosures.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018‑14, “Compensation—Retirement Benefits—Defined Benefit Plans—General (Subtopic 715-20): Disclosure Framework—Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Defined Benefit Plans.” This ASU makes minor changes to the disclosure requirements for employers that sponsor defined benefit pension or other postretirement plans. This ASU is effective for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2020, with early adoption permitted. As ASU 2018-14 only revises disclosure requirements, it will not have any impact on our consolidated financial statements. We are evaluating the effect, if any, that ASU 2018‑14 will have on our disclosures.