Note 2 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, Recently Issued, and Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation:

Our Consolidated Financial Statements include all of the accounts of the Company and our subsidiaries. We have eliminated all intercompany transactions and balances in consolidation. All amounts are in thousands, except per share amounts, and approximate due to rounding.

Change in Accounting Policy:

In connection with the acquisition of Learning House (See Note 4, “Acquisition”), we changed our accounting policy for certain advertising and marketing costs incurred by our Education Services business to fulfill performance obligations from contracts with educational institutions. Under the new accounting policy, these costs are included in Cost of Sales whereas they were previously included in Operating and Administrative Expenses on the Consolidated Statements of Income. Including these expenses in Cost of Sales will better align these costs with the related revenue and conform with the presentation of such costs for Learning House. This change in accounting policy was applied retrospectively.

The Consolidated Statements of Income for the years ended April 30, 2018 and 2017 have been reclassified to reflect this change in accounting policy. The impact of this reclassification was an increase to Cost of Sales and a corresponding decrease to Operating and Administrative Expenses of $45.8 million and $40.0 million for the years ended April 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively. This reclassification had no impact on Revenue, net, Operating Income, Net Income, or Earnings per Share on the Consolidated Statements of Income.

Reclassifications:

Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year’s presentation.

Use of Estimates:

The preparation of our Consolidated Financial Statements and related disclosures in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires our management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements and revenue and expenses during the reporting period. These estimates include, among other items, revenue recognition, sales return reserves, allocation of acquisition purchase price to assets acquired and liabilities assumed, goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets, intangible assets with finite lives and other long-lived assets, and retirement plans. We review these estimates and assumptions periodically using historical experience and other factors and reflect the effects of any revisions on the Consolidated Financial Statements in the period we determine any revisions to be necessary. Actual results could differ from those estimates, which could affect the reported results.

Book Overdrafts:

Under our cash management system, a book overdraft balance exists for our primary disbursement accounts. This overdraft represents uncleared checks in excess of cash balances in individual bank accounts. Our funds are transferred from other existing bank account balances or from lines of credit as needed to fund checks presented for payment. As of April 30, 2019 and 2018, book overdrafts of $7.4 million and $13.1 million, respectively, were included in Accounts Payable on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position.

Revenue Recognition:

See Note 3, “Revenue Recognition, Contracts with Customers,” of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for details of our revenue recognition policy.

Cash and Cash Equivalents:

Cash and cash equivalents consist of highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less at the time of purchase and are stated at cost, which approximates market value, because of the short-term maturity of the instruments.

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts:

The estimated allowance for doubtful accounts is based on a review of the aging of the accounts receivable balances, historical write-off experience, credit evaluations of customers, and current market conditions. A change in the evaluation of a customer’s credit could affect the estimated allowance. The allowance for doubtful accounts is shown as a reduction of Accounts Receivable, net on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position and amounted to $14.3 million and $10.1 million as of April 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

Sales Return Reserves:

The process that we use to determine our sales returns and the related reserve provision charged against revenue is based on applying an estimated return rate to current year returnable print book sales. This rate is based upon an analysis of actual historical return experience in the various markets and geographic regions in which we do business. We collect, maintain and analyze significant amounts of sales returns data for large volumes of homogeneous transactions. This allows us to make reasonable estimates of the amount of future returns. All available data is utilized to identify the returns by market and to which fiscal year the sales returns apply. This enables management to track the returns in detail and identify and react to trends occurring in the marketplace, with the objective of being able to make the most informed judgments possible in setting reserve rates. Associated with the estimated sales return reserves, we also include a related increase to inventory and a reduction to accrued royalties as a result of the expected returns. Print book sales return reserves amounted to a net liability balance of $18.5 million and $18.6 million as of April 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

The reserves are reflected in the following accounts of the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position – increase (decrease):

	2019			2018
Accounts receivable, net ⁽¹⁾	$	—		$	(28,302	)
Inventories, net	$	3,739		$	4,626
Accrued royalties	$	(3,653	)	$	(5,048	)
Contract liability (Deferred revenue) ⁽¹⁾	$	25,934		$	—
Decrease in Net Assets	$	(18,542	)	$	(18,628	)

⁽¹⁾ Due to the adoption of the new revenue standard, See Note 3, Revenue from Contracts with Customers the sales return reserve as of April 30, 2019 of $25.9 million is recorded in Contract Liability (Deferred Revenue). In prior periods, the sales return reserve of $28.3 million was recorded as a reduction to Accounts Receivable, net on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position.

Inventories:

Inventories are carried at the lower of cost or market. U.S. book inventories aggregating $21.0 million and $24.0 million at April 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively, are valued using the last-in, first-out (LIFO) method. All other inventories are valued using the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method.

Reserve for Inventory Obsolescence:

A reserve for inventory obsolescence is estimated based on a review of damaged, obsolete, or otherwise unsalable inventory. The review encompasses historical unit sales trends by title, current market conditions, including estimates of customer demand compared to the number of units currently on hand, and publication revision cycles. The inventory obsolescence reserve is reported as a reduction of the Inventories, net balance on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position and amounted to $15.8 million and $18.2 million as of April 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

Product Development Assets:

Product development assets consist of book composition costs and other product development costs. Costs associated with developing a book publication are expensed until the product is determined to be commercially viable. Book composition costs represent the costs incurred to bring an edited commercial manuscript to publication, which include typesetting, proofreading, design, illustration costs, and digital formatting. Book composition costs are capitalized and are generally amortized on a double-declining basis over their estimated useful lives, ranging from 1 to 3 years. Other product development costs represent the costs incurred in developing software, platforms, and digital content to be sold and licensed to third parties. Other product development costs are capitalized and generally amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives. As of April 30, 2019, the weighted average estimated useful life of other product development costs was approximately 5 years.

Royalty Advances:

Royalty advances are capitalized and, upon publication, are expensed as royalties earned based on sales of the published works. Royalty advances are reviewed for recoverability and a reserve for loss is maintained, if appropriate.

Shipping and Handling Costs:

Costs incurred for third party shipping and handling are primarily reflected in Operating and Administrative Expenses on the Consolidated Statements of Income. We incurred $32.7 million, $33.7 million, and $39.1 million in shipping and handling costs in the years ended April 30, 2019, 2018, and 2017, respectively.

Advertising Expense:

Advertising costs are expensed as incurred. We incurred $89.5 million, $68.3 million, and $61.4 million in advertising costs in the years ended April 30, 2019, 2018, and 2017, respectively, and these costs are included in Cost of Sales and Operating and Administrative Expenses on the Consolidated Statements of Income. Advertising costs of $53.7 million, $38.3 million, and $32.4 million were included in Cost of Sales in the years ended April 30, 2019, 2018, and 2017, respectively. Advertising costs of $35.8 million, $30.0 million, and $29.0 million were included in Operating and Administrative Expenses in the years ended April 30, 2019, 2018, and 2017, respectively. Refer to the section above “Change in Accounting Policy” for more information regarding the reclassification of certain advertising and marketing costs incurred by our Education Services business to fulfill performance obligations from contracts with educational institutions.

Technology, Property, and Equipment:

Technology, property, and equipment is recorded at cost. Major renewals and improvements are capitalized, while maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred.

Technology, property and equipment is depreciated using the straight-line method based upon the following estimated useful lives: Computer Software – 3 to 10 years, Computer Hardware – 3 to 5 years; Buildings and Leasehold Improvements – the lesser of the estimated useful life of the asset up to 40 years or the duration of the lease; Furniture, Fixtures, and Warehouse Equipment – 5 to 10 years.

Costs incurred for computer software internally developed or obtained for internal use are capitalized during the application development stage and expensed as incurred during the preliminary project and post-implementation stages. Costs incurred during the application development stage include costs of materials and services and payroll and payroll-related costs for employees who are directly associated with the software project. Such costs are amortized over the expected useful life of the related software, which is generally 3 to 5 years. Costs related to the investment in our Enterprise Resource Planning and related systems are amortized over an expected useful life of 10 years. Maintenance, training, and upgrade costs that do not result in additional functionality are expensed as incurred.

Allocation of Acquisition Purchase Price to Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed:

In connection with acquisitions, we allocate the cost of the acquisition to the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed based on the estimates of fair value for such items, including intangible assets and technology acquired. Such estimates include discounted estimated cash flows to be generated by those assets and the expected useful lives based on historical experience and current market trends to be achieved from the acquisition and the expected tax basis of assets acquired. We may use a third-party valuation consultant to assist in the determination of such estimates.

Goodwill and Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets:

Goodwill represents the excess of the aggregate of the following: (1) consideration transferred, (2) the fair value of any noncontrolling interest in the acquiree, and (3) if the business combination is achieved in stages, the acquisition-date fair value of our previously held equity interest in the acquiree over the net of the acquisition-date amounts of the identifiable assets acquired and the liabilities assumed.

Indefinite-lived intangible assets primarily consist of brands, trademarks, content, and publishing rights and are typically characterized by intellectual property with a long and well-established revenue stream resulting from strong and well-established imprint/brand recognition in the market.

We use the acquisition method of accounting for all business combinations and do not amortize goodwill or intangible assets with indefinite useful lives. Goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite useful lives are tested for possible impairment annually during the fourth quarter of each fiscal year, or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the asset might be impaired.

Intangible Assets with Finite Lives and Other Long-Lived Assets:

Finite-lived intangible assets principally consist of brands, trademarks, content and publication rights, customer relationships, and non-compete agreements and are amortized over their estimated useful lives. The most significant factors in determining the estimated lives of these intangibles are the history and longevity of the brands, trademarks, and content and publication rights acquired combined with the strength of cash flows.

Intangible assets with finite lives as of April 30, 2019, are amortized on a straight line basis over the following weighted average estimated useful lives: content and publishing rights – 34 years, customer relationships – 18 years, brands and trademarks – 16 years, non-compete agreements – 3 years.

Assets with finite lives are evaluated for impairment upon a significant change in the operating or macroeconomic environment. In these circumstances, if an evaluation of the projected undiscounted cash flows indicates impairment, the asset is written down to its estimated fair value based on the discounted future cash flows.

Derivative Financial Instruments:

From time to time, we enter into foreign exchange forward and interest rate swap contracts as a hedge against foreign currency asset and liability commitments, changes in interest rates, and anticipated transaction exposures, including intercompany purchases. All derivatives are recognized as assets or liabilities and measured at fair value. Derivatives that are not determined to be effective hedges are adjusted to fair value with a corresponding adjustment to earnings. We do not use financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes.

Foreign Currency Gains/Losses:

We maintain operations in many non-U.S. locations. Assets and liabilities are translated into U.S. dollars using end-of-period exchange rates and revenues and expenses are translated into U.S. dollars using weighted average rates. Our significant investments in non-U.S. businesses are exposed to foreign currency risk. Foreign currency translation adjustments are reported as a separate component of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss within Shareholders’ Equity. During the year ended April 30, 2019, we recorded $60.5 million of foreign currency translation losses primarily as a result of the fluctuations of the U.S. dollar relative to the British pound sterling and, to a lesser extent, the euro. Foreign currency transaction gains or losses are recognized on the Consolidated Statements of Income as incurred.

Stock-Based Compensation:

We recognize stock-based compensation expense based on the fair value of the stock-based awards on the grant date, reduced by an estimate for future forfeited awards. As such, stock-based compensation expense is only recognized for those awards that are expected to ultimately vest. The fair value of stock-based awards is recognized in net income generally on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period. The grant date fair value for stock options is estimated using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The determination of the assumptions used in the Black-Scholes model required us to make judgments and estimates, which include the expected life of an option, the expected volatility of our Common Stock over the estimated life of the option, a risk-free interest rate, and the expected dividend yield. Judgment was also required in estimating the amount of stock-based awards that may be forfeited. Stock-based compensation expense associated with performance-based stock awards is based on actual financial results for targets established three years in advance. The cumulative effect on current and prior periods of a change in the estimated number of performance share awards, or estimated forfeiture rate, is recognized as an adjustment to earnings in the period of the revision. If actual results differ significantly from estimates, our stock-based compensation expense and consolidated results of operations could be impacted.

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

Stock Compensation – Scope of Modification Accounting

In May 2017, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2017-09, “Compensation—Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Scope of Modification Accounting,” which clarifies when changes to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award require an entity to apply modification accounting. Under the new guidance, modification accounting is only required if the fair value, vesting conditions or classification (equity or liability) of the new award are different from the original award immediately before the original award is modified. We adopted ASU 2017-09 on May 1, 2018 and there was no impact to our consolidated financial statements. The new guidance must be applied prospectively to awards modified on or after the adoption date. The future impact of ASU 2017-09 will be dependent on the nature of future stock award modifications.

Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost

In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-07, “Compensation—Retirement Benefits (Topic 715): Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost.” The guidance requires that the service cost component of net pension and postretirement benefit costs be reported in the same line item as other compensation costs arising from services rendered by the pertinent employees during the period, while the other components of net benefit costs must be reported separately from the service cost component and below operating income. The guidance also allows only the service cost component to be eligible for capitalization when applicable. We adopted ASU 2017-07 on May 1, 2018. The new guidance must be applied retrospectively for the presentation of net benefit costs in the income statement and prospectively for the capitalization of the service cost component of net benefit costs.

The effect of retrospectively adopting this guidance resulted in a reclassification of net benefits (costs) of $8.1 million and $(5.3) million from Operating and Administrative Expenses to Interest and Other Income (Expense) on the Consolidated Statements of Income for the years ended April 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively. The amount included in Interest and Other Income (Expense) on the Consolidated Statements of Income for the year ended April 30, 2019 was a net benefit of $8.8 million. We do not capitalize any service costs.

Business Combinations: Clarifying the Definition of a Business

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-01, “Business Combinations (Topic 805): Clarifying the Definition of a Business”, which clarifies the definition of a business in order to allow for the evaluation of whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions or disposals of assets or business. We adopted ASU 2017-01 on May 1, 2018 and the adoption had no impact for us in fiscal year 2019. The future impact of ASU 2017-01 will be dependent upon the nature of future acquisitions or dispositions made by us.

Statement of Cash Flows: Restricted Cash

In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-18, “Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Restricted Cash.” ASU 2016-18 requires that entities include restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents with cash and cash equivalents in the beginning-of-period and end-of-period total amounts shown on the Statement of Cash Flows. We adopted ASU 2016-18 on May 1, 2018. Retrospective transition method is to be applied to each period presented. As a result of this retrospective adoption, the reclassification of restricted cash into a change in total cash resulted in a reduction in Cash Provided By Operating Activities of $0.5 million for the year ended April 30, 2018. There was no impact for the year ended April 30, 2017.

The following table provides a reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash reported within the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position that sum to the total of the same such amounts shown in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

	April 30, 2019		April 30, 2018		April 30, 2017		April 30, 2016
Cash and cash equivalents	$	92,890	$	169,773	$	58,516	$	363,806
Restricted cash included in Prepaid expenses and other current assets		658		484		—		—
Total cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash shown in the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows	$	93,548	$	170,257	$	58,516	$	363,806

Income taxes: Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other than Inventory

In October 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-16, “Income Taxes (Topic 740): Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other than Inventory”, which simplifies the accounting for the income tax consequences of intra-entity transfers of assets other than inventory. Current U.S. GAAP prohibits the recognition of current and deferred income taxes for an intra-entity asset transfer until the asset has been sold to an outside party. The new guidance states that an entity should recognize the income tax consequences of an intra-entity transfer of an asset other than inventory when the transfer occurs. Consequently, the amendments in this Standard eliminate the exception for an intra-entity transfer of an asset other than inventory. We adopted ASU 2016-16 on May 1, 2018. The adoption of ASU 2016-16 did not have a material impact to our consolidated financial statements.

Statement of Cash Flows: Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15, “Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments,” which provides clarification on classifying a variety of activities within the Statement of Cash Flows. We adopted ASU 2016-15 on May 1, 2018. The adoption of ASU 2016-15 did not have a material impact to our consolidated statements of cash flows.

Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities

In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01, “Financial Instruments—Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities.” Subsequently, the FASB issued ASU 2018-03, “Technical Corrections and Improvements to Financial Instruments-Overall.” ASU 2016-01 requires equity investments except those under the equity method of accounting to be measured at fair value with the changes in fair value recognized in net income. The amendment simplifies the impairment assessment of equity investments without readily determinable fair values by requiring a qualitative assessment to identify impairment. In addition, it also requires enhanced disclosures about investments. We adopted ASU 2016-01 on May 1, 2018. The adoption of ASU 2016- 01 did not have a material impact to our consolidated financial statements.

Revenue from Contracts with Customers

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers," (Topic 606) which superseded most existing revenue recognition guidance. We adopted ASU 2014-09 on May 1, 2018. The standard allows for either "full retrospective" adoption, meaning the standard is applied to all periods presented, or "modified retrospective" adoption, meaning the standard is applied only to the most current period presented in the financial statements. Subsequently, the FASB issued ASU 2016-08, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) – Principal versus Agent Considerations", ASU 2016-10, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) – Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing", ASU 2016-12, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) – Narrow Scope Improvements and Practical Expedients", and ASU 2016-20, "Technical Corrections and Improvements to Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers," which provide clarification and additional guidance related to ASU 2014-09. We also adopted ASU 2016-08, ASU 2016-10, ASU 2016-12, and ASU 2016-20 with ASU 2014-09 (collectively, the “new revenue standard”) on May 1, 2018.

We utilized a comprehensive approach to assess the impact of the new revenue standard on our contract portfolio by reviewing our current accounting policies and practices to identify differences that would result from applying the new revenue standard to our revenue contracts. Additionally, we reviewed customer agreements representative of our business models and assessed whether changes in revenue recognition were appropriate under the new revenue standard.

We adopted the new revenue standard as of May 1, 2018, using the modified retrospective method. The adoption of the new revenue standard did not have a material impact to our consolidated revenues, financial position, or results of operations. Upon adoption, we recorded an immaterial net increase to opening retained earnings resulting from the change in timing of when certain components of our revenue are recognized as required under the new revenue standard as compared to historical policies. Such changes include:

(i)		perpetual licenses granted in connection with other deliverables; revenue that was previously recognized over the life of the associated subscription for future content is now recognized at a point in time, which is when access to content is initially granted,
(ii)			customers’ unexercised rights; revenue which was previously recognized at the end of a pre-determined period for situations where we have received a nonrefundable payment for a customer to receive a good or service and the customer has not exercised such right is now recognized as revenue in proportion to the pattern of rights exercised by the customer,
(iii)			recognition of estimated revenue from royalty agreements in the period of usage, and
(iv)	recognition of revenue for certain arrangements with minimum guarantees on a time-based (straight-line) basis due to a stand-ready obligation to provide additional rights to content.

The adoption of the new revenue standard resulted in the discontinuance of the historical practice of presenting accounts receivable and deferred revenue balances on a net basis for some of our subscription licensing agreements where we have invoiced a customer in advance of the related revenue being recognized and payment has not yet been received. As of April 30, 2018, the amounts that were previously netted down from accounts receivable and deferred revenue were $59.5 million. The current policy for our subscription licensing agreements is to record accounts receivable when performance occurs and recognize contract liabilities, at the earlier of cash payment being received or the invoice is sent.

In addition, the adoption of the new revenue standard resulted in the reclassification of the sales return reserve provision to Contract Liability (Deferred Revenue) from Accounts Receivable, Net on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position. As of April 30, 2019 and 2018 the amount was $25.9 million and $28.3 million, respectively.

The impact of the adoption of the new revenue standard was not material to our Consolidated Statements of Income for the year ended April 30, 2019; therefore, we have omitted the disclosure that summarizes the effect of the revenue recognition standard by line item on our Consolidated Statements of Income. The impact to the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position was also not material by line item, except for the reclassification of the sales return reserve provision to contract liability from accounts receivable, net. The cumulative effect of the changes made to our Consolidated Statements of Financial Position at May 1, 2018 as a result of adoption of the new revenue standard using the modified retrospective method were as follows:

	April 30, 2018		Adjustments due to Adoption			May 1, 2018
Assets
Accounts receivable, net	$	212,377	$	93,349		$	305,726
Product development assets		78,814		(3,725	)		75,089
Technology, property and equipment, net		289,934		(361	)		289,573
Other non-current assets		85,802		5,274			91,076
Liabilities
Accrued royalties		73,007		(731	)		72,276
Contract liability (Deferred revenue)		486,353		89,364			575,717
Deferred income tax liabilities		143,518		1,400			144,918
Retained earnings	$	1,834,057	$	4,503		$	1,838,560

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

Intangibles-Goodwill and Other-Internal-Use Software: Customer’s Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That is a Service Contract

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-15, “Intangibles-Goodwill and Other-Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40): Customer’s Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That is a Service Contract.” ASU 2018-15 aligns the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software. The standard is effective for us on May 1, 2020, and interim periods within that fiscal year, with early adoption permitted. We are currently assessing the impact the new guidance will have on our consolidated financial statements.

Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Defined Benefit Plans

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.” ASU 2018-14 removes certain disclosures that are not considered cost beneficial, clarifies certain required disclosures and added additional disclosures. The standard is effective for us on May 1, 2021, with early adoption permitted. The amendments in ASU 2018-14 would need to be applied on a retrospective basis. We are currently assessing the impact the new guidance will have on our disclosures.

Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement

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.” ASU 2018-13 removes certain disclosures, modifies certain disclosures and added additional disclosures. The standard is effective for us on May 1, 2020, with early adoption permitted. Certain disclosures in ASU 2018-13 would need to be applied on a retrospective basis and others on a prospective basis. We are currently assessing the impact the new guidance will have on our disclosures.

Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

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,” which allows a reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings for stranded tax effects resulting from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The standard is effective for us on May 1, 2019, and interim periods within that fiscal year, with early adoption permitted. We adopted ASU 2018-02 on May 1, 2019. We did not elect to reclassify the income tax effects from comprehensive income to retained earnings for the stranded tax effects resulting from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Our policy for releasing the income tax effects from accumulated other comprehensive income is when the corresponding pretax accumulated other comprehensive income items are reclassified to earnings.

Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities

In August 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-12, “Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities,” to simplify and improve the application and financial reporting of hedge accounting. Subsequently, in November 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-16, “Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Inclusion of the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) Overnight Index Swap (OIS) Rate as a Benchmark Interest Rate for Hedge Accounting Purposes”. In April 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-04, “Codification Improvements to Topic 326, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses, Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging, and Topic 825, Financial Instruments.” ASU 2017-12 eases the requirements for measuring and reporting hedge ineffectiveness and clarifies that changes in the fair value of hedging instruments for cash flow, net investment, and fair value hedges should be reflected in the same income statement line item as the earnings effect of the hedged item. The guidance also permits entities to designate specific components in cash flow and interest rate hedges as the hedged risk, instead of using total cash flows. ASU 2018-16 allows the use of the OIS rate based on the SOFR as a U.S. benchmark interest rate for hedge accounting purposes. These ASUs are effective for us on May 1, 2019, with early adoption permitted. We adopted ASU 2017-12, 2018-16 and 2019-04, for those portions related to ASU 2017-02, on May 1, 2019 and there was no impact to our consolidated financial statements at the date of adoption. The future impact will depend upon any future hedging activities we may enter into.

Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04, “Intangibles–Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): “Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment”, which simplifies the measurement of a potential goodwill impairment charge by eliminating the requirement to calculate an implied fair value of the goodwill based on the fair value of a reporting unit’s other assets and liabilities. The new guidance eliminates the implied fair value method and instead measures a potential impairment charge based on the excess of a reporting unit’s carrying value compared to its fair value. The impairment charge cannot exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit. The standard is effective for us on May 1, 2020, with early adoption permitted. Based on our most recent annual goodwill impairment test completed in the year ended April 30, 2019, we expect no initial impact on adoption.

Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, “Financial Instruments—Credit Losses (Topic 326), Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments.” Subsequently, in May 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-05 - "Financial Instruments—Credit Losses (Topic 326): Targeted Transition Relief”, in April 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-04, “Codification Improvements to Topic 326, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses, Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging, and Topic 825, Financial Instruments,” and in November 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-19, “Codification Improvements to Topic 326, Financial Instruments-Credit Losses”. ASU 2016-13 requires entities to measure all expected credit losses for most financial assets held at the reporting date based on an expected loss model which includes historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts. Entities will now use forward-looking information to better form their credit loss estimates. ASU 2016-13 also requires enhanced disclosures to help financial statement users better understand significant estimates and judgments used in estimating credit losses, as well as the credit quality and underwriting standards of an entity’s portfolio. ASU 2016-13, ASU 2019-05, ASU 2019-04 and ASU 2018-19 are effective for us on May 1, 2020, including interim periods within those fiscal periods, with early adoption permitted. We are currently assessing the impact the new guidance will have on our consolidated financial statements.

Leases

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, "Leases (Topic 842)”. Subsequently, the FASB issued in March 2019, ASU 2019-01, “Leases (Topic 842): Codification Improvements”, in December 2018 ASU 2018-20, “Leases (Topic 842): Narrow Scope Improvements for Lessors”, and in July 2018 the FASB issued ASU 2018-11, “Leases (Topic 842): Targeted Improvements” and ASU 2018-10, “Codification Improvements to Topic 842, Leases”. ASU 2016-02 requires an entity to recognize a right-of-use asset (“ROU”) and lease liability for all leases with terms of more than 12 months and provide enhanced disclosures. Recognition, measurement, and presentation of expenses will depend on classification as a finance or operating lease. Similar modifications have been made to lessor accounting in-line with revenue recognition guidance.

The new standard provides a number of optional practical expedients in transition. We expect to elect the practical expedients to forgo a reassessment of (1) whether any expired or existing contracts are or contain leases, (2) the lease classification for any expired or existing leases, and (3) initial direct costs. We do not expect to elect the practical expedient allowing the use-of-hindsight which would require us to reassess the lease term of our leases based on all facts and circumstances through the effective date. In addition, we do not expect to elect the practical expedient pertaining to land easements.

In addition, the new standard provides as a practical expedient, certain policy elections for ongoing lease accounting to (i) not separate nonlease components from the associated lease component if certain conditions are met, and (ii) not recognize ROU assets and lease liabilities for leases that qualify as short-term. If the short-term recognition exemption is elected, we will not recognize ROU assets or lease liabilities for existing short-term leases in transition. We expect to elect these policy elections.

The standard is effective for us on May 1, 2019, with early adoption permitted. A modified retrospective transition approach is required, applying the new standard to all leases existing at the date of initial application. A company may choose to use either (1) its effective date or (2) the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements as of its date of initial application. We adopted the new standard on May 1, 2019 and used the effective date as the date of initial application. Accordingly, previously reported financial information will not be updated, and the disclosures required under the new standard will not be provided for dates and periods before May 1, 2019. We expect to recognize operating lease liabilities ranging from approximately $175 to $185 million based on the present value of the remaining minimum rental payments for existing operating leases and ROU assets ranging from approximately $135 to $145 million on our Consolidated Statements of Financial Position. Additionally, we are in the process of implementing a lease accounting system for our leases, including the conversion of our existing lease data to a new system and implementing relevant internal controls and procedures.

See Note 15, “Commitment and Contingencies,” of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for details of our operating leases and future commitments.