Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

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RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2018
Accounting Changes and Error Corrections [Abstract]  
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
Revenue
Service Revenue and Other Revenue
Rollins’ revenues are sourced primarily from the sale of pest control and other protection services to residential and commercial consumers.
Revenue Recognition
Revenue is recognized upon transfer of control of promised products or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration we expect to receive in exchange for those products or services. We enter into contracts that can include various combinations of products and services, each of which are distinct and accounted for as separate performance obligations. Revenue is recognized net of allowances for returns and any taxes collected from customers, which are subsequently remitted to governmental authorities.
Nature of Goods and Services and Performance Obligations
The Company contracts with its customers to provide the following goods and services, each of which is a distinct performance obligation:
Pest control services - Rollins provides pest control services to protect residential and commercial properties from common pests, including rodents and insects. Pest control generally consists of assessing a customer’s property for conditions that invite pests, tackling current infestations, and stopping the life cycle to prevent future invaders. Revenue from pest control services is recognized as services are rendered.
The Company’s revenue recognition policies are designed to recognize revenues upon transfer of control at the time services are performed. For certain revenue types, because of the timing of billing and the receipt of cash versus the timing of performing services, certain accounting estimates are utilized. Residential and commercial pest control services are primarily recurring in nature on a monthly, bi-monthly or quarterly basis, while certain types of commercial customers may receive multiple treatments within a given month. In general, pest control customers sign an initial one-year contract, and revenues are recognized at the time services are performed. The Company defers recognition of advance payments and recognizes the revenue as the services are rendered. The Company classifies discounts related to the advance payments as a reduction in revenues.
Termite control services (including traditional and baiting) - Rollins provides both conventional and baiting termite protection services. Traditional termite protection uses “Termidor” liquid treatment and/or dry foam and Orkin foam to treat voids and spaces around the property, while baiting termite protection uses baits to disrupt the molting process termites require for growth and offers ongoing protection. Revenue from initial termite treatment services is recognized as services are provided.
Maintenance/monitoring/inspection - In connection with the initial service offerings, Rollins provides recurring maintenance, monitoring or inspection services to help protect consumer’s property for any future sign of termite activities after the original treatment. This recurring service is a service-type warranty under ASC 606 as it is routinely sold and purchased separately from the initial treatment services and is typically purchased or renewed annually.
Termite baiting revenues are recognized based on the transfer of control of the individual units of accounting. At the inception of a new baiting services contract, upon quality control review of the installation, the Company recognizes revenue for the installation of the monitoring stations, initial directed liquid termiticide treatment and servicing of the monitoring stations. A portion of the contract amount is deferred for the undelivered monitoring element. This portion is recognized as income on a straight-line basis over the remaining contract term, which results in recognition of revenue that depicts the Company's performance in transferring control of the service. The allocation of the purchase price to the two deliverables is based on the relative stand-alone selling price. There are no contingencies related to the delivery of additional items or meeting other specified performance conditions. Baiting renewal revenue is deferred and recognized over the annual contract period on a straight-line basis that depicts the Company's performance in transferring control of the service.
Revenue received for conventional termite renewals is deferred and recognized on a straight-line basis over the remaining contract term that depicts the Company's performance in transferring control of the service; and, the cost of reinspections, reapplications and repairs and associated labor and chemicals are expensed as incurred. For outstanding claims, an estimate is made of the costs to be incurred (including legal costs) based upon current factors and historical information. The performance of reinspections tends to be close to the contract renewal date and while reapplications and repairs involve an insubstantial number of the contracts, these costs are incurred over the contract term. As the revenue is being deferred, the future cost of reinspections, reapplications and repairs and associated labor and chemicals applicable to the deferred revenue are expensed as incurred. The Company accrues for noticed claims. The costs of providing termite services upon renewal are compared to the expected revenue to be received and a provision is made for any expected losses.
Miscellaneous services (e.g., cleaning, etc.) - In certain agreements with customers, Rollins may offer other miscellaneous services, including restroom cleaning (e.g., eliminating foul odors, grease and grime which could attract pests), training (e.g., seminar covering Good Manufacturing Practices and product stewardship), etc. Revenue from miscellaneous services is recognized when services are provided.
Products - Depending on customer demand, Rollins may separately sell pest control and/or termite protection products, such as baits. Revenue from product sales is recognized upon transfer of control of the asset.
Equipment rental (or lease) - Depending on customer demand, Rollins may lease certain pest control and/or termite protection equipment. Revenue from equipment rentals are recognized over the period of the rental/lease. Revenue from equipment rentals are not material and represent less than 1.0% of the Company's revenues for each reported period.
Right to access intellectual property (Franchise) - The right to access Rollins’ intellectual property is an essential part of Orkin’s franchising agreements. These agreements provide the franchisee (the customer) a license to use the Rollins’ name and trademark when advertising and selling services to end customers in their normal course of business. Orkin Franchise agreements contain a clause allowing Orkin to purchase certain assets of the franchisee. This is only an offer for Orkin to re-purchase the assets originally provided by Orkin to the franchisee and is not a performance obligation or a form of consideration. International and domestic franchising revenue was less than 0.5% of the Company’s annual revenues.
All Orkin domestic franchises have a guaranteed repurchase clause that the Orkin franchise may be repurchased by Orkin at a later date once it has been established. Deferred Orkin franchise fees of $3.4 million at both March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 were not material to the Company's financial statements.
Royalties from Orkin franchises are accrued and recognized as revenues are earned on a monthly basis. Revenue from franchises was $2.4 million for each of the three month periods ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.
Contract Balances
Timing of revenue recognition may differ from the timing of invoicing to customers. We record a receivable when revenue is recognized prior to invoicing, or unearned revenue when revenue is recognized subsequent to invoicing. For multi-year agreements, we generally invoice customers annually at the beginning of each annual coverage period. The balance of long-term accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts, was $22.3 million as of March 31, 2018. As of December 31, 2017, long-term accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts, were $20.4 million and are included in financed receivables as a long-term asset on our consolidated statements of financial position.
The allowance for doubtful accounts reflects our best estimate of probable losses inherent in the accounts receivable balance. We determine the allowance based on known troubled accounts, historical experience, and other currently available evidence. Activity in the allowance for doubtful accounts was as follows:
(In thousands)
Three Months ended March 31, 2018
Balance at December 31, 2017
$
14,706

Charged to costs and expenses
932

Net (deductions) recoveries
(2,115
)
Balance at March 31, 2018
$
13,523


Unearned revenue is comprised mainly of unearned revenue related to the Company’s termite baiting offering and year-in-advance pest control services for which we have been paid in advance and earn the revenue when we transfer control of the product or service.
Refer to Note 7 - Unearned Revenue for further information, including changes in unearned revenue during the period.
Payment terms and conditions vary by contract type, although terms generally include a requirement of payment within 30 to 60 days. In instances where the timing of revenue recognition differs from the timing of invoicing, we have determined our contracts generally do not include a significant financing component. The primary purpose of our invoicing terms is to provide customers with simplified and predictable ways of purchasing our products and services, not to receive financing from our customers or to provide customers with financing.
Practical Expedients and Exemptions
We generally expense sales commissions when incurred because the amortization period would have been one year or less. These costs are recorded within sales and marketing expenses.
We do not disclose the value of unsatisfied performance obligations for (i) contracts with an original expected length of one year or less and (ii) contracts for which we recognize revenue at the amount to which we have the right to invoice for services performed.

Recently issued accounting standards to be adopted in 2018 or later
In June of 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, “Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments.” The updated accounting guidance requires changes to the recognition of credit losses on financial instruments not accounted for at fair value through net income. The guidance is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019. The Company is currently evaluating the effect the guidance will have on its consolidated financial statements.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). In September 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-13, Revenue Recognition (Topic 605), Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), Leases (Topic 840), and Leases (Topic 842), which provides additional implementation guidance on the previously issued ASU 2016-02 Leases (Topic 842). ASU 2016-02 requires a lessee to recognize assets and liabilities on the balance sheet for leases with lease terms greater than 12 months. ASU 2016-02 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2018, and early adoption is permitted. Based on a preliminary assessment, the Company expects the adoption of this guidance to have a material impact on its assets and liabilities due to the recognition of right-of-use assets and lease liabilities on its consolidated balance sheets at the beginning of the earliest period presented. The Company is continuing its assessment, which may identify additional impacts this guidance will have on its consolidated financial statements and disclosures. In August 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-12, Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815), which provides new guidance intended to improve the financial reporting of hedging relationships to better portray the economic results of an entity’s risk management activities in its financial statements. This ASU is effective for the Company beginning in fiscal year 2020. The adoption of this ASU is not expected to have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.