| SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES | SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (a) Basis of Presentation The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and include all information and footnotes required for interim financial statement presentation, but do not include all disclosures required under generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") in the United States for annual financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments, such as the accrual of year-end bonuses, except as otherwise noted) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. The results of operations for the three and nine months ended December 31, 2015 are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations to be expected for the year ending March 31, 2016. The unaudited interim consolidated financial statements and notes to consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto for the year ended March 31, 2015 . (b) Principles of Consolidation The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries where it has a controlling financial interest. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The Company carries its investments in unconsolidated entities over which it has significant influence but does not control using the equity method, and includes its ownership share of the income and losses (note 3) in income (loss) from investments in unconsolidated entities in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income. (c) Use of Estimates The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements. Management estimates and assumptions also affect the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period, and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the reporting date. These estimates and assumptions are based on management’s best estimates and judgment. Management evaluates its estimates and assumptions on an ongoing basis using historical experience and other factors, including the current economic environment, which management believes to be reasonable under the circumstances. Management adjusts such estimates and assumptions when facts and circumstances dictate. As future events and their effects cannot be determined with precision, actual results could differ significantly from these estimates. Significant items subject to such estimates and assumptions include the allowance for doubtful accounts; the valuation of deferred tax assets, goodwill, and share based compensation; the allocation of goodwill and other assets across the reporting units (segments); and reserves for income tax uncertainties and other contingencies. (d) Recognition of Revenue Revenues consist primarily of professional service fees. The Company and its clients enter into agreements that outline the general terms and conditions of the specific engagements. The Company performs professional services in accordance with the engagement terms on both a fixed and contingent fee basis. Revenues are recognized when earned and realizable. Revenues under fixed fee contracts are recognized based on management’s estimates of the relative proportion of services provided through the financial reporting date to the total services required to be performed. The recognition of revenues under contingent fee contracts depends on whether the revenues relate to monthly retainers or success fees. Monthly retainers are generally recognized on a monthly basis, except in situations where there is uncertainty as to the timing of collection of the amount due. Success fees are recognized only upon substantial completion of the contingencies stipulated by the engagement agreement. In some cases, approval of the Company’s fees is required from the courts or other regulatory authority; in these circumstances, the recognition of revenue is often deferred until approval is granted; however, if the fee that is going to be collected from the client is fixed and determinable, and the collectability of the fee is reasonably assured, there are instances when revenue recognition prior to such approval is appropriate. Engagements related to Financial Advisory Services are most often structured as fixed fee contracts, whereas engagements related to Corporate Finance and Financial Restructuring are most often structured as contingent fee contracts. Further, Financial Restructuring contracts are commonly subject to the applicable court’s approval. In those instances when the revenue recognized on a specific engagement exceeds both the amounts billed and the amounts collected, unbilled work-in-process is recorded. Billed receivables are recorded as accounts receivable in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. Deferred income results when cash is received in advance of dates when revenues are recognized. Taxes, including value added taxes, collected from customers and remitted to governmental authorities are accounted for on a net basis, and therefore, are excluded from revenue in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income. (e) Operating Expenses The majority of the Company’s operating expenses are related to compensation for employees, which includes the amortization of the relevant portion of the Company’s share‑based incentive plans (note 11). Other examples of operating expenses include: travel, meals and entertainment; rent; depreciation and amortization; technology and communication costs; and other operating expenses, which include such items as office expenses, business license and registration fees, non‑income‑related taxes, legal expenses, related‑party support services, and charitable contributions. During the three months ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 , the Company received reimbursements of $7,654 and $12,108 , respectively, and during the nine months ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 received $19,682 and $20,575 , respectively, from customers for out‑of‑pocket expenses incurred by the Company that are presented net against the related expenses in the accompanying consolidated statements of comprehensive income. (f) Translation of Foreign Currency Transactions The reporting currency for the consolidated financial statements of the Company is the U.S. dollar. The assets and liabilities of subsidiaries whose functional currency is other than the U.S. dollar are included in the consolidation by translating the assets and liabilities at the reporting period‑end exchange rates; however, revenues and expenses are translated using the applicable exchange rates determined on a monthly basis throughout the year. Resulting translation adjustments are reported as a separate component of accumulated other comprehensive loss net of applicable taxes. (g) Property and Equipment Property and equipment are stated at cost. Repair and maintenance charges are expensed as incurred and costs of renewals or improvements are capitalized at cost. Depreciation on furniture and office equipment is provided on a straight‑line basis over the estimated useful lives of the respective assets. Leasehold improvements are depreciated over the lesser of the lease term or estimated useful life. (h) Cash and Cash Equivalents Cash and cash equivalents include cash held at banks and highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less. At December 31, 2015 and March 31, 2015, the Company had cash balances with banks in excess of insured limits. The Company has not experienced any losses in its cash accounts and believes it is not exposed to any significant credit risk with respect to cash and cash equivalents. Although not classified as cash and cash equivalents, included in the Company’s receivable from affiliates (note 4), are amounts due on demand, which generally arise from the transfer of available cash from HL, Inc. to affiliates of ORIX USA, one of which was was repaid in August 2015. (i) Accounts Receivable The allowance for doubtful accounts on receivables reflects management’s best estimate of probable inherent losses determined principally on the basis of historical experience and review of uncollected revenues and is recorded through bad debt expense in the accompanying consolidated statements of comprehensive income. Amounts deemed to be uncollectible are written off against the allowance for doubtful accounts. (j) Investment in Unconsolidated Entities The Company uses the equity method of accounting for investments when it has more than a minor ownership interest or more than minor influence over operations, but does not have a controlling interest and is not the primary beneficiary. Under the equity method, the Company’s share of the investment earnings or losses are recognized in income as earned, and capital contributions are recorded as investments in unconsolidated entities as they occur. (k) Income Taxes Prior to the IPO, ORIX USA and its subsidiaries, including HL CA, filed consolidated federal income tax returns and separate returns in state and local jurisdictions and will do so for the current fiscal year through the date of the IPO. For the pre-IPO period, HL CA reported income tax expense as if it filed separate returns in all jurisdictions. Following the IPO, the Company will file separate federal income tax returns, as well as continue to file separate returns in state and local jurisdictions, and will report income tax expense on this basis. (l) Goodwill and Intangible Assets Goodwill represents an acquired company’s acquisition cost over the fair value of acquired net tangible and intangible assets. Goodwill is the net asset representing the future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized. Intangible assets identified and accounted for include tradenames and marks, backlog, developed technologies, and customer relationships. Those intangible assets with finite lives, including backlog and customer relationships, are amortized over their estimated useful lives. When HL CA was acquired by Fram in January 2006, approximately $392,600 of goodwill and $192,210 of indefinite lived intangible assets were generated and recognized. In accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Topic 805, Business Combinations , since HL CA was wholly-owned by Fram, this goodwill and all other purchase accounting‑related adjustments were pushed down to the Company’s reporting level. Through both foreign and domestic acquisitions made directly by HL CA and the Company since 2006, additional goodwill of approximately $122,836 , inclusive of foreign currency translations has been recognized. Goodwill is reviewed for impairment in accordance with Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2011‑08, Testing Goodwill for Impairment , which permits management to make a qualitative assessment of whether it is more likely than not that one of its reporting unit’s fair value is less than its carrying amount before applying the two‑step goodwill impairment test. If management concludes that it is not more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, then management would not be required to perform the two‑ step impairment test for that reporting unit. If the assessment indicates that it is more likely than not that the reporting unit’s fair value is less than its carrying value, management must test further for impairment utilizing a two‑step process. Step 1 compares the estimated fair value of the reporting unit with its carrying value, including goodwill. If the carrying value of the reporting unit exceeds the estimated fair value, an impairment exists and is measured in Step 2 as the excess of the recorded amount of goodwill over the implied fair value of goodwill resulting from the valuation of the reporting unit. Impairment testing of goodwill requires a significant amount of judgment in assessing qualitative factors and estimating the fair value of the reporting unit, if necessary. The fair value is determined using an estimated market value approach, which considers estimates of future after tax cash flows, including a terminal value based on market earnings multiples, discounted at an appropriate market rate. As of and during the three and nine month periods ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, management concluded that it is not more likely than not that the Company’s fair value is less than its carrying amount and no further impairment testing was considered necessary. Indefinite lived intangible assets are reviewed for impairment in accordance with ASU 2012‑02, Testing Indefinite‑lived Intangible Assets for Impairment , which provides management the option to perform a qualitative assessment. If it is more likely than not that the asset is impaired, the amount that the carrying value exceeds the fair value is recorded as an impairment expense. As of and during the three and nine month periods ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, management determined that it is not more likely than not that the fair values were less than the carrying values. Intangible assets subject to amortization are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. If circumstances require a long‑lived asset or asset group (inclusive of other long‑lived assets) be tested for possible impairment, management first compares undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by that asset or asset group to its carrying amount. If the carrying amount of the long‑lived asset or asset group is not recoverable on an undiscounted cash flow basis, an impairment is recognized to the extent that the carrying amount exceeds its fair value. Fair value is determined through various valuation techniques including discounted cash flow models, quoted market values and third‑party independent appraisals, as considered necessary. As of and during the three and nine month periods ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, no events or changes in circumstances were identified that indicated that the carrying amount of the finite‑lived intangible assets were not recoverable. (m) Fair Value Measurements The Company utilizes valuation techniques that maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs to the extent possible. The Company determines fair value based on assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability in the principal or most advantageous market. When considering market participant assumptions in fair value measurements, the following fair value hierarchy distinguishes between observable and unobservable inputs, which are categorized in one of the following levels in accordance with ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurement : Level 1 Inputs: Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities accessible to the reporting entity at the measurement date. Level 2 Inputs: Other than quoted prices included in Level 1 inputs that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the asset or liability. Level 3 Inputs: Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability used to measure fair value to the extent that observable inputs are not available, thereby allowing for situations in which there is little, if any, market activity for the asset or liability at measurement date. (n) Recent Accounting Pronouncements In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014‑09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers , which requires an entity to recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. An entity should also disclose sufficient quantitative and qualitative information to enable users of financial statements to understand the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-14, Revenue from Contracts with Customers , Deferral of Effective Date which deferred the effective date of the new standard to annual and interim periods within that reporting period beginning after December 15, 2017 (year ended March 31, 2019 for the Company). The new standard is to be applied using either the retrospective or cumulative‑effective transition method. The Company expects to implement the provisions of ASU No. 2014‑09 as of April 1, 2018. The Company has not yet determined the impact of the new standard on its current policies for revenue recognition. In June 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014‑12, Accounting for Share‑ Based Payments When the Terms of an Award Provide That a Performance Target Could Be Achieved after the Requisite Service Period , which requires that a performance target that affects vesting and that could be achieved after the requisite service period be treated as a performance condition. ASU No. 2014‑12 will be effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015 (year ended March 31, 2017 for the Company). Early application is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of ASU No. 2014‑12 on its operating results and financial position. In February 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-02, Consolidation (Topic 810) — Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis, which eliminates the deferral of the requirements of ASU No. 2009-17, Consolidations (Topic 810) — Improvements to Financial Reporting by Enterprises Involved with Variable Interest Entities for certain interests in investment funds and provides a scope exception from Topic 810 for certain investments in money market funds. The ASU also makes several modifications to the consolidation guidance for variable interest entities ("VIEs") and general partners’ investments in limited partnerships, as well as modifications to the evaluation of whether limited partnerships are VIEs or voting interest entities. ASU No. 2015-02 is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 31, 2015. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of ASU No. 2015‑02 on its operating results and financial position. |
