Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2015

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of the Company have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q. Certain information and note disclosures normally included in annual financial statements have been condensed or omitted pursuant to those rules and regulations. However, management believes that the disclosures contained herein are adequate to make the information presented not misleading.

These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements reflect, in the opinion of the Company, all material adjustments (which include only normal recurring adjustments) necessary to fairly present the Company’s financial position as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, and results of operations for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2015 and 2014. Intercompany transactions have been eliminated in the condensed consolidated balance sheets and results of operations. Where the presentation of these intercompany eliminations differs between the consolidated and reportable segment financial statements, reconciliations of certain line items are provided. The results of operations of acquired companies are included in the Company's results from the closing date of the acquisition and forward. Income or loss attributable to noncontrolling interests is deducted from net income/loss to determine net income/loss attributable to common shareholders.

These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and notes thereto should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014 that are set forth in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, a copy of which is available on the SEC’s website (www.sec.gov). Results of operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for a full year.

Consolidation

The Company's financial statements consolidate all of its affiliates in which it has a controlling financial interest, most often because the Company holds a majority voting interest. To determine if the Company holds a controlling financial interest in an entity, the Company first evaluates if it is required to apply the variable interest entity (“VIE”) model to the entity; otherwise the entity is evaluated under the voting interest model.

Where the Company holds current or potential rights that give it the power to direct the activities of a VIE that most significantly impact the VIE's economic performance combined with a variable interest that gives the Company the right to receive potentially significant benefits or the obligation to absorb potentially significant losses, the Company has a controlling financial interest in that VIE. Rights held by others to remove the party with power over the VIE are not considered unless one party can exercise those rights unilaterally. When changes occur to the design of an entity, the Company reconsiders whether it is subject to the VIE model. The Company continuously evaluates whether it has a controlling financial interest in a VIE.

The Company holds a controlling financial interest in other entities where it currently holds, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the voting rights or where it exercises control through substantive participating rights or as a general partner. Where the Company is a general partner, it considers substantive removal rights held by other partners in determining if it holds a controlling financial interest. The Company reevaluates whether it has a controlling financial interest in these entities when its voting or substantive participating rights change.

Associated companies are unconsolidated VIE's and other entities in which the Company does not have a controlling financial interest, but over which it has significant influence, most often because the Company holds a voting interest of 20% to 50%. Associated companies are accounted for as equity method investments. Results of associated companies are presented on a one-line basis in other income/expense. Investments in, and advances to, associated companies are presented on a one-line basis in the other long-term assets line item in the condensed consolidated balance sheet, net of allowance for losses, which represents the Company's best estimate of probable losses inherent in such assets.

Use of Estimates

The Company prepares its unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. These principles require management to make estimates and assumptions that impact the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the condensed consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expense during the reporting period. The Company reviews its estimates on a regular basis and makes adjustments based on historical experience and existing and expected future conditions. Estimates are made with respect to, among other matters, recognition of revenue, costs of transportation and services, direct operating expenses, estimated useful lives of property and equipment, recoverability of goodwill and long-lived assets, estimated legal accruals, estimated restructuring accruals, estimated employee benefit obligations, valuation allowances for deferred taxes, reserve for uncertain tax positions, probability of achieving performance targets for vesting of performance-based restricted stock units, and allowance for doubtful accounts. These evaluations are performed and adjustments are made as information is available. Management believes that these estimates, which have been discussed with the Audit Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors, are reasonable; however, actual results could differ from these estimates.

Revenue Recognition

The Company generally recognizes revenue at the point in time when delivery is completed and the shipping terms of the contract have been satisfied, or in the case of the Company’s Logistics segment, based on specific, objective criteria within the provisions of each contract as described below. Related costs of delivery and service are accrued and expensed in the same period the associated revenue is recognized. Revenue is recognized once the following criteria have been satisfied:


•	Persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists;


•	Services have been rendered;


•	The sales price is fixed or determinable; and


•	Collectability is reasonably assured.

The Company’s Logistics segment recognizes a significant portion of its revenue based on objective criteria that do not require significant estimates or uncertainties. Revenues on cost-reimbursable contracts are recognized by applying a factor to costs as incurred, such factor being determined by the contract provisions. Revenues on unit-price contracts are recognized at the contractual selling prices or as work is completed. Revenues on time and material contracts are recognized at the contractual rates as the labor hours and direct expenses are incurred. Revenues from fixed-price contracts are recognized as services are provided, unless revenues are earned and obligations fulfilled in a different pattern. Certain contracts provide for labor handling charges to be billed for both incoming and outgoing handling of goods at the time the goods are received in a warehouse. For these contracts, revenue is recognized immediately for the amounts representing handling of incoming goods and deferred revenue is recorded for the performance of services related to the handling of outgoing goods, which is recognized once the related goods leave the warehouse. Storage revenue is recognized as it is earned based on the length of time the related product is stored in the warehouse. Generally, the contracts contain provisions for adjustments to future pricing based upon changes in volumes, services and other market conditions, such as inflation. Revenues relating to such incentive or contingency payments are recorded when the contingency is satisfied and the Company concludes the amounts are earned.

For all lines of business (other than the Company's managed expedited freight business and the Company's Logistics segment with respect to those transactions where its contract logistics business is serving as the customer’s agent in arranging purchased transportation), the Company reports revenue on a gross basis in accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 605, “Reporting Revenue Gross as Principal Versus Net as an Agent.” The Company believes presentation on a gross basis is appropriate under ASC Topic 605 in light of the following factors:


•	The Company is the primary obligor and is responsible for providing the service desired by the customer.


•	The customer holds the Company responsible for fulfillment, including the acceptability of the service (requirements may include, for example, on-time delivery, handling freight loss and damage claims, establishing pick-up and delivery times, tracing shipments in transit, and providing contract-specific services).

•

For the Company’s expedited, truck brokerage, last mile and intermodal businesses, the Company has complete discretion to select contractors or other transportation providers (collectively, “service providers”). For its freight forwarding business, the Company enters into agreements with significant service providers that specify the cost of services, among other things, and has ultimate authority in providing approval for all service providers that can be used by its independently-owned stations. Independently-owned stations may further negotiate the cost of services with approved service providers for individual customer shipments.


•	The Company has complete discretion to establish sales and contract pricing. North American independently-owned stations within its global forwarding business have the discretion to establish sales prices.


•	The Company bears credit risk for all receivables. In the case of global forwarding, the North American independently-owned stations reimburse the Company for a portion (typically 70-80%) of credit losses. The Company retains the risk that the independent station owners will not meet this obligation.

For certain of the Company’s subsidiaries in both of its segments, revenue is recognized on a net basis in accordance with ASC Topic 605 because the Company does not serve as the primary obligor. The Company’s global forwarding operations collects certain taxes and duties on behalf of their customers as part of the services offered and arranged for international shipments. The Company presents these collections on a net basis.

Other Current Assets

Other current assets consist primarily of value-added tax and income tax receivables; prepaid expenses; miscellaneous receivables; inventory; and other current assets. Inventories are stated at cost using the weighted average cost method and consist primarily of diesel fuel, vehicle spare parts and various consumable supplies.

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment are generally recorded at cost or in the case of acquired property and equipment at fair value at the date of acquisition. Maintenance and repair expenditures are charged to expense as incurred. When assets are sold, the applicable costs and accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts, and any gain or loss is included in income. For internally-developed software, the Company has adopted the provisions of ASC Topic 350, “Intangibles—Goodwill and

Other.” Accordingly, certain costs incurred in the planning and evaluation stage of internally-developed computer software are expensed as incurred. Costs incurred during the application development stage are capitalized and included in property and equipment. Capitalized internally-developed software also includes the fair value of acquired internally-developed technology.

Depreciation is computed on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the assets as follows:



Classification	Estimated Useful Life
Buildings and leasehold improvements	Term of lease to 40 years
Vehicles, trailers and tankers	5 to 13 years
Rail cars, container and chassis	15 to 30 years
Machinery and equipment	5 to 10 years
Office and warehouse equipment	5 to 10 years
Computer software and equipment	3 to 5 years

Goodwill

Goodwill consists of the excess of cost over the fair value of net assets acquired in business combinations. The Company follows the provisions of ASC Topic 350, “Intangibles—Goodwill and Other,” which requires an annual impairment test for goodwill. The Company may first choose to perform a qualitative evaluation of the likelihood of goodwill impairment. If the Company determines a quantitative evaluation is necessary, the goodwill at the reporting unit is subject to a two-step impairment test. The first step compares the book value of a reporting unit, including goodwill, with its fair value. If the book value of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value, the Company completes the second step in order to determine the amount of goodwill impairment loss that should be recorded. In the second step, the Company determines an implied fair value of the reporting unit's goodwill by allocating the fair value of the reporting unit to all of the assets and liabilities other than goodwill. The amount of impairment is equal to the excess of the book value of goodwill over the implied fair value of that goodwill. The Company performs the annual impairment testing during the third quarter unless events or circumstances indicate impairment of the goodwill may have occurred before that time.

Intangible Assets with Definite Lives

The Company’s intangible assets subject to amortization consist of customer relationships, carrier relationships, trade names, non-compete agreements, and other intangibles. Customer relationships and trade names are amortized on an accelerated basis over the period of economic benefit based on the estimated cash flows attributable to the related intangible assets. Non-compete agreements, carrier relationships and other intangibles are amortized on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the related intangible asset. The range of estimated useful lives and the weighted-average useful lives of the respective intangible assets by type are as follows:



Classification	Estimated Useful Life	Weighted-Average Amortization Period
Customer relationships	3 to 14 years	12.05 years
Carrier relationships	2 years	2.00 years
Trade names	3 to 3.5 years	3.06 years
Non-compete agreements	Term of agreement	4.57 years
Other intangible assets	1.5 to 5 years	4.24 years

Accrued Expenses, Other

Accrued expenses, other consist primarily of accrued salaries and wages; accrued value-added tax and other taxes; accrued interest on the Company's outstanding debt; accrued estimated litigation liabilities; accrued purchased services; accrued insurance claims; and other accrued expenses, including accrued transportation and facility charges accrued equipment costs and maintenance.

Other Current Liabilities

Other current liabilities consist primarily of deferred revenue; bank overdrafts; estimated acquisition earn-out liability; current portion of interest rate swap liability; and other current liabilities. Bank overdrafts represent short-term loans and are classified as liabilities on the condensed consolidated balance sheets and financing cash flows in the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows.

Fair Value Measurements

FASB ASC Topic 820, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures,” defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date and classifies the inputs used to measure fair value into the following hierarchy:


•	Level 1—Quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets;


•	Level 2—Quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active; and model-derived valuations in which all significant inputs are observable in active markets; and


•	Level 3—Valuations based on inputs that are unobservable, generally utilizing pricing models or other valuation techniques that reflect management’s judgment and estimates.

Estimated Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The aggregate net fair value estimates are based upon certain market assumptions and pertinent information available to management. The respective carrying value of certain financial instruments approximated their fair values as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively. These financial instruments include cash, accounts receivable, notes receivable, accounts payable, accrued expense, and current maturities of long-term debt. Fair values approximate carrying values for these financial instruments since they are short-term in nature and are receivable or payable on demand. The fair value of the asset financing approximates carrying value since the debt is primarily issued at a floating rate, may be prepaid any time at par without penalty and the remaining life is short-term in nature.

The carrying amounts for money market funds are a reasonable estimate of fair value and quoted market prices are available. The fair value of the Company's Senior Notes due 2022, Senior Notes due 2019, and convertible senior notes was estimated using quoted market prices for identical instruments in active markets. The fair value of the Company's Senior Notes due 2021 and Euro private placement notes due 2020 was estimated using inputs that are readily available market inputs for long-term debt with similar terms and maturities.

Derivative Instruments

The Company records all derivative instruments in the condensed consolidated balance sheets as assets or liabilities at fair value. The Company’s accounting treatment for changes in the fair value of derivative instruments depends on whether the instruments have been designated and qualify as part of a hedging relationship and, further, on the type of hedging relationship. For those derivative instruments that are designated and qualify as hedging instruments, the Company must designate the derivative based upon the exposure being hedged. The effective portions of cash flow hedges are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income in the condensed consolidated balance sheets until the hedged item is recognized in earnings. The effective portions of net investment hedges are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income in the condensed consolidated balance sheets as a part of the cumulative translation adjustment. The ineffective portions of cash flow hedges and net investment hedges are recorded in interest expense in the condensed consolidated statements of operations. Derivatives that are not designated as hedging instruments are adjusted to fair value through earnings and are recorded in other expense in the condensed consolidated statements of operations.

Defined Benefit Pension Plans

Defined benefit pension plan obligations are calculated using various actuarial assumptions and methodologies. Assumptions include discount rates, inflation rates, expected long-term rate of return on plan assets, mortality rates, and other factors. The assumptions used in recording the projected benefit obligation and fair value of plan assets represent the Company's best estimates based on information available regarding historical experience and factors that may cause future expectations to differ from past experiences. Differences in actual experience or changes in assumptions could materially impact the Company's obligation and future expense amounts.

The impact of plan amendments and actuarial gains and losses are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income, and are generally amortized as a component of net periodic benefit cost over the remaining service period of the active employees covered by the defined benefit pension plans. Unamortized gains and losses are amortized only to the extent they exceed 10% of the higher of the fair value of plan assets or the projected benefit obligation of the respective plan.

Foreign Currency Translation and Transactions

The assets and liabilities of foreign subsidiaries that use the local currency as their functional currency are translated to U.S. dollars (“USD”) using the exchange rate prevailing at each balance sheet date, with balance sheet currency translation adjustments recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income in the condensed consolidated balance sheets. The assets and liabilities of foreign subsidiaries whose local currency is not their functional currency are remeasured from their local currency to their functional currency and then translated to USD. The results of operations of the Company's foreign subsidiaries are translated to USD using average exchange rates prevailing for each period presented. Foreign currency transactions recognized in the condensed consolidated statements of operations are converted to USD by applying the exchange rate prevailing on the date of the transaction. Gains and losses arising from foreign currency transactions and the effects of remeasuring monetary assets and liabilities are recorded in foreign currency loss in the condensed consolidated statements of operations.