Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017		Dec. 31, 2016
Cash flows from operating activities
Net loss		$ (162,517)	$ (204,285)		$ (48,103)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss
Depreciation and amortization		145,485	98,890		79,639
Fees paid in stock			23,875
HGM contract termination fee paid in stock			10,000
Original issue discount and debt issuance cost amortization		10,913	12,280		13,684
Impairment of goodwill and other intangible assets		48,127	69,437
Provision for doubtful accounts		2,767	500		756
Deferred income tax provision (benefit)		3,352	(66,723)		(15,729)
Share-based compensation expense		7,647	6,743		7,086
Foreign currency remeasurement		(1,180)	1,382		193
Loss on sale of assets		2,095	399		2,245
Fair value adjustment for interest rate swap		(2,540)	(1,297)
Change in operating assets and liabilities, net of effect from acquisitions
Accounts receivable		(19,319)	(4,832)		20,801
Prepaid expenses and other assets		(2,820)	2,628		4,969
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		5,157	69,551	[1]	9,033	[1]
Related party payables		(6,710)	4,907		(2,427)
Net cash provided by operating activities		30,457	23,455	[1]	72,147	[1]
Cash flows from investing activities
Purchase of property, plant and equipment		(20,072)	(14,440)		(7,926)
Additions to internally developed software		(7,438)	(7,843)		(13,017)
Additions to outsourcing contract costs		(7,552)	(10,992)		(14,636)
Cash acquired in TransCentra acquisition					3,351
Proceeds from sale of Assets		3,568	4,607		626
Cash acquired in Quinpario reverse merger			91
Cash paid in acquisition, net of cash received		(34,810)	(423,797)
Net cash used in investing activities		(66,304)	(452,374)		(31,602)
Cash flows from financing activities
Change in bank overdraft			(210)		(1,331)
Loss on extinguishment of debt		1,067	35,512	[2]
Proceeds from issuance of stock			204,417
Cash received from Quinpario			27,031
Repurchase of Common Stock		(7,221)	(249)
Proceeds from financing obligation		11,557	3,116		5,429
Contribution from Shareholders			20,548
Proceeds from new credit facility		30,000	1,320,500
Retirement of previous credit facilities			(1,055,736)
Cash paid for debt issuance costs		(1,094)	(39,837)
Cash paid for equity issue costs		(7,500)	(149)
Borrowings from revolver and swing-line loan		30,000	72,600		53,700
Repayments from revolver and swing line loan		(30,000)	(72,500)		(53,200)
Principal payments on long-term obligations		(28,719)	(39,316)		(47,853)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities		(1,910)	475,727		(43,255)
Effect of exchange rates on cash		122	429		(2,059)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents		(37,635)	47,237	[1]	(4,769)	[1]
Cash and cash equivalents
Beginning of period	[1]	81,489	34,252		39,021
End of period		43,854	81,489	[1]	34,252	[1]
Supplemental cash flow data:
Income tax payments, net of refunds received		7,827	5,711		3,771
Interest paid		146,076	69,622		96,166
Noncash investing and financing activities:
Assets acquired through capital lease arrangements		14,920	6,973		11,925
Leasehold improvements funded by lessor		1,565	146		5,186
Issuance of common stock as consideration for Novitex			244,800
Accrued capital expenditures		2,820	1,621		$ 580
Dividend equivalent on Series A Preferred Stock		$ 0	16,375
Liability assumed of Quinpario			$ 4,672

[1] Balances for these items differ from previously reported balances due to the adoption of ASU no. 2016-18, Statement of Cash Flows: Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments (Topic 230), see Note 2.

[2] Exela reclassified ‘Loss on extinguishment of debt’ from operating to financing activities due to the adoption of ASU no. 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows: Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments, see Note 2.