Basis of Presentation and Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements (Policies)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2015

Basis Of Presentation And Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements [Abstract]

Avis Budget Group, Inc. provides car and truck rentals, car sharing services and ancillary services to businesses and consumers worldwide. The accompanying unaudited Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements include the accounts and transactions of Avis Budget Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries, as well as entities in which Avis Budget Group, Inc. directly or indirectly has a controlling financial interest (collectively, the “Company”), and have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for interim financial reporting.

The Company operates the following reportable business segments:


•	Americas—provides and licenses the Company’s brands to third parties for vehicle rentals and ancillary products and services in North America, South America, Central America and the Caribbean, and operates the Company’s car sharing business in certain of these markets.


•	International—provides and licenses the Company’s brands to third parties for vehicle rentals and ancillary products and services in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Australia and New Zealand, and operates the Company’s car sharing business in certain of these markets.

In 2015 and 2014, the Company completed the business acquisitions discussed in Note 4 to these Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements. The operating results of the acquired businesses are included in the accompanying Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements from the dates of acquisition.

In conjunction with a change in the Company’s management structure in first quarter 2015 which resulted in a change to reportable segments, the financial results of the Company’s North America, South America, Central America and Caribbean operations are now included in the Company’s Americas reportable segment. The Company’s business segment financial information presented in these Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements has been recast for all periods presented. The Company’s consolidated results were not affected by this change.

In presenting the Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”), management makes estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported and related disclosures. Estimates, by their nature, are based on judgment and available information. Accordingly, actual results could differ from those estimates. In management’s opinion, the Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements contain all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of interim results reported. The results of operations reported for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations for the entire year or any subsequent interim period. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s 2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Vehicle Programs

Vehicle Programs. The Company presents separately the financial data of its vehicle programs. These programs are distinct from the Company’s other activities since the assets under vehicle programs are generally funded through the issuance of debt that is collateralized by such assets. The income generated by these assets is used, in part, to repay the principal and interest associated with the debt. Cash inflows and outflows relating to the acquisition of such assets and the principal debt repayment or financing of such assets are classified as activities of the Company’s vehicle programs. The Company believes it is appropriate to segregate the financial data of its vehicle programs because, ultimately, the source of repayment of such debt is the realization of such assets.

Currency Transactions

Currency Transactions. The Company records the gain or loss on foreign-currency transactions on certain intercompany loans and gain or loss on intercompany loan hedges within interest expense related to corporate debt, net. During the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, the Company recorded losses of $4 million and $2 million, respectively, on such items.

Adoption of New Accounting Standards

On January 1, 2015, as a result of the issuance of a new accounting pronouncement, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2014-08, “Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity,” which changes the criteria for determining which disposals can be presented as discontinued operations and also modifies related disclosure requirements. The adoption of this accounting pronouncement did not have an impact on the Company’s financial statements.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

In April 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU 2015-03, “Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs,” which changes the presentation of debt issuance costs in financial statements. ASU 2015-03 becomes effective for the Company on January 1, 2016 and will be applied retrospectively to all periods presented. The adoption of this accounting pronouncement will result in the Company presenting debt issuance costs as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of debt on the Company's balance sheet, rather than in other non-current assets.

In February 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-02, “Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis,” which affect reporting entities that are required to evaluate whether they should consolidate certain legal entities. ASU 2015-02 becomes effective for the Company on January 1, 2016. The adoption of this accounting pronouncement is not expected to have an impact on the Company’s financial statements.

In January 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-01, “Simplifying Income Statement Presentation by Eliminating the Concept of Extraordinary Items,” which eliminates from GAAP the concept of extraordinary items. ASU 2015-01 becomes effective for the Company on January 1, 2016. The adoption of this accounting pronouncement is not expected to have an impact on the Company’s financial statements.

In August 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-15, “Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern,” which requires management to perform interim and annual assessments of an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern within one year of the date the financial statements are issued and to provide related footnote disclosures in certain circumstances. ASU 2014-15 becomes effective for the Company on January 1, 2016. The adoption of this accounting pronouncement is not expected to have an impact on the Company’s financial statements.

In June 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-12, “Accounting for Share-Based Payments When the Terms of an Award Allow a Performance Target to Be Achieved After the Requisite Service Period,” which requires that a performance target that could be achieved after the requisite service period be treated as a performance condition that affects the vesting of the award. ASU 2014-12 becomes effective for the Company on January 1, 2016. The adoption of this accounting pronouncement is not expected to have an impact on the Company’s financial statements.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers,” which outlines a single model for entities to use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers and supersedes current revenue recognition guidance. ASU 2014-09 becomes effective for the Company on January 1, 2017. In April 2015, the FASB voted to propose a deferral of the effective date by one year. The proposed deferral would result in ASU 2014-09 being effective for the Company on January 1, 2018. The Company is currently evaluating the effect of this accounting pronouncement.