OVERVIEW AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (POLICIES)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2014

OVERVIEW AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES [Abstract]

Overview

Overview

TeleTech Holdings, Inc. and its subsidiaries (“TeleTech” or the “Company”) is a customer engagement management services provider, delivering integrated consulting, technology, growth and customer care solutions on a global scale. Our suite of product and service capabilities allows us to design and deliver enhanced, value-driven customer experiences across numerous communication channels. TeleTech's 46,000 employees serve clients in the automotive, communication, financial services, government, healthcare, logistics, media and entertainment, retail, technology, transportation and travel industries via operations in the U.S., Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Costa Rica, Germany, Ghana, Ireland,Israel, Lebanon, Macedonia, Mexico, New Zealand, the Philippines, Poland, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Thailand, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom.

Basis Of Presentation

Basis of Presentation

The Consolidated Financial Statements are comprised of the accounts of TeleTech, its wholly owned subsidiaries, its 55% equity owned subsidiary Percepta, LLC, its 80% interest in iKnowtion, LLC, and its 80% interest in Peppers & Rogers Group through the third quarter of 2013 when the final 20% interest was repurchased (see Note 2). All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Certain amounts for 2013 have been reclassified in the Consolidated Financial Statements to conform to the 2014 presentation.

Use of Estimates

Use of Estimates

The preparation of the Consolidated Financial Statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions in determining the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent liabilities at the date of the Consolidated Financial Statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. On an on-going basis, the Company evaluates its estimates including those related to derivatives and hedging activities, income taxes including the valuation allowance for deferred tax assets, self-insurance reserves, litigation reserves, restructuring reserves, allowance for doubtful accounts, contingent consideration, and valuation of goodwill, long-lived and intangible assets. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities. Actual results may differ materially from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. In the year ended December 31, 2012, the Company recorded a change in estimate which resulted in a decrease of $4.6 million to employee related expenses in connection with an authoritative ruling in Spain related to the legally required cost of living adjustment for employees' salaries for the year 2010, 2011 and 2012.

Concentration of Credit Risk

Concentration of Credit Risk

The Company is exposed to credit risk in the normal course of business, primarily related to accounts receivable and derivative instruments. Historically, the losses related to credit risk have been immaterial. The Company regularly monitors its credit risk to mitigate the possibility of current and future exposures resulting in a loss. The Company evaluates the creditworthiness of its clients prior to entering into an agreement to provide services and as necessary through the life of the client relationship. The Company does not believe it is exposed to more than a nominal amount of credit risk in its derivative hedging activities, as the Company diversifies its activities across six well-capitalized, investment-grade financial institutions.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Fair values of cash equivalents and accounts receivable and payable approximate the carrying amounts because of their short-term nature.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all cash and highly liquid short-term investments with an original maturity of 90 days or less to be cash equivalents. The Company manages a centralized global treasury function in the United States with a focus on concentrating and safeguarding its global cash and cash equivalents. While the majority of the Company's cash is held outside the U.S., the Company prefers to hold U.S. Dollars in addition to the local currencies of the foreign subsidiaries. The Company believes that it has effectively mitigated and managed its risk relating to its global cash through its cash management practices, banking partners, and utilization of diversified, high quality investments. However, the Company can provide no assurances that it will not sustain losses.

Accounts Receivable

Accounts Receivable

An allowance for doubtful accounts is determined based on the aging of the Company's accounts receivable, historical experience, client financial condition, and management judgment. The Company writes off accounts receivable against the allowance when the Company determines a balance is uncollectible.

Derivatives

Derivatives

The Company enters into foreign exchange forward and option contracts to reduce its exposure to foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations that are associated with forecasted revenue earned in foreign locations. The Company also enters into interest rate derivatives which consist of interest rate swaps to reduce the Company's exposure to interest rate fluctuations associated with its variable rate debt. Upon proper qualification, these contracts are designated as cash flow hedges. The Company formally documents at the inception of the hedge all relationships between hedging instruments and hedged items as well as its risk management objective and strategy for undertaking various hedging activities.

All derivative financial instruments are reported at fair value and recorded in Other assets and Other liabilities in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets at fair value. Changes in fair value of derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges are recorded in Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), a component of Stockholders' Equity, to the extent they are deemed effective. Ineffectiveness is measured based on the change in fair value of the forward contracts and the fair value of the hypothetical derivatives with terms that match the critical terms of the risk being hedged. Based on the criteria established by current accounting standards, the Company's cash flow hedge contracts are deemed to be highly effective. Any realized gains or losses resulting from the foreign currency cash flow hedges are recognized together with the hedged transaction within Revenue. Any realized gains or losses from the interest rate swaps are recognized in interest income(expense). Gains and losses from the settlements of the Company's net investment hedges remain in Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) until partial or complete liquidation of the applicable net investment.

The Company also enters into fair value derivative contracts that hedge against foreign currency exchange gains and losses primarily associated with short-term payables and receivables. Changes in the fair value of derivative instruments designated as fair value hedges affect the carrying value of the asset or liability hedged, with changes in both the derivative instrument and the hedged asset or liability being recognized in Other income (expense), net in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss).

In addition to hedging activities, the Company has embedded derivatives in certain foreign lease contracts. The Company bifurcates and calculates the fair values of the embedded derivative feature from the host contract with any changes in fair value of the embedded derivatives recognized in Cost of services.

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment are stated at historical cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Maintenance, repairs and minor renewals are expensed as incurred.

Depreciation and amortization are computed on the straight-line method based on the following estimated useful lives:

Building	25 years
Computer equipment and software	3 to 7 years
Telephone equipment	4 to 7 years
Furniture and fixtures	5 years
Leasehold improvements	Lesser of economic useful life (typically 10 years)
	or original lease term
Other	3 to 7 years

The Company evaluates the carrying value of property, plant and equipment for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amounts may not be recoverable. An asset is considered to be impaired when the forecasted undiscounted cash flows of an asset group are estimated to be less than its carrying value. The amount of impairment recognized is the difference between the carrying value of the asset group and its fair value. Fair value estimates are based on assumptions concerning the amount and timing of forecasted future cash flows.

Software Development Costs

Software Development Costs

The Company capitalizes costs incurred to acquire or develop software for internal use. Capitalized software development costs are amortized using the straight-line method over the estimated useful life equal to the lesser of the license term or 4 years. The amortization expense is recorded in Depreciation and amortization in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss).

Goodwill

Goodwill

The Company evaluates goodwill for possible impairment at least annually on December 1, and whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of such assets may not be recoverable. The Company uses a three step process to assess the realizability of goodwill. The first step, Step 0, is a qualitative assessment that analyzes current economic indicators associated with a particular reporting unit. For example, the Company analyzes changes in economic, market and industry conditions, business strategy, cost factors, and financial performance, among others, to determine if there would be a significant decline to the fair value of a particular reporting unit. A qualitative assessment also includes analyzing the excess fair value of a reporting unit over its carrying value from impairment assessments performed in previous years. If the qualitative assessment indicates a stable or improved fair value, no further testing is required.

If a qualitative assessment indicates that a significant decline to fair value of a reporting unit is more likely than not, or if a reporting unit's fair value has historically been closer to its carrying value, the Company will proceed to Step 1 testing where the Company calculates the fair value of a reporting unit. If Step 1 indicates that the carrying value of a reporting unit is in excess of its fair value, the Company will proceed to Step 2 where the fair value of the reporting unit will be allocated to assets and liabilities as they would in a business combination. Impairment occurs when the carrying amount of goodwill exceeds its estimated fair value calculated in Step 2.

Contract Acquisition Costs

Contract Acquisition Costs

Amounts paid to or on behalf of clients to obtain long-term contracts are capitalized and amortized in proportion to the initial expected future revenue from the contract, which in most cases results in straight-line amortization over the life of the contract. These costs are recorded as a reduction to Revenue. The Company evaluates the recoverability of these costs based on the individual underlying client contracts' forecasted future cash flows.

Other Intangible Assets

Other Intangible Assets

The Company has other intangible assets that include customer relationships (definite-lived) and trade names (indefinite-lived and definite-lived) and non-compete agreements (definite-lived). Definite-lived intangible assets are amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives, which range from four to 11 years. The Company evaluates the carrying value of its definite-lived intangible assets whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. An asset is considered to be impaired when the forecasted undiscounted cash flows of its asset group are estimated to be less than its carrying value.

The Company evaluates indefinite-lived intangible assets for possible impairment at least annually or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of such assets may not be recoverable. Similar to goodwill, the Company may first use a qualitative analysis to assess the realizability of its indefinite-lived intangible assets. The qualitative analysis will include a review of changes in economic, market and industry conditions, business strategy, cost factors, and financial performance, among others, to determine if there would be a significant decline to the fair value of an indefinite-lived intangible asset. If a quantitative analysis is completed, an indefinite-lived intangible asset (a trade name) is evaluated for possible impairment by comparing the fair value of the asset with its carrying value. Fair value is estimated as the discounted value of future revenues arising from a trade name using a royalty rate that a market participant would pay for use of that trade name. An impairment charge is recorded if the trade name's carrying value exceeds its estimated fair value.

Self Insurance Liabilities

Self Insurance Liabilities

The Company self-insures for certain levels of workers' compensation, employee health, property, errors and omissions, cyber risks, and general liability insurance. The Company records estimated liabilities for these insurance lines based upon analyses of historical claims experience. The most significant assumption the Company makes in estimating these liabilities is that future claims experience will emerge in a similar pattern with historical claims experience. The liabilities related to workers' compensation and employee health insurance are included in Accrued employee compensation and benefits in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. The liability for other general liability insurance is included in Other accrued expenses in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Restructuring Liabilities

Restructuring Liabilities

The Company routinely assesses the profitability and utilization of its delivery centers and existing markets. In some cases, the Company has chosen to close under-performing delivery centers and complete reductions in workforce to enhance future profitability. Severance payments that occur from reductions in workforce are in accordance with the Company's postemployment plans and/or statutory requirements that are communicated to all employees upon hire date; therefore, severance liabilities are recognized when they are determined to be probable and reasonably estimable. Other liabilities for costs associated with an exit or disposal activity are recognized when the liability is incurred, rather than upon commitment to a plan.

Grant Advances

Grant Advances

The Company receives grants from various government agencies as an incentive to locate delivery centers in their jurisdictions. The Company's policy is to account for grant monies received in advance as a liability and recognize to income as either a reduction to Cost of services or Depreciation expense over the term of the grant, when it is reasonably assured that the conditions of the grant have been or will be met.

Income Taxes

Income Taxes

Accounting for income taxes requires recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future income tax consequences of transactions that have been included in the Consolidated Financial Statements or tax returns. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the difference between the financial statement and tax basis of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. Gross deferred tax assets may then be reduced by a valuation allowance for amounts that do not satisfy the realization criteria established by current accounting standards.

The Company accounts for uncertain tax positions using a two-step approach to recognizing and measuring uncertain tax positions. The first step is to determine if the weight of available evidence indicates that it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained on audit. The second step is to estimate and measure the tax benefit as the amount that has a greater than 50% likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement with the tax authority. The Company evaluates these uncertain tax positions on a quarterly basis. This evaluation is based on the consideration of several factors including changes in facts or circumstances, changes in applicable tax law, and settlement of issues under audit. The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions as a part of the Provision for income taxes in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss).

The Company provides for U.S. income tax expense on the earnings of foreign subsidiaries unless the subsidiaries' earnings are considered permanently reinvested outside the U.S.

Equity-Based Compensation Expense

Equity-Based Compensation Expense

Equity-based compensation expense for all share-based payment awards granted is determined based on the grant-date fair value net of an estimated forfeiture rate on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period of the award, which is typically the vesting term of the share-based payment award. The Company estimates the forfeiture rate annually based on its historical experience of forfeited awards.

Foreign Currency Translation

Foreign Currency Translation

The assets and liabilities of the Company's foreign subsidiaries, whose functional currency is not the U.S. Dollar, are translated at the exchange rates in effect on the last day of the period and income and expenses are translated using the monthly average exchange rates in effect for the period in which the items occur. Foreign currency translation gains and losses are recorded in Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) within Stockholders' Equity. Foreign currency transaction gains and losses are included in Other income (expense), net in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss).

Revenue Recognition

Revenue Recognition

The Company recognizes revenue when evidence of an arrangement exists, the delivery of service has occurred, the fee is fixed or determinable and collection is reasonably assured. The BPO inbound and outbound service fees are based on either a per minute, per hour, per transaction or per call basis. Certain client programs provide for adjustments to monthly billings based upon whether the Company achieves, exceeds or fails certain performance criteria. Adjustments to monthly billings consist of contractual bonuses/penalties, holdbacks and other performance based contingencies. Revenue recognition is limited to the amount that is not contingent upon delivery of future services or meeting other specified performance conditions.

Revenue also consists of services for agent training, program launch, professional consulting, fully-hosted or managed technology and learning innovation services. These service offerings may contain multiple element arrangements whereby the Company determines if those service offerings represent separate units of accounting. A deliverable constitutes a separate unit of accounting when it has standalone value and delivery or performance of the undelivered items is considered probable and substantially within our control. If those deliverables are determined to be separate units of accounting, revenue is recognized as services are provided. If those deliverables are not determined to be separate units of accounting, revenue for the delivered services are bundled into one unit of accounting and recognized over the life of the arrangement or at the time all services and deliverables have been delivered and satisfied. The Company allocates revenue to each of the deliverables based on a selling price hierarchy of vendor specific objective evidence (“VSOE”), third-party evidence, and then estimated selling price. VSOE is based on the price charged when the deliverable is sold separately. Third-party evidence is based on largely interchangeable competitor services in standalone sales to similarly situated customers. Estimated selling price is based on the Company's best estimate of what the selling prices of deliverables would be if they were sold regularly on a standalone basis. Estimated selling price is established considering multiple factors including, but not limited to, pricing practices in different geographies, service offerings, and customer classifications. Once the Company allocates revenue to each deliverable, the Company recognizes revenue when all revenue recognition criteria are met.

Deferred Revenue and Costs

Deferred Revenue and Costs

The Company records amounts billed and received, but not earned, as deferred revenue. These amounts are recorded in Deferred revenue or as a component of Other long-term liabilities in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets based on the period over which the Company expects to render services.

We defer revenue for initial training that occurs upon commencement of a new contract if that training is billed separately because the training is not considered to provide standalone value from other services. Accordingly, the corresponding training costs, consisting primarily of labor and related expenses, are also deferred. In these circumstances, both the training revenue and costs are amortized straight-line over the life of the contract as a component of Revenue and Cost of services, respectively. In situations where these initial training costs are not billed separately, but rather included in the hourly service rates paid by the client over the life of the contract, no deferral is necessary as the revenue is being recognized over the life of the contract and the associated training costs are expensed as incurred.

Rent Expense

Rent Expense

The Company has negotiated certain rent holidays, landlord/tenant incentives and escalations in the base price of rent payments over the initial term of its operating leases. The initial term includes the “build-out” period of leases, where no rent payments are typically due. The Company recognizes rent holidays and rent escalations on a straight-line basis to rent expense over the lease term. The landlord/tenant incentives are recorded as an increase to deferred rent liabilities and amortized on a straight line basis to rent expense over the initial lease term.

Asset Retirement Obligations

Asset Retirement Obligations

Asset retirement obligations relate to legal obligations associated with the retirement of long-lived assets resulting from the acquisition, construction, development and/or normal use of the underlying assets.

The Company records all asset retirement obligations at estimated fair value. The Company's asset retirement obligations primarily relate to clauses in its delivery center operating leases which require the Company to return the leased premises to its original condition. The associated asset retirement obligations are capitalized as part of the carrying amount of the underlying asset and depreciated over the estimated useful life of the asset. The liability, reported within Other long-term liabilities, is accreted through charges to operating expenses. If the asset retirement obligation is settled for an amount other than the carrying amount of the liability, the Company recognizes a gain or loss on settlement.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

In April 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2014-08, “Presentation of Financial Statements and Property, Plant, and Equipment – Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity.” ASU 2014-08 provides new guidance related to the definition of a discontinued operation and requires new disclosures of both discontinued operations and certain other disposals that do not meet the definition of a discontinued operation. This new guidance is effective for annual periods beginning on or after December 15, 2014 and interim periods within those years. Beginning in 2015, the Company will apply the new guidance, as applicable, to future disposals of components or classifications as held for sale, but the Companydoes not expect it to have a significant impact on its financial position, results of operation or related disclosures.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers.” ASU 2014-09 provides new guidance related to how an entity should 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. In addition, ASU 2014-09 specifies new accounting for costs associated with obtaining or fulfilling contracts with customers and expands the required disclosures related to revenue and cash flows from contracts with customers. This new guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2016, and can be adopted either retrospectively to each prior reporting period presented or as a cumulative-effect adjustment as of the date of adoption, with early application not permitted. The Company is currently determining its implementation approach and assessing the impact on the consolidated financial statements.

In June 2014, the FASB issued ASU 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”. ASU 2014-12 requires that a performance target that affects vesting and that could be achieved after the requisite service period be treated as a performance condition. This new guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2015, and early adoption is permitted. Beginning in 2016, the Company will apply the new guidance as applicable and is currently assessing the impact on the consolidated financial statements.

In August 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-15, “Presentation of Financial Statements - Going Concern”, as a new Sub-topic, Accounting Standards Codification Sub-topic 205.40. The new going concern standard codifies in GAAP management's responsibility to evaluate whether there is substantial doubt about an entity's ability to continue as a going concern and to provide related footnote disclosures. This ASU is effective for interim and annual periods beginning on or after December 15, 2016 and early adoption is permitted. The Company is evaluating when it will adopt the standard but does not expect it to have a significant impact on its financial position, results of operation or related disclosures.