Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Cash Equivalents

We consider all highly liquid instruments with maturities of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. Our cash equivalents at December 31, 2017 consist of direct obligations of financial institutions rated A or better.

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

We maintain allowances for doubtful accounts. These allowances reflect our estimate of the amount of our receivables that we will be unable to collect based on historical write-off experience. Our estimate could require change based on changing circumstances, including changes in the economy or in the particular circumstances of individual customers. Accordingly, we may be required to increase or decrease our allowances. Trade receivables that have contractual maturities of one year or less are written-off when they are determined to be uncollectible based on the criteria necessary to qualify as a deduction for federal tax purposes. Write-offs of such receivables require management approval based on specified dollar thresholds. During the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, we recognized expenses of $40, $24 and $32, respectively, within selling, general and administrative expenses in our consolidated statements of income, associated with our allowances for doubtful accounts.

Inventory

Inventory consists of new equipment, contractor supplies, tools, parts, fuel and related supply items. Inventory is stated at the lower of cost or market. Cost is determined, depending on the type of inventory, using either a specific identification, weighted-average or first-in, first-out method.

Rental Equipment

Rental equipment, which includes service and delivery vehicles, is recorded at cost and depreciated over the estimated useful life of the equipment using the straight-line method. The range of estimated useful lives for rental equipment is two to 12 years. Rental equipment is depreciated to a salvage value of zero to 10 percent of cost. Rental equipment is depreciated whether or not it is out on rent. Costs we incur in connection with refurbishment programs that extend the life of our equipment are capitalized and amortized over the remaining useful life of the equipment. The costs incurred under these refurbishment programs were $10, $18 and $30 for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively, and are included in purchases of rental equipment in our consolidated statements of cash flows. Ordinary repair and maintenance costs are charged to operations as incurred. Repair and maintenance costs are included in cost of revenues on our consolidated statements of income. Repair and maintenance expense (including both labor and parts) for our rental equipment was $714, $629 and $628 for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment are recorded at cost and depreciated over their estimated useful lives using the straight-line method. The range of estimated useful lives for property and equipment is two to 39 years. Ordinary repair and maintenance costs are charged to expense as incurred. Leasehold improvements are amortized using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives or the remaining life of the lease, whichever is shorter.

Acquisition Accounting

We have made a number of acquisitions in the past and may continue to make acquisitions in the future. The assets acquired and liabilities assumed are recorded based on their respective fair values at the date of acquisition. Long-lived assets (principally rental equipment), goodwill and other intangible assets generally represent the largest components of our acquisitions. Rental equipment is valued utilizing either a cost, market or income approach, or a combination of certain of these methods, depending on the asset being valued and the availability of market or income data. The intangible assets that we have acquired are non-compete agreements and customer relationships. Goodwill is calculated as the excess of the cost of the acquired entity over the net of the fair value of the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed. Non-compete agreements and customer relationships are valued based on an excess earnings or income approach based on projected cash flows.

When we make an acquisition, we also acquire other assets and assume liabilities. These other assets and liabilities typically include, but are not limited to, parts inventory, accounts receivable, accounts payable and other working capital items. Because of their short-term nature, the fair values of these other assets and liabilities generally approximate the book values on the acquired entities' balance sheets.

Evaluation of Goodwill Impairment

Goodwill is tested for impairment annually or more frequently if an event or circumstance indicates that an impairment loss may have been incurred. Application of the goodwill impairment test requires judgment, including: the identification of reporting units; assignment of assets and liabilities to reporting units; assignment of goodwill to reporting units; determination of the fair value of each reporting unit; and an assumption as to the form of the transaction in which the reporting unit would be acquired by a market participant (either a taxable or nontaxable transaction).

We estimate the fair value of our reporting units (which are our regions) using a combination of an income approach based on the present value of estimated future cash flows and a market approach based on market price data of shares of our Company and other corporations engaged in similar businesses as well as acquisition multiples paid in recent transactions within our industry (including our own acquisitions). We believe this approach, which utilizes multiple valuation techniques, yields the most appropriate evidence of fair value. We review goodwill for impairment utilizing a two-step process. The first step of the impairment test requires a comparison of the fair value of each of our reporting units' net assets to the respective carrying value of net assets. If the carrying value of a reporting unit's net assets is less than its fair value, no indication of impairment exists and a second step is not performed. If the carrying amount of a reporting unit's net assets is higher than its fair value, there is an indication that an impairment may exist and a second step must be performed. In the second step, the impairment is calculated by comparing the implied fair value of the reporting unit's goodwill (as if purchase accounting were performed on the testing date) with the carrying amount of the goodwill. If the carrying amount of the reporting unit's goodwill is greater than the implied fair value of its goodwill, an impairment loss must be recognized for the excess and charged to operations.

Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") guidance permits entities to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount as a basis for determining whether it is necessary to perform the two-step goodwill impairment test. As discussed below (see "New Accounting Pronouncements-Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment"), we expect to adopt accounting guidance that eliminates the second step from the goodwill impairment test when it becomes effective (for annual or interim goodwill impairment tests in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019).

In connection with our goodwill impairment test that was conducted as of October 1, 2016, we bypassed the qualitative assessment for each reporting unit and proceeded directly to the first step of the goodwill impairment test. Our goodwill impairment testing as of this date indicated that all of our reporting units, excluding our Pump Solutions reporting unit, had estimated fair values which exceeded their respective carrying amounts by at least 53 percent. The estimated fair value of our Pump Solutions reporting unit exceeded its carrying amount by approximately 15 percent. Given the relatively small percent by which the Pump Solutions reporting unit’s fair value exceeded its carrying amount, we further tested the Pump Solution reporting unit for impairment by performing a sensitivity test that included a reduction in the long-term growth rate and an increase in the discount rate. The Pump Solutions reporting unit passed step one of the goodwill impairment test under the sensitivity test. We continue to monitor the Pump Solutions reporting unit for impairment, and the Pump Solution reporting unit’s operating results improved significantly in 2017, as evidenced in its fair value exceeding its carrying value by 62 percent in the goodwill impairment test that was conducted as of October 1, 2017.

In connection with our goodwill impairment test that was conducted as of October 1, 2017, we bypassed the qualitative assessment for each reporting unit and proceeded directly to the first step of the goodwill impairment test. Our goodwill impairment testing as of this date indicated that all of our reporting units had estimated fair values which exceeded their respective carrying amounts by at least 45 percent.

Restructuring Charges

Costs associated with exit or disposal activities, including lease termination costs and certain employee severance costs associated with restructuring, branch closings or other activities, are recognized at fair value when they are incurred.

Other Intangible Assets

Other intangible assets consist of non-compete agreements and customer relationships. The non-compete agreements are being amortized on a straight-line basis over initial periods of approximately 5 years. The customer relationships are being amortized either using the sum of the years' digits method or on a straight-line basis over initial periods ranging from 7 to 15 years. We believe that the amortization methods used reflect the estimated pattern in which the economic benefits will be consumed.

Long-Lived Assets

Long-lived assets are recorded at the lower of amortized cost or fair value. As part of an ongoing review of the valuation of long-lived assets, we assess the carrying value of such assets if facts and circumstances suggest they may be impaired. If this review indicates the carrying value of such an asset may not be recoverable, as determined by an undiscounted cash flow analysis over the remaining useful life, the carrying value would be reduced to its estimated fair value.

Translation of Foreign Currency

Assets and liabilities of our Canadian subsidiaries that have a functional currency other than U.S. dollars are translated into U.S. dollars using exchange rates at the balance sheet date. Revenues and expenses are translated at average exchange rates effective during the year. Foreign currency translation gains and losses are included as a component of accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income within stockholders’ equity.

Revenue Recognition

As discussed below (see "New Accounting Pronouncements-Revenue from Contracts with Customers"), we expect to adopt updated FASB revenue recognition guidance ("Topic 606") on January 1, 2018. Topic 606 is an update to Topic 605, which was the revenue recognition standard in effect for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2017. For each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2017, we recognized revenue in accordance with two different accounting standards: 1) Topic 605 and 2) Topic 840, which is the lease standard. The table below reflects our revenue disaggregated by type and by the accounting standard used to determine the accounting.



	Year Ended December 31,
			2017						2016						2015
	Topic 840		Topic 605		Total		Topic 840		Topic 605		Total		Topic 840		Topic 605		Total
Revenues:
Owned equipment rentals	$	4,928	$	—	$	4,928	$	4,273	$	—	$	4,273	$	4,288	$	—	$	4,288
Re-rent revenue	106		—		106		93		—		93		89		—		89
Ancillary and other rental revenues:
Delivery and pick-up	—		389		389		—		340		340		—		337		337
Other	228		64		292		186		49		235		187		48		235
Total ancillary and other rental revenues	228		453		681		186		389		575		187		385		572
Total equipment rentals	5,262		453		5,715		4,552		389		4,941		4,564		385		4,949
Sales of rental equipment	—		550		550		—		496		496		—		538		538
Sales of new equipment	—		178		178		—		144		144		—		157		157
Contractor supplies sales	—		80		80		—		79		79		—		79		79
Service and other revenues	—		118		118		—		102		102		—		94		94
Total revenues	$	5,262	$	1,379	$	6,641	$	4,552	$	1,210	$	5,762	$	4,564	$	1,253	$	5,817

Topic 840 revenues

The accounting for the types of revenue that are accounted for under Topic 840 is discussed below. As discussed below (see "New Accounting Pronouncements-Leases"), we expect to adopt Topic 842, which is an update to Topic 840, on January 1, 2019. While our review of the revenue accounting under Topic 842 is ongoing, we have tentatively concluded that no significant changes are expected to our revenue accounting upon adoption of Topic 842.

Owned equipment rentals: Owned equipment rentals represent revenues from renting equipment that we own. We account for such rentals as operating leases.

We recognize revenues from renting equipment on a straight-line basis. Our rental contract periods are hourly, daily, weekly or monthly. By way of example, if a customer were to rent a piece of equipment and the daily, weekly and monthly rental rates for that particular piece were (in actual dollars) $100, $300 and $900, respectively, we would recognize revenue of $32.14 per day. The daily rate for recognition purposes is calculated by dividing the monthly rate of $900 by the monthly term of 28 days. This daily rate assumes that the equipment will be on rent for the full 28 days, as we are unsure of when the customer will return the equipment and therefore unsure of which rental contract period will apply.

As part of this straight-line methodology, when the equipment is returned, we recognize as incremental revenue the excess, if any, between the amount the customer is contractually required to pay, which is based on the rental contract period applicable to the actual number of days the equipment was out on rent, over the cumulative amount of revenue recognized to date. We record amounts billed to customers in excess of recognizable revenue as deferred revenue on our balance sheet. We had deferred revenue of $38 and $33 as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

In any given accounting period, we will have customers return equipment and be contractually required to pay us more than the cumulative amount of revenue recognized to date under the straight-line methodology. For instance, continuing the above example, if the customer rented the above piece of equipment on December 29 and returned it at the close of business on January 1, we would recognize incremental revenue on January 1 of $171.44 (in actual dollars, representing the difference between the amount the customer is contractually required to pay, or $300 at the weekly rate, and the cumulative amount recognized to date on a straight-line basis, or $128.56, which represents four days at $32.14 per day).

Re-rent revenue: Re-rent revenue reflects revenues from equipment that we rent from vendors and then rent to our customers. We account for such rentals as subleases. The accounting for re-rent revenue is the same as the accounting for owned equipment rentals described above.

“Other” equipment rental revenue is primarily comprised of 1) Rental Protection Plan (or "RPP") revenue associated with the damage waiver customers can purchase when they rent our equipment to protect against potential loss or damage, 2) environmental charges associated with the rental of equipment, and 3) charges for rented equipment that is damaged by our customers.

Topic 605 revenues

Delivery and pick-up: Delivery and pick-up revenue associated with renting equipment is recognized when the service is performed.

“Other” equipment rental revenue is primarily comprised of revenues associated with the consumption of fuel by our customers which are recognized when the equipment is returned by the customer (and consumption, if any, can be measured).

Sales of rental equipment, new equipment and contractor supplies are recognized at the time of delivery to, or pick-up by, the customer and when collectibility is reasonably assured.

Service and other revenues primarily represent revenues earned from providing repair and maintenance services on our customers’ fleet (including parts sales). Service revenue is recognized as the services are performed.

Sales tax amounts collected from customers are recorded on a net basis.

Delivery Expense

Equipment rentals include our revenues from fees we charge for equipment delivery. Delivery costs are charged to operations as incurred, and are included in cost of revenues on our consolidated statements of income.

Advertising Expense

We promote our business through local and national advertising in various media, including television, trade publications, branded sponsorships, yellow pages, the Internet, radio and direct mail. Advertising costs are generally expensed as incurred. These costs may include the development costs for branded content and advertising campaigns. Advertising expense, net of the qualified advertising reimbursements discussed below, was immaterial for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015.

We receive reimbursements for advertising that promotes a vendor’s products or services. Such reimbursements that meet the applicable criteria under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) are offset against advertising costs in the period in which we recognize the incremental advertising cost. The amounts of qualified advertising reimbursements that reduced advertising expense were $35, $19 and $17 for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

Insurance

We are insured for general liability, workers’ compensation and automobile liability, subject to deductibles or self-insured retentions per occurrence. Losses within the deductible amounts are accrued based upon the aggregate liability for reported claims incurred, as well as an estimated liability for claims incurred but not yet reported. These liabilities are not discounted. The Company is also self-insured for group medical claims but purchases “stop loss” insurance to protect itself from any one significant loss.

Income Taxes

We use the liability method of accounting for income taxes. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the differences between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities and are measured using the tax rates and laws that are expected to be in effect when the differences are expected to reverse. Recognition of deferred tax assets is limited to amounts considered by management to be more likely than not to be realized in future periods. The most significant positive evidence that we consider in the recognition of deferred tax assets is the expected reversal of cumulative deferred tax liabilities resulting from book versus tax depreciation of our rental equipment fleet that is well in excess of the deferred tax assets.

We use a two-step approach for recognizing and measuring tax benefits taken or expected to be taken in a tax return regarding uncertainties in income tax positions. The first step is recognition: we determine whether it is more likely than not that a tax position will be sustained upon examination, including resolution of any related appeals or litigation processes, based on the technical merits of the position. In evaluating whether a tax position has met the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold, we presume that the position will be examined by the appropriate taxing authority with full knowledge of all relevant information. The second step is measurement: a tax position that meets the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold is measured to determine the amount of benefit to recognize in the financial statements. The tax position is measured at the largest amount of benefit that is greater than 50 percent likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement. Differences between tax positions taken in a tax return and amounts recognized in the financial statements will generally result in one or more of the following: an increase in a liability for income taxes payable, a reduction of an income tax refund receivable, a reduction in a deferred tax asset or an increase in a deferred tax liability.

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which was enacted in December 2017, had a substantial impact on our income tax benefit for the year ended December 31, 2017. We expect to meaningfully benefit from its enactment in future periods. See note 13 to the consolidated financial statements for further detail.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Significant estimates impact the calculation of the allowance for doubtful accounts, depreciation and amortization, income taxes, reserves for claims, loss contingencies (including legal contingencies) and the fair values of financial instruments. Actual results could materially differ from those estimates.

Concentrations of Credit Risk

Financial instruments that potentially subject us to significant concentrations of credit risk include cash and cash equivalents and accounts receivable. We maintain cash and cash equivalents with high quality financial institutions. Concentration of credit risk with respect to receivables is limited because a large number of geographically diverse customers makes up our customer base. Our largest customer accounted for less than one percent of total revenues in each of 2017, 2016, and 2015. Our customer with the largest receivable balance represented approximately one percent and two percent of total receivables at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. We manage credit risk through credit approvals, credit limits and other monitoring procedures.

Stock-Based Compensation

We measure stock-based compensation at the grant date based on the fair value of the award and recognize stock-based compensation expense over the requisite service period. Determining the fair value of stock option awards requires judgment, including estimating stock price volatility, forfeiture rates and expected option life. Restricted stock awards are valued based on the fair value of the stock on the grant date and the related compensation expense is recognized over the service period. Similarly, for time-based restricted stock awards subject to graded vesting, we recognize compensation cost on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period. For performance-based restricted stock units ("RSUs"), compensation expense is recognized if satisfaction of the performance condition is considered probable. As discussed below (see "Guidance Adopted in 2017-Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting"), we adopted accounting guidance in 2017 that changed the cash flow presentation of excess tax benefits from share-based payment arrangements. For 2017, the excess tax benefits from share-based payment arrangements are presented as a component of net cash provided by operating activities, while, for 2016 and 2015, they are presented as a separate line item.

New Accounting Pronouncements

Leases. In March 2016, the FASB issued Topic 842 to increase transparency and comparability among organizations by requiring i) recognition of lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet and ii) disclosure of key information about leasing arrangements. Some changes to the lessor accounting guidance were made to align both of the following: i) the lessor accounting guidance with certain changes made to the lessee accounting guidance and ii) key aspects of the lessor accounting model with revenue recognition guidance. Topic 842 will be effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2018, and early adoption is permitted. A modified retrospective approach is required for adoption for all leases that exist at or commence after the date of initial application with an option to use certain practical expedients. We expect to adopt this guidance when effective.

As discussed below (see "Revenue from Contracts with Customers"), most of our equipment rental revenues, which accounted for 86 percent of total revenues for the year ended December 31, 2017, will be accounted for under Topic 840, which is the current lease accounting standard, until the adoption of Topic 842. While our review of the equipment rental revenue accounting under Topic 842 is ongoing, we have tentatively concluded that no significant changes are expected to our revenue accounting upon adoption of Topic 842.

Under Topic 842, our operating leases, which include both real estate and non-rental equipment, will result in lease assets and lease liabilities being recognized on the balance sheet. We lease a significant portion of our branch locations, and also lease other premises used for purposes such as district and regional offices and service centers. We expect that the quantification of the amount of the lease assets and lease liabilities that we will recognize on our balance sheet will take a significant amount of time given the size of our lease portfolio. While our review of the lessee accounting requirements of Topic 842 is ongoing, we believe that the impact on our balance sheet, while not currently estimable, will be significant.

Revenue from Contracts with Customers. In May 2014, the FASB issued Topic 606 to clarify the principles for recognizing revenue. Topic 606 includes the required steps to achieve the core principle that 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. The guidance will be effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and we will adopt the guidance on January 1, 2018 using the modified retrospective method. While our review of our revenue accounting is ongoing, we do not believe that Topic 606 will have a significant impact on our financial statements.

Under Topic 606, entities are required to disaggregate revenue into categories that depict how the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows are affected by economic factors. See above (“Revenue Recognition”) for the disaggregation of our revenue under the accounting standards in effect for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2017. Upon adoption of Topic 606, we expect to disaggregate our revenues consistently with the disaggregation reflected above. We are evaluating the Topic 606 disclosure requirements, beyond the requirement to disaggregate revenue. We are additionally assessing the impact of Topic 606 on our internal controls over financial reporting.

Upon adoption of Topic 606 on January 1, 2018, we will continue to recognize revenue in accordance with two different accounting standards: 1) Topic 606 and 2) Topic 840, which is the lease standard we followed for the year ended December 31, 2017 and will follow for the year ended December 31, 2018. As discussed above, we expect to adopt Topic 842, an update to Topic 840, when it becomes effective, on January 1, 2019 and we have tentatively concluded that it will not have a significant impact on our revenue accounting.

Statement of Cash Flows. In August 2016, the FASB issued guidance to reduce the diversity in the presentation of certain cash receipts and cash payments presented and classified in the statement of cash flows. The guidance addresses the following specific cash flow issues: (1) debt prepayment or debt extinguishment costs, (2) settlement of zero-coupon debt instruments or other debt instruments with coupon interest rates that are insignificant in relation to the effective interest rate of the borrowing, (3) contingent consideration payments made after a business combination, (4) proceeds from the settlement of insurance claims, (5) proceeds from settlement of corporate-owned life insurance policies, including bank-owned life insurance policies, (6) distributions received from equity method investees, (7) beneficial interests in securitization transitions and (8) separately identifiable cash flows and application of predominance principle. The guidance will be effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017. The guidance requires retrospective adoption. We expect to adopt this guidance when effective, and do not expect the guidance to have a significant impact on our financial statements.

Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. In June 2016, the FASB issued guidance that will require companies to present assets held at amortized cost and available for sale debt securities net of the amount expected to be collected. The guidance requires the measurement of expected credit losses to be based on relevant information from past events, including historical experiences, current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts that affect collectibility. The guidance will be effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2019 and early adoption is permitted for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Different components of the guidance require modified retrospective or prospective adoption. We are currently assessing whether we will early adopt, and the impact on our financial statements is not currently estimable as it will depend on market conditions and our forecast expectations upon, and following, adoption.

Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other Than Inventory. In October 2016, the FASB issued guidance that will require companies to recognize the income tax effects of intra-entity sales and transfers of assets other than inventory in the period in which the transfer occurs. The guidance will be effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017. The guidance requires modified retrospective adoption. We expect to adopt this guidance when effective, and do not expect the guidance to have a significant impact on our financial statements.

Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment. In January 2017, the FASB issued guidance intended to simplify the subsequent accounting for goodwill acquired in a business combination. Prior guidance required utilizing a two-step process to review goodwill for impairment. A second step was required if there was an indication that an impairment may exist, and the second step required calculating the potential impairment by comparing the implied fair value of the reporting unit's goodwill (as if purchase accounting were performed on the testing date) with the carrying amount of the goodwill. The new guidance eliminates the second step from the goodwill impairment test. Under the new guidance, an entity should perform its annual, or interim, goodwill impairment test by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount, and then recognize an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value (although the loss should not exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to the reporting unit). The guidance requires prospective adoption and will be effective for annual or interim goodwill impairment tests in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption of this guidance is permitted for interim or annual goodwill impairment tests performed on testing dates after January 1, 2017. We expect to adopt this guidance when effective, and do not expect it to have a significant impact on our financial statements.

Clarifying the Definition of a Business. In January 2017, the FASB issued guidance to clarify the definition of a business with the objective of assisting entities with evaluating whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions (or disposals) of assets or businesses. The definition of a business affects many areas of accounting including acquisitions, disposals, goodwill, and consolidation. The guidance is intended to make determining when a set of assets and activities is a business more consistent and cost-efficient. The guidance will be effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017. We expect to adopt this guidance when effective. The impact of this guidance will depend on the nature of our activities after adoption, and fewer transactions may be treated as acquisitions (or disposals) of businesses after adoption.

Stock Compensation: Scope of Modification Accounting. In May 2017, the FASB issued guidance to provide clarity and reduce both the (1) diversity in practice and (2) cost and complexity when changing the terms or conditions of share-based payment awards. Under the updated guidance, a modification is defined as a change in the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award, and an entity should account for the effects of a modification unless all of the following are met:

1.The fair value of the modified award is the same as the fair value of the original award immediately before the original award is modified. If the modification does not affect any of the inputs to the valuation techniques that the entity uses to value the award, the entity is not required to estimate the value immediately before and after the modification.

2.The vesting conditions of the modified award are the same as the vesting conditions of the original award immediately before the original award is modified.

3.The classification of the modified award as an equity instrument or a liability instrument is the same as the classification of the original award immediately before the original award is modified.

This guidance requires prospective adoption and will be effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017. The majority of our modifications relate to the acceleration of vesting conditions and we would continue to be required to account for the effects of such modifications under the updated guidance. We expect to adopt this guidance when effective, and do not expect that this guidance will have a significant impact on our financial statements.

Derivatives and Hedging. In August 2017, the FASB issued guidance with the objective of improving the financial reporting of hedging relationships to better portray the economic results of an entity’s risk management activities in its financial statements. The guidance is additionally intended to simplify hedge accounting, and no longer requires separate measurement and reporting of hedge ineffectiveness. For cash flow and net investment hedges existing at the date of adoption, entities must apply a cumulative-effect adjustment related to eliminating the separate measurement of ineffectiveness to accumulated other comprehensive income with a corresponding adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings. The amended presentation and disclosure guidance is required prospectively. The guidance will be effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2018, and early adoption is permitted. We are currently assessing whether we will early adopt. Given our currently limited use of derivative instruments (see note 10 to our consolidated financial statements), the guidance is not expected to have a significant impact on our financial statements.

Guidance Adopted in 2017

Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting. In the first quarter of 2017, we adopted guidance that simplified several aspects of the accounting for share-based payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, and classification on the statement of cash flows. We prospectively adopted the amendments in this guidance that relate to the classification of excess tax benefits from share-based payment arrangements on the statement of cash flows. The excess tax benefits from share-based payment arrangements result from stock-based compensation windfall deductions in excess of the amounts reported for financial reporting purposes. In the year ended December 31, 2017, we recognized $10 of such excess tax benefits, and, pursuant to the adopted guidance, net income increased by $10, or $0.11 per diluted share, reflecting the tax reduction associated with the excess tax benefits. Prior periods have not been adjusted to reflect the new guidance related to the classification of the excess tax benefits, as we have elected to prospectively adopt such guidance. Accordingly, our statement of cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2016 reflects $58 of such excess tax benefits within net cash used in financing activities. All of the excess tax benefits for the year ended December 31, 2016 pertain to share based payments that vested prior to 2016, and, accordingly, would not have impacted net income under the new guidance.

Other significant components of the adopted guidance include:


•	The guidance requires that cash paid by an employer to a taxing authority when directly withholding shares for tax-withholding purposes should be classified as a financing activity on the statement of cash flows. We have historically classified such payments as financing activities, so no retrospective change was required to our historic statements of cash flows.

•

Certain aspects of the guidance require a cumulative change to retained earnings upon adoption. Upon adopting this guidance, we elected to record forfeitures of share-based payments as they occur. Making such an election requires a cumulative change to retained earnings upon adoption. However, we historically adjusted estimated forfeitures to reflect actual forfeitures annually, as a result of which no change to retained earnings was required. In 2016, we utilized all of the prior federal excess tax benefits from share-based payments that vested through 2016, and, accordingly, no change to retained earnings was required associated with federal excess tax benefits from share-based payments. A $5 change to retained earnings was required associated with state excess tax benefits from share-based payments that were not previously recognized because the related tax deduction had not reduced taxes payable.