Basis of Presentation

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2011

Basis of Presentation [Abstract]

Basis of Presentation

1. Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of Standard Parking Corporation have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and notes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for complete financial statements.

In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting only of adjustments of a normal and recurring nature) considered necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position and results of operations have been included. Operating results for the nine month period ended September 30, 2011 are not necessarily indicative of the results that might be expected for any other interim period or the fiscal year ending December 31, 2011. The financial statements presented in this report should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and footnotes thereto included in our 2010 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed March 11, 2011, as amended on March 22, 2011.

Principles of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company, its wholly owned subsidiaries, and variable interest entities in which the Company is the primary beneficiary. Noncontrolling interest recorded in the consolidated statement of income is the interest in consolidated VIEs which are not controlled by the Company. We have interests in twelve joint ventures and one limited liability company. The twelve joint ventures each operate between one and thirty-three parking facilities. The limited liability company was formed to collect and distribute parking facility data for a fee. Of the thirteen variable interest entities, seven are consolidated into our financial statements, and six are single purpose entities where the Company is not the primary beneficiary as power is shared. Investments in variable interest entities where the Company is not the primary beneficiary are accounted for under the equity method. All significant intercompany profits, transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.

Financial Instruments

The carrying values of cash and cash equivalents, notes and accounts receivable and accounts payable are reasonable estimates of their fair value due to the short-term nature of these financial instruments. Long-term debt, including capital lease obligations, has a carrying value that approximates fair value because these instruments bear interest at market rates.

Interest Rate Caps

We do not enter into derivative instruments for any purpose other than cash flow hedging purposes.

On February 22, 2010, we entered into interest rate cap agreements with Wells Fargo Bank N.A. (“Wells Fargo”) and Fifth Third Bank (“Fifth Third”), allowing us to limit our exposure on a portion of our borrowings under our senior credit facility (“Rate Cap Transactions”). Pursuant to two separate letter agreements between the Company and Wells Fargo and Fifth Third, respectively, we will receive payments from Wells Fargo and Fifth Third each quarterly period to the extent that the prevailing three month LIBOR during that period exceeds our cap rate of 3.25%. The Rate Cap Transactions became effective March 31, 2010, and settle each quarter on a date that is intended to coincide with our quarterly interest payment dates under our senior credit facility. The Rate Cap Transactions cap our LIBOR interest rate on a notional amount of $50,000 at 3.25% for a total of 39 months. These Rate Cap Transactions are classified as a cash flow hedge, and we calculate the effectiveness of the hedge on a quarterly basis. The ineffective portion of the cash flow hedge is recognized in current period earnings as an increase of interest expense. The fair value of the interest rate cap at September 30, 2011 is $10 and is included in prepaid expenses.