Significant Accounting Policies and Practices	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2013
Significant Accounting Policies and Practices
Significant Accounting Policies and Practices	Note A. Significant Accounting Policies and Practices *The Company* Effective December 2, 2013, Standard Parking Corporation changed its name to SP Plus Corporation. The name change was effected through a short-form merger pursuant to Section 253 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the "DGCL") by merging a newly formed wholly owned subsidiary of the Company into the Company, with the Company remaining as the surviving corporation in the merger. Under the DGCL, the merger did not require stockholder approval and had the sole effect of amending its certificate of incorporation to reflect its new legal name. The Company provides parking management, ground transportation and other ancillary services to commercial, institutional and municipal clients in the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada. Its services include a comprehensive set of on-site parking management and ground transportation services, which consist of training, scheduling and supervising all service personnel as well as providing customer service, marketing, maintenance, security and accounting and revenue control functions necessary to facilitate the operation of clients' parking facilities. The Company also provides a range of ancillary services such as airport shuttle operations, valet services, taxi and livery dispatch services and municipal meter revenue collection and enforcement services. *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 variable interest entities not controlled by the Company. The Company has ownership interests in thirty-eight partnerships, joint ventures or similar arrangements which operate parking facilities. Twenty-nine are Variable Interest Entities (VIE) and nine are voting interest model entities where the Company's ownership ranges from 20-50% and it does not control the entities. The Company consolidates those VIEs where it is the primary beneficiary and accounts for voting interest entities that it does not control using the equity method of accounting. The assets and liabilities of the VIEs are not material to the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets. All significant intercompany profits, transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation. *Use of Estimates* The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Management evaluates its estimates and assumptions on an ongoing basis using historical experience and other factors, including the current environment. *Foreign Currency Translation* The functional currency of the Company's foreign operations is the local currency. Accordingly, assets and liabilities of the Company's foreign operations are translated from foreign currencies into U.S. dollars at the rates in effect on the balance sheet date while income and expenses are translated at the weighted-average exchange rates for the year. Adjustments resulting from the translations of foreign currency financial statements are accumulated and classified as a separate component of stockholders' equity. *Reclassifications* Certain reclassifications, having no effect on the consolidated statements of income, consolidated statements of comprehensive income, consolidated statements of equity, consolidated statements of cash flows, earnings per share, total assets, or total liabilities have been made to the previously issued consolidated balance sheets to conform to the current period's presentation of the Company's consolidated financial statements. Specifically, prior year current liability amounts for unfavorable acquired lease contracts were reclassified to long-term liabilities to conform to the Company's presentation of favorable acquired lease contracts. See also Note R. Domestic and Foreign Operations for additional information on the reclassification of segment revenues and segment financial results to reflect our changed internal reporting. *Cash and Cash Equivalents* Cash equivalents represent funds temporarily invested in money market instruments with maturities of three months or less. Cash equivalents are stated at cost, which approximates fair value. *Allowance for Doubtful Accounts* Accounts receivable, net of the allowance for doubtful accounts, represents the Company's estimate of the amount that ultimately will be realized in cash. Management reviews the adequacy of its allowance for doubtful accounts on an ongoing basis, using historical collection trends, aging of receivables, and a review of specific accounts, and makes adjustments in the allowance as necessary. Changes in economic conditions or other circumstances could have an impact on the collection of existing receivable balances or future allowance considerations. As of December 31, 2013 and 2012, the Company's allowance for doubtful accounts was $695 and $506, respectively. *Leasehold Improvements, Equipment, Land and Construction in Progress, net* Leasehold improvements, equipment, software, vehicles, and other fixed assets are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Equipment is depreciated on the straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives ranging from 2 to 10 years. Expenditures for major renewals and improvements that extend the useful life of property and equipment are capitalized. Leasehold improvements are amortized on the straight-line basis over the terms of the respective leases or the service lives of the improvements, whichever is shorter (weighted average of approximately 10 years). Certain costs associated with directly obtaining, developing or upgrading internal-use software are capitalized and amortized over the estimated useful life of software. *Cost of Contracts* Cost of contracts represents the cost of obtaining contractual rights associated with providing parking services at a managed or leased facility. Cost of parking contracts are amortized over the estimated life of the contracts, including anticipated renewals and terminations. Estimated lives are based on the contract life or anticipated lives that are consistent with underlying valuation analysis used in determining the fair value as of the date of acquiring. *Goodwill and Other Intangibles* Goodwill represents the excess of purchase price paid over the fair value of net assets acquired. In accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board's ("FASB") authoritative accounting guidance on goodwill, the Compnay does not amortize goodwill but rather evaluates it for impairment on an annual basis, or more often if events or circumstances change that could cause goodwill to become impaired. The Company has elected to assess the impairment of goodwill annually on the first day of its fiscal fourth quarter, or at an interim date if there is an event or change in circumstances indicate the carrying value may not be recoverable. Factors that could trigger an impairment review include significant under-performance relative to expected historical or projected future operating results, significant changes in the use of acquired assets or its business strategy, and significant negative industry or economic trends. A multi-step impairment test is performed on goodwill. The Company has the option to evaluate various qualitative factors to determine the likelihood of impairment. If determined that it is more likely than not the fair value is less than the carrying value of a reporting unit, then the Company is required to perform Step 1. If the Company does not elect to perform a qualitative assessment, it can voluntarily proceed directly to Step 1. In Step 1, the Company performs a quantitative analysis to compare the fair value of the reporting unit to its carrying value including goodwill. If the fair value of the reporting unit exceeds the carrying value of the net assets assigned to that unit, goodwill is not considered impaired, and the Company's is not required to perform further testing. If the carrying value of the net assets assigned to the reporting unit exceeds the fair value of the reporting unit, then the Company must perform Step 2 of the impairment test in order to determine the implied fair value of the reporting unit's goodwill. If the carrying value of a reporting unit's goodwill exceeds its implied fair value, then the Company would record an impairment loss equal to the difference. The goodwill impairment test is performed at the reporting unit level; the Company's reporting units represent its operating segments, which are comprised of its five operating regions. Management determines the fair value of each of its reporting units by using a discounted cash flow approach and a market approach using multiples of EBITDA of comparable companies to estimate market value. In addition, the Company compares its derived enterprise value on a consolidated basis to the Company's market capitalization as of its test date to ensure its derived value approximates the market value of the Company when taken as a whole. In conducting its goodwill impairment quantitative assessment, the Company analyzed actual and projected growth trends of the reporting units, gross margin, operating expenses and EBITDA (which also includes forecasted five-year income statement and working capital projections, a market-based weighted average cost of capital and terminal values after five years). The Company also assesses critical areas that may impact its business including economic conditions, market related exposures, competition, changes in product offerings and changes in key personnel. As part of the 2013 goodwill assessment, the Company engaged a third party to evaluate its reporting unit's fair values. The Company will continue to perform a goodwill impairment test as required on an annual basis and on an interim basis, if certain conditions exist. Factors the Company considers important, which could result in changes to its estimates, include underperformance relative to historical or projected future operating results and declines in acquisitions and trading multiples. Due to the broad customer base, the Company does not believe its future operating results will vary significantly relative to its historical and projected future operating results. However, future events may indicate differences from its judgments and estimates which could, in turn, result in impairment charges in the future. Future events that may result in impairment charges include increases in interest rates, which would impact discount rates, unfavorable economic conditions or other factors which could decrease revenues and profitability of existing locations and changes in the cost structure of existing facilities. Factors that could potentially have an unfavorable economic effect on its judgments and estimates include, among others: changes imposed by governmental and regulatory agencies, such as property condemnations and assessment of parking-related taxes; construction or other events that could change traffic patterns; and terrorism or other catastrophic events. Intangible assets with finite lives are amortized over their estimated useful lives and reviewed for impairment when circumstances change that would create a triggering event. Intangible assets with finite lives are amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives. The Company evaluates the remaining useful life of the other intangible assets on a periodic basis to determine whether events or circumstances warrant a revision to the remaining useful life. Assumptions and estimates about future values and remaining useful lives of its intangible and other long-lived assets are complex and subjective. They can be affected by a variety of factors, including external factors such as industry and economic trends, and internal factors, such as changes in its business strategy and internal forecasts. Although management believes the historical assumptions and estimates are reasonable and appropriate, different assumptions and estimates could materially impact its reported financial results. *Long-Lived Assets* The Company evaluates long-lived asset groups whenever events or circumstances indicate that the carrying value of an asset may not be recoverable. Events or circumstances that would result in an impairment review primarily include a significant change in the use of an asset, or the planned sale or disposal of an asset. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of the asset to future undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by the asset group. If it is determined to be impaired, the impairment recognized is measured by the amount by which the carrying value of the asset exceeds its fair value. The Company's estimates of future cash flows from such assets could be impacted if it underperforms relative to historical or projected future operating results. Assumptions and estimates used to determine cash flows in the evaluation of impairment and the fair values used to determine the impairment are subject to a degree of judgment and complexity. Any changes to the assumptions and estimates resulting from changes in actual results or market conditions from those anticipated may affect the carrying value of long-lived assets and could result in an impairment charge. *Debt Issuance Costs* The costs of obtaining financing are capitalized and amortized as interest expense over the term of the respective financing using the effective interest method. Debt issuance costs of $3,890 and $5,149 at December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively, are included in other assets in the consolidated balance sheets and are reflected net of accumulated amortization of $6,078 and $4,594, respectively. Amortization expense related to debt issuance costs and included in interest expense was $1,484, $1,211 and $638 at December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively. *Financial Instruments* The carrying values of cash, accounts receivable and accounts payable approximate their fair value due to the short-term nature of these financial instruments. Book overdrafts of $29,310 and $37,678 are included within accounts payable as of December 31, 2013, and 2012, respectively. Long-term debt has a carrying value that approximates fair value because these instruments bear interest at variable market rates. *Insurance Reserves* The Company purchases comprehensive casualty insurance covering certain claims that arise in connection with its operations. In addition, the Company purchases umbrella/excess liability coverage. The Company's various liability insurance policies have deductibles or a self-insured retention limit of up to $250 that must be met before the insurance companies are required to pay directly or reimburse the Company for costs incurred relating to covered claims. As a result, the Company is, in effect, self-insured for all claims up to these levels. The Company applies the provisions as defined in the guidance related to accounting for contingencies, in determining the timing and amount of expense recognition associated with claims against the Company. The expense recognition is based upon the Company's determination of an unfavorable outcome of a claim being deemed as probable and capable of being reasonably estimated, as defined in the guidance related to accounting for contingencies. This determination requires the use of judgment in both the estimation of probability and the amount to be recognized as an expense. The Company utilizes historical claims experience along with regular input from third party insurance advisors in determining the required level of insurance reserves. Future information regarding historical loss experience may require changes to the level of insurance reserves and could result in increased expense recognition in the future. *Legal and Other Contingencies* The Company is subject to litigation in the normal course of its business. The Company applies the provisions as defined in the guidance related to accounting for contingencies in determining the recognition and measurement of expense recognition associated with legal claims against the Company. Management uses guidance from internal and external legal counsel on the potential outcome of litigation in determining the need to record liabilities for potential losses and the disclosure of pending legal claims. Certain lease contracts acquired in the Central Merger include provisions allocating to the Company responsibility for all structural repairs required on the property, including repairs arising as a result of ordinary wear and tear. The Company may incur costs for certain structural repair obligations in 2014 and future years, the Company is unable to estimate an amount or range of estimated liability for these repairs in any particular year or in the aggregate. As a result, the company has not recognized a liability for these costs in the accompanying consolidated financial statements. Additionally, the applicable indemnity pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger dated February 12, 2012, and further discussed in Note B. Acquisitions, may not cover all such obligations, and there will be timing differences between our payments to satisfy these obligations and our receipt of indemnification thereof, and some indemnification obligations may be satisfied through the surrender of shares of our common stock. *Interest Rate Swaps* October 25, 2012, the Company entered into Interest Rate Swap transactions (collectively, the "Interest Rate Swaps") with each of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. ("JPMorgan Chase Bank"), Bank of America, N.A. ("Bank of America") and PNC Bank, N.A. in an initial aggregate Notional Amount of $150,000 (the "Notional Amount"). The Interest Rate Swaps have an effective date of October 31, 2012 and a termination date of September 30, 2017. The Interest Rate Swaps effectively fix the interest rate on an amount of variable interest rate borrowings under the Credit Agreement ("the Credit Agreement"), originally equal to the Notional Amount at 0.7525% per annum plus the applicable margin rate for LIBOR loans under the Credit Agreement determined based upon the Company's consolidated total debt to EBITDA ratio. The Notional Amount is subject to scheduled quarterly amortization that coincides with quarterly prepayments of principal under the Credit Agreement. These Interest Rate Swaps are classified as cash flow hedges, and the Company calculates the effectiveness of the hedge on a monthly basis. The ineffective portion of the cash flow hedge is recognized in earnings as an increase of interest expense. As of December 31, 2013, no ineffective portion of cash flow hedges has been recognized in interest expense. The Company does not enter into derivative instruments for any purpose other than cash flow hedging purposes. *Parking Services Revenue* The Company's revenues are primarily derived from leased locations, managed properties and the providing of ancillary services, such as accounting, payments received for exercising termination rights, consulting development fees, gains on sales of contracts, insurance and other value-added services. In accordance with the guidance related to revenue recognition, revenue is recognized when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, the fees are fixed or determinable, collectability is reasonably assured and as services are provided. The Company recognizes gross receipts (net of taxes collected from customers) as revenue from leased locations, and management fees for parking services, as the related services are provided. Ancillary services are earned from management contract properties and are recognized as revenue as those services are provided. *Cost of Parking Services* The Company recognizes costs for leases, non-reimbursed costs from managed facilities and reimbursed expense as cost of parking services. Cost of parking services consists primarily of rent and payroll related costs. *Reimbursed Management Contract Revenue and Expense* The Company recognizes as both revenues and expenses, in equal amounts, costs incurred by the Company that are directly reimbursed from its management clients. The Company has determined it is the principal in these transactions, as defined in Accounting Standard Codification (ASC) 605-45 Principal Agent Considerations, based on the indicators of gross revenue reporting. As the principal, the Company is the primary obligor in the arrangement, have latitude in establishing price, discretion in supplier selection, and the Company assumes credit risk. *Advertising Costs* Advertising costs are expensed as incurred and are included in general and administrative expenses. Advertising expenses aggregated $971, $796 and $317 for 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively. *Stock-Based Compensation* Share based payments to employees including grants of employee stock options and restricted stock units are measured at the grant date, based on the estimated fair value of the award, and the related expense is recognized over the requisite employee service period (generally the vesting period) for awards expected to vest (considering estimated forfeitures). *Income Taxes* Income tax expense involves management judgment as to the ultimate resolution of any tax issues. Historically, our assessments of the ultimate resolution of tax issues have been reasonably accurate. The current open issues are not dissimilar from historical items. Deferred income taxes are computed using the asset and liability method, such that deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between financial reporting amounts and the tax bases of existing assets and liabilities based on currently enacted tax laws and tax rates in effect for the periods in which these temporary differences are expected to reverse or settled. Income tax expense is the tax payable for the period plus the change during the period in deferred income taxes. We have certain federal net operating loss carry forwards which expire in 2024. Our ability to fully utilize these net operating losses to offset taxable income is limited due to the change in ownership resulting from the initial public offering of our stock in 2004 (Internal Revenue Code, Section 382). We consider a number of factors in our assessment of the recoverability of our net operating loss carryforwards including their expiration dates, the limitations imposed due to the change in ownership as well as future projections of income. Future changes in our operating performance along with these considerations may significantly impact the amount of net operating losses ultimately recovered, and our assessment of their recoverability. When evaluating our tax positions, we account for uncertainty in income taxes in our consolidated financial statements. The evaluation of a tax position is a two-step process, the first step being recognition. We determine whether it is more-likely-than-not that a tax position will be sustained upon tax examination, including resolution of any related appeals or litigation, based on only the technical merits of the position. If a tax position does not meet the more-likely-than-not threshold, the benefit of that position is not recognized in our financial statements. The second step is measurement. The tax position is measured as the largest amount of benefit that is more-likely-than-not of being realized upon ultimate resolution with a taxing authority. *Recent Accounting Pronouncements* Adopted Accounting Pronouncements On July 27, 2012, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2012-02, "Intangibles—Goodwill and Other (Topic 350)". ASU-2012-02 allows an entity the option to make a qualitative evaluation to determine whether the existence of events and circumstances indicate that it is more likely than not the indefinite-lived intangible asset is impaired thus requiring the entity to perform quantitative impairment tests in accordance with ASC 350-30. The ASU also amends previous guidance by expanding upon the examples of events and circumstances that an entity should consider when making the qualitative evaluation. The adoption of this guidance did not have an impact on the Company's financial position, results of operations or cash flows. In January 2013, the FASB issued ASU No. 2013-01, "Clarifying the Scope of Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities". This update provides clarification on the disclosure requirements related to recognized derivatives, repurchase agreements and reverse purchase agreements, and securities borrowing and lending transactions. This update is effective for annual reporting periods and corresponding interim periods beginning on or after January 1, 2013, and retrospective application is required. The adoption of this guidance did not have a material effect on the Company's consolidated financial statements. In March 2013, the FASB issued ASU No. 2013-02, "Comprehensive Income—Reporting of Amounts Reclassified Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income". ASU No. 2013-02 requires an entity to provide information about the amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income by component. Additionally, an entity is required to present, either on the face of the statement where net income is presented or in the notes, significant amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income by the respective line items of net income. The guidance does not change the items reported in other comprehensive income or when an item of other comprehensive income is reclassified to net income. The company adopted the provisions of ASU No. 2013-02 on December 30, 2012. As this guidance only revises the presentation of comprehensive income, there was no impact to the Company's financial position, results of operations or cash flows. Accounting Pronouncements to be Adopted In December 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued ASU 2011-11, Balance Sheet (Topic 210): Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities. This update requires additional disclosures about offsetting and related arrangements on assets and liabilities to enable users of financial statements to understand the effect of such arrangements on an entity's financial position as reported. This amendment is effective for fiscal 2014, and adoption of this standard will only affect the footnote disclosures within consolidated financial statements. Once adopted, these disclosure provisions will apply retrospectively for all comparative periods presented. Although the Company is still evaluating the impact of this guidance, the Company does not believe that its adoption will have a material effect on the Company's financial position, results of operations or cash flows but could impact financial statement disclosures. In July 2013, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") No. 2013-11, "Income Taxes (Topic 740), Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists" to eliminate diversity in practice. Under this ASU, an unrecognized tax benefit, or a portion of an unrecognized tax benefit that exists at the reporting date, should be presented in the financial statements as a reduction to a deferred tax asset for a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward if certain criteria are met. This guidance is effective for fiscal years and interim periods within those years beginning after December 15, 2013 with early adoption permitted. The Company does not believe the adoption of this ASU will have a material impact on its financial statements.

Note A. Significant Accounting Policies and Practices

The Company

Effective December 2, 2013, Standard Parking Corporation changed its name to SP Plus Corporation. The name change was effected through a short-form merger pursuant to Section 253 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the "DGCL") by merging a newly formed wholly owned subsidiary of the Company into the Company, with the Company remaining as the surviving corporation in the merger. Under the DGCL, the merger did not require stockholder approval and had the sole effect of amending its certificate of incorporation to reflect its new legal name.

The Company provides parking management, ground transportation and other ancillary services to commercial, institutional and municipal clients in the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada. Its services include a comprehensive set of on-site parking management and ground transportation services, which consist of training, scheduling and supervising all service personnel as well as providing customer service, marketing, maintenance, security and accounting and revenue control functions necessary to facilitate the operation of clients' parking facilities. The Company also provides a range of ancillary services such as airport shuttle operations, valet services, taxi and livery dispatch services and municipal meter revenue collection and enforcement services.

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 variable interest entities not controlled by the Company. The Company has ownership interests in thirty-eight partnerships, joint ventures or similar arrangements which operate parking facilities. Twenty-nine are Variable Interest Entities (VIE) and nine are voting interest model entities where the Company's ownership ranges from 20-50% and it does not control the entities.

The Company consolidates those VIEs where it is the primary beneficiary and accounts for voting interest entities that it does not control using the equity method of accounting. The assets and liabilities of the VIEs are not material to the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets. All significant intercompany profits, transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Management evaluates its estimates and assumptions on an ongoing basis using historical experience and other factors, including the current environment.

Foreign Currency Translation

The functional currency of the Company's foreign operations is the local currency. Accordingly, assets and liabilities of the Company's foreign operations are translated from foreign currencies into U.S. dollars at the rates in effect on the balance sheet date while income and expenses are translated at the weighted-average exchange rates for the year. Adjustments resulting from the translations of foreign currency financial statements are accumulated and classified as a separate component of stockholders' equity.

Reclassifications

Certain reclassifications, having no effect on the consolidated statements of income, consolidated statements of comprehensive income, consolidated statements of equity, consolidated statements of cash flows, earnings per share, total assets, or total liabilities have been made to the previously issued consolidated balance sheets to conform to the current period's presentation of the Company's consolidated financial statements. Specifically, prior year current liability amounts for unfavorable acquired lease contracts were reclassified to long-term liabilities to conform to the Company's presentation of favorable acquired lease contracts. See also Note R. Domestic and Foreign Operations for additional information on the reclassification of segment revenues and segment financial results to reflect our changed internal reporting.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash equivalents represent funds temporarily invested in money market instruments with maturities of three months or less. Cash equivalents are stated at cost, which approximates fair value.

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

Accounts receivable, net of the allowance for doubtful accounts, represents the Company's estimate of the amount that ultimately will be realized in cash. Management reviews the adequacy of its allowance for doubtful accounts on an ongoing basis, using historical collection trends, aging of receivables, and a review of specific accounts, and makes adjustments in the allowance as necessary. Changes in economic conditions or other circumstances could have an impact on the collection of existing receivable balances or future allowance considerations. As of December 31, 2013 and 2012, the Company's allowance for doubtful accounts was $695 and $506, respectively.

Leasehold Improvements, Equipment, Land and Construction in Progress, net

Leasehold improvements, equipment, software, vehicles, and other fixed assets are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Equipment is depreciated on the straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives ranging from 2 to 10 years. Expenditures for major renewals and improvements that extend the useful life of property and equipment are capitalized. Leasehold improvements are amortized on the straight-line basis over the terms of the respective leases or the service lives of the improvements, whichever is shorter (weighted average of approximately 10 years).

Certain costs associated with directly obtaining, developing or upgrading internal-use software are capitalized and amortized over the estimated useful life of software.

Cost of Contracts

Cost of contracts represents the cost of obtaining contractual rights associated with providing parking services at a managed or leased facility. Cost of parking contracts are amortized over the estimated life of the contracts, including anticipated renewals and terminations. Estimated lives are based on the contract life or anticipated lives that are consistent with underlying valuation analysis used in determining the fair value as of the date of acquiring.

Goodwill and Other Intangibles

Goodwill represents the excess of purchase price paid over the fair value of net assets acquired. In accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board's ("FASB") authoritative accounting guidance on goodwill, the Compnay does not amortize goodwill but rather evaluates it for impairment on an annual basis, or more often if events or circumstances change that could cause goodwill to become impaired. The Company has elected to assess the impairment of goodwill annually on the first day of its fiscal fourth quarter, or at an interim date if there is an event or change in circumstances indicate the carrying value may not be recoverable. Factors that could trigger an impairment review include significant under-performance relative to expected historical or projected future operating results, significant changes in the use of acquired assets or its business strategy, and significant negative industry or economic trends.

A multi-step impairment test is performed on goodwill. The Company has the option to evaluate various qualitative factors to determine the likelihood of impairment. If determined that it is more likely than not the fair value is less than the carrying value of a reporting unit, then the Company is required to perform Step 1. If the Company does not elect to perform a qualitative assessment, it can voluntarily proceed directly to Step 1. In Step 1, the Company performs a quantitative analysis to compare the fair value of the reporting unit to its carrying value including goodwill. If the fair value of the reporting unit exceeds the carrying value of the net assets assigned to that unit, goodwill is not considered impaired, and the Company's is not required to perform further testing. If the carrying value of the net assets assigned to the reporting unit exceeds the fair value of the reporting unit, then the Company must perform Step 2 of the impairment test in order to determine the implied fair value of the reporting unit's goodwill. If the carrying value of a reporting unit's goodwill exceeds its implied fair value, then the Company would record an impairment loss equal to the difference.

The goodwill impairment test is performed at the reporting unit level; the Company's reporting units represent its operating segments, which are comprised of its five operating regions. Management determines the fair value of each of its reporting units by using a discounted cash flow approach and a market approach using multiples of EBITDA of comparable companies to estimate market value. In addition, the Company compares its derived enterprise value on a consolidated basis to the Company's market capitalization as of its test date to ensure its derived value approximates the market value of the Company when taken as a whole.

In conducting its goodwill impairment quantitative assessment, the Company analyzed actual and projected growth trends of the reporting units, gross margin, operating expenses and EBITDA (which also includes forecasted five-year income statement and working capital projections, a market-based weighted average cost of capital and terminal values after five years). The Company also assesses critical areas that may impact its business including economic conditions, market related exposures, competition, changes in product offerings and changes in key personnel. As part of the 2013 goodwill assessment, the Company engaged a third party to evaluate its reporting unit's fair values.

The Company will continue to perform a goodwill impairment test as required on an annual basis and on an interim basis, if certain conditions exist. Factors the Company considers important, which could result in changes to its estimates, include underperformance relative to historical or projected future operating results and declines in acquisitions and trading multiples. Due to the broad customer base, the Company does not believe its future operating results will vary significantly relative to its historical and projected future operating results. However, future events may indicate differences from its judgments and estimates which could, in turn, result in impairment charges in the future. Future events that may result in impairment charges include increases in interest rates, which would impact discount rates, unfavorable economic conditions or other factors which could decrease revenues and profitability of existing locations and changes in the cost structure of existing facilities. Factors that could potentially have an unfavorable economic effect on its judgments and estimates include, among others: changes imposed by governmental and regulatory agencies, such as property condemnations and assessment of parking-related taxes; construction or other events that could change traffic patterns; and terrorism or other catastrophic events.

Intangible assets with finite lives are amortized over their estimated useful lives and reviewed for impairment when circumstances change that would create a triggering event. Intangible assets with finite lives are amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives. The Company evaluates the remaining useful life of the other intangible assets on a periodic basis to determine whether events or circumstances warrant a revision to the remaining useful life. Assumptions and estimates about future values and remaining useful lives of its intangible and other long-lived assets are complex and subjective. They can be affected by a variety of factors, including external factors such as industry and economic trends, and internal factors, such as changes in its business strategy and internal forecasts. Although management believes the historical assumptions and estimates are reasonable and appropriate, different assumptions and estimates could materially impact its reported financial results.

Long-Lived Assets

The Company evaluates long-lived asset groups whenever events or circumstances indicate that the carrying value of an asset may not be recoverable. Events or circumstances that would result in an impairment review primarily include a significant change in the use of an asset, or the planned sale or disposal of an asset. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of the asset to future undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by the asset group. If it is determined to be impaired, the impairment recognized is measured by the amount by which the carrying value of the asset exceeds its fair value. The Company's estimates of future cash flows from such assets could be impacted if it underperforms relative to historical or projected future operating results.

Assumptions and estimates used to determine cash flows in the evaluation of impairment and the fair values used to determine the impairment are subject to a degree of judgment and complexity. Any changes to the assumptions and estimates resulting from changes in actual results or market conditions from those anticipated may affect the carrying value of long-lived assets and could result in an impairment charge.

Debt Issuance Costs

The costs of obtaining financing are capitalized and amortized as interest expense over the term of the respective financing using the effective interest method. Debt issuance costs of $3,890 and $5,149 at December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively, are included in other assets in the consolidated balance sheets and are reflected net of accumulated amortization of $6,078 and $4,594, respectively. Amortization expense related to debt issuance costs and included in interest expense was $1,484, $1,211 and $638 at December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

Financial Instruments

The carrying values of cash, accounts receivable and accounts payable approximate their fair value due to the short-term nature of these financial instruments. Book overdrafts of $29,310 and $37,678 are included within accounts payable as of December 31, 2013, and 2012, respectively. Long-term debt has a carrying value that approximates fair value because these instruments bear interest at variable market rates.

Insurance Reserves

The Company purchases comprehensive casualty insurance covering certain claims that arise in connection with its operations. In addition, the Company purchases umbrella/excess liability coverage. The Company's various liability insurance policies have deductibles or a self-insured retention limit of up to $250 that must be met before the insurance companies are required to pay directly or reimburse the Company for costs incurred relating to covered claims. As a result, the Company is, in effect, self-insured for all claims up to these levels. The Company applies the provisions as defined in the guidance related to accounting for contingencies, in determining the timing and amount of expense recognition associated with claims against the Company. The expense recognition is based upon the Company's determination of an unfavorable outcome of a claim being deemed as probable and capable of being reasonably estimated, as defined in the guidance related to accounting for contingencies. This determination requires the use of judgment in both the estimation of probability and the amount to be recognized as an expense. The Company utilizes historical claims experience along with regular input from third party insurance advisors in determining the required level of insurance reserves. Future information regarding historical loss experience may require changes to the level of insurance reserves and could result in increased expense recognition in the future.

Legal and Other Contingencies

The Company is subject to litigation in the normal course of its business. The Company applies the provisions as defined in the guidance related to accounting for contingencies in determining the recognition and measurement of expense recognition associated with legal claims against the Company. Management uses guidance from internal and external legal counsel on the potential outcome of litigation in determining the need to record liabilities for potential losses and the disclosure of pending legal claims.

Certain lease contracts acquired in the Central Merger include provisions allocating to the Company responsibility for all structural repairs required on the property, including repairs arising as a result of ordinary wear and tear. The Company may incur costs for certain structural repair obligations in 2014 and future years, the Company is unable to estimate an amount or range of estimated liability for these repairs in any particular year or in the aggregate. As a result, the company has not recognized a liability for these costs in the accompanying consolidated financial statements. Additionally, the applicable indemnity pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger dated February 12, 2012, and further discussed in Note B. Acquisitions, may not cover all such obligations, and there will be timing differences between our payments to satisfy these obligations and our receipt of indemnification thereof, and some indemnification obligations may be satisfied through the surrender of shares of our common stock.

Interest Rate Swaps

October 25, 2012, the Company entered into Interest Rate Swap transactions (collectively, the "Interest Rate Swaps") with each of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. ("JPMorgan Chase Bank"), Bank of America, N.A. ("Bank of America") and PNC Bank, N.A. in an initial aggregate Notional Amount of $150,000 (the "Notional Amount"). The Interest Rate Swaps have an effective date of October 31, 2012 and a termination date of September 30, 2017. The Interest Rate Swaps effectively fix the interest rate on an amount of variable interest rate borrowings under the Credit Agreement ("the Credit Agreement"), originally equal to the Notional Amount at 0.7525% per annum plus the applicable margin rate for LIBOR loans under the Credit Agreement determined based upon the Company's consolidated total debt to EBITDA ratio. The Notional Amount is subject to scheduled quarterly amortization that coincides with quarterly prepayments of principal under the Credit Agreement. These Interest Rate Swaps are classified as cash flow hedges, and the Company calculates the effectiveness of the hedge on a monthly basis. The ineffective portion of the cash flow hedge is recognized in earnings as an increase of interest expense. As of December 31, 2013, no ineffective portion of cash flow hedges has been recognized in interest expense.

The Company does not enter into derivative instruments for any purpose other than cash flow hedging purposes.

Parking Services Revenue

The Company's revenues are primarily derived from leased locations, managed properties and the providing of ancillary services, such as accounting, payments received for exercising termination rights, consulting development fees, gains on sales of contracts, insurance and other value-added services. In accordance with the guidance related to revenue recognition, revenue is recognized when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, the fees are fixed or determinable, collectability is reasonably assured and as services are provided. The Company recognizes gross receipts (net of taxes collected from customers) as revenue from leased locations, and management fees for parking services, as the related services are provided. Ancillary services are earned from management contract properties and are recognized as revenue as those services are provided.

Cost of Parking Services

The Company recognizes costs for leases, non-reimbursed costs from managed facilities and reimbursed expense as cost of parking services. Cost of parking services consists primarily of rent and payroll related costs.

Reimbursed Management Contract Revenue and Expense

The Company recognizes as both revenues and expenses, in equal amounts, costs incurred by the Company that are directly reimbursed from its management clients. The Company has determined it is the principal in these transactions, as defined in Accounting Standard Codification (ASC) 605-45 Principal Agent Considerations, based on the indicators of gross revenue reporting. As the principal, the Company is the primary obligor in the arrangement, have latitude in establishing price, discretion in supplier selection, and the Company assumes credit risk.

Advertising Costs

Advertising costs are expensed as incurred and are included in general and administrative expenses. Advertising expenses aggregated $971, $796 and $317 for 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

Stock-Based Compensation

Share based payments to employees including grants of employee stock options and restricted stock units are measured at the grant date, based on the estimated fair value of the award, and the related expense is recognized over the requisite employee service period (generally the vesting period) for awards expected to vest (considering estimated forfeitures).

Income Taxes

Income tax expense involves management judgment as to the ultimate resolution of any tax issues. Historically, our assessments of the ultimate resolution of tax issues have been reasonably accurate. The current open issues are not dissimilar from historical items.

Deferred income taxes are computed using the asset and liability method, such that deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between financial reporting amounts and the tax bases of existing assets and liabilities based on currently enacted tax laws and tax rates in effect for the periods in which these temporary differences are expected to reverse or settled. Income tax expense is the tax payable for the period plus the change during the period in deferred income taxes. We have certain federal net operating loss carry forwards which expire in 2024. Our ability to fully utilize these net operating losses to offset taxable income is limited due to the change in ownership resulting from the initial public offering of our stock in 2004 (Internal Revenue Code, Section 382). We consider a number of factors in our assessment of the recoverability of our net operating loss carryforwards including their expiration dates, the limitations imposed due to the change in ownership as well as future projections of income. Future changes in our operating performance along with these considerations may significantly impact the amount of net operating losses ultimately recovered, and our assessment of their recoverability.

When evaluating our tax positions, we account for uncertainty in income taxes in our consolidated financial statements. The evaluation of a tax position is a two-step process, the first step being recognition. We determine whether it is more-likely-than-not that a tax position will be sustained upon tax examination, including resolution of any related appeals or litigation, based on only the technical merits of the position. If a tax position does not meet the more-likely-than-not threshold, the benefit of that position is not recognized in our financial statements. The second step is measurement. The tax position is measured as the largest amount of benefit that is more-likely-than-not of being realized upon ultimate resolution with a taxing authority.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

On July 27, 2012, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2012-02, "Intangibles—Goodwill and Other (Topic 350)". ASU-2012-02 allows an entity the option to make a qualitative evaluation to determine whether the existence of events and circumstances indicate that it is more likely than not the indefinite-lived intangible asset is impaired thus requiring the entity to perform quantitative impairment tests in accordance with ASC 350-30. The ASU also amends previous guidance by expanding upon the examples of events and circumstances that an entity should consider when making the qualitative evaluation. The adoption of this guidance did not have an impact on the Company's financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

In January 2013, the FASB issued ASU No. 2013-01, "Clarifying the Scope of Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities". This update provides clarification on the disclosure requirements related to recognized derivatives, repurchase agreements and reverse purchase agreements, and securities borrowing and lending transactions. This update is effective for annual reporting periods and corresponding interim periods beginning on or after January 1, 2013, and retrospective application is required. The adoption of this guidance did not have a material effect on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

In March 2013, the FASB issued ASU No. 2013-02, "Comprehensive Income—Reporting of Amounts Reclassified Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income". ASU No. 2013-02 requires an entity to provide information about the amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income by component. Additionally, an entity is required to present, either on the face of the statement where net income is presented or in the notes, significant amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income by the respective line items of net income. The guidance does not change the items reported in other comprehensive income or when an item of other comprehensive income is reclassified to net income. The company adopted the provisions of ASU No. 2013-02 on December 30, 2012. As this guidance only revises the presentation of comprehensive income, there was no impact to the Company's financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Accounting Pronouncements to be Adopted

In December 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued ASU 2011-11, Balance Sheet (Topic 210): Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities. This update requires additional disclosures about offsetting and related arrangements on assets and liabilities to enable users of financial statements to understand the effect of such arrangements on an entity's financial position as reported. This amendment is effective for fiscal 2014, and adoption of this standard will only affect the footnote disclosures within consolidated financial statements. Once adopted, these disclosure provisions will apply retrospectively for all comparative periods presented. Although the Company is still evaluating the impact of this guidance, the Company does not believe that its adoption will have a material effect on the Company's financial position, results of operations or cash flows but could impact financial statement disclosures.

In July 2013, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") No. 2013-11, "Income Taxes (Topic 740), Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists" to eliminate diversity in practice. Under this ASU, an unrecognized tax benefit, or a portion of an unrecognized tax benefit that exists at the reporting date, should be presented in the financial statements as a reduction to a deferred tax asset for a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward if certain criteria are met. This guidance is effective for fiscal years and interim periods within those years beginning after December 15, 2013 with early adoption permitted. The Company does not believe the adoption of this ASU will have a material impact on its financial statements.