Basis of Presentation (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Basis of Presentation

Principles of Consolidation

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 which are not controlled by the Company. We have interests in nine joint ventures which are determined to be variable interest entities and each operate between one and thirty-five parking facilities. Of the nine variable interest entities, five are consolidated into our financial statements, and four are single purpose entities where the Company is not the primary beneficiary and therefore the Company does not control these entities as power is shared. Investments in variable interest entities where the Company is not the primary beneficiary are accounted for under the equity method and are not material to the Company’s consolidated financial statements. All significant intercompany profits, transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.

Financial Instruments

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

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 to increases in variable interest rates 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 and is not material for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2012 and 2011. The fair value of the interest rate cap at September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011 is $0 and $8, respectively, and is included in prepaid expenses and supplies.