Basis of Financial Statement Preparation

The condensed consolidated financial statements present the financial position, results of operations and cash flows of The Davey Tree Expert Company and its subsidiaries. When we refer to “we,” “us,” “our,” “Davey,” or “Davey Tree”, we mean The Davey Tree Expert Company and its subsidiaries, unless otherwise expressly stated or the context indicates otherwise.

We have prepared the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”), as codified in the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”), and with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) for interim financial information. The consolidated financial statements include all adjustments which, in the opinion of management, are necessary for a fair presentation of the results for the interim periods presented. All such adjustments are of a normal, recurring nature. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.

Certain information and disclosures required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements have been omitted in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC. We suggest that these condensed consolidated financial statements be read in conjunction with the financial statements included in our annual report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2016 (the “2016 Annual Report”).

Per Common Share Information--All common share and per share data have been retroactively adjusted to recognize a two-for-one stock split of our common shares effective June 1, 2017.

Use of Estimates in Financial Statement Preparation--The preparation of financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP requires the use of estimates and assumptions that affect reported amounts. Our consolidated financial statements include amounts that are based on management’s best estimates and judgments. Estimates are used for, but not limited to, accounts receivable valuation, depreciable lives of fixed assets, self-insurance accruals, income taxes and revenue recognition. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Interim Results of Operations--Interim results may not be indicative of calendar year performance because of seasonal and short-term variations.

Subsequent Events

Credit Facility

On October 6, 2017, the Company entered into a $250,000 Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) with a syndicate of financial institutions as lenders and issuing banks, which replaces the $175,000 credit agreement, dated as of November 7, 2013. The Credit Agreement provides for a revolving credit commitment of $250,000, which includes a letter of credit commitment of $100,000 and a swing line commitment of $25,000. Under certain circumstances, the Company may increase the revolving credit commitment amount to $325,000. The commitments will expire on October 6, 2022, or such earlier date on which the commitments shall have been terminated in accordance with the provisions of the Credit Agreement. Proceeds of borrowings under the Credit Agreement may be used for working capital, capital expenditures and other general corporate purposes.

Pension Plan

On October 12, 2017, the Company entered into an agreement to purchase a guaranteed group annuity contract from a third-party insurance company for $8,400, which unconditionally and irrevocably guarantees the full-


A.	Basis of Financial Statement Preparation (continued)

payment of all annuity payments to certain participants in our Employee Retirement Pension Plan ("ERP"), with the third-party insurance company having assumed all investment risk associated with funding participant payments.

The purchase of the group annuity will serve to reduce the Company’s future pension obligation under its ERP plan and will result in an actuarial settlement loss of approximately $4,000.

Recent Accounting Guidance

Accounting Standards Adopted in 2017

Accounting Standards Update 2016-09, Compensation-Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting--In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, “Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting,” with the objective to simplify several aspects of the accounting for share-based payment transactions, including: the income tax consequences; classification of awards as either equity or liabilities; classification of certain items on the statement of cash flows; and, accounting for forfeitures. ASU 2016-09 became effective for Davey Tree on January 1, 2017 and we elected to make an accounting policy change to recognize forfeitures as they occur. The adoption impact on the consolidated condensed balance sheet was a cumulative-effect adjustment of $162, increasing opening retained earnings and decreasing additional paid-in capital.

Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted

Accounting Standards Update 2017-09, Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Scope of Modification Accounting--In May 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-09, “Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Scope of Modification Accounting,” which provides guidance on which changes in the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award require modification accounting under Topic 718. Modification accounting is required for changes in terms or conditions unless the fair value, vesting condition and classification of the modified award is the same as the original award. The update is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017, which for Davey Tree would be January 1, 2018. Early adoption is permitted. We do not expect the adoption of ASU 2017-09 to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

Accounting Standards Update 2017-04, Intangibles-Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment--In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04, “Intangibles-Goodwill and Other (Topic 350),” which simplifies the subsequent measurement of goodwill by eliminating Step 2 of the goodwill impairment test which required entities to fair value their assets and liabilities using procedures that would be followed in an assumed business combination to arrive at the impairment charge. Under ASU 2017-04, the goodwill impairment test is performed by comparing the fair value of the reporting unit with its carrying amount and an impairment charge should be recognized for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value. The update is effective for annual or interim periods beginning after December 15, 2019, which for Davey Tree is January 1, 2020. Early adoption is permitted for interim or annual goodwill impairment tests performed after January 1, 2017. The Company intends to early adopt ASU 2017-04 during the fourth quarter 2017 and does not expect the adoption to have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements or related disclosures.


A.	Basis of Financial Statement Preparation (continued)

Accounting Standards Update 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments (a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force)--In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15, “Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments,” which provides guidance on how cash receipts and cash payments related to eight specific cash flow issues are presented and classified in the statement of cash flows, with the objective of reducing the existing diversity in practice. The update is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, which for Davey Tree would be January 1, 2018. Early adoption is permitted. We do not expect the adoption of ASU 2016-15 to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

Accounting Standards Update 2017-07, Compensation - Retirement Benefits (Topic 715): Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost--In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-07, “Compensation-Retirement Benefits (Topic 715): Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost,” which changes the presentation of net periodic benefit cost related to employer sponsored defined benefit plans and other postretirement benefits. Under ASU 2017-07, service costs will be included within the same income statement line item as other compensation costs arising from services rendered by pertinent employees during the period. The other components of net periodic benefit pension cost will be presented separately outside of income from operations. Additionally, only service costs may be capitalized in assets. ASU 2017-07 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, which for Davey Tree is January 1, 2018. Management has not yet completed its assessment of the impact of the new standard on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Accounting Standards Update 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)--In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606),” which will replace all current U.S. GAAP guidance on revenue recognition and eliminate all industry-specific guidance.

The new revenue recognition guidance provides a unified model to determine when and how revenue is recognized. The underlying principle is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods and services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration which the entity expects to receive in exchange for those goods and services. The guidance provides a five-step analysis of transactions to determine when and how revenue is recognized. Other major provisions include capitalization of certain contract costs, consideration of the time value of money in the transaction price, and allowing estimates of variable consideration to be recognized before contingencies are resolved in certain circumstances. The guidance also requires enhanced information to be presented in the financial statements regarding the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from an entity’s contracts with customers.

Subsequent to the issuance of ASU 2014-09, the FASB has provided additional implementation guidance updates related to ASU 2014-09, including:


a.	ASU 2015-14, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Deferral of the Effective Date (‘Update 2015-14’),” which responded to stakeholders’ requests to defer the effective date of the guidance in ASU 2014-09.


b.	ASU 2016-08, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Principal versus Agent Considerations (Reporting Revenue Gross versus Net ) (‘Update 2016-08’),” which clarifies the implementation guidance on principal versus agent considerations.


c.	ASU 2016-10, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing (‘Update 2016-10’),” which clarifies multiple aspects of Topic 606.


A.	Basis of Financial Statement Preparation (continued)


d.	ASU 2016-12, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Narrow-Scope Improvements and Practical Expedients (‘Update 2016-12’),” which provides clarifying guidance in a few narrow areas and adds some practical expedients to the guidance.

The effective date and the transition requirements for the Updates are the same as the effective date of Topic 606 ASU 2015-14, which becomes effective for Davey Tree beginning with the first quarter 2018 and can be adopted either retrospectively to each prior reporting period presented or as a cumulative-effect adjustment as of the date of adoption. Early adoption is permitted. The new revenue guidance will supersede existing revenue guidance affecting our Company, and may also affect our business processes and our information technology systems.

Management has assembled an internal project team and is analyzing contracts with our customers covering the significant streams of the Company’s annual revenues under the provisions of the new standard. The analysis of contracts with customers is time-consuming given the unique nature of the individual contracts with our customers and is expected to be completed in the near future. While the full impact of adopting the standard is not currently known, the Company currently has identified certain impacts related to the recognition of certain variable, incentive-based components of contracts related to the timing of revenue recognition. The Company is continuing to assess all other aspects of the standard and the identification of other accounting impacts is possible. The Company has evaluated the disclosure requirements under the standard and is in the process of implementing necessary changes to our systems, policies and the related internal controls as a result. We plan to adopt ASU 2014-09 using the modified retrospective approach effective January 1, 2018.

Accounting Standards Update 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842)--In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, “Leases (Topic 842).” ASU 2016-02 establishes a comprehensive new lease accounting model. The new standard: (a) clarifies the definition of a lease; (b) requires a dual approach to lease classification similar to current lease classifications; and, (c) causes lessees to recognize leases on the balance sheet as a lease liability with a corresponding right-of-use asset for leases with a lease-term of more than twelve months. The new standard is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018, which for Davey Tree would be January 1, 2019. Early adoption is permitted. The new standard requires a modified retrospective transition for capital or operating leases existing at or entered into after the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements, but it does not require transition accounting for leases that expire prior to the date of initial application. We are currently evaluating the impact of the new standard on our consolidated financial statements.