Basis of Presentation Basis of Presentation (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2019

Basis of Presentation [Abstract]

Basis of Accounting, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Basis of Presentation

Avis Budget Group, Inc. provides mobility solutions to businesses and consumers worldwide. The accompanying unaudited Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements include the accounts and transactions of Avis Budget Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries, as well as entities in which Avis Budget Group, Inc. directly or indirectly has a controlling financial interest (collectively, the “Company”), and have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for interim financial reporting.

The Company operates the following reportable business segments:

• Americas—consisting primarily of (i) vehicle rental operations in North America, South America, Central America and the Caribbean, (ii) car sharing operations in certain of these markets, and (iii) licensees in the areas in which the Company does not operate directly.

• International—consisting primarily of (i) vehicle rental operations in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Australasia, (ii) car sharing operations in certain of these markets, and (iii) licensees in the areas in which the Company does not operate directly.

The operating results of acquired businesses are included in the accompanying Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements from the dates of acquisition. Differences between the preliminary allocation of purchase price and the final allocation for the Company’s third quarter 2018 acquisition of Morini S.p.A. and various licensees in Europe and North America were not material. The fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed in connection with the Company’s fourth quarter 2018 acquisition of Turiscar Group has not yet been finalized; however, there have been no significant changes to the preliminary allocation of the purchase price during the nine months ended September 30, 2019.

In presenting the Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”), management makes estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported and related disclosures. Estimates, by their nature, are based on judgment and available information. Accordingly, actual results could differ from those estimates. In management’s opinion, the Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements contain all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of interim results reported. The results of operations reported for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations for the entire year or any subsequent interim period. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s 2018 Form 10-K.

Vehicle Program Policy [Policy Text Block]

Vehicle Programs. The Company presents separately the financial data of its vehicle programs. These programs are distinct from the Company’s other activities since the assets under vehicle programs are generally funded through the issuance of debt that is collateralized by such assets. The income generated by these assets is used, in part, to repay the principal and interest associated with the debt. Cash inflows and outflows relating to the acquisition of such assets and the principal debt repayment or financing of such assets are classified as activities of the Company’s vehicle programs. The Company believes it is appropriate to segregate the financial data of its vehicle programs because, ultimately, the source of repayment of such debt is the realization of such assets.

Transaction Related Costs Policy [Policy Text Block]

Transaction-related costs, net. Transaction-related costs, net are classified separately in the Consolidated Condensed Statements of Comprehensive Income. These costs are comprised of expenses related to acquisition-related activities such as due diligence and other advisory costs, expenses related to the integration of the acquiree’s operations with those of the Company, including the implementation of best practices and process improvements, non-cash gains and losses related to re-acquired rights, expenses related to pre-acquisition contingencies and contingent consideration related to acquisitions.

Foreign Currency Transactions and Translations Policy [Policy Text Block]

Currency Transactions. The Company records the gain or loss on foreign-currency transactions on certain intercompany loans and the gain or loss on intercompany loan hedges within interest expense related to corporate debt, net. During the three months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, the Company recorded an immaterial amount, in each period, and during the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, the Company recorded a gain of $3 million and an immaterial amount, respectively, related to such items.

New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Adoption of New Accounting Pronouncements

Nonemployee Share-Based Payment Accounting

On January 1, 2019, as a result of a new accounting pronouncement, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2018-02, “Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based Payment Accounting,” which simplifies the accounting for share-based payments granted to nonemployees for goods and services and aligns most of the guidance on such payments to nonemployees with the requirements for share-based payments granted to employees. The adoption of this accounting pronouncement did not have an impact on the Company's Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements.

Accounting for Hedging Activities

On January 1, 2019, as the result of a new accounting pronouncement, the Company adopted ASU 2017-12, “Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities,” which amends the existing guidance to allow companies to more accurately present the economic results of an

entity’s risk management activities in the financial statements. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements.

Leases

On January 1, 2019, as the result of a new accounting pronouncement, the Company adopted Topic 842 along with related updates, which require a lessee to recognize all long-term leases on its balance sheet as a liability for its lease obligation, measured at the present value of lease payments not yet paid, and a corresponding asset representing its right to use the underlying asset over the lease term and expands disclosure of key information about leasing arrangements. Topic 842 does not significantly change a lessee’s recognition, measurement and presentation of expenses. Additionally, Topic 842 aligns key aspects of lessor accounting with the revenue recognition guidance in Topic 606.

The Company elected available practical expedients for existing or expired contracts of lessees and lessors wherein the Company is not required to reassess whether such contracts contain leases, the lease classification or the initial direct costs. The Company is not utilizing the practical expedient which allows the use of hindsight by lessees and lessors in determining the lease term and in assessing impairment of its right-of-use (“ROU”) assets. Additionally, the Company elected as accounting policies to not recognize ROU assets or lease liabilities for short-term property leases (i.e., those with a term of 12 months or less at lease commencement) and, by class of underlying asset, to combine lease and nonlease components in the contract. The Company utilized the transition method allowing entities to only apply the new lease standard in the year of adoption.

Lessor

The Company has determined that revenues derived by providing vehicle rentals and other related products and mobility services to customers are within the scope of the accounting guidance contained in Topic 842 with the exception of royalty fee revenue derived from the Company’s licensees and revenue related to the Company’s customer loyalty program. The Company’s rental related revenues have been accounted for under the revenue accounting standard Topic 606, until the adoption of Topic 842.

The Company excludes from the measurement of its lease revenues any tax assessed by a governmental authority that is both imposed on and concurrent with a specific revenue-producing transaction and collected from a customer. As a result, lease revenues exclude such taxes collected. Fees collected from customers for which the Company is the primary obligor such as airport concessions and vehicle licensing are recorded within revenues and corresponding remittances of these fees by the Company are recorded within operating expenses.

Lessee

The Company determines if an arrangement is a lease at inception. Operating leases, other than those associated with the Company’s vehicle rental programs, are included in operating lease ROU assets, accounts payable and other current liabilities, and long-term operating lease liabilities in the Company’s Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets. Finance leases, other than those associated with the Company’s vehicle rental programs, are included in property and equipment, net, short-term debt and current portion of long-term debt, and long-term debt in the Company’s Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets.

ROU assets represent the Company’s right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent the Company’s obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. ROU assets and liabilities are recognized at commencement date based on the present value of lease payments over the expected lease term. As most of the Company’s leases do not provide an implicit rate, the Company uses its incremental borrowing rate based on information available at commencement date in determining the present value of lease payments. The operating lease ROU assets are reduced by any lease incentives. The Company’s lease terms may include options to extend or terminate the lease, which are included in the calculation of ROU assets when it is reasonably certain that the Company will exercise those options. Lease expense for lease payments is usually recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term.

The Company has lease agreements with lease and nonlease components, which are generally not accounted for separately. Additionally, for certain leases, the Company applies a portfolio approach to account for the operating lease ROU assets and liabilities as the leases are similar in nature and have nearly identical contract provisions.

Adoption of this standard resulted in most of the Company’s operating lease commitments being recognized as operating lease liabilities and right-of-use assets, which increased total assets and total liabilities by approximately $2,811 million related to property operating leases and $183 million related to vehicle operating leases. The Company recorded a beginning accumulated deficit adjustment of $5 million, net of tax, related to the adoption of this standard.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

Intangibles—Goodwill and Other—Internal—Use Software

In August 2018, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU 2018-15, “Customer’s Accounting for Fees Paid in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That Is a Service Contract,” which provides guidance for determining when the arrangement includes a software license. The amendments align the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal use software (and hosting arrangements that include an internal use software license). The amendments in this update also require the entity to expense the capitalized implementation costs of a hosting arrangement that is a service contract over the term of the hosting arrangement, to present the expense in the same line in its statement of income as the fees associated with the hosting element (service) of the arrangement and classify payments for capitalized implementation costs in its statement of cash flows in the same manner as payments made for fees associated with the hosting element. The entity is also required to present the capitalized implementation costs in its balance sheet in the same line that a prepayment for the fees of the associated hosting arrangement would be presented. ASU 2018-15 becomes effective for the Company on January 1, 2020. Early adoption is permitted. The Company intends to adopt this accounting pronouncement on a prospective basis. The adoption of this accounting pronouncement is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements.

Compensation—Retirement Benefits—Defined Benefit Plans

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-14, “Disclosure Framework—Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Defined Benefit Plans,” which adds, removes, and clarifies disclosure requirements related to defined benefit pension and other postretirement plans. These changes are part of the FASB’s disclosure framework project, which the Board launched in 2014 to improve the effectiveness of disclosures in notes to financial statements. ASU 2018-14 becomes effective for the Company on January 1, 2021. Early adoption is permitted. The adoption of this accounting pronouncement is not expected to have a material impact on the Company's Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements.

Fair Value Measurement

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13, “Disclosure Framework—Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement,” which adds, removes, and modifies disclosure requirements related to fair value measurements. ASU 2018-13 becomes effective for the Company on January 1, 2020. Early adoption is permitted. The adoption of this accounting pronouncement is not expected to have a material impact on the Company's Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements.

Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, “Financial Instruments—Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments,” which, along with related clarifying updates, set forth a current expected credit loss impairment model for financial assets that replaces the current incurred loss model. This model requires a financial asset (or group of financial assets), including trade receivables, measured at amortized cost to be presented at the net amount expected to be collected with an allowance for credit losses deducted from the amortized cost basis. The allowance for credit losses should reflect management’s current estimate of credit losses that are expected to occur over the remaining life of a financial asset. ASU 2016-13 becomes effective for the Company on January 1, 2020. Early adoption is permitted as of January 1, 2019. The adoption of this accounting pronouncement is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements.