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Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Oct. 31, 2018

The consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes (the “Financial Statements”) have been prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) and with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), specifically Regulation S-X and the instructions to Form 10-K.

Principles of Consolidation

The Financial Statements include the accounts of ABM and all of our consolidated subsidiaries. We account for ABM’s investments in unconsolidated affiliates under the equity method of accounting. We include the results of acquired businesses in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income from their respective acquisition dates. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP requires our management to make certain estimates that affect the reported amounts. We base our estimates on historical experience, known or expected trends, independent valuations, and various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. As future events and their effects cannot be determined with precision, actual results could differ significantly from these estimates.

Prior Year Reclassifications

Effective November 1, 2017, we made changes to our operating structure as a result of the GCA acquisition. To reflect these changes, certain prior year amounts, including operating segment data, have been reclassified to conform with our fiscal 2018 presentation. These changes had no impact on our previously reported consolidated balance sheets, statements of comprehensive income, or statements of cash flows. See Note 18, “Segment and Geographic Information,” for further details.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

We consider all highly liquid securities with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash and cash equivalents. As part of our cash management system, we use “zero balance” accounts to fund our disbursements. Under this system, at the end of each day the bank balance is zero, while the book balance is usually a negative amount due to reconciling items, such as outstanding checks. We report the changes in these book cash overdrafts as cash flows from financing activities.

Trade Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

Trade Accounts Receivable

Trade accounts receivable arise from services provided to our clients and are usually due and payable on varying terms from receipt of the invoice to net ninety days, with the exception of certain Technical Solutions project receivables that may have longer collection periods. These receivables are recorded at the invoiced amount and normally do not bear interest. In addition, our trade accounts receivable include unbilled receivables that can include costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts, as well as invoices for services that have been provided but are not yet billed.

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

We determine the allowance for doubtful accounts based on historical write-offs, known or expected trends, and the identification of specific balances deemed uncollectible. For the specifically identified balances, we establish the reserve upon the earlier of a client’s inability to meet its financial obligations or after a period of twelve months, unless our management believes such amounts will ultimately be collectible.

Sales Allowance

In connection with our service contracts, we periodically issue credit memos to our clients that are recorded as a reduction in revenues and an increase to the allowance for billing adjustments. These credits can result from client vacancy discounts, job cancellations, property damage, and other items. We estimate our potential future losses on these client receivables based on an analysis of the historical rate of sales adjustments (credit memos, net of re-bills) and known or expected trends.

Investments in Unconsolidated Affiliates

We own non-controlling interests (generally 20% to 50%) in certain affiliated entities that predominantly provide facility solutions to governmental and commercial clients, primarily in the United States and the Middle East. We account for such investments under the equity method of accounting. We evaluate our equity method investments for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amounts of such investments may not be recoverable. An impairment loss is recognized to the extent that the estimated fair value of the investment is less than its carrying amount and we determine that the impairment is other-than-temporary.

Investments in Auction Rate Securities

Our investments in auction rate securities are classified as available-for-sale. Accordingly, auction rate securities are presented at fair value with unrealized gains and losses recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes (“AOCI”). On a quarterly basis, we analyze all auction rate securities that have unrealized losses for impairment consideration and assess the intent to sell such securities. If such intent exists, impaired securities are considered other-than-temporarily impaired and we recognize the entire difference between the auction rate security’s amortized cost and its fair value in earnings. We also consider if we may be required to sell the securities prior to the recovery of amortized cost, which may trigger an impairment charge. If these securities are considered impaired, we assess whether the amortized costs of the securities can be recovered by reviewing several factors, including credit risks associated with the issuer. If we do not expect to recover the entire amortized cost of the security, we consider the security to be other-than-temporarily impaired, and record the difference between the security’s amortized costs and its recoverable amount in earnings and the difference between the security’s amortized cost and fair value in AOCI.

Property, Plant and Equipment

We record property, plant and equipment at cost. Repairs and maintenance expenditures are expensed as incurred. In contrast, we capitalize major renewals or replacements that substantially extend the useful life of an asset. We determine depreciation for financial reporting purposes using the straight-line method over the following estimated useful lives:



Category	Years
Computer equipment and software	3–5
Machinery and other equipment	3–5
Transportation equipment	1.5–10
Buildings	10–40
Furniture and fixtures	5

In addition, we depreciate assets under capital leases and leasehold improvements over the shorter of their estimated useful lives or the remaining lease term. Upon retirement or sale of an asset, we remove the cost and accumulated depreciation from our consolidated balance sheets. When applicable, we record corresponding gains or losses within the accompanying consolidated statements of comprehensive income.

Leases

We enter into various noncancelable lease agreements for premises and equipment used in the normal course of business. We evaluate the lease agreement at the inception of the lease to determine whether the lease is an operating lease or capital lease.

We account for rent expense under noncancelable operating leases with escalation clauses on a straight-line basis over the initial lease term. A deferred liability is recorded for the amount of the excess of straight-line rent expense over scheduled payments. We do not assume renewals in our determination of the lease term unless the renewals are deemed to be reasonably assured at lease inception. We may also be required to make additional payments to reimburse the lessors for operating expenses such as real estate taxes, maintenance, utilities, and insurance, which are expensed as incurred. We enter into leases of parking lots and garages that contain contingent payment provisions. Under these provisions, we pay contingent amounts in addition to base rent, primarily based on percentages of the gross receipts or other financial parameters attributable to the related facilities. We record contingent rent as it becomes probable that specified targets will be met.

We record each capital lease as an asset and an obligation at an amount that is equal to the present value of the minimum lease payments over the lease term.

Goodwill

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

Goodwill represents the excess purchase price of acquired businesses over the fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed. We have elected to make the first day of our fourth quarter, August 1st, the annual impairment assessment date for goodwill. However, we could be required to evaluate the recoverability of goodwill more often if impairment indicators exist. Goodwill is tested for impairment at a “reporting unit” level by performing either a qualitative evaluation or a quantitative test. The qualitative evaluation is an assessment of factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. We may elect not to perform the qualitative assessment for some or all reporting units and perform a quantitative test instead, under which fair value is determined based on discounted cash flow analyses. The discounted estimates of future cash flows include significant management assumptions, such as revenue growth rates, operating margins, weighted average cost of capital, and future economic and market conditions. In 2017, we adopted Accounting Standards Update 2017-04, which allows us to test goodwill for impairment by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit to its carrying amount. If the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying value, an impairment charge will be recorded for the difference between the fair value and carrying value, but it is limited to the carrying value of the reporting unit’s goodwill.

Other intangible assets primarily consist of acquired customer contracts and relationships that are amortized using the sum-of-the-years-digits method over their useful lives, consistent with the estimated useful life considerations used in the determination of their fair values. This accelerated method of amortization reflects the pattern in which the economic benefits from the intangible assets of customer contracts and relationships are expected to be realized. We amortize other non-customer acquired intangibles using a straight-line method of amortization. We evaluate other intangible assets, as well as our long-lived assets, for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of such assets may not be recoverable. When this occurs, a recoverability test is performed that compares the projected undiscounted cash flows from the use and eventual disposition of an asset or asset group to its carrying amount. If the projected undiscounted cash flows are less than the carrying amount, we calculate an impairment loss. The impairment loss calculation compares the fair value, which is based on projected discounted cash flows, to the carrying value.

See Note 10, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets,” for further information on goodwill, other intangible assets, and impairment charges.

Federal Energy Savings Performance Contract Receivable

Federal Energy Savings Performance Contract Receivables

As part of our Technical Solutions business, we enter into energy savings performance contracts (“ESPCs”) with the federal government pursuant to which we agree to develop, design, engineer, and construct a project and guarantee that the project will satisfy agreed-upon performance standards. ESPC receivables represent the amount to be paid by various federal government agencies for work we have satisfactorily performed under specific ESPCs. We assign certain of our rights to receive those payments to unaffiliated third parties that provide construction financing, which we record as a liability, for such contracts. This construction financing is recorded as cash flows from financing activities, while the use of the cash received under these arrangements to pay project costs is classified as operating cash flows. The ESPC receivable is recognized as revenue as each project is constructed. Upon completion and acceptance of the project by the government and upon satisfaction of true sale criteria, the assigned ESPC receivable from the government and corresponding ESPC liability are eliminated from our consolidated financial statements.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Fair value is the price we would receive to sell an asset or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction with a market participant at the measurement date. In the absence of active markets for the identical assets or liabilities, such measurements involve developing assumptions based on market observable data and, in the absence of such data, internal information that is consistent with what market participants would use in a hypothetical transaction that occurs at the measurement date.

Observable inputs reflect market data obtained from independent sources, while unobservable inputs reflect our market assumptions. Preference is given to observable inputs. These two types of inputs create the following fair value hierarchy:

Level 1 – Quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets;

Level 2 – Quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active; and model-derived valuations whose inputs are observable or whose significant value drivers are observable; and

Level 3 – Significant inputs to the valuation model are unobservable.

We evaluate assets and liabilities subject to fair value measurements on a recurring and non-recurring basis to determine the appropriate level at which to classify them for each reporting period. Some non-financial assets are measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis only in certain circumstances, including the event of impairment.

Acquisitions

We expense acquisition-related costs as incurred. On the date of the acquisition, we allocate the purchase price to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed at their estimated fair values. Goodwill on the acquisition date is measured as the excess of the purchase price over the fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed. While we use our best estimates and assumptions to accurately value assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the acquisition date as well as contingent consideration, where applicable, our estimates are subject to refinement. As a result, during the measurement period, which may be up to one year from the acquisition date, we record adjustments to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed with corresponding adjustments to goodwill. We recognize subsequent changes in the estimate of the amount to be paid under contingent consideration arrangements in the accompanying consolidated statements of comprehensive income.

Discontinued Operations

In order to be reported within discontinued operations, our disposal of a component or a group of components must represent a strategic shift that will have a major effect on our operations and financial results. We aggregate the results of operations for discontinued operations within a single line item on the income statement. General corporate overhead is not allocated to discontinued operations. We disclose any gain or loss that is recognized upon the disposition of a discontinued operation. Prior to disposition, we aggregate the assets and liabilities of discontinued operations and report the amounts on separate line items within the balance sheet.

Assets and liabilities held for sale

Assets and Liabilities Held for Sale

Upon a business being classified as held for sale, we cease all depreciation and amortization related to the assets of the business and record them at the lower of their carrying amount or fair value less estimated costs to sell. The assets and related liabilities of the business are separately presented on the consolidated balance sheets. We review all assets held for sale each reporting period to determine whether the existing carrying amounts are fully recoverable in comparison to estimated fair values.

Insurance Reserves

We use a combination of insured and self-insurance programs to cover workers’ compensation, general liability, automobile liability, property damage, and other insurable risks. Insurance claim liabilities represent our estimate of retained risks without regard to insurance coverage. We retain a substantial portion of the risk related to certain workers’ compensation and medical claims. Liabilities associated with these losses include estimates of both claims filed and claims incurred but not reported (“IBNR Claims”).

With the assistance of third-party actuaries, we periodically review our estimate of ultimate losses for IBNR Claims and adjust our required self-insurance reserves as appropriate. As part of this evaluation, we review the status of existing and new claim reserves as established by third-party claims administrators. The third-party claims administrators establish the case reserves based upon known factors related to the type and severity of the claims, demographic factors, legislative matters, and case law, as appropriate. We compare actual trends to expected trends and monitor claims developments. The specific case reserves estimated by the third-party administrators are provided to an actuary who assists us in projecting an actuarial estimate of the overall ultimate losses for our self-insured or high deductible programs, which includes the case reserves plus an actuarial estimate of reserves required for additional developments, such as IBNR Claims. We utilize the results of actuarial studies to estimate our insurance rates and insurance reserves for future periods and to adjust reserves, if appropriate, for prior years.

In general, our insurance reserves are recorded on an undiscounted basis. We allocate current-year insurance expense to our operating segments based upon their underlying exposures, while actuarial adjustments related to prior year claims are recorded within Corporate expenses. We classify claims as current or long-term based on the expected settlement date. Estimated insurance recoveries related to recorded liabilities are reflected as assets in our consolidated balance sheets when we believe that the receipt of such amounts is probable.

Other Accrued Liabilities

At October 31, 2018 and 2017, other accrued liabilities primarily consisted of employee benefits, deferred revenue, progress billings in excess of costs, legal fees and settlements, dividends payable, current capital leases, insurance claims, interest, rent payable, severance, and other accrued expenses.

Other noncurrent liabilities

Other Noncurrent Liabilities

At October 31, 2018 and 2017, other noncurrent liabilities primarily consisted of deferred rent, retirement plan liabilities, deferred compensation, long-term capital leases, and ESPC liabilities.

Revenue Recognition

We earn revenue under various types of service contracts. In all forms of service we provide, revenue is recognized when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, services have been rendered, the fee is fixed or determinable, and collectability is reasonably assured. The various types of service contracts are described below.



Contract Type	Description
Monthly Fixed-Price	These arrangements are contracts in which the client agrees to pay a fixed fee every month over a specified contract term. A variation of a fixed-price arrangement is a square-foot arrangement, under which monthly billings are based on the actual square footage serviced.
Cost-Plus	These arrangements are contracts in which the clients reimburse us for the agreed-upon amount of wages and benefits, payroll taxes, insurance charges, and other expenses associated with the contracted work, plus a profit margin.
Tag Services	Tag work generally consists of supplemental services requested by clients outside of the standard service specification and includes cleanup after tenant moves, construction cleanup, flood cleanup, and snow removal.
Transaction-Price	These are agreements in which the clients are billed for each transaction performed on a monthly basis (e.g., wheelchair passengers served or planes cleaned).
Hourly	These arrangements are contracts in which the client is billed a set hourly rate for each labor hour provided.
Management Reimbursement	Under these parking arrangements, we manage a parking facility for a management fee and pass through the revenue and expenses associated with the facility to the owner. These revenues and expenses are reported in equal amounts as costs reimbursed from our managed locations.
Leased Location	Under these parking arrangements, we generally pay to the property owner a fixed amount of rent plus a percentage of revenues derived from monthly and transient parkers. We retain all revenues and we are responsible for most operating expenses incurred.
Allowance	Under these parking arrangements, we are paid a fixed or hourly fee to provide parking services, and we are responsible for certain operating expenses, as specified in the contract.
Energy Savings Contracts and Fixed-Price Repair and Refurbishment	Under these arrangements, we agree to develop, design, engineer, and construct a project and guarantee that the project will satisfy agreed-upon performance standards. We recognize revenue under certain of these contracts using the percentage-of-completion method of accounting, most often based on the cost-to-cost method, under which revenues are recognized as the work progresses.
Franchise	We franchise certain engineering services through individual and area franchises under the Linc Service and TEGG brands, which are part of ABM Technical Solutions.

Restructuring and Related Expenses, Severance, Noncancelable Leases and Contractual Obligations, Other

Restructuring and Related Expenses

Restructuring and related expenses include employee severance, lease exit costs, external support fees, and other costs. Our methodology to record these costs is described below.

Severance

As we do not have a past history of consistently providing severance benefits, we recognize severance costs for employees who do not have formal employment agreements when management has committed to a restructuring plan and communicated those actions to impacted employees, such that the employee is able to determine the type and amount of benefits that they will receive upon termination. In addition, if the employees are required to render service beyond the minimum retention period until they are terminated in order to receive the benefits, a liability is recognized ratably over the future service period. For employees with employment agreements, we accrue for these severance liabilities when it is probable that the impacted employee will be entitled to the benefits and the amount can be reasonably estimated.

Noncancelable Leases and Contractual Obligations

We record liabilities when we terminate a contract in accordance with the contract terms or when we exit the leased space. The expense for noncancelable leases is determined based on the fair value of remaining lease payments reduced by the fair value of estimated sublease income that could reasonably be obtained for the property, estimated using a present value technique.

Other

For other costs associated with exit and disposal activities, we recognize an expense at fair value in the period in which the liability is incurred.

Advertising

Advertising costs are expensed as incurred.

Share-Based Compensation

Our current share-based awards principally consist of restricted stock units (“RSUs”) and various performance share awards. We recognize compensation costs associated with these awards in selling, general and administrative expenses. For RSUs and certain performance share awards, the amount of compensation cost is measured based on the grant-date fair value of the equity instruments issued. Since our total shareholder return (“TSR”) performance share awards are performance awards with a market condition, the compensation costs associated with these awards are determined using a Monte Carlo simulation valuation model. For RSUs and TSR awards, compensation cost is recognized over the period that an employee provides service in exchange for the award. We recognize compensation cost associated with other performance share awards over the requisite service period based on the probability of achievement of performance criteria.

Taxes Collected from Clients and Remitted to Governmental Agencies

We record taxes on client transactions due to governmental agencies as receivables and liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets.

Net Income Per Common Share

Basic net income per common share is net income divided by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net income per common share is based on the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period, adjusted to include the potential dilution from the conversion of RSUs, vesting of performance shares, and exercise of stock options.

Contingencies and Litigation

We are a party to a number of lawsuits, claims, and proceedings incident to the operation of our business, including those pertaining to labor and employment, contracts, personal injury, and other matters, some of which allege substantial monetary damages. Some of these actions may be brought as class actions on behalf of a class or purported class of employees. We accrue for loss contingencies when losses become probable and are reasonably estimable. If the reasonable estimate of the loss is a range and no amount within the range is a better estimate, the minimum amount of the range is recorded as a liability. We recognize legal costs as an expense in the period incurred.

Income Taxes

We account for income taxes using the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to temporary differences between the financial statement carrying amount of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. We measure deferred tax assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates expected to be applied to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered. Deferred tax assets are reviewed for recoverability on a quarterly basis. A valuation allowance is recorded to reduce the carrying amount of a deferred tax asset to its realizable value unless it is more likely than not that such asset will be realized. We recognize accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense in our consolidated statements of comprehensive income.