Description of Business and Basis of Presentation (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2013

Mar. 31, 2012

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Prior Period Reclassification Adjustment

$ (25)

Description of Business and Basis of Presentation

Description of Business and Basis of Presentation

Pitney Bowes Inc. and its subsidiaries (we, us, our or the company) is a global provider of software, hardware and services that enables and integrates both physical and digital communications. We offer a full suite of equipment, supplies, software, services and solutions for managing and integrating physical and digital communication channels. We conduct our business activities in seven reporting segments within two business groups: Small & Medium Business Solutions and Enterprise Business Solutions. See Note 13 for information regarding our reportable segments.

The accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP) for interim financial information and the instructions to Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. In addition, the December 31, 2012 Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet data was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by GAAP. In management's opinion, all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, considered necessary to state fairly our financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented have been included. Operating results for the periods presented are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for any other interim period or for the year ending December 31, 2013.

In January 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2013-01, Clarifying the Scope of Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities (ASU 2013-01), ASU 2013-01 requires an entity to disclose gross and net information about transactions that are (1) offset in the financial statements or (2) subject to an enforceable master netting arrangement or similar agreement, regardless of whether the transactions are actually offset in the statement of financial position. The disclosure requirements are effective for annual reporting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2013, and interim periods within those annual periods. The amounts impacting our disclosure were immaterial at March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012.

In February 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2013-02, Reporting of Amounts Reclassified Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (ASU 2013-02). ASU 2013-02 requires an entity to present either parenthetically on the face of the financial statements, or in the notes, significant amounts reclassified from each component of accumulated other comprehensive income and the income statement line items affected by the reclassification. The new standard became effective this quarter. The adoption of this standard resulted in additional disclosures, but did not impact our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

During the fourth quarter of 2012, we determined that changes in certain investment-related working capital accounts that were classified as cash flows from operating activities in the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows should have been classified as cash flows from investing activities. Accordingly, the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows for the period ended March 31, 2012 has been revised to reflect the correct classification of cash flows, resulting in an increase in cash provided by operating activities and an increase in cash used in investing activities of $25 million.

These statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto included in our Annual Report to Stockholders on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012 (the 2012 Annual Report). Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation.