Principles of Consolidation—The Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of Rollins, Inc. and our wholly-owned subsidiaries and have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. (“GAAP”). The Company does not consolidate the financial statements of any company in which it has an ownership interest of 50% or less. The Company is not the primary beneficiary of, nor does it have a controlling financial interest in, any variable interest entity. Accordingly, the Company has not consolidated any variable interest entity. The Company reclassified certain prior period amounts, none of which were material, to conform to the current period presentation. All material intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.

Estimates Used in the Preparation of Consolidated Financial Statements

Estimates Used in the Preparation of Consolidated Financial Statements—The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the accompanying notes and financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts— The Company maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts based on the expected collectability of accounts receivable. Management uses historical collection results as well as accounts receivable aging in order to determine the expected collectability of accounts receivable. Substantially all of the Company’s receivables are due from pest control and termite services in the United States and selected international locations. The Company’s allowance for doubtful accounts is determined using a combination of factors to ensure that our receivables are not overstated due to uncollectability. The Company’s established credit evaluation procedures seek to minimize the amount of business we conduct with higher risk customers. Provisions for doubtful accounts are recorded in selling, general and administrative expenses. Accounts are written-off against the allowance for doubtful accounts when the Company determines that amounts are uncollectible and recoveries of amounts previously written off are recorded when collected. Significant recoveries will generally reduce the required provision in the period of recovery. Therefore, the provision for doubtful accounts can fluctuate significantly from period to period. There were no large recoveries in 2018, 2017, and 2016. We record specific provisions when we become aware of a customer’s inability to meet its financial obligations to us, such as in the case of bankruptcy filings or deterioration in the customer’s operating results or financial position. If circumstances related to customers change, our estimates of the realizability of receivables would be further adjusted, either upward or downward.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and Cash Equivalents— The Company considers all investments with an original maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. Short-term investments, included in cash and cash equivalents, are stated at cost, which approximates fair market value.

The Company’s $115.5 million of total cash at December 31, 2018, is primarily cash held at various banking institutions. Approximately $53.6 million is held in cash accounts at international bank institutions and the remaining $61.9 million is primarily held in Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) insured non-interest-bearing accounts at various domestic banks which at times may exceed federally insured amounts.

The Company’s international business is expanding and we intend to continue to grow the business in foreign markets in the future through reinvestment of foreign deposits and future earnings as well as acquisitions of unrelated companies. Repatriation of cash from the Company’s foreign subsidiaries is not a part of the Company’s current business plan.

The Company maintains a large cash position in the United States while having no third-party debt to service. Rollins maintains adequate liquidity and capital resources, without regard to its foreign deposits, that are directed to finance domestic operations and obligations and to fund expansion of its domestic business for the foreseeable future.

At December 31,	2018		2017
(in thousands) (in US dollars)
Cash held in foreign bank accounts	$	53,613	$	57,790

Materials and Supplies

Materials and Supplies— Materials and supplies are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Cost is determined on the first-in, first-out method.

Equipment and Property

Equipment and Property— Equipment and Property are stated at cost, net of accumulated depreciation, and are provided principally on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the related assets. Annual provisions for depreciation are computed using the following asset lives: buildings, 10 to 40 years; and furniture, fixtures, and operating equipment, 2 to 10 years. Expenditures for additions, major renewals and betterments are capitalized and expenditures for maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred. The cost of assets retired or otherwise disposed of and the related accumulated depreciation and amortization are eliminated from the accounts in the year of disposal with the resulting gain or loss credited or charged to income. The annual provisions for depreciation, below, have been reflected in the Consolidated Statements of Income in the line item entitled Depreciation and Amortization.

Years ended December 31,	2018		2017		2016
(in thousands)
Depreciation	$	30,364	$	27,381	$	24,725

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets - In accordance with the FASB ASC Topic 360, “Property, Plant and Equipment”, the Company’s long-lived assets, such as property and equipment and intangible assets with definite lives are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of these assets may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If the carrying amount of an asset exceeds its estimated undiscounted future cash flows, an impairment charge is recognized in the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds the fair value of the asset. We periodically evaluate the appropriateness of remaining depreciable lives assigned to long-lived assets, including customer contracts and assets that may be subject to a management plan for disposition.

Accrual for Termite Contracts

Accrual for Termite Contracts—The Company maintains an accrual for termite claims representing the estimated costs of reapplications, repairs and associated labor and chemicals, settlements, awards and other costs relative to termite control services. Factors that may impact future costs include termiticide life expectancy and government regulation. It is significant that the actual number of claims has decreased in recent years due to changes in the Company’s business practices. However, it is not possible to precisely predict future significant claims. An accrual for termite contracts is included in other current liabilities and long-term accrued liabilities on the Company’s consolidated statements of financial position.

Three-for-two stock split

Three-for-two stock split—The Board of Directors at its quarterly meeting on October 23, 2018, authorized a three-for-two stock split by the issuance on December 10, 2018 of one additional common share for each two common shares held of record at November 9, 2018. All share and per share data appearing in the consolidated financial statements and related notes are restated for the three-for-two stock split.

Translation of Foreign Currencies

Translation of Foreign Currencies—Assets and liabilities reported in functional currencies other than U.S. dollars are translated into U.S. dollars at the year-end rate of exchange. Revenues and expenses are translated at the weighted-average exchange rates for the year. The resulting translation adjustments are charged or credited to other comprehensive income. Gains or losses from foreign currency transactions, such as those resulting from the settlement of receivables or payables, denominated in foreign currency are included in the earnings of the current period.

Comprehensive Income (Loss)

Comprehensive Income (Loss)—Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) results from foreign currency translations and minimum pension liability adjustments.

Recent Accounting Guidance

Recent Accounting Guidance

Recently adopted accounting standards

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) and International Accounting Standards Board issued their converged standard on revenue recognition Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers: Topic 606. This ASU replaces nearly all existing U.S. GAAP guidance on revenue recognition. The standard prescribes a five-step model for recognizing revenue, the application of which will require significant judgment. The FASB issued ASU 2015-14 in August 2015 which resulted in a deferral of the original effective date of ASU 2014-09. During 2016, the FASB issued four ASUs that address implementation issues and correct or improve certain aspects of the new revenue recognition guidance, including ASU 2016-08, Principal versus Agent Considerations (Reporting Revenue Gross versus Net), ASU 2016-10, Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing, ASU 2016-12, Narrow-Scope Improvements and Practical Expedients and ASU 2016-20, Technical Corrections and Improvements to Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. These ASUs do not change the core principles in the revenue recognition guidance outlined above. ASU No. 2014-09 and the related ASUs referenced above are effective for Rollins, Inc. beginning January 1, 2018. The Company has completed its detailed review of all global revenue arrangements in accordance with these ASUs and the adoption of these ASUs January 1, 2018 has had no impact on its consolidated financial statements.

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flow Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments, which addresses eight specific cash flow issues with the objective of reducing the existing diversity in practice in how certain cash receipts and cash payments are presented and classified in the statement of cash flows. The amendments in this update are effective for the Company’s financial statements issued for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within annual periods. Earlier adoption is permitted for any entity in any interim or annual reporting period. The Company adopted this ASU on January 1, 2018 it had no impact on its consolidated financial statements.

Recently issued accounting standards to be adopted in 2019 or later

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (ASC 842), which requires a lessee to recognize right-of-use assets (ROUs) and liabilities on the balance sheet for leases with lease terms greater than 12 months. Leases will be classified as finance or operating, with classification affecting the pattern and classification of expense recognition in the statement of income.

ASU 2016-02 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2018. An entity may elect to adopt the new standard using either 1) a modified retrospective approach with restated comparative period financial statements or 2) a prospective approach with a cumulative-effect adjustment recognized to the opening balance of retained earnings on the date of adoption. We anticipate adopting this standard on January 1, 2019, using the prospective approach. Consequently, the reporting for the comparative periods presented in the financial statements in which the new leases standard has been adopted will continue to be presented in accordance with current GAAP (Topic 840, Leases).

The new standard provides certain practical expedients in transition. We have elected the transition package of practical expedients, which permits us not to reassess under the new standard our prior conclusions about lease identification, lease classification and initial direct cost. The new standard also provides practical expedients for an entity’s ongoing accounting. We elected the short-term lease recognition exemption. Accordingly, the Company does not recognize right of use assets or lease liabilities, for existing short-term leases of those assets in transition.

The Company expects the adoption of this guidance to have a material impact on its assets and liabilities due to the recognition of right-of-use assets and lease liabilities on its consolidated balance sheets. The recognition and measurement of expenses and cash flows will not be materially impacted by the new standard. Upon adoption, the Company expects to recognize operating lease ROUs and liabilities of between $175.0 million and $195.0 million. The new standard has enhanced disclosure requirements, including additional disclosures regarding the nature of an entity’s leases, significant judgments and assumptions made when applying the standard, and the amounts recognized in the financial statements. The disclosure requirements will have a material impact on our financial statements.

In June of 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, “Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments.” The updated accounting guidance requires changes to the recognition of credit losses on financial instruments not accounted for at fair value through net income. The guidance is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019. The Company is currently evaluating the effect the guidance will have on its consolidated financial statements.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-04, Intangibles-Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment, which eliminates the requirement to calculate the implied fair value of goodwill (i.e., Step 2 of the current goodwill impairment test) to measure a goodwill impairment charge. Instead, entities will record an impairment charge based on the excess of a reporting unit’s carrying amount over its fair value (i.e., measure the charge based on the current Step 1). The standard in this update is effective for the Company’s financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning in 2020. Early adoption is permitted for annual and interim goodwill impairment testing dates after January 1, 2017. The adoption of this ASU is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In August 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-12, Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815), which provides new guidance intended to improve the financial reporting of hedging relationships to better portray the economic results of an entity’s risk management activities in its financial statements. This ASU is effective for the Company beginning in fiscal year 2020. The adoption of this ASU is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.