SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Principles of Consolidation: The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Stericycle, Inc. and its subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The Company's consolidated financial statements were prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP and include the assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses of all wholly-owned subsidiaries and majority-owned subsidiaries over which the Company exercises control. Outside stockholders' interests in subsidiaries are shown on the consolidated financial statements as “Noncontrolling interests."

Revenue Recognition

Revenue Recognition: Revenues for our regulated medical waste management services, other than our compliances services, and secure information destruction services are recognized at the time of waste collection. Our compliance service revenues are recognized evenly over the contractual service period. Payments received in advance are deferred and recognized as services are provided. Revenues from hazardous waste services are recorded at the time waste is received at our processing facility or delivered to a third party. Revenues from regulated recall and returns management services and communication solutions are recorded at the time services are performed. Revenues from product sales are recognized at the time the goods are shipped to the ordering customer. Charges related to sales taxes and international value added tax ("VAT") and other similar pass through taxes are not included as revenue.

Goodwill and Other Identifiable Intangible Assets

Goodwill and Other Identifiable Intangible Assets: We have historically evaluated goodwill for impairment annually as of June 30, or when an indicator of impairment exists. During 2016, we changed the date of our annual goodwill impairment assessment for our reporting units to October 1st. This voluntary change in the annual goodwill testing date is a change in accounting principle, which we believe is preferable as it better aligns the timing of the assessment with the timing of the Company’s annual strategic planning and forecasting process. This change in assessment date was applied prospectively and did not delay, accelerate or avoid a potential impairment charge. We evaluated for retrospective application to be impractical as it would require significant estimates and assumptions with the use of hindsight.

The Company has the option to assess goodwill for impairment by first performing a qualitative assessment to determine whether it is more-likely-than-not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. If the Company determines that it is not more-likely-than-not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, then the two-step goodwill impairment test is not required to be performed. If the Company determines that it is more-likely-than-not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, or if the Company does not elect the option to perform an initial qualitative assessment, the Company performs the two-step goodwill impairment test. In the first step, the fair value of the reporting unit is compared to its book value including goodwill. If the fair value of the reporting unit is in excess of its book value, the related goodwill is not impaired and no further analysis is necessary. If the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its book value, there is an indication of potential impairment and a second step is performed. When required, the second step of testing involves calculating the implied fair value of goodwill for the reporting unit. The implied fair value of goodwill is determined in the same manner as goodwill recognized in a business combination, which is the excess of the fair value of the reporting unit determined in step one over the fair value of its net assets, including identifiable intangible assets, as if the reporting unit had been acquired. If the carrying value of the reporting unit's goodwill exceeds the implied fair value of that goodwill, an impairment loss is recognized in an amount equal to that excess.

We have historically tested our indefinite lived intangible assets for impairment annually at December 31, or more frequently, if circumstances indicate that they may be impaired. During 2016, we changed the date of our annual indefinite-lived intangible asset impairment assessment to October 1st. This voluntary change in the testing date is a change in accounting principle, which we believe is preferable as it better aligns the timing of the assessment with the timing of the Company’s annual strategic planning and forecasting process and it aligns the testing of all indefinite-lived impairment testing to be as of a consistent date. This change in assessment date was applied prospectively and did not delay, accelerate or avoid a potential impairment charge. We evaluated for retrospective application to be impractical as it would require significant estimates and assumptions with the use of hindsight.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets: Long-lived assets, such as property, plant and equipment and intangible assets which are amortized, are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset or asset group may not be recoverable. If circumstances require that a long-lived asset or asset group to be held and used be tested for possible impairment, the Company first compares the undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by that long-lived asset or asset group to its carrying amount. If the carrying amount of the long-lived asset or asset group is not recoverable on an undiscounted cash flow basis, an impairment is recognized to the extent that the carrying amount exceeds its fair value.

Long-lived assets or disposal groups classified as held for sale are recorded at the lower of their carrying amount or fair value less estimated selling costs. Long-lived assets are not depreciated or amortized while classified as held for sale.

Income Taxes

Income Taxes: We are subject to income taxes in both the U.S. and numerous foreign jurisdictions. We compute our provision for income taxes using the asset and liability method, under which deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between the financial reporting and tax basis of assets and liabilities and for operating loss and tax credit carry-forwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using the currently enacted tax rates that are expected to apply to taxable income for the years in which those tax assets and liabilities are expected to be realized or settled. Significant judgments are required in order to determine the realizability of these deferred tax assets. In assessing the need for a valuation allowance, we evaluate all significant available positive and negative evidence, including historical operating results, estimates of future taxable income and the existence of prudent and feasible tax planning strategies. Changes in the expectations regarding the realization of deferred tax assets could materially impact income tax expense in future periods. Undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries are considered to be permanently reinvested, and therefore no deferred taxes are recorded on our outside basis differences. Tax liabilities are recorded when, in management’s judgment, a tax position does not meet the more likely than not threshold for recognition. For tax positions that meet the more likely than not threshold, a tax liability may still be recorded depending on management’s assessment of how the tax position will ultimately be settled. The Company records interest and penalties on unrecognized tax benefits in the provision for income taxes.

Accounts Receivable

Accounts Receivable: Accounts receivable consist of amounts due to us from our normal business activities. Our accounts receivable balance includes amounts related to VAT and similar international pass-through taxes. We do not require collateral as part of our standard trade credit policy. Accounts receivable balances are determined to be past due based on the contractual terms with the customer. We maintain an allowance for doubtful accounts to reflect the expected uncollectability of accounts receivable based on past collection history and specific risks identified among uncollected accounts. Accounts receivable are written off against the allowance for doubtful accounts when we have determined that the receivable will not be collected and/or when the account has been referred to a third party collection agency. No single customer accounts for more than approximately 1.4% of our accounts receivable. During the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, bad debt expense was $41.8 million, $13.7 million and $9.9 million, respectively.

Stock-Based Compensation

Stock-Based Compensation: We measure stock-based compensation cost at fair value. Expense is generally recognized on a straight-line basis over the service period during which awards are expected to vest. We present stock-based compensation expense within the Consolidated Statements of Income based on the classification of the respective employees' cash compensation.

Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments

Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments: We consider all highly liquid investments with a maturity of less than three months when purchased to be cash equivalents. Short-term investments consist of certificates of deposit which mature in less than one year.

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, Plant and Equipment: Property, plant and equipment is stated at cost. Depreciation and amortization, which includes the depreciation of assets recorded under capital leases, is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets as follows:

Building and improvements	5 to 50 years
Machinery and equipment	2 to 30 years
Containers	2 to 20 years
Vehicles	2 to 7 years
Office equipment and furniture	2 to 20 years
Software	2 to 7 years

Our containers have a weighted average remaining useful life of 12.2 years.

Lease and Asset Retirement Obligations

Lease and Asset Retirement Obligations: The Company classifies leases at their inception as either operating or capital leases and may receive renewal or expansion options, rent holidays, and leasehold improvement or other incentives on certain lease agreements. The Company recognizes operating lease costs on a straight-line basis, taking into account adjustments for free or escalating rental payments and deferred payment terms. Additionally, lease incentives are accounted for as a reduction of lease costs over the lease term. Rent expense associated with operating lease obligations that relate to the delivery of our services is presented in Cost of revenues (“COR”) and the remaining is classified within Selling, general and administrative expenses (“SG&A”) on the Consolidated Statements of Income. Minimum lease payments made under capital leases are apportioned between interest expense and a reduction of the related capital lease obligations, which are classified within Accrued liabilities and Current portion of long-term debt on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

The Company establishes assets and liabilities for the present value of estimated future costs to retire long-lived assets at the termination or expiration of a lease. Such assets are amortized over the lease term, and the recorded liabilities are accreted to the future value of the estimated retirement costs. The related amortization and accretion expenses are presented within COR if the leased asset is used in the delivery of our services and the remaining expenses are presented within SG&A on the Consolidated Statements of Income.

Insurance

Insurance: Our insurance for workers’ compensation, vehicle liability and physical damage, and employee-related health care benefits is obtained using high deductible insurance policies. A third-party administrator is used to process all such claims. We require all workers’ compensation, vehicle liability and physical damage claims to be reported within 24 hours. As a result, we accrue our workers’ compensation, vehicle and physical damage liability based upon the claim reserves established by the third-party administrator at the end of each reporting period includes an estimate for claims incurred but not yet reported. Our employee health insurance benefit liability is based on our historical claims experience.

Financial Instruments

Financial Instruments: Our financial instruments consist of cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments, accounts receivable and payable, derivatives, and long-term debt. Financial instruments, which potentially subject us to concentrations of credit risk, consist principally of accounts receivable. Credit risk on trade receivables is minimized as a result of the large size of our customer base. No single customer represents greater than approximately 1.4% of total accounts receivable. We perform ongoing credit evaluation of our customers and maintain allowances for potential credit losses.

Use of Estimates

Use of Estimates: The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Some areas where we make estimates include our allowance for doubtful accounts, credit memo reserve, accrued employee health and welfare benefits, environmental liabilities, stock compensation expense, income tax liabilities, accrued auto and workers’ compensation insurance claims, and intangible asset valuations. Such estimates are based on historical trends and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results could differ from our estimates.

Foreign Currency

Foreign Currency: Assets and liabilities of foreign affiliates that use the local currency as their functional currency are translated at the exchange rate on the last day of the accounting period, and income statement accounts are translated at the average rates during the period. Related translation adjustments are reported as a component of accumulated other comprehensive loss on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Foreign currency gains and losses resulting from transactions which are denominated in currencies other than the entity’s functional currency, including foreign currency gains and losses on intercompany balances that are not of a long-term investment nature, are included within Other (expense)/income, net on the Consolidated Statements of Income.

Reclassifications: Certain amounts in previously issued financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation.

Reclassifications

Reclassifications: Certain amounts in previously issued financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation.

New Accounting Standards

New Accounting Standards:

Adoption of New Accounting Standards

Going Concern

The Company adopted the guidance in Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2014-15, Presentation of Financial Statements – Going Concern (Subtopic 205-40) – Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern, as of December 31, 2016. This ASU requires management to assess a company’s ability to continue as a going concern and to provide related disclosures in certain circumstances. Based on the results of the Company’s analysis, no additional disclosures were required.

Compensation - Stock Compensation

On January 1, 2016, the Company adopted the guidance in Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2016-09, “Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718) – Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting.” Under this ASU, entities are permitted to make an accounting policy election to either estimate forfeitures on share-based payment awards, as previously required, or to recognize forfeitures as they occur. The Company has elected to recognize forfeitures as they occur and the impact of that change in accounting policy has been evaluated and determined to be insignificant and resulted in no cumulative-effect change to the Company’s retained earnings. Additionally, ASU 2016-09 requires that all income tax effects related to settlements of share-based payment awards be reported in earnings as an increase or decrease to income tax expense (benefit), net. Previously, income tax benefits at settlement of an award were reported as an increase (or decrease) to additional paid-in capital to the extent that those benefits were greater than (or less than) the income tax benefits reported in earnings during the award's vesting period. The requirement to report those income tax effects in earnings has been applied on a prospective basis to settlements occurring on or after January 1, 2016. The impact of applying that guidance was $6.0 million to the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Income for the year ended December 31, 2016. ASU 2016-09 also requires that all income tax-related cash flows resulting from share-based payments be reported as operating activities in the statement of cash flows. Previously, income tax benefits at settlement of an award were reported as a reduction to operating cash flows and an increase to financing cash flows to the extent that those benefits exceeded the income tax benefits reported in earnings during the award's vesting period. The Company has elected to apply that change in cash flow classification on a prospective basis, leaving previously reported net cash provided by operating activities and net cash used in financing activities in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the period ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 unchanged. The remaining provisions of ASU 2016-09 did not have a material impact on the accompanying consolidated financial statements.

Interest-Imputation of Interest

The Company adopted the guidance in ASU No. 2015-03, "Interest – Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30): Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs" that requires debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability to be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the debt liability rather than as an asset. The guidance for recognition and measurement for debt issuance costs are not affected by the accounting standard update. The revised standard only affects presentation and therefore did not have an impact on the Company’s results of operations. The adoption resulted in a reclassification that reduced other assets and long-term debt by $12.3 million on the Consolidated Balance Sheet at December 31, 2015.

Accounting Standards Issued But Not Yet Adopted

Revenue From Contracts With Customers

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers" (Topic 606), guidance to provide a single and comprehensive revenue recognition model for all contracts with customers. The revenue guidance contains principles that an entity will apply to determine the measurement of revenue and timing of when it is recognized. The underlying principle is that an entity will recognize revenue to depict the transfer of goods or services to customers at an amount that the entity expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services. The amended authoritative guidance associated with revenue recognition is effective for the Company on January 1, 2018. The Company currently anticipates adopting this ASU using the modified retrospective method. While the Company continues to evaluate the impacts of this ASU on our consolidated financial statements, the Company currently expects that incremental contract acquisition costs of obtaining revenue generating contracts, such as sales commissions paid in connection with multi-year service contracts, would be capitalized and amortized over the economic life of the contract. Under the current guidance, the Company expenses such costs when incurred. Accordingly, the amount of contract consideration allocated to the performance obligations under some contracts would be different under the new standard than the amount allocated under the current standard. As the Company completes its evaluation of this new standard, new information may arise that could change the Company's current understanding of the impact to revenue and expense recognized. Additionally, the Company will continue to monitor industry activities and any additional guidance provided by regulators, standards setters, or the accounting profession and to adjust the Company’s assessment and implementation plans accordingly.

Leases

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, “Leases” (Topic 842). This guidance will require lessees to record a right-of-use asset and lease liability on the balance sheet for all leases with terms of more than 12 months. Recognition, measurement and presentation of expenses will depend on classification as a finance or operating lease. This ASU also requires certain quantitative and qualitative disclosures. Accounting guidance for lessors is largely unchanged. The amendments should be applied on a modified retrospective basis. ASU 2016-02 is effective for us beginning January 1, 2019. We have not yet begun to evaluate the impact that the adoption of ASU 2016-02 will have on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. We will begin our evaluation of the adoption of the new standard in 2017.

Statement of Cash Flows

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-15 “Statement of Cash Flows” (Topic 230). This guidance clarifies diversity in practice on where in the Statement of Cash Flows to recognize certain transactions, including the classification of payment of contingent consideration for acquisitions between Financing and Operating activities. ASU 2016-15 is effective for us beginning January 1, 2018. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a significant impact on our financial statements, as our treatment of the relevant affected items within the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows is consistent with the requirements of this guidance.

Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other Than Inventory

In October 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-16, “Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other Than Inventory.” This guidance requires the income tax consequences of an intra-entity transfer of an asset other than inventory to be recognized when the transfer occurs, instead of when the asset is sold to an outside party. The pronouncement is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim reporting periods within those annual reporting periods, with early adoption permitted. We do not expect the adoption to have a material impact on our financial statements.

Intangibles – Goodwill and Other – Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other (Topic 350) – Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment. This guidance eliminates Step 2 of the goodwill impairment test and requires a goodwill impairment to be measured as the amount by which a reporting unit’s carrying amount exceeds its fair value, not to exceed the carrying amount of its goodwill. The ASU is effective for annual or any interim goodwill impairment tests in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. We do not expect the adoption to have a material impact on our financial statements.