Forrester Research, Inc. (“Forrester” or the “Company”) is a global independent research, data, and advisory services firm. Forrester works with business and technology leaders to help them develop customer-obsessed strategies that drive growth. Forrester’s unique insights are grounded in annual surveys of more than 675,000 consumers and business leaders worldwide, rigorous and objective research methodologies, and the shared wisdom of our clients. Through proprietary research and data, custom consulting, exclusive executive peer groups and events, Forrester challenges the thinking of its clients and positions them to lead change in their organizations in an era of powerful customers. The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Forrester and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.

In 2018, Forrester acquired SocialGlimpz, Inc. and S.NOW SA. Refer to Note 2 – Acquisitions, for further information on these acquisitions.

On January 3, 2019, Forrester acquired 100% of the issued and outstanding shares of SiriusDecisions, Inc., a privately-held company based in Wilton, Connecticut for $247.3 million in cash. Refer to Note 15 – Subsequent Events, for further information on the acquisition.

The preparation of 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 reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Forrester considers the more significant of these estimates to be revenue recognition, non-marketable investments, valuation of goodwill, intangible assets and acquired assets and liabilities from business combinations, ongoing impairment reviews of goodwill and intangible assets, and income taxes. On an ongoing basis, management evaluates its estimates. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

The line item “proceeds from sales and maturities of marketable investments” within the investing activities section of the statement of cash flows has changed from the prior years’ consolidated financial statements to reflect the separate presentation of proceeds from sales and maturities of marketable investments.

The Company adopted the guidance in Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows: Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments, on January 1, 2018. The new standard clarifies certain aspects of the statement of cash flows, including contingent consideration payments made after a business combination, proceeds from the settlement of insurance claims, and distributions received from equity method investees, among others. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s statements of cash flows.

The Company adopted the guidance in ASU No. 2016-18, Statement of Cash Flows: Restricted Cash, on January 1, 2018. The new standard requires restricted cash to be included with cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning and ending amounts on the statement of cash flows. The adoption of this standard did not have an impact on the Company’s statements of cash flows.

The Company adopted the guidance in ASU No. 2017-01, Business Combinations (ASC 805) – Clarifying the Definition of a Business on January 1, 2018. The new standard amends the current business combinations guidance by clarifying the definition of a business to assist entities with evaluating whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions or disposals of assets or businesses. The adoption of the standard did not have an impact on the Company's financial position or statement of operations.

The Company elected to adopt the guidance in ASU No. 2018-02, Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, on January 1, 2018. The new standard allows but does not require, a reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings for stranded tax effects resulting from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (the “Act”) enacted on December 22, 2017. The Company elected to make the reclassification adjustment as of the beginning of the period of adoption in the amount of $26 thousand using the aggregate portfolio approach. The reclassification amount includes the effect of the change in the U.S. federal corporate income tax rate on the gross deferred tax amounts at the date of enactment of the Act related to items remaining in accumulated other comprehensive loss.

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (ASC 606). ASC 606 supersedes all existing revenue recognition requirements, including most industry-specific guidance. The new standard requires a company to recognize revenue when it transfers products or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration that the company expects to receive for those products or services. ASC 606 also includes subtopic ASC 340-40, Other Assets and Deferred Costs-Contracts with Customers, which provides guidance on accounting for certain revenue related costs including costs associated with obtaining and fulfilling a contract.

On January 1, 2018, the Company adopted ASC 606 using the modified retrospective method. Under this method, the reported results for 2018 reflect the application of ASC 606, while the reported results for 2017 were prepared under the guidance of ASC 605, Revenue Recognition, which is referred to herein as the “previous guidance”. The modified retrospective method requires the cumulative effect of applying the new guidance to all contracts with customers that were not completed as of January 1, 2018 to be recorded as an adjustment to retained earnings as of the adoption date. Forrester considered a contract to be complete if all the revenue was recognized in accordance with the previous guidance that was in effect before the adoption date.

The effect of adopting ASC 606 included a $7.8 million reduction in deferred revenue, primarily related to prepaid performance obligations that are expected to expire in 2018 and 2019 that would have been recognized in 2017 under the new guidance; a decrease of $5.5 million in prepaid expenses and other current assets related to deferred survey costs that would have been expensed as incurred in 2017 under the new guidance and the current tax impact of the cumulative effect; an increase of $0.9 million in deferred commissions related to the capitalization of fringe benefits as incremental costs to obtain customer contracts under the new guidance; and an increase of $0.6 million in other assets for the deferred tax effect of the cumulative effect. Retained earnings increased by $3.8 million as a net result of these adjustments.

The following tables summarize the effect of adopting ASC 606 on the Company’s financial statements during and as of the year ended December 31, 2018 (in thousands):

Consolidated Balance Sheet
	As of December 31, 2018
			Amounts as
			if Previous
			Guidance in
	As Reported		Effect
Accounts receivable, net	$	67,318	$	71,858
Deferred commissions		15,677		14,725
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		12,802		18,587
Total current assets		236,093		245,467
Other assets		5,310		4,748
Total assets		353,524		362,336

Deferred revenue	$	135,332	$	149,344
Total current liabilities		189,985		203,997
Total liabilities		201,924		215,936
Retained earnings		127,717		122,517
Total stockholders’ equity		151,600		146,400
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity		353,524		362,336

Total assets were $8.8 million less than if the previous guidance remained in effect, largely due to the following changes:

•

Accounts receivable, net was lower due to the Company excluding invoices issued on cancellable contracts in excess of revenue recognized.

•

Deferred commissions were higher due to the capitalization of fringe benefits costs.

•

Prepaid expenses and other current assets were lower due to expensing survey costs as incurred and the current period tax effect of the adjustments.

Deferred revenue was $14.0 million lower due to the accelerated recognition of revenue for estimated unexercised rights, which would have been deferred under the previous guidance until the right expired, and the exclusion of invoices issued on cancellable contracts in excess of revenue recognized.

Consolidated Statement of Income
	Year Ended December 31, 2018
			Amounts as
			if Previous
			Guidance in
	As Reported		Effect
Revenues:
Research services	$	228,399	$	227,059
Advisory services and events		129,176		128,872
Total revenues		357,575		355,931
Operating expenses:
Cost of services and fulfillment		146,502		146,666
Selling and marketing		131,824		131,907
Total operating expenses		335,150		335,397
Income from operations		22,425		20,534
Income before income taxes		23,525		21,634
Income tax provision		8,145		7,652
Net income		15,380		13,982
Basic income per common share	$	0.85	$	0.77
Diluted income per common share	$	0.84	$	0.76

The $1.6 million increase in total revenues for year ended December 31, 2018 is for estimated future unexercised customer rights that were previously recognized when they occurred. The net impact, including the tax effect, of accounting for revenue and costs to obtain and fulfill customer contracts under the new guidance increased net income and diluted net income per share for the year ended December 31, 2018 by $1.4 million and $0.08, respectively.

Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income
	Year Ended December 31, 2018
			Amounts as
			if Previous
			Guidance in
	As Reported		Effect
Net income	$	15,380	$	13,982
Comprehensive income		12,264		10,866

Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows
	Year Ended December 31, 2018
				Amounts as
				if Previous
				Guidance in
	As Reported			Effect
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$	15,380		$	13,982
Accounts receivable		2,588			(1,952	)
Deferred commissions		(1,077	)		(994	)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		285			(43	)
Deferred revenue		(604	)		5,580

The impact to comprehensive income and cash flows from operating activities are driven by the consolidated balance sheet and income statement changes previously discussed.

The carrying amounts reflected in the Consolidated Balance Sheets for cash, cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable, and accrued expenses approximate fair value due to their short-term maturities. The Company has certain financial assets and liabilities recorded at fair value at each balance sheet date in accordance with the accounting standards for fair value measurements. Refer to Note 6 – Fair Value Measurements for the Company’s fair value disclosures.

Forrester considers all short-term, highly liquid investments with original maturities at the time of purchase of 90 days or less to be cash equivalents.

The Company liquidated its entire portfolio of marketable investments in December of 2018 to fund the acquisition of SiriusDecisions on January 3, 2019. Forrester previously accounted for all marketable investments as available-for-sale securities and as such, the marketable investments were carried at fair value with unrealized gains and losses (not related to credit losses) recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Realized gains and losses on securities are included in earnings and were determined using the specific identification method. The Company conducted periodic reviews to identify and evaluate each investment that had an unrealized loss, in accordance with the meaning of other-than-temporary impairment and its application to certain investments, as required under current accounting standards. An unrealized loss exists when the current fair value of an individual security is less than its amortized cost basis. Unrealized losses on available-for-sale securities that are determined to be temporary, and not related to credit loss, are recorded, net of tax, in accumulated other comprehensive loss. The determination of whether a loss is considered temporary is based in part on whether the Company intends to sell the security or whether the Company would more likely than not be required to sell the security before the expected recovery of the amortized cost basis. During the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, the Company did not record any other-than-temporary impairment losses on its available-for-sale securities.

Forrester has no off-balance sheet or significant concentration of credit risk such as foreign exchange contracts, option contracts, or other foreign hedging arrangements. Financial instruments that potentially subject Forrester to concentrations of credit risk are principally cash, cash equivalents, and accounts receivable. No single customer accounted for greater than 3% of revenues or 6% of accounts receivable in any of the periods presented.

Goodwill is not amortized; however, it is required to be tested for impairment annually. Furthermore, testing for impairment is required on an interim basis if an event or circumstance indicates that it is more likely than not an impairment loss has been incurred. An impairment loss would be recognized to the extent that the carrying amount of goodwill exceeds its implied fair value. Absent an event that indicates a specific impairment may exist, the Company has selected November 30th as the date for performing the annual goodwill impairment test. Goodwill impairment charges have not been required for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016.

Forrester continually evaluates whether events or circumstances have occurred that indicate that the estimated remaining useful life of long-lived assets and intangible assets may warrant revision or if events or circumstances indicate that the carrying value of these assets may be impaired. To compute whether assets have been impaired, the estimated undiscounted future cash flows for the estimated remaining useful life of the assets are compared to the carrying value. To the extent that the future cash flows are less than the carrying value, the assets are written down to the estimated fair value of the asset. Impairment charges have not been required for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016.

The Company records certain liabilities that are expected to be settled over a period that exceeds one year as non-current liabilities. The Company also records as a non-current liability the portion of the deferred rent liability that is expected to be recognized over a period greater than one year. The non-current deferred rent liability at December 31, 2018 and 2017 was $6.6 million and $7.5 million, respectively, and results from the difference between cash payments and the straight-line recognition of rent expense under the Company’s facility leases.

The functional currency of Forrester’s wholly-owned subsidiaries is their respective local currency. These subsidiary financial statements are translated to U.S. dollars using period-end exchange rates for assets and liabilities and average exchange rates during the corresponding period for revenues and expenses, with translation gains and losses accumulated as a component of accumulated other comprehensive loss in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Gains and losses related to the remeasurement of monetary assets and liabilities denominated in a currency other than an entity’s functional currency are included in other income, net in the Consolidated Statements of Income. For each of the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, Forrester recorded $0.6 million of foreign exchange losses in other income, net. For the year ended December 31, 2016, Forrester recorded $0.1 million of foreign exchange gains.

The components of accumulated other comprehensive loss are as follows (in thousands):

							Total
	Net Unrealized Gain			Cumulative			Accumulated
	(Loss) on Marketable			Translation			Other Comprehensive
	Investments			Adjustment			Income (Loss)
Balance at December 31, 2015	$	(100	)	$	(4,726	)	$	(4,826	)
Foreign currency translation before reclassification		—			(2,764	)		(2,764	)
Unrealized gain on investments, net of tax of $(14)		17			—			17
Balance at December 31, 2016		(83	)		(7,490	)		(7,573	)
Foreign currency translation		—			5,593			5,593
Unrealized loss on investments, net of tax of $22		(32	)		—			(32	)
Balance at December 31, 2017		(115	)		(1,897	)		(2,012	)
Foreign currency translation		—			(3,257	)		(3,257	)
Reclassification of stranded tax effects from tax reform		(26	)		—			(26	)
Unrealized gain on investments before reclassification, net of tax of $(4)		12			—			12
Reclassification adjustment for net losses realized in net income, net of tax of $(75)		129			—			129
Balance at December 31, 2018	$	—		$	(5,154	)	$	(5,154	)

The Company recognizes revenue when a customer obtains control of promised products or services, in an amount that reflects the consideration expected to be received in exchange for those products or services. The Company follows the five-step model prescribed under ASC 606: (i) identify contract(s) with a customer; (ii) identify the performance obligation(s) in the contract; (iii) determine the transaction price; (iv) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and (v) recognize revenue when (or as) the Company satisfies the performance obligation. Revenues are presented net of any sales or value added taxes collected from customers and remitted to the government.

The Company accounts for a contract when it has approval and commitment from both parties, the rights of the parties are identified, payment terms are identified, the contract has commercial substance and collectability of the consideration expected to be transferred is probable. The Company applies judgment in determining the customer’s ability and intention to pay for services expected to be transferred, which is based on factors including the customer’s payment history, management’s ability to mitigate exposure to credit risk (for example, requiring payment in advance of the transfer of products or services, or the ability to stop transferring promised products or services in the event a customer fails to pay consideration when due) and experience selling to similarly situated customers. Since the transaction price is fixed and defined as part of entering into a contract, and generally does not change, variable consideration is insignificant.

Performance obligations within a contract are identified based on the products and services promised to be transferred in the contract. When a contract includes more than one promised product or service, the Company must apply judgment to determine whether the promises represent multiple performance obligations or a single, combined performance obligation. This evaluation requires the Company to determine if the promises are both capable of being distinct, where the customer can benefit from the product or service on its own or together with other resources readily available, and are distinct within the context of the contract, where the transfer of products or services is separately identifiable from other promises in the contract. When both criteria are met, each promised product or service is accounted for as a separate performance obligation. In cases where the promises are distinct, the Company is further required to evaluate if the promises are a series of products and services that are substantially the same and have the same pattern of transfer to the customer (referred to as the “series” guidance). When the Company determines that promises meet the series guidance, they are accounted for as a single, combined performance obligation. The number of performance obligations in the Company’s arrangements is not different under ASC 606 than the number of separate units of accounting under pervious guidance, as discussed further below.

Contracts that contain multiple performance obligations require an allocation of the transaction price to each performance obligation on a relative basis according to their standalone selling prices. The Company continues to determine standalone selling price based on the price at which the performance obligation is sold separately. If the Company does not have a history of selling a performance obligation, management applies judgment to estimate the standalone selling price, taking into consideration available information, including market conditions, factors considered to set list price, pricing of similar products, and internal pricing objectives. The corresponding allocated revenues are recognized as the performance obligations are satisfied, as discussed below.

Research services revenues consist primarily of memberships to Research, Connect, and Analytics products. The majority of the Research revenues are annual subscriptions to our research, including access to all or a designated portion of our research and, depending on the type of license, unlimited phone or email analyst inquiry and unlimited participation in Forrester webinars, all of which are delivered throughout the contract period. The Company has concluded that the promises represent a stand ready obligation to provide a daily information service, in which the services are the same each day, every day is distinct, and the customer simultaneously receives and consumes the benefits as the Company transfers control throughout the contract period. Accordingly, these subscriptions meet the requirements of the series guidance and are each accounted for as a single performance obligation. The Company recognizes revenue ratably over time, using an output measure of time elapsed. Research revenues also include sales of electronic reprints, which are written research documents prepared by Forrester’s analysts and hosted via an on-line platform. Reprints include a promise to deliver a customer-selected research document and certain usage data provided through the on-line platform, which represents two performance obligations. The Company satisfies the performance obligation for the research document by providing access to the electronic reprint and accordingly recognizes revenue at that point in time. The Company satisfies the performance obligation for the data portion of the reprint on a daily basis and accordingly recognizes revenue over time.

The majority of the Connect revenues are the Company’s Leadership Board product which includes access to the Research offering, access to a private forum with other Leadership Board member peers, access to a Forrester advisor, member-generated content, and one Event ticket. The Company has concluded that all promises, other than the Event ticket, represent a stand ready obligation to provide a daily information and peer service, in which the services are the same each day, every day is distinct, and the customer simultaneously receives and consumes the benefits as the Company transfers control throughout the contract period. Accordingly, these promises meet the requirements of the series guidance and are accounted for as a single performance obligation. The Company recognizes revenue ratably over time, using an output measure of time elapsed. The Event ticket is accounted for as a separate performance obligation and is recognized when the Event occurs.

Analytics revenues are primarily annual subscriptions to access designated survey data products and typically include a data advisor, all of which are delivered throughout the contract period. For Analytics subscriptions, the Company has concluded that the promises represent a stand ready obligation to provide a daily data service, in which the services are the same each day, every day is distinct, and the customer simultaneously receives and consumes the benefits as the Company transfers control throughout the contract period. Accordingly, these subscriptions meet the requirements of the series guidance and are accounted for as a single performance obligation. The Company recognizes revenue ratably over time, using an output measure of time elapsed. Certain of the Analytics products include advisory services which are accounted for as a separate performance obligation and are recognized at the point in time the service is completed or the final deliverable is transferred to the customer.

Advisory services and events revenues consists of sales of advisory services, consulting projects, and Events.

Advisory services revenues are short-term presentations or knowledge sharing sessions (which can range from one hour to two days), such as workshops, speeches and advisory days. Each is a promise for a Forrester analyst to deliver a deeper understanding of Forrester’s published research and represents a single performance obligation. Revenue is recognized at the point in time the service is completed or the final deliverable is transferred to the customer.

Consulting project revenues consists of the delivery of focused insights and recommendations that assist customers with their challenges in developing and executing strategies around technology, customer experience and digital transformation. Projects are fixed-fee arrangements that are generally completed within two weeks to three months. The Company concluded that each project represents a single performance obligation as they are a single promise to deliver a customized engagement and deliverable. For the majority of these services, either practically or contractually, the work performed and delivered to the customer has no alternative use to the Company. Additionally, Forrester maintains an enforceable right to payment at all times throughout the contract. The Company utilizes an input method and recognizes revenue over time, based on hours expended relative to the total estimated hours required to satisfy the performance obligation. This input method was chosen since it closely aligns with how control of interim deliverables is transferred to the customer throughout the engagement and is also the method used internally to price the project and assess operational performance. If the Company were to enter into an agreement where it does not have an enforceable right to payment at all times, revenue would be recognized at the point in time the project is completed.

Events revenues consist of either ticket or sponsorship sales for a Forrester-hosted event. Each is a single promise that either allows entry to, or grants the right to, promote a product or service at, a specific event. The Company concluded that each of these represents a single performance obligation. The Company recognizes revenue at the completion of the Event, which is the point in time when the customer has received the benefit(s) from attending or sponsoring the Event.

Prepaid performance obligations, including Event tickets, reprints, advisory and consulting hours, on non-cancellable contracts that the Company estimates will expire unused are recognized in proportion to the pattern of related rights exercised by the customer. This assessment requires judgment, including estimating the percentage of prepaid rights that will go unexercised and anticipating the impact that future changes to products, pricing, and customer engagement will have on actual expirations. The Company periodically updates the rates used to recognize unexercised rights.

Refer to Note 12, Operating Segment and Enterprise Wide Reporting, for a summary of disaggregated revenue by product category and business segment.

The Company considers a contract modification to exist when a mutually agreed upon change creates new, or updates existing, enforceable rights and obligations. ASC 606 introduced three specific methods to account for contract modifications depending on the nature of the change(s) in scope or price to the original contract. The new guidance is consistent with how the Company has historically accounted for contract modifications and as a result, does not have an impact on the Company’s results of operations.

The majority of the Company’s contract modifications result in additional or remaining distinct products and services and are treated on a prospective basis. Under the prospective method, the transaction price is updated to combine the unrecognized amount as of the modification date plus the additional transaction price from the modification. This amount is then re-allocated to the remaining distinct performance obligations and recognized accordingly.

Consulting services contracts can be modified to update the scope of the services purchased. Since a consulting project is a single performance obligation that is only partially satisfied at the modification date, the updated project requirements are not distinct and the modification is accounted for as part of the existing contract. The effect of the modification on the transaction price and the Company’s measure of progress for the performance obligation to which it relates, is recognized as an adjustment to revenue (either an increase or decrease) on a cumulative catch-up basis. For the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company recorded an immaterial amount of cumulative catch-up adjustments.

Accounts receivable includes amounts billed and currently due from customers. Since the only condition for payment of our invoices is the passage of time, the Company records a receivable on the date the invoice is issued. Also included in accounts receivable are unbilled amounts resulting from revenue exceeding the amount billed to the customer, where the right to payment is unconditional. If the right to payment for services performed was conditional on something other than the passage of time, the unbilled amount would be recorded as a separate contract asset. There were no contract assets as of December 31, 2018.

The majority of the Company’s contracts are non-cancellable. However, for contracts that are cancellable by the customer, the Company does not record a receivable when it issues an invoice. The Company records accounts receivable on these contracts only up to the amount of revenue earned but not yet collected.

In addition, since the majority of the Company’s contracts are for a duration of one year and payment is expected within one year from the transfer of products and services, the Company does not adjust its receivables or transaction price for the effects of a significant financing component.

The Company refers to contract liabilities as deferred revenue on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Payment terms in the Company’s customer contracts vary, but generally require payment in advance of fully satisfying the performance obligation(s). Deferred revenue consists of billings in excess of revenue recognized. Similar to accounts receivable, the Company does not record deferred revenue for invoices issued on a cancellable contract.

During the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company recognized approximately $134.7 million of revenue related to its deferred revenue balance at January 1, 2018. To determine revenue recognized in the current period from deferred revenue at the beginning of the period, the Company first allocates revenue to the individual deferred revenue balance outstanding at the beginning of the period, until the revenue equals that balance.

Approximately $262.6 million of revenue is expected to be recognized during the next 12 to 24 months from remaining performance obligations as of December 31, 2018.

The Company capitalizes commissions paid to internal sales representatives and related fringe benefits costs that are incremental to obtaining customer contracts. These costs are included in deferred commissions on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The judgments made in determining the amount of costs incurred include the types of costs to capitalize and whether the costs are in fact incremental. The Company elected the practical expedient to account for these costs at a portfolio level as the Company’s contracts are similar in nature and the amortization model used closely matches the amortization expense that would be recognized on a contract-by-contract basis. Costs to obtain a contract are amortized to operations as the related revenue is recognized over the initial contract term. Amortization expense related to deferred commissions was $32.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2018. The Company evaluates the recoverability of deferred commissions at each balance sheet date.

Costs to fulfill the Company’s contracts, such as our survey costs for our Analytics product line, do not meet the specified capitalization criteria as defined in the guidance and as such are expensed as incurred.

Forrester maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts for estimated losses resulting from the inability of its customers to make contractually obligated payments. When evaluating the adequacy of the allowance for doubtful accounts, the Company makes judgments regarding the collectability of accounts receivable by specifically analyzing historical bad debts, customer concentrations, current economic trends, and changes in the customer payment terms. If the financial condition of the Company’s customers were to deteriorate, resulting in an impairment of their ability to make payments, additional allowances may be required and if the financial condition of the Company’s customers were to improve, the allowances may be reduced accordingly.

The Company recognizes the fair value of stock-based compensation expense over the requisite service period of the individual grantee, which generally equals the vesting period.

The Company adopted the guidance in Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") No. 2016-09, Compensation - Stock Compensation - Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting, on January 1, 2017. Under this standard, 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. All income tax effects related to settlements of share-based payment awards are reported in earnings as an increase or decrease to income tax expense. All income tax-related cash flows resulting from share-based payments are reported as operating activities in the statement of cash flows and cash paid by directly withholding shares for tax withholding purposes is classified as a financing activity.

Stock-based compensation expense was recorded in the following expense categories (in thousands):

	Years Ended December 31,
	2018		2017		2016
Cost of services and fulfillment	$	4,329	$	4,538	$	4,431
Selling and marketing		1,065		717		1,054
General and administrative		2,906		3,235		2,491
Total	$	8,300	$	8,490	$	7,976

The options granted under the equity incentive plan and shares subject to the employee stock purchase plan were valued utilizing the Black-Scholes model using the following assumptions and had the following fair values (no options were granted in 2017 and 2018):

	Years Ended December 31,
	2018			2017			2016
	Employee Stock Purchase Plan			Employee Stock Purchase Plan			Equity Incentive Plans			Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Average risk-free interest rate		1.90	%		0.90	%		1.30	%		0.32	%
Expected dividend yield		1.9	%		1.9	%		2.2	%		2.1	%
Expected life	0.5 Years			0.5 Years			5.0 Years			0.5 Years
Expected volatility		23	%		24	%		24	%		24	%
Weighted average fair value	$	9.13		$	8.36		$	6.16		$	6.69

Prior to the suspension of the quarterly dividend program in November 2018, dividend yields were based on the regular quarterly dividend program approved by the Board of Directors in February 2012. Expected volatility is based, in part, on the historical volatility of Forrester’s common stock as well as management’s expectations of future volatility over the expected term of the awards granted. The risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury Constant Maturity rate with an equivalent remaining term. Where the expected term of a stock-based award does not correspond with a term for which the interest rates are quoted, Forrester uses the rate with the maturity closest to the award’s expected term. The expected term calculation is based upon Forrester’s historical experience of exercise patterns. The unamortized fair value of stock-based awards as of December 31, 2018 was $17.1 million with a weighted average remaining recognition period of 2.5 years.

Forrester provides for depreciation and amortization of property and equipment, computed using the straight-line method, over estimated useful lives of assets as follows:

Forrester recognizes deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between the financial statements and tax basis of assets and liabilities as well as operating loss carryforwards.

Forrester’s provision for income taxes is composed of a current and a deferred provision for federal, state and foreign jurisdictions. The current provision is calculated as the estimated taxes payable or refundable on tax returns for the current year. The deferred provision is calculated as the net change during the year in deferred tax assets and liabilities. Valuation allowances are provided if based on the weight of available evidence, it is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax asset will not be realized.

Forrester accounts for uncertain tax positions using a “more-likely-than-not” threshold for recognizing and resolving uncertain tax positions. The evaluation of uncertain tax positions is based on factors including, but not limited to, changes in tax law, the measurement of tax positions taken or expected to be taken in tax returns, the effective settlement of matters subject to audit, new audit activity, and changes in facts or circumstances related to a tax position. The Company evaluates these tax positions on a quarterly basis. The Company also accrues for potential interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense.

Basic net income per common share is computed by dividing net income by the basic weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net income per common share is computed by dividing net income by the diluted weighted average number of common shares and common equivalent shares outstanding during the period. The weighted average number of common equivalent shares outstanding has been determined in accordance with the treasury-stock method. Common stock equivalents consist of common stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding stock options and the vesting of restricted stock units.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases. The new standard requires that all lessees recognize the assets and liabilities that arise from leases longer than 12 months on the balance sheet and disclose qualitative and quantitative information about its leasing arrangements. Lessor accounting is largely unchanged. Leases will be classified as either finance or operating, with classification affecting the pattern of expense recognition in the income statement. In July 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-11, Leases (Topic 842): Targeted Improvements, which allows for an additional adoption method and for lessors, provides a practical expedient for the separation of lease and non-lease components within a contract.

The new standard will be effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within that reporting period. The two permitted transition methods under the new standard are both modified retrospective methods. Under the first method, the standard would be applied to all leases that existed at or subsequently commenced after the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements, with a cumulative effect adjustment recorded at the beginning of the earliest comparative period for all leases that commenced prior to such date. Under the second method, comparative periods are not adjusted and the cumulative effect of applying the standard would be recorded at the date of initial application. The Company will adopt the standard as of January 1, 2019 utilizing the modified retrospective method in which comparative periods are not adjusted. The Company anticipates that it will not be required to record a cumulative effect adjustment upon adoption.

The Company expects the standard to have a material impact on its balance sheet as substantially all operating leases longer then 12 months will be recorded as a right-of-use (“ROU”) asset and a lease liability. Adoption of the standard will result in an approximate increase of $50 million to $54 million in total assets and $58 million to $62 million in total liabilities. The Company does not expect the standard to have a material impact on its results of operations. During 2019, ROU assets and lease liabilities for operating leases are expected to increase primarily due to the acquisition of SiriusDecisions.

Several practical expedients are permitted under the new standard. The Company expects to elect the package of practical expedients, including the related disclosure requirements, that permits the use of historical lease classification and accounting under the previous guidance for all leases that expired or existed as of the adoption date.

A key area still in process includes development of the reports for the various disclosures required during 2019. This area will be completed by the end of the first quarter of 2019.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses: Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. The new standard amends the current financial instrument impairment model by requiring entities to use a forward-looking approach based on expected losses to estimate credit losses on certain types of financial instruments, including trade receivables. The new standard will be effective for the Company on January 1, 2020. The adoption of this standard is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-04, Intangibles-Goodwill and Other: Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment. The new standard simplifies the subsequent measurement of goodwill by eliminating Step 2 from the goodwill impairment test and requires that instead, an entity should perform its goodwill impairment test by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount. The new standard will be effective for the Company on January 1, 2020. The adoption of this standard is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement Disclosure Framework – Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement. The new standard modifies the disclosure requirements on fair value measurements in Topic 820, Fair Value Measurement. The standard includes changes to fair value transfers and Level 3 fair value disclosures. The new standard will be effective for the Company on January 1, 2020. The adoption of this standard is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-15, Intangibles-Goodwill and Other-Internal-Use Software: Customer’s Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That is a Service Contract. The new standard aligns 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 new standard will be effective for the Company on January 1, 2020. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact that this standard may have on its financial position and results of operations.