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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2019
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies  
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet at December 31, 2018, which was derived from the audited consolidated financial statements at that date, and the unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”). Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in annual consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP have been condensed or omitted. The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements are presented on a consolidated basis and include the accounts of RE/MAX Holdings and its consolidated subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. In the opinion of management, the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all normal and recurring adjustments necessary to present fairly the Company’s financial position as of June 30, 2019 and the results of its operations and comprehensive income, cash flows and changes in its stockholder’s equity for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018. Interim results may not be indicative of full-year performance. These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements within the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 (“2018 Annual Report on Form 10-K”).

Use of Estimates

The preparation of condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent liabilities at the date of the condensed consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Segment Reporting

In January 2019, the Company acquired all of the regional and pan-regional advertising fund entities previously owned by its founder and Chairman of the Board of Directors, David Liniger. All of these entities, except for the Western Canada region, were then merged into a new entity called RE/MAX Marketing Fund (with the Western Canada fund, collectively, the “Marketing Funds”). See Note 6, Acquisitions for more information. As a result of the acquisition of the Marketing Funds, the Company added the Marketing Funds as a reportable segment as of January 1, 2019.

The Company operates under the following reportable segments:

RE/MAX Franchising – comprises the operations of the Company’s owned and independent global franchising operations under the RE/MAX brand name and corporate-wide shared services expenses.
Marketing Funds – comprises the operations of the Company’s marketing campaigns designed to build and maintain brand awareness and support certain agent marketing technology.
Other – comprises the operations of Motto Franchising and booj, which, due to quantitative insignificance, do not meet the criteria of a reportable segment.

Principles of Consolidation

RE/MAX Holdings consolidates RMCO and records a non-controlling interest in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets and records net income attributable to the non-controlling interest and comprehensive income attributable to the non-controlling interest in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income and Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income, respectively.

Revenue Recognition

The Company generates most of its revenue from contracts with customers. The Company’s franchise agreements offer the following benefits to the franchisee: common use and promotion of RE/MAX and Motto trademarks; distinctive sales and promotional materials; access to technology; standardized supplies and other materials used in RE/MAX and Motto offices; and recommended procedures for operation of RE/MAX or Motto offices. The Company concluded that these benefits are highly related and all a part of one performance obligation, a license of symbolic intellectual property that is billed through a variety of fees including franchise sales, continuing franchise fees, marketing funds fees, broker fees, and annual dues, described below. The Company has other performance obligations associated with contracts with customers in other revenue for training, marketing and events, and legacy booj customers. The method used to measure progress is over the passage of time for most streams of revenue. The following is a description of principal activities from which the Company generates its revenue.

Continuing Franchise Fees

Revenue from continuing franchise fees consists of fixed contractual fees paid monthly by franchisees based on the number of RE/MAX agents in the respective franchised region or office and the number of Motto offices open, reaching the full monthly billing once the Motto office has been open and operating for a year. This revenue is recognized in the month for which the fee is billed. This revenue is a usage-based royalty as it is dependent on the number of RE/MAX agents and number of Motto offices.

Marketing Funds Fees

Revenue from Marketing Funds fees consists of fixed contractual fees paid monthly by franchise owners and franchisees based on the number of RE/MAX agents in the respective franchised region or office or the number of Motto offices. These revenues are obligated to be used for marketing campaigns to build brand awareness and to support agent marketing technology. Amounts received into the Marketing Funds are recognized as revenue in the month for which the fee is billed. This revenue is a usage-based royalty as it is dependent on the number of RE/MAX agents or number of Motto offices.

All assets of the Marketing Funds are contractually restricted for the benefit of franchisees, and the Company recognizes an equal and offsetting liability on the Company’s balance sheet. Additionally, this results in recording an equal and offsetting amount of expenses against all revenues such that there is no impact to overall profitability of the Company from these revenues.

Annual Dues

Annual dues revenue consists of fixed contractual fees paid annually based on the number of RE/MAX agents. The Company defers the annual dues revenue when billed and recognizes the revenue ratably over the 12-month period to which it relates. Annual dues revenue is a usage-based royalty as it is dependent on the number of RE/MAX agents.

The activity in the Company’s deferred revenue for annual dues is included in “Deferred revenue” and “Deferred revenue, net of current portion” on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, and consists of the following in aggregate (in thousands):

    

Balance at
beginning of period

    

New billings

    

Revenue recognized(a)

    

Balance at end
of period

Six months ended June 30, 2019

$

15,877

$

18,828

$

(17,673)

$

17,032

(a)

Revenue recognized related to the beginning balance was $4.5 million and $11.4 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019, respectively.

Broker Fees

Revenue from broker fees represents fees received from the Company’s RE/MAX franchised regions or franchise offices that are based on a percentage of RE/MAX agents’ gross commission income on home sale transactions. Revenue from broker fees is recognized as a sales-based royalty and recognized in the month when a home sale transaction occurs. Motto franchisees do not pay any fees based on the number or dollar value of loans brokered.

Franchise Sales

Franchise sales comprises revenue from the sale or renewal of franchises. A fee is charged upon a franchise sale or renewal. Those fees are deemed to be a part of the license of symbolic intellectual property and are recognized as revenue over the contractual term of the franchise agreement, which is typically five years for RE/MAX and seven years for Motto. The activity in the Company’s franchise sales deferred revenue accounts consists of the following (in thousands):

    

Balance at
beginning of period

    

New billings

    

Revenue recognized(a)

    

Balance at end
of period

Six months ended June 30, 2019

$

27,560

$

3,283

$

(4,697)

$

26,146

(a)

Revenue recognized related to the beginning balance was $2.1 million and $4.4 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019, respectively.

Commissions Related to Franchise Sales

Commissions paid on franchise sales are recognized as an asset and amortized over the contract life of the franchise agreement. The activity in the Company’s capitalized contract costs for commissions (which are included in “other current assets” and “other assets, net of current portion” on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets) consist of the following (in thousands):

Balance at

Additions to contract

Balance at end

    

beginning of period

    

Expense recognized

    

cost for new activity

    

of period

Six months ended June 30, 2019

$

3,748

$

(704)

$

525

$

3,569

Other Revenue

Other revenue is primarily revenue from preferred marketing arrangements and event-based revenue from training and other programs. Revenue from preferred marketing arrangements involves both flat fees paid in advance as well as revenue sharing, both of which are generally recognized over the period of the arrangement and are recorded net as the Company does not control the good or service provided. Event-based revenue is recognized when the event occurs and until then is included in “Deferred revenue”. Other revenue also includes revenue from booj’s legacy operations for its external customers as booj continues to provide technology products and services, such as websites, mobile apps, reporting and site tools, to its legacy customers.

Disaggregated Revenue

In the following table, segment revenue is disaggregated by geographical area for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018 (in thousands):

Three Months Ended

Six Months Ended

June 30, 

June 30, 

    

2019

    

2018

    

2019

    

2018

U.S.

$

41,689

$

43,343

$

83,424

$

86,695

Canada

5,893

6,213

11,242

11,976

Global

2,803

2,554

5,543

5,033

Total RE/MAX Franchising

50,385

52,110

100,209

103,704

U.S.

16,381

33,053

Canada

1,500

3,385

Global

179

394

Total Marketing Funds

18,060

36,832

Other

2,936

2,167

5,518

3,215

Total

$

71,381

$

54,277

$

142,559

$

106,919

In the following table, segment revenue is disaggregated by owned or independent regions in the U.S. and Canada for the RE/MAX Franchising segment for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018 (in thousands). The split between owned or independent regions is not material to the Marketing Funds or Other segments:

Three Months Ended

Six Months Ended

June 30, 

June 30, 

2019

    

2018

2019

    

2018

Company-owned Regions

$

34,019

$

35,692

$

64,037

$

67,055

Independent Regions

11,394

11,694

22,317

22,843

Global and Other

4,972

4,724

13,855

13,806

Total RE/MAX Franchising

50,385

52,110

100,209

103,704

Marketing Funds

18,060

36,832

Other

2,936

2,167

5,518

3,215

Total

$

71,381

$

54,277

$

142,559

$

106,919

Transaction Price Allocated to the Remaining Performance Obligations

The following table includes estimated revenue by year expected to be recognized in the future related to performance obligations that are unsatisfied (or partially unsatisfied) at the end of the reporting period (in thousands):

    

Remaining 6
months of
2019

    

2020

    

2021

    

2022

    

2023

    

2024

    

Thereafter

    

Total

Annual dues

$

12,615

$

4,417

$

$

$

$

$

$

17,032

Franchise sales

3,737

6,512

5,162

3,693

2,193

1,108

3,741

26,146

Total

$

16,352

$

10,929

$

5,162

$

3,693

$

2,193

$

1,108

$

3,741

$

43,178

Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash

All cash held by the Marketing Funds is contractually restricted. The following table reconciles the amounts presented for cash, both unrestricted and restricted, in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets to the amounts presented in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (in thousands):

June 30, 

December 31, 

    

2019

2018

Cash and cash equivalents

$

72,486

$

59,974

Restricted cash

23,627

Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

$

96,113

$

59,974

Services Provided to the Marketing Funds by RE/MAX Franchising

RE/MAX Franchising charges the Marketing Funds for various services it performs. These services are primarily comprised of (a) providing agent marketing technology, including customer relationship management tools, the www.remax.com website, agent and office websites, and mobile apps, (b) dedicated employees focused on marketing campaigns, and (c) various administrative services including accounting, tax and legal. Because these costs are ultimately paid by the Marketing Funds, they do not impact the net income of RE/MAX Holdings as the Marketing Funds have no reported net income.

Costs charged from RE/MAX Franchising to the Marketing Funds for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019 are as follows (in thousands):

Three Months Ended

Six Months Ended

June 30, 

June 30, 

Technology development - operating

$

1,199

$

2,164

Technology development - capital

1,529

2,464

Marketing staff and administrative services

1,024

2,049

Total

$

3,752

$

6,677

Costs charged to the Marketing Funds for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 are disclosed in Note 15, Related-Party Transactions.

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

In February 2018, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2018-02, Income Statement – Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220), which adjusts the classification of stranded tax effects resulting from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings. ASU 2018-02 became effective for the Company on January 1, 2019. The standard is to be applied either in the period of adoption or retrospectively to each period affected by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The Company completed the majority of its accounting for the tax effects of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act as of December 31, 2017. The amendments of ASU 2018-02 did not have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), with several subsequent amendments, which requires lessees to recognize the assets and liabilities that arise from operating and finance leases on the consolidated balance sheets, with a few exceptions. ASU 2016-02 became effective for the Company on January 1, 2019 and replaced the existing lease guidance in U.S. GAAP when it became effective. The Company did not retrospectively recast prior periods presented and instead adjusted assets and liabilities on January 1, 2019. In addition, the Company elected the package of practical expedients permitted under the transition guidance, which allowed the Company to forgo reassessing (a) whether a contract contains a lease, (b) lease classification, and (c) whether capitalized costs associated

with a lease are initial direct costs. The practical expedient was applied consistently to all the Company’s leases, including those for which the Company acts as the lessor. In addition, the Company elected the practical expedient relating to the combination of lease and non-lease components as a single lease component. The Company chose not to apply the hindsight practical expedient. The new lease guidance has been applied to all the Company’s leases as of January 1, 2019, which impacted how operating lease assets and liabilities were recorded within the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet, resulting in the recording of approximately $65.8 million of lease liabilities and approximately $55.6 million of right-of-use (“ROU”) assets on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet. Deferred rent and sublease loss balances as of January 1, 2019 of approximately $9.3 million and approximately $2.4 million, respectively, and intangible assets of approximately $1.5 million were subsumed into the ROU asset at transition. Adoption of the new standard did not materially affect the Company’s consolidated net earnings and had no impact on cash flows. See Note 3, Leases, for more information.

New Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820), with several subsequent amendments, which eliminates certain disclosure requirements for fair value measurements and requires new or modified disclosures. ASU 2018-13 is effective for the Company beginning January 1, 2020. Certain changes are applied retrospectively to each period presented and others are to be applied either in the period of adoption or prospectively. The Company believes the amendments of ASU 2018-13 will not have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other (Topic 350), which simplifies the subsequent measurement of goodwill by eliminating step two from the goodwill impairment test. ASU 2017-04 is effective for annual and interim impairment tests beginning January 1, 2020 for the Company and is required to be adopted using a prospective approach. Early adoption is allowed for annual goodwill impairment tests performed on testing dates after January 1, 2017.