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Acquisitions
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2016
Business Combinations [Abstract]  
ACQUISITIONS
ACQUISITIONS

The Company accounts for business acquisitions in accordance with the acquisition method of accounting as prescribed by FASB ASC Topic 805, Business Combinations. The acquisition method of accounting requires the Company to record the net assets and liabilities acquired based on their estimated fair values as of the acquisition date, with any excess of the consideration transferred over the estimated fair value of the net assets acquired, including identifiable intangible assets, to be recorded to goodwill. Under the acquisition method, the operating results of acquired companies are included in the Company's consolidated financial statements beginning on the date of acquisition.

The Company completed the following business acquisitions during the years ended December 31:

2016

On November 9, 2016, the Company acquired 100% of the outstanding capital stock of Machina Research Limited ("Machina"), a privately-held firm based in London with 16 employees. The Company paid approximately $4.5 million in cash at close. Machina provides clients with subscription-based research that provides strategic insight and market intelligence in areas such as IOT ("Internet of things").

On June 28, 2016, the Company acquired 100% of the outstanding capital stock of Newco 5CL Limited (which operates under the trade name "SCM World"), a privately-held firm based in London with 60 employees, for $34.2 million in cash paid at close. SCM World is a leading cross-industry peer network and learning community providing subscription-based research and conferences for supply chain executives. Net of cash acquired with the business and for cash flow reporting purposes, the Company paid approximately $27.9 million in cash for SCM World. The acquisition of SCM World also included an earn-out provision. The fair value of the earn-out was recorded on the acquisition date as part of the cost of the acquisition. The earn-out liability was subsequently adjusted to fair value with a charge to expense at September 30, 2016. At December 31, 2016, the Company determined the final amount of the earn-out and adjusted the liability with an additional charge to expense. In total, the Company recognized $6.5 million in expense related to the earn-out in 2016. The Company expects to pay the earn-out in cash in early 2017. In addition to the earn-out, the Company may also be required to pay up to an additional $5.4 million in cash in the future that is contingent on the achievement of certain employment conditions by several key employees (who are also former shareholders) of SCM World, which is being recognized as an expense over the related service period of two-years and is being reported in Acquisition and Integration Charges in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

The Company recorded $32.4 million of goodwill and $5.9 million of amortizable intangible assets for these two acquisitions and an immaterial amount of other assets on a net basis. The operating results and the related goodwill are being reported as part of the Company's Research and Events segments and goodwill resulting from these acquisitions will not be deductible for tax purposes. The Company considers the allocation of the purchase price to be preliminary with respect to the completion of certain tax contingencies. The Company believes the recorded goodwill is supported by the anticipated revenue synergies resulting from the acquisitions. The Company's financial statements include the operating results of the acquired businesses beginning from their respective acquisition dates, which were not material to either the Company's consolidated operating results or segment results for 2016. Had the Company acquired these businesses in prior periods, the impact to the Company's operating results for prior periods would not have been material, and as a result pro forma financial information for prior periods has not been presented.

The Company also recorded an additional $1.9 million of goodwill in 2016 related to its prior year acquisition of Capterra, Inc. The goodwill increase resulted from certain measurement period adjustments as well as payments related to the settlement of working capital provisions.

2015

The Company acquired 100% of the outstanding shares of Nubera eBusiness S.L., and Capterra, Inc., during 2015. Each of these businesses assist clients with selecting business software. The aggregate purchase price was $206.9 million in cash, which included $25.6 million placed in escrow which the Company expects to pay in late 2017. Net of cash acquired with the businesses and for cash flow reporting purposes the Company paid $196.2 million in cash in 2015. The Company may also be required to pay up to an additional $32.0 million in cash in the future subject to the continuing employment of certain key employees. The $32.0 million is being recognized as compensation expense over three years and is being reported in Acquisition and Integration Charges in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. The Company recorded $79.6 million and $138.1 million of amortizable intangible assets and goodwill, respectively, and $10.8 million in liabilities on a net basis for these acquisitions.

2014


The Company acquired 
100% of the outstanding shares of three companies in 2014: Software Advice, Inc., Market-Visio Oy, and SircleIT Inc. Software Advice, Inc. assists clients with software purchases, while Market-Visio Oy was previously an independent sales agent of Gartner research products. SircleIT Inc. is a developer of cloud-based knowledge automation software. The aggregate purchase price of these businesses was $115.4 million in cash. Net of cash acquired with the businesses and for cash flow reporting purposes the Company paid $109.9 million. The Company also placed an additional $14.4 million in escrow, of which $0.8 million was paid in 2015. The Company recorded $110.3 million of goodwill and other intangible assets and $5.1 million of other assets on a net basis for these acquisitions. The Company also paid an additional $31.9 million in cash related to the continuing employment of certain key employees which was recognized as compensation expense over the two-year service period of the employees and was classified in Acquisition and Integration Charges in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. The Company paid $9.2 million of the $31.9 million in 2015 and $22.7 million in 2016, of which $13.6 million was paid from escrow.