Acquisitions and Divestitures

In the fiscal 2016, we acquired control of Coffey International Limited ("Coffey"), headquartered in Sydney, Australia. Coffey had approximately 3,300 staff delivering technical and engineering solutions in international development and geoscience. Coffey significantly expands our geographic presence, particularly in Australia and Asia-Pacific. Coffey's international development operations are included in our GSG segment and the remainder of Coffey's activities are included in our CIG segment. In addition to Australia, Coffey's international development business has operations supporting federal government agencies in the U.S., Australia and the United Kingdom. The fair value of the purchase price for Coffey was $76.1 million, in addition to $65.1 million of assumed debt, which consisted of secured bank term debt of $37.1 million and unsecured corporate bond obligations of $28.0 million. All of this debt was paid in full in the second quarter of fiscal 2016 subsequent to the acquisition.

In fiscal 2016, we also acquired INDUS Corporation ("INDUS"), headquartered in Vienna, Virginia. INDUS is an information technology solutions firm focused on water data analytics, geospatial analysis, secure infrastructure, and software applications management for U.S. federal government customers, and is included in our GSG segment. The fair value of the purchase price for INDUS was $18.7 million. Of this amount, $14.0 million was paid to the sellers and $4.7 million was the estimated fair value of contingent earn-out obligations, with a maximum of $8.0 million, based upon the achievement of specified operating income targets in each of the two years following the acquisition.

In fiscal 2017, we completed the acquisition of Eco Logical Australia (“ELA”), headquartered in Sydney, Australia. ELA is a multi-disciplinary consulting firm with over 160 staff that provides innovative, high-end environmental and ecological services, and is part of our CIG segment. The fair value of the purchase price for ELA was $9.9 million. Of this amount, $8.3 million was paid to the sellers and $1.6 million was the estimated fair value of contingent earn-out obligations, with a maximum of $1.7 million, based upon the achievement of specified operating income targets in each of the two years following the acquisition.

In the first quarter of fiscal 2018, we acquired Glumac, headquartered in Portland, Oregon. Glumac is a leader in sustainable infrastructure design with more than 300 employees and is part of our GSG segment. The fair value of the purchase price for Glumac was $38.4 million. This amount is comprised of $20.0 million of initial cash payments made to the sellers and $18.4 million for the estimated fair value of contingent earn-out obligations, with a maximum of $20.0 million payable, based upon the achievement of specified operating income targets in each of the three years following the acquisition.

In the second quarter of fiscal 2018, we completed the acquisition of Norman Disney & Young (“NDY”), a leader in sustainable infrastructure engineering design. NDY is an Australian-based global engineering design firm with more than 700 professionals operating in offices throughout Australia, the Asia-Pacific region, the United Kingdom, and Canada and is part of our CIG segment. The fair value of the purchase price for NDY was $56.1 million. This amount is comprised of $46.9 million of initial cash payments made to the sellers, $1.6 million held in escrow, and $7.6 million for the estimated fair value of contingent earn-out obligations, with a maximum amount of $20.2 million, based upon the achievement of specified operating income targets in each of the three years following the acquisition.

In the third quarter of fiscal 2018, we divested our non-core utility field services operations in the CIG reportable segment for net proceeds after transaction costs of $30.2 million. This operation generated approximately $70 million in annual revenue primarily from our U.S. commercial clients. We also divested of other non-core assets during the third quarter of fiscal 2018 further described in Note 7, "Property and Equipment". These non-core divestitures resulted in a pre-tax loss of $3.4 million, which is included in selling, general and administrative expenses for fiscal 2018.

Goodwill additions resulting from the above business combinations are primarily attributable to the existing workforce of the acquired companies and the synergies expected to arise after the acquisitions. The goodwill additions related to our fiscal 2018 acquisitions primarily represent the value of a workforce with distinct expertise in the sustainable infrastructure design market. The goodwill additions related to the fiscal 2017 acquisitions primarily represent the value of workforces with distinct expertise in the environmental and ecological markets. In addition, these acquired capabilities, when combined with our existing global consulting and engineering business, result in opportunities that allow us to provide services under contracts that could not have been pursued individually by either us or the acquired companies. The results of these acquisitions were included in the consolidated financial statements from their respective closing dates. These acquisitions and divestitures were not considered material to our consolidated financial statements. As a result, no pro forma information has been provided.

Backlog, client relations and trade name intangible assets include the fair value of existing contracts and the underlying customer relationships with lives ranging from 1 to 10 years, and trade names with lives ranging from 3 to 5 years.

Most of our acquisition agreements include contingent earn-out agreements, which are generally based on the achievement of future operating income thresholds. The contingent earn-out arrangements are based on our valuations of the acquired companies, and reduce the risk of overpaying for acquisitions if the projected financial results are not achieved. The fair values of any earn-out arrangements are included as part of the purchase price of the acquired companies on their respective acquisition dates. For each transaction, we estimate the fair value of contingent earn-out payments as part of the initial purchase price and record the estimated fair value of contingent consideration as a liability in "Current contingent earn-out liabilities" and "Long-term contingent earn-out liabilities" on the consolidated balance sheets. We consider several factors when determining that contingent earn-out liabilities are part of the purchase price, including the following: (1) the valuation of our acquisitions is not supported solely by the initial consideration paid, and the contingent earn-out formula is a critical and material component of the valuation approach to determining the purchase price; and (2) the former owners of acquired companies that remain as key employees receive compensation other than contingent earn-out payments at a reasonable level compared with the compensation of our other key employees. The contingent earn-out payments are not affected by employment termination.

We measure our contingent earn-out liabilities at fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs classified within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy. We use a probability-weighted discounted income approach as a valuation technique to convert future estimated cash flows to a single present value amount. The significant unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurements are operating income projections over the earn-out period (generally two or three years), and the probability outcome percentages we assign to each scenario. Significant increases or decreases to either of these inputs in isolation would result in a significantly higher or lower liability, with a higher liability capped by the contractual maximum of the contingent earn-out obligation. Ultimately, the liability will be equivalent to the amount paid, and the difference between the fair value estimate and amount paid will be recorded in earnings. The amount paid that is less than or equal to the contingent earn-out liability on the acquisition date is reflected as cash used in financing activities in our consolidated statements of cash flows. Any amount paid in excess of the contingent earn-out liability on the acquisition date is reflected as cash used in operating activities in our consolidated statements of cash flows.

We review and re-assess the estimated fair value of contingent consideration on a quarterly basis, and the updated fair value could differ materially from the initial estimates. Changes in the estimated fair value of our contingent earn-out liabilities related to the time component of the present value calculation are reported in interest expense. Adjustments to the estimated fair value related to changes in all other unobservable inputs are reported in operating income. In fiscal 2018, we recorded adjustments to our contingent earn-out liabilities and reported related losses in operating income of $4.3 million. These losses resulted from updated valuations of the contingent consideration liabilities for NDY, ELA and Cornerstone Environmental Group ("CEG"). These valuations included our updated projections of NDY's, ELA's, and CEG's financial performance during the earn-out periods, which exceeded our original estimates at the acquisition dates. In addition, in fiscal 2018 we recognized a charge of $1.5 million that related to the earn-out for Glumac but was treated as compensation in selling, general and administrative expenses due to the terms of the arrangement, which included an on-going service requirement for a portion of the earn-out.

During fiscal 2017, we recorded adjustments to our contingent earn-out liabilities and reported related net gains in operating income totaling $6.9 million. These gains resulted from updated valuations of the contingent consideration liabilities for INDUS and CEG. During fiscal 2016, we increased our contingent earn-out liabilities and reported related losses in operating income of $2.8 million. These losses include a $1.8 million charge that reflected our updated valuation of the contingent consideration liability for CEG. The remaining $1.0 million loss represented the final cash settlement of an earn-out liability that was valued at $0 at the end of fiscal 2015.

The acquisition agreement for INDUS included a contingent earn-out agreement based on the achievement of operating income thresholds in each of the first two years beginning on the acquisition date, which was in the second quarter of fiscal 2016. The maximum earn-out obligation over the two-year earn-out period was $8.0 million ($4.0 million in each year). These amounts could be earned on a pro-rata basis starting at 50% of the earn-out maximum for operating income within a predetermined range in each year. INDUS was required to meet a minimum operating income threshold in each year to earn any contingent consideration. These minimum thresholds were $3.2 million and $3.6 million in years one and two, respectively. In order to earn the maximum contingent consideration, INDUS needed to generate operating income of $3.6 million in year one and $4.0 million in year two.

The determination of the fair value of the purchase price for INDUS on the acquisition date included our estimate of the fair value of the related contingent earn-out obligation. The initial valuation was primarily based on probability-weighted internal estimates of INDUS’ operating income during each earn-out period. As a result of these estimates, we calculated an initial fair value at the acquisition date of INDUS’ contingent earn-out liability of $4.7 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2016. This amount had increased to $4.9 million at the end of fiscal 2016 due to the passage of time for the present value calculation. In determining that INDUS would earn 59% of the maximum potential earn-out, we considered several factors including INDUS’ recent historical revenue and operating income levels and growth rates. We also considered the recent trend in INDUS’ backlog level.

INDUS’ actual financial performance in the first earn-out period was below our original expectation at the acquisition date. As a result, in the second quarter of fiscal 2017, we evaluated our estimate of INDUS’ contingent consideration liability for both earn-out periods. This assessment included a review of INDUS’ financial results in the first earn-out period, the status of ongoing projects in INDUS’ backlog, and the inventory of prospective new contract awards. As a result of this assessment, we concluded that INDUS’ operating income in both the first and second earn-out periods would be lower than the minimum requirements of $3.2 million and $3.6 million, respectively, to earn any contingent consideration. Accordingly, in the second quarter of fiscal 2017, we reduced the INDUS contingent earn-out liability to $0, which resulted in a gain of $5.0 million.

During the second quarter of fiscal 2017, when we determined that INDUS’ operating income would be lower than our previous estimates, including our original estimates at the acquisition dates, we also evaluated the related goodwill for potential impairment. We determined that the related reporting units’ long-term performance was not materially impacted and there was no resulting goodwill impairment.

At September 30, 2018, there was a total maximum of $50.6 million of outstanding contingent consideration related to acquisitions. Of this amount, $35.3 million was estimated as the fair value and accrued on our consolidated balance sheet.

The following table summarizes the changes in the carrying value of estimated contingent earn-out liabilities:



	Fiscal Year Ended
	September 30, 2018			October 1, 2017			October 2, 2016
	(in thousands)
Beginning balance (at fair value)	$	2,438		$	8,757		$	4,169
Estimated earn-out liabilities for acquisitions during the fiscal year	32,210			1,604			4,745
Increases due to re-measurement of fair value reported in interest expense	1,005			260			271
Net increase (decrease) due to re-measurement of fair value reported as losses (gains) in operating income	4,252			(6,923		)	2,823
Foreign exchange impact	(854		)	59			—
Earn-out payments:
Reported as cash used in operating activities	(2,349		)	—			—
Reported as cash used in financing activities	(1,412		)	(1,319		)	(3,251		)
Ending balance (at fair value)	$	35,290		$	2,438		$	8,757