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Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2019
Notes to Financial Statements |
Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block] |
2. |  | Summary of significant accounting policies
The preparation of consolidated financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. The most significant estimates are related to the judgments used to determine the timing and amount of revenue recognition, recoverability of goodwill and intangible assets, determination of fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in business combinations, estimated fair value of contingent consideration related to acquisitions, quantification of uncertain tax positions, recoverability of deferred income tax assets and the collectability of accounts receivable. Actual results could be materially different from these estimates. Significant accounting policies are summarized as follows: Principles of consolidation The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company, its majority-owned subsidiaries and those variable interest entities where the Company is the primary beneficiary. Where the Company does not have a controlling interest but has the ability to exert significant influence, the equity method is used. Inter-company transactions and accounts are eliminated on consolidation. When applying the principles of consolidation, the Company begins by determining whether an investee is a variable interest entity (“VIE”) or a voting interest entity (“VOE”). Assessing whether an entity is a VIE or a VOE involves judgment and analysis. Factors considered in this assessment include the entity’s legal organization, the entity’s capital structure and equity ownership, and any related party or de facto agent implications of the Company’s involvement with the entity. VOEs are embodied by common and traditional corporate and certain partnership structures. For VOEs, the interest holder with control through majority ownership and majority voting rights consolidates the entity. For VIEs, identification of the primary beneficiary determines the accounting treatment. In evaluating whether the Company is the primary beneficiary, it evaluates its direct and indirect economic interests in the entity. A reporting entity is determined to be the primary beneficiary if it holds a controlling financial interest in the VIE. Determining which reporting entity, if any, has a controlling financial interest in a VIE is primarily a qualitative approach focused on identifying which reporting entity has both ( 1 ) the power to direct the activities of a VIE that most significantly impact such entity’s economic performance and ( 2 ) the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits from such entity that could potentially be significant to such entity. The primary beneficiary analysis is performed at the inception of the Company’s investment and upon the occurrence of a reconsideration event. When the Company determines it is the primary beneficiary of a VIE, it consolidates the VIE; when it is determined that the Company is not the primary beneficiary of the VIE, the investment in the VIE is accounted for at fair value or under the equity method, based upon an election made at the time of investment. Cash and cash equivalents Cash equivalents consist of short-term interest-bearing securities, which are readily convertible into cash and have original maturities at the date of purchase of three months or less. Fixed assets Fixed assets are carried at cost less accumulated depreciation. The costs of additions and improvements are capitalized, while maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred. Fixed assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or circumstances indicate that the carrying value of an asset group may not be recoverable. An impairment loss is recorded to the extent the carrying amount exceeds the estimated fair value of an asset group. Fixed assets are depreciated over their estimated useful lives as follows:
Buildings |  | 20 to 40 years straight-line
Vehicles |  | 3 to 5 years straight-line
Furniture and equipment |  | 3 to 10 years straight-line
Computer equipment and software |  | 3 to 5 years straight-line
Leasehold improvements |  | term of the lease to a maximum of 10 years
Investments Equity method investments For equity investments where it does not control the investee, and where it is not the primary beneficiary of a VIE, but can exert significant influence over the financial and operating policies of the investee the Company utilizes the equity method of accounting. The evaluation of whether the Company exerts control or significant influence over the financial and operation policies of the investees requires significant judgement based on the facts and circumstances surrounding each individual investment. Factors considered in these evaluations may include the type of investment, the legal structure of the investee, any influence the Company may have on the governing board of the investee. The Company’s equity method investees that are investment companies record their underlying investments at fair value. Therefore, under the equity method of accounting, the Company’s share of the investee’s underlying net income predominantly represents fair value adjustments in the investments held by the equity method investees. The Company’s share of the investee’s underlying net income or loss is based upon the most currently available information, which may precede the date of the consolidated statement of financial condition and is realized in other (income) expense. Distributions received reduce the Company’s carrying value of the investee. Investments in equity securities Investments in equity securities are generally carried at fair value on the consolidated balance. When the fair value is not readily available due to a lack of market price, the Company assesses the investment to determine whether (i) to measure the investment at cost, less impairment and plus or minus observable price changes for identical or similar investments or (ii) whether it qualifies for the net asset value practical expedient which permits using the net asset value to determine the fair value of the investment. The election to account for investments under option (i) or (ii) above is determined upon entering into the investment. Dividends received and changes to the fair value of investments are recorded through other (income) expense. Investments in debt securities The Company classifies debt investments as available-for-sale, held-to-maturity or trading based on the Company’s intent to sell the security or, its intent and ability to hold the debt security to maturity. Held-to-maturity debt securities are purchased with the positive intent and ability to be held to maturity and are recorded at amortized cost on the consolidated balance sheets. Available-for-sale securities are those securities that are not classified as trading or held-to-maturity. Unrealized losses related to available-for-sale securities are reported, net of the related tax effect, to other comprehensive income. Upon sale, realized gains and losses are reported to other (income) expense. Trading securities are carried at fair value on the consolidated balance sheets with changes in the fair value recorded in other (income) expense. Impairment of investments Investments are regularly reviewed for impairment based on both quantitative and qualitative criteria that include the extent to which cost exceeds fair value and the duration of the market decline, the Company’s intent and ability to hold until forecasted recovery, and the financial health and near term prospects for the issuer. Other-than-temporary impairment losses on equity securities are recorded in other (income) expense. Financial instruments and derivatives Derivative financial instruments are recorded on the consolidated balance sheets as other assets or other liabilities and carried at fair value. From time to time, the Company may use interest rate swaps to hedge a portion of its interest rate exposure on long-term debt. Hedge accounting is applied and swaps are carried at fair value on the consolidated balance sheets, with gains or losses recognized in interest expense. The carrying value of the hedged item is adjusted for changes in fair value attributable to the hedged interest rate risk; the associated gain or loss is recognized currently in earnings and the unrealized gain or loss is recognized in other comprehensive income. If swaps are terminated and the underlying item is not, the resulting gain or loss is deferred and recognized over the remaining life of the underlying item using the effective interest method. In addition, the Company may enter into short-term foreign exchange contracts to lower its cost of borrowing, to which hedge accounting is not applied. Fair value The Company uses the fair value measurements framework for financial assets and liabilities and for non-financial assets and liabilities that are recognized or disclosed at fair value on a non-recurring basis. The framework defines fair value, gives guidance for measurement and disclosure, and establishes a three -level hierarchy for observable and unobservable inputs used to measure fair value. An asset or liability’s classification within the hierarchy is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The three levels are as follows: Level 1 – Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities Level 2 – Observable market-based inputs other than quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities Level 3 – Unobservable inputs for which there is little or no market data, which requires the Company to develop its own assumptions Financing fees Financing fees related to the Revolving Credit Facility are recorded as an asset and amortized to interest expense using the effective interest method. Financing fees related to the Senior Notes are recorded as a reduction of the debt amount and are amortized to interest expense using the effective interest method. Goodwill and intangible assets Goodwill represents the excess of purchase price over the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a business combination and is not subject to amortization. Intangible assets are recorded at fair value on the date they are acquired. Indefinite life intangible assets are not subject to amortization. Where lives are finite, they are amortized over their estimated useful lives as follows:
Customer lists and relationships |  | straight-line over 4 to 20 years
Investment management contracts |  | straight-line over 5 to 15 years
Trademarks and trade names |  | straight-line over 2 to 10 years
Management contracts and other |  | straight-line over life of contract ranging from 2 to 10 years
Customer backlog |  | as underlying backlog transactions are completed
The Company reviews the carrying value of finite life intangible assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset group may not be recoverable from the estimated future cash flows expected to result from their use and eventual disposition. If the sum of the undiscounted expected future cash flows is less than the carrying amount of the asset group, an impairment loss is recognized. Measurement of the impairment loss is based on the excess of the carrying amount of the asset group over the fair value calculated using discounted expected future cash flows. Goodwill and indefinite life intangible assets are tested for impairment annually, on August 1, or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate the asset might be impaired, in which case the carrying amount of the asset is written down to fair value. Impairment of goodwill is tested at the reporting unit level. The Company has four distinct reporting units. Impairment is tested by first assessing qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. Where it is determined to be more likely than not that its fair value is greater than its carrying amount, then no further testing is required. Where the qualitative analysis is not sufficient to support that the fair value exceeds the carrying amount then a two -step goodwill impairment test is performed. In the first step, the reporting unit’s carrying amount, including goodwill, is compared to the estimated fair value of the reporting unit. The fair values of the reporting units are estimated using a discounted cash flow approach. The fair value measurement is classified within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy. If the carrying amount of the reporting unit exceeds its fair value, then a second step is performed to measure the amount of impairment loss, if any. Certain assumptions are used to determine the fair value of the reporting units, the most sensitive of which are estimated future cash flows and the discount rate applied to future cash flows. Changes in these assumptions could result in a materially different fair value. Impairment of indefinite life intangible assets is tested by comparing the carrying amount to the estimated fair value on an individual intangible asset basis. Redeemable non-controlling interests Redeemable non-controlling interests (“RNCI”) are recorded at the greater of (i) the redemption amount or (ii) the amount initially recorded as RNCI at the date of inception of the minority equity position. This amount is recorded in the “mezzanine” section of the balance sheet, outside of shareholders’ equity. Changes in the RNCI amount are recognized immediately as they occur. Revenue The Company generates revenue from contracts with customers through its provision of commercial real estate services. These services consist of sales brokerage and lease brokerage operations, outsourcing and advisory services and investment management services. (a) Real estate brokerage operations Brokerage revenue includes commissions from sales brokerage and lease brokerage services. Sales brokerage services include purchases and sales, debt placement, equity capital raising, market value opinions, acquisition advisory and transaction management. The Company provides these services with respect to substantially all types of commercial real estate. Lease brokerage includes landlord and tenant representation services. Landlord representation provides real estate owners with services to strategically position properties and to secure appropriate tenants. Tenant representation focuses on assisting businesses to assess their occupancy requirements and evaluating and negotiating leases and lease renewals. (b) Outsourcing and advisory services Outsourcing and advisory services consist of project management, property management as well as valuation and advisory services. Project management services include design and construction management, move management and workplace solutions consulting. Project management engagements range from single project contracts with a duration of less than one year to multi-year contracts with multiple discrete projects. Property management provides real estate service solutions to real estate owners. In addition to providing on-site management and staffing, the Company provides support through centralized resources such as technical and environmental services, accounting, marketing and human resources. These various services may be provided through the Company’s employees or through contracts with third party providers. Consistent with industry custom, management contract terms typically range from one to three years, although most contracts are terminable at any time following a notice period, usually 30 to 120 days. Valuation and advisory services consist of helping customers determine market values for various types of real estate properties. Such services may involve appraisals of single properties or portfolios of properties which may span multiple property types and geographic locations. These appraisals may be utilized for a variety of customer needs including acquisitions, dispositions, financing or for tax purposes. In addition to valuation services, the Company provides consulting services to assist customers with specialized real estate needs. (c) Investment management services Investment management revenues include consideration for services in the form of asset management advisory and administration fees, transaction fees and incentive fees (carried interest). The performance obligation is to manage client’s invested capital for a specified period of time and is delivered over time. Revenue recognition and unearned revenues Revenue is recognized upon transfer of control of promised products or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration the Company expects to receive in exchange for those products or services. The Company enters into contracts that can include various combinations of services, which are capable of being distinct and accounted for as separate performance obligations. Revenue is recognized net of any taxes collected from customers, which are subsequently remitted to governmental authorities.
| (a) | Nature of services
The Company has determined that control of sales brokerage services rendered transfer to a customer when a sale and purchase agreement becomes unconditional and lease brokerage services rendered transfer to a customer when a lease between the landlord and the tenant is executed. At these points in time the customer has received substantially all of the benefit of the services provided by the Company. The transaction price is typically associated with the underlying asset involved in the transaction, most commonly a percentage of the sales price or the aggregate rental payments over the term of the lease which are generally known when revenue is recognized. Outsourcing and advisory services including those provided in relation to property management and project management transfer to the customer over time as the services are performed and revenue from providing these services is recognized in the accounting period in which the services are rendered. For fixed-price contracts, revenue is recognized based upon the actual labor hours spent relative to the total expected labor hours or the project costs incurred relative to the total project costs. For some projects certain obligations that are representative of the work completed may be used as an alternative to recognize revenue. The use of labor hours or overall project costs is dependent upon the input that best represents the progress of the work completed in relation to the specific contract. If a contract includes an hourly fee, revenue is recognized in the amount to which the Company has a right to invoice. For other advisory services, including valuation and appraisal review, the customer is unable to benefit from the services until the work is substantially complete, revenue is recognized upon delivery of materials to the customer because this faithfully represents when the service has been rendered. For most fixed fee consulting assignments, revenue is recognized based upon the actual service provided to the end of the reporting period as a proportion of the total services to be provided and customers are invoiced on a monthly basis and consideration is payable when invoiced. Investment management advisory and administration fees are recognized as the services are performed over time and are primarily based on agreed-upon percentages of assets under management or committed capital. Revenue recognition for transactional performance obligations are recognized at a point in time when the performance obligation has been met. The Company receives investment management advisory incentive fees (carried interest) from certain investment funds. These incentive fees are dependent upon exceeding specified performance thresholds on a relative or absolute basis, depending on the product. Incentive fees are recognized when it is determined that significant reversal is considered no longer probable (such as upon the sale of a fund’s investment or when the amount of assets under management becomes known as of the end of the specified measurement period). Pursuant to the terms of the Harrison Street acquisition, incentive fees related to assets that were invested prior to the acquisition date by its former owners are allocated to certain employees and former owners; as such the full amount of these incentive fees is passed through as compensation expense and recognized as cost of revenues in the consolidated statement of earnings.
| (b) | Significant judgments
The Company’s contracts with customers may include promises to transfer multiple products and services. Determining whether products and services are considered distinct performance obligations that should be accounted for separately versus together may require significant judgment. Where a contract contains multiple performance obligations judgment is used to assess whether they are distinct and accounted for separately or not distinct and are accounted for and recognized together. Brokerage commission arrangement may include terms that result in variability to the transaction price and ultimate revenues earned beyond the underlying value of the transaction, these may include rebates and/or contingencies. The Company estimates variable consideration or performs a constraint analysis for these contracts on the basis of historical information to estimate the amount the Company will ultimately be entitled to. Generally, revenue is constrained when it is probable that the Company may not be entitled to the total amount of the revenue as associated with the occurrence or non-occurrence of an event that is outside of the Company’s control or where the facts and circumstances of the arrangement limit the Company’s ability to predict whether this event will occur. When revenue is constrained, this revenue is not recognized until the uncertainty has been resolved. Outsourcing and advisory arrangements may include incentives tied to achieving certain performance targets. The Company estimates variable consideration or performs a constraint analysis for these contracts on the basis of circumstances specific to the project and historical information in order to estimate the amount the Company will ultimately be entitled to. Estimates of revenue, costs or extent of progress toward completion are revised if circumstances change. Any resulting increases or decreases in estimated revenues or costs are reflected in profit or loss in the period in which the circumstances that give rise to the revision become known by management. In providing project management or property management services, the Company may engage subcontractors to provide on-site staffing or to provide specialized technical services, materials and/or installation services. These arrangements are assessed and require judgment to determine whether the Company is a principal or an agent of the customer. When the Company acts as a principal, because it is primarily responsible for the delivery of the completed project and controls the services provided by the subcontractors, these amounts are accounted for as revenue on a gross basis. However, when the Company acts as an agent, because it does not control the services prior to delivery to the customer, these costs are accounted for on a net basis. In some cases, the Company may facilitate collection from the customer and payments to subcontractors or may facilitate collection from tenants for payment to the landlord. In these instances, balances are recorded as accounts receivable and accounts payable until settled. Investment management fee arrangements are unique to each contract and evaluated on an individual basis to determine the timing of revenue recognition and significant judgment is involved in making such determination. At each reporting period, the Company considers various factors in estimating revenue to be recognized. Incentive fees have a broad range of possible amounts and the determination of these amounts is based upon the market value for managed assets which is highly susceptible to factors outside of the Company’s influence. As a result, incentive fee revenue is generally constrained until significant reversal is considered no longer probable. Certain constrained brokerage fees, outsourcing and advisory fees and investment management fees may arise from services that began in a prior reporting period. Consequently, a portion of the fees the Company recognizes in the current period may be partially related to the services performed in prior periods. In particular, substantially all investment management incentive fees recognized in the period were previously constrained. Contract balances Timing of revenue recognition may differ from the timing of invoicing to customers. The Company invoices the customer and records a receivable when it has a right to payment within customary payment terms or it recognizes a contract asset if revenue is recognized prior to when payment is due. Contract liabilities consist of payments received in advance of recognizing revenue. These liabilities consist primarily of payments received for outsourcing and advisory engagements where a component of the revenue may be paid by the customer prior to the benefits of the services transferring to the customer. As a practical expedient, the Company does not adjust the promised amount of consideration for the effect of a significant financing component when it is expected, at contract inception, that the period between transfer of the service and when the customer pays for that service will be one year or less. The Company does not typically include extended payment terms in its contracts with customers. The Company generally does not incur upfront costs to obtain or fulfill contracts that are capitalizable to contract assets and if capitalizable they would be amortized to expense within one year or less of incurring the expense; consequently, the Company applies the practical expedient to recognize these incremental costs as an expense when incurred. Any costs to obtain or fulfill contracts that exceed one year are capitalized to contract assets and amortized over the term of the contract on a method consistent with the transfer of services to the customer and the contracts revenue recognition. Payment terms and conditions vary by contract type, although terms generally include a requirement of payment within 30 to 90 days. With the exceptions of sales brokerage and lease brokerage, the Company does not expect to have any contracts where the period between the transfer of services to the customer and the payment by the customer exceeds one year. With regard to sales brokerage and lease brokerage, arrangements may exist where the service is transferred but payment is not received for a period greater than one year. However, arrangements of this nature do not contain a significant financing component because the amount and timing varies on the basis of the occurrence or non-occurrence of an event that is outside the control of the Company or the customer. As a consequence, the Company does not adjust the transaction prices for the time value of money. Contract liabilities represent advance payments associated with the Company’s performance obligations that have not yet been satisfied. The majority of the balances are expected to be recognized to revenue or disbursed on behalf of the client within a year. Remaining performance obligations Remaining performance obligations represent the aggregate transaction prices for contracts where the Company’s performance obligations have not yet been satisfied. The Company applies the practical expedient related to remaining performance obligations that are part of a contract that has an original expected duration of one year or less and the practical expedient related to variable consideration from remaining performance obligations. Stock-based compensation For equity classified awards, compensation cost is measured at the grant date based on the estimated fair value of the award adjusted for expected forfeitures. The related stock option compensation expense is allocated using the graded attribution method. Long-term incentive plans Under these plans, certain subsidiary employees are compensated if the earnings before interest, income tax and amortization of the subsidiary increases. Awards under these plans generally have a term of up to ten years, a vesting period of five to ten years and are settled in cash at the end of the term. If an award is subject to a vesting condition, then the graded attribution method is applied to the fair value or intrinsic value of the award. The related compensation expense is recorded in selling, general and administrative expenses and the liability is recorded in accrued compensation. Foreign currency translation Assets, liabilities and operations of foreign subsidiaries are recorded based on the functional currency of each entity. For certain foreign operations, the functional currency is the local currency, in which case the assets, liabilities and operations are translated at current exchange rates from the local currency to the reporting currency, the US dollar. The resulting unrealized gains or losses are reported as a component of accumulated other comprehensive earnings. Realized and unrealized foreign currency gains or losses related to any foreign dollar denominated monetary assets and liabilities are included in net earnings. Income tax Income tax has been provided using the asset and liability method whereby deferred income tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the expected future income tax consequences of events that have been recognized in the consolidated financial statements or income tax returns. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted income tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which temporary differences are expected to reverse, be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred income tax assets and liabilities of a change in income tax rates is recognized in earnings in the period in which the change occurs. A valuation allowance is recorded unless it is more likely than not that realization of a deferred income tax asset will occur based on available evidence. The Company recognizes uncertainty in tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return by recording a liability for unrecognized tax benefits on its balance sheet. Uncertainties are quantified by applying a prescribed recognition threshold and measurement attribute. The Company classifies interest and penalties associated with income tax positions in income tax expense. Leases The Company is (i) a lessee in relation to premises and equipment and (ii) acts as a lessor in relation to certain premises that it owns or leases from third parties.
| (a) | As a lessee
The Company recognizes an operating lease right-of-use (“ROU”) asset and a lease liability on the consolidated balance sheet at the lease commencement date. Operating lease ROU assets represent the Company’s right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent the obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. Operating lease ROU assets and liabilities are recognized at commencement date based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term adjusted for lease pre-payments and lease incentives. After the commencement date any modifications to the leasing arrangement are assessed and the ROU asset and lease liability are remeasured to recognize modifications to the lease term or fixed payments. As most of the Company’s leases do not provide an implicit rate, the incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at commencement date is used to determine the present value of lease payments. The Company uses the implicit rate when readily determinable. The lease terms may include options to extend or terminate the lease when it is reasonably certain that the Company will exercise that option. Operating leases ROU assets are amortized to selling, general and administrative expenses (“SG&A”) straight-line over the lease term. Finance leases are included in fixed assets and long-term debt on the consolidated balance sheet. Finance lease assets are depreciated using the straight-line method from the commencement date to the earlier of the end of the useful life of the right-of-use asset or the end of lease term. Variable lease payments and variable payments related to non-lease components are recorded to SG&A as incurred. Variable lease payments include amounts related to changes in payments associated with changes in an index or rate but which are not also associated with a remeasurement of the lease liability. The Company has operating lease agreements with lease and non-lease components, and the Company has elected to apply the practical expedient to not separate lease and nonlease components and therefore the ROU assets and lease liabilities include payments related to services included in the lease agreement. Additionally, for certain leases the Company has elected to group leases that commence at the same time and where accounting does not materially differ from accounting for the leases individually as a portfolio of leases. The Company has elected not to recognize ROU assets and lease liabilities for leases that have a term of twelve months or less. Similarly, the Company will be applying the practical expedient to not recognize assets or liabilities related to a business combination when the acquired lease has a remaining term of twelve months or less at the acquisition date. The payments associated with these leases are recorded to SG&A on a straight-line basis over the remaining lease term.
| (b) | As a lessor
When the Company acts as a lessor, it determines at lease inception whether each lease is a finance lease or an operating lease. To classify each lease the Company makes an overall assessment of whether the lease transfers substantially all of the risks and rewards incidental to ownership of the underlying asset. If this is the case, then the lease is a finance lease; if not, then it is an operating lease. All of the Company’s lessor arrangements are classified as operating leases. When the Company is a sublessor, it accounts for its interests in the head lease and the sublease separately. It assesses the lessor classification of a sublease with reference to the underlying asset rather than with reference to the right-of-use asset. The Company recognizes lease payments received under operating leases as income on a straight-line basis over the lease term as other revenue. Pension plan The Company’s defined benefit pension plan obligation is remeasured annually as of December 31 based on the present value of projected future benefit payments for all participants for services rendered. The benefit obligation and related funded status are determined using assumptions as of the end of each year. The expected return on plan assets is based on historical and projected rates of return for assets in the investment plan portfolio. The actual return is based on the fair value of plan assets. The projected benefit obligation is discounted using the market interest rate as at the measurement date. Pension expense for the pension plan includes the cost of pension benefits earned during the current year, the interest cost on pension obligations, the expected return on pension plan assets, and other costs. Actuarial gains and losses related to the change in the over-funded or under-funded status of the pension plan are recognized in other comprehensive income. Business combinations All business combinations are accounted for using the acquisition method of accounting. Transaction costs are expensed as incurred. The fair value of the contingent consideration is classified as a financial liability and is recorded on the balance sheet at the acquisition date and is re-measured at fair value at the end of each period until the end of the contingency period, with fair value adjustments recognized in earnings. However, if the contingent consideration includes an element of compensation to the vendors (i.e. it is tied to continuing employment or it is not linked to the business valuation), then the portion of contingent consideration related to such element is treated as compensation expense over the expected employment period.

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