2021 annual goodwill impairment analyses – In completing the 2021 annual impairment analysis of goodwill as of July 31, 2021, we elected to perform qualitative analyses for all of our reporting units. These qualitative analyses evaluated factors, including, but not limited to, economic, market and industry conditions, cost factors and the overall financial performance of the reporting units. We also considered the most recent quantitative analyses completed in prior periods. In completing these assessments, we noted no changes in events or circumstances that indicated that it was more likely than not that the fair value of any reporting unit was less than its carrying amount. As such, no goodwill impairment charges were recorded as a result of our annual impairment analysis.

Second quarter 2021 realignment of reporting units – As a result of changes in our financial management reporting process during the second quarter of 2021, we concluded that a realignment of our reporting units was required. These changes did not require a revision to our reportable business segments. We analyzed goodwill for impairment immediately prior to this realignment by performing qualitative analyses for the reporting units with goodwill. The qualitative analyses evaluated factors, including, but not limited to, economic, market and industry conditions, cost factors and the overall financial performance of the reporting units. We also considered the last quantitative analyses we completed. In completing these assessments, we noted no changes in events or circumstances that indicated that it was more likely than not that the fair value of any reporting unit was less than its carrying amount.

The realignment of our reporting units, effective April 1, 2021, did not change the reporting units within our Cloud Solutions or Checks segments. Within our Payments segment, the number of reporting units increased from 1 to 4, and within our Promotional Solutions segment, the number of reporting units increased from 1 to 2. Upon completing the realignment, we reallocated the carrying value of goodwill to our new reporting units based on their relative fair values. Immediately subsequent to the realignment, we completed qualitative analyses for the reporting units that changed and to which goodwill was assigned. We determined that it was appropriate to perform qualitative assessments, given that our analysis indicated that the change in reporting units did not mask or prevent an impairment that existed at the time of the change. In completing the qualitative assessments, we noted no changes in events or circumstances that indicated that it was more likely than not that the fair value of any reporting unit was less than its carrying amount. As such, no goodwill impairment charges were recorded as a result of these analyses.

2020 annual goodwill impairment analyses – In completing the 2020 annual impairment analysis of goodwill as of July 31, 2020, we elected to perform qualitative analyses for 2 of our reporting units: Payments and Checks. These qualitative analyses evaluated factors, including, but not limited to, economic, market and industry conditions, cost factors and the overall financial performance of the reporting units. We also considered the most recent quantitative analyses we completed, which indicated that the estimated fair values of these reporting units exceeded their carrying values by approximately $490,000 and $954,000, or by 189% and 180% above the carrying values of their net assets. In completing these assessments, we noted no changes in events or circumstances that indicated that it was more likely than not that the fair value of either reporting unit was less than its carrying amount.

We elected to perform quantitative analyses for our other 2 reporting units: Cloud Data Analytics and Promotional Solutions. These quantitative analyses indicated that the estimated fair values of these reporting units exceeded their carrying values by approximately $100,000 and $210,000, or by 63% and 132% above the carrying values of their net assets. As such, no goodwill impairment charges were recorded as a result of our annual impairment analysis.

First quarter 2020 goodwill impairment analyses – Effective January 1, 2020, we reorganized our reportable business segments to align with structural and management reporting changes in support of our growth strategy. As a result, we reassessed our previously determined reporting units and concluded that a realignment of our reporting units was required. We analyzed goodwill for impairment immediately prior to this realignment by performing qualitative analyses for the reporting units that changed, with the exception of our Direct-to-Consumer reporting unit, which is now part of our Checks reportable business segment. The qualitative analyses evaluated factors, including, but not limited to, economic, market and industry conditions, cost factors and the overall financial performance of the reporting units. We also considered the last quantitative analyses we completed. In completing these assessments, we noted no changes in events or circumstances that indicated that it was more likely than not that the fair value of any reporting unit was less than its carrying amount. The quantitative analysis of our Direct-to-Consumer reporting unit indicated that its fair value exceeded its carrying value by approximately $35,000, or 26%, as of January 1, 2020.

In completing the realignment of our reporting units, we reallocated the carrying value of goodwill to our new reporting units based on their relative fair values. Immediately subsequent to the realignment, we completed quantitative analyses for the reporting units that changed as a result of the realignment. These quantitative analyses, as of January 1, 2020, indicated that the estimated fair values of our reporting units exceeded their carrying values by approximate amounts between $37,000 and $954,000, or by amounts between 121% and 189% above the carrying values of their net assets.

In March 2020, the World Health Organization classified the COVID-19 outbreak as a pandemic. Following the pandemic designation, we observed a decline in the market value of our common shares and we determined that the global response to the pandemic negatively impacted our estimates of expected future cash flows. After our consideration of economic, market and industry conditions, cost factors, the overall financial performance of our reporting units and the last quantitative analyses we completed, we concluded that a triggering event had occurred for 2 of our reporting units. As such, we completed quantitative goodwill impairment analyses for our Promotional Solutions and Cloud Solutions Web Hosting reporting units as of March 31, 2020. Our analyses indicated that the goodwill of our Promotional Solutions reporting unit was partially impaired and the goodwill of our Cloud Solutions Web Hosting reporting unit was fully impaired. We recorded goodwill impairment charges of $67,132 and $4,317, respectively, during the quarter ended March 31, 2020. The impairment charges were measured as the amount by which the reporting units' carrying values exceeded their estimated fair values, limited to the carrying amount of goodwill. After the impairment charges, $59,009 of goodwill remained in the Promotional Solutions reporting unit as of the measurement date.

2019 annual goodwill impairment analyses – In completing the 2019 annual impairment analysis of goodwill as of July 31, 2019, we elected to perform a qualitative analysis for 4 of our former reporting units and a quantitative assessment for 2 of our former reporting units: Financial Services Data-Driven Marketing and Small Business Services Web Services. Financial Services Data-Driven Marketing included our businesses that provide outsourced marketing campaign targeting and execution and marketing analytics solutions. Small Business Services Web Services included our businesses that provide web hosting and domain name services, logo and web design, payroll services, email marketing, search engine marketing and optimization, and business incorporation and organization services.

The qualitative analyses evaluated factors, including, but not limited to, economic, market and industry conditions, cost factors and the overall financial performance of the reporting units. We also considered the quantitative analyses completed as of July 31, 2017, which indicated that the estimated fair values of the 4 reporting units exceeded their carrying values by approximate amounts between $64,000 and $1,405,000, or by amounts between 50% and 314% above the carrying values of their net assets. In completing these assessments, we noted no changes in events or circumstances that indicated that it was more likely than not that the fair value of any reporting unit was less than its carrying amount.

The quantitative analyses as of July 31, 2019 indicated that the goodwill of our Financial Services Data-Driven Marketing reporting unit was partially impaired and the goodwill of our Small Business Services Web Services reporting unit was fully impaired. As such, we recorded goodwill impairment charges of $145,584 and $242,267, respectively, during the quarter ended September 30, 2019. Both impairment charges resulted from a combination of triggering events and circumstances, including underperformance against 2019 expectations and the original acquisition business case assumptions, driven substantially by our decision in the third quarter of 2019 to exit certain customer contracts, the loss of certain large customers in the third quarter of 2019 as they elected to in-source some of the services we provide, and the sustained decline in our stock price. The impairment charges were measured as the amount by which the reporting units' carrying values exceeded their estimated fair values, limited to the carrying amount of goodwill. After the impairment charges, $40,804 of goodwill remained in the Financial Services Data-Driven Marketing reporting unit.

We evaluate the recoverability of property, plant, equipment and amortizable intangibles not held for sale whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that an asset group's carrying amount may not be recoverable. Our policy on impairment of long-lived assets and amortizable intangibles, which is included in Note 1, explains our methodology for assessing impairment of these assets. Assets held for sale are recorded at the lower of their carrying value or estimated fair value less costs to sell.

2020 impairment analyses – As a result of the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, we assessed for impairment certain long-lived assets of our Cloud Solutions Web Hosting reporting unit as of March 31, 2020. As a result of these assessments, we recorded asset impairment charges of $17,678 related to customer list, software and trade name intangible assets. With the exception of certain internal-use software assets, we determined that the assets were fully impaired. We utilized the discounted value of estimated future cash flows to estimate the fair value of the asset group. In our analysis, we assumed a revenue decline of 31% and a gross margin decline of 5.2 points for 2020, as well as a discount rate of 9%.

During the first quarter of 2020, we assessed for impairment the carrying value of an asset group related to a small business distributor that we previously purchased. Our assessment was the result of customer attrition during the quarter that impacted our projections of future cash flows. Based on our estimate of future cash flows, we determined that the asset group was partially impaired as of February 29, 2020, and we recorded an asset impairment charge of $2,752, reducing the carrying value of the related customer list intangible asset. During the third quarter of 2020, as customer attrition continued, we again assessed this asset group for impairment and recorded an additional asset impairment charge of $2,356, bringing the total impairment charge to $5,108 in 2020. In calculating the estimated fair value of the asset group as of September 30, 2020, we assumed no revenue growth, a 1.0 point improvement in gross margin and a discount rate of 11%.

Also during 2020, we recorded asset impairment charges of $7,514 related primarily to the rationalization of our real estate footprint, as well as internal-use software held for sale as of December 31, 2019. These assets were written down to their estimated fair values less costs to sell. The sale of the related real estate assets was completed during the quarter ended September 30, 2020 and the sale of the internal-use software was completed on December 31, 2020.

2019 impairment analyses – As of July 31, 2019, due to certain triggering events, we assessed for impairment the long-lived assets of our former Financial Services Data-Driven Marketing and Small Business Services Web Services reporting units. As a result of the same factors that resulted in the goodwill impairment charge, we recorded asset impairment charges of $31,316 related to certain trade name, customer list and technology-based intangible assets in the Small Business Services Web Services reporting unit. We concluded that the long-lived assets of our Financial Services Data-Driven Marketing reporting unit were not impaired. During the quarter ended September 30, 2019, we also recorded an asset impairment charge of $1,923 related to an additional customer list intangible asset. Due to a change in the related forecasted cash flows associated with the asset, we determined that it was fully impaired as of July 31, 2019. We utilized the discounted value of estimated future cash flows to estimate the fair values of these asset groups (level 3 fair value measurements).


			Fair value measurements using
	Fair value as of measurement date		Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets		Significant other observable inputs		Significant unobservable inputs		Impairment charge
(in thousands)			(Level 1)		(Level 2)		(Level 3)
2020 analyses:
Intangible assets (Cloud Solutions Web Hosting reporting unit)(1)	$	2,172	$	—	$	—	$	2,172	$	17,678
Small business distributor	4,479		—		—		4,479		5,108
Other assets	11,210		—		—		11,210		7,514
Goodwill									71,449
Total									$	101,749
2019 analyses:
Intangible assets (Small Business Services Web Services)(2)	$	8,379	$	—	$	—	$	8,379	$	31,316
Customer list	—		—		—		—		1,923
Goodwill									387,851
Total									$	421,090

For all acquisitions, we are required to measure the fair value of the net identifiable tangible and intangible assets and liabilities acquired. Information regarding our acquisitions can be found in Note 6 and information regarding the useful lives of acquired intangibles can be found in Note 3. The identifiable net assets acquired during 2021 and 2019 were comprised primarily of intangible assets, accounts receivable and operating lease assets and liabilities. The fair value of the customer relationship intangibles acquired during 2021, as well as the partner relationship intangibles, was estimated using the multi-period excess earnings method. This valuation model estimates revenues and cash flows derived from the asset and then deducts portions of the cash flow that can be attributed to supporting assets, such as a trade name or fixed assets, that contributed to the generation of the cash flows. The resulting cash flow, which is attributable solely to the customer relationship or partner relationship asset, is then discounted at a rate of return commensurate with the risk of the asset to calculate a present value. The fair values of the customer relationship intangibles acquired during 2019 were estimated by discounting the estimated cash flows expected to be generated by the assets. Key assumptions used in all these calculations included same-customer revenue, merchant and partner growth rates; estimated earnings; estimated customer and partner retention rates, based on the acquirees' historical information; and the discount rate.

The estimated fair values of the acquired trade names and technology-based intangibles were estimated using the relief from royalty method, which calculates the cost savings associated with owning rather than licensing the assets. Assumed royalty rates were applied to projected revenue for the estimated remaining useful lives of the assets to estimate the royalty savings. Royalty rates are selected based on the attributes of the asset, including its recognition and reputation in the industry, and in the case of trade names, with consideration of the specific profitability of the products sold under a trade name and supporting assets.

The estimated fair value of the acquired accounts receivable approximated the gross contractual amounts receivable and we expect to collect all acquired receivables. The fair value of the acquired operating lease liabilities was estimated as if the leases were new. As such, we reassessed the lease term, the discount rate and the lease payments. The fair value of the related operating lease assets was measured at the same amount as the lease liability, adjusted to reflect favorable or unfavorable terms of the leases as compared to market terms.

Funds held for customers included available-for-sale debt securities (Note 3). These securities included a mutual fund investment that invests in Canadian and provincial government securities and an investment in a Canadian guaranteed investment certificate (GIC) with a maturity of 2 years. As of December 31, 2020, our debt securities also included a money market fund that was traded in an active market. The mutual fund investment is not traded in an active market and its fair value is determined by obtaining quoted prices in active markets for the underlying securities held by the fund. The cost of the GIC approximates its fair value, based on estimates using current market rates offered for deposits with similar remaining maturities.The cost of the money market fund approximated its fair value because of the short-term nature of the investment. Unrealized gains and losses, net of tax, are included in accumulated other comprehensive loss on the consolidated balance sheets. The cost of securities sold is determined using the average cost method. Realized gains and losses are included in revenue on the consolidated statements of income (loss) and were not significant during the past 3 years.


						Fair value measurements using
	Balance sheet location	December 31, 2021				Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1)		Significant other observable inputs (Level 2)		Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3)
(in thousands)		Carrying value		Fair value
Measured at fair value through comprehensive income (loss):
Available-for-sale debt securities	Funds held for customers	$	13,307	$	13,307	$	—	$	13,307	$	—
Derivative liability (Note 7)	Other non-current liabilities	(3,028)		(3,028)		—		(3,028)		—
Amortized cost:
Cash	Cash and cash equivalents	41,231		41,231		41,231		—		—
Cash	Funds held for customers	241,488		241,488		241,488		—		—
Loans and notes receivable from distributors	Other current and non-current assets	21,518		22,344		—		—		22,344
Long-term debt(1)	Current portion of long-term debt and long-term debt	1,682,949		1,728,515		—		1,728,515		—