GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS

3 Months Ended

Mar. 29, 2020

Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]

Goodwill

The following table reflects changes in the carrying amount of goodwill during the period by reportable segments:



(in thousands)		PeopleReady			PeopleManagement			PeopleScout			Total company
Balance at	December 29, 2019
Goodwill before impairment		106,304			81,092			145,181			332,577
Accumulated impairment loss		(46,210		)	(33,700		)	(15,169		)	(95,079		)
Goodwill, net		60,094			47,392			130,012			237,498

Impairment loss		—			(45,901		)	(94,588		)	(140,489		)
Foreign currency translation		—			—			(3,719		)	(3,719		)

Balance at	March 29, 2020
Goodwill before impairment		106,304			81,092			141,462			328,858
Accumulated impairment loss		(46,210		)	(79,601		)	(109,757		)	(235,568		)
Goodwill, net		$	60,094		$	1,491		$	31,705		$	93,290

Intangible assets

Finite-lived intangible assets

The following table presents our purchased finite-lived intangible assets:



	March 29, 2020							December 29, 2019
(in thousands)	Gross carrying amount		Accumulated amortization			Net carrying amount		Gross carrying amount		Accumulated amortization			Net carrying amount
Finite-lived intangible assets (1):
Client relationships (2)	$	98,181	$	(71,073	)	$	27,108	$	149,299	$	(83,317	)	$	65,982
Trade names/trademarks	1,939		(467		)	1,472		2,052		(441		)	1,611
Technologies	600		(550		)	50		600		(520		)	80
Total finite-lived intangible assets	$	100,720	$	(72,090	)	$	28,630	$	151,951	$	(84,278	)	$	67,673


(1)	Excludes assets that are fully amortized.


(2)	Balance at March 29, 2020 is net of impairment loss of $34.7 million recorded in the thirteen weeks ended March 29, 2020.

Amortization expense of our finite-lived intangible assets was $4.0 million and $5.1 million for the thirteen weeks ended March 29, 2020 and March 31, 2019, respectively.

Indefinite-lived intangible assets

We also held indefinite-lived trade names/trademarks of $6.0 million as of March 29, 2020 and December 29, 2019.

Impairments

Goodwill

We evaluate goodwill for impairment on an annual basis as of the first day of our fiscal second quarter, and whenever events or circumstances make it more likely than not that an impairment may have occurred. These events or circumstances could include a significant change in the business climate, operating performance indicators, competition, client engagement, legal factors, or sale or disposition of a significant portion of a reporting unit. We monitor the existence of potential impairment indicators throughout the fiscal year. During the first quarter of 2020, the following events made it more likely than not that an impairment had occurred and accordingly, we performed an interim impairment test as of the last day of our fiscal first quarter.

We experienced a significant decline in our stock price during the first quarter of 2020. As a result of the decline in stock price, our market capitalization fell significantly below the recorded value of our consolidated net assets. The reduced market capitalization reflected the expected continued weakness in pricing and demand for our staffing services in a volatile economic climate. This was further impacted in March 2020 by the COVID-19 pandemic which created a sudden economic shock both globally and domestically. The response in the United States and Canada has generally been to require that the populous remain at home unless they are working in an “essential” role as defined by state governments. We are continuing to support our clients during this period of time, many of whom are essential businesses, but volumes have declined substantially. Most industries we serve have been impacted by a significant decrease in demand for their products and services, and as a result, demand for our services has decreased. We expect significant decreases to our revenues and corresponding operating results as we experience continued weakness in pricing and demand for our services during this severe economic downturn. While we expect to see demand recover in the future, our expectation is that the rate of recovery will vary by geography and industry depending on the economic impact caused by COVID-19 and the rate at which infections decline to a contained level.

Determining the fair value of a reporting unit is judgmental in nature and involves the use of significant estimates and assumptions to evaluate the impact of operating and macroeconomic changes on each reporting unit. The fair value of each reporting unit was estimated using a combination of a discounted cash flow methodology and the market valuation approach using publicly traded company multiples in similar businesses. This analysis requires significant judgments, including estimation of future cash flows, which is dependent on internally developed forecasts, estimation of the long-term rate of growth for our business, estimation of the useful life over which cash flows will occur, and determination of our weighted average cost of capital, which is risk-adjusted to reflect the specific risk profile of the reporting unit being tested. The weighted average cost of capital used in our most recent impairment test was risk-adjusted to reflect the specific risk profile of the reporting units and ranged from 11.5% to 12.0%. The combined fair values for all reporting units were then reconciled to our aggregate market value of our shares of common stock on the date of valuation, while considering a reasonable control premium. As a result of this impairment test, we concluded that the carrying amounts of goodwill for PeopleScout RPO, PeopleScout MSP and PeopleManagement On-Site reporting units exceeded their implied fair values and we recorded a non-cash impairment loss of $140.5 million, which was included in goodwill and intangible asset impairment charge on our Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the thirteen weeks ended March 29, 2020. The total goodwill carrying value of $45.9 million for PeopleManagement On-site reporting unit was fully impaired. The goodwill impairment charge for PeopleScout RPO and PeopleScout MSP was $92.2 million and $2.4 million, respectively, leaving a remaining goodwill balance of $22.0 million and $9.7 million, respectively as of March 29, 2020. Should actual results decline further or longer than we have currently estimated, the remaining goodwill balances may be further impaired. We will continue to closely monitor the operational performance of these reporting units as it relates to goodwill impairment.

Finite-lived intangible assets

We generally record acquired intangible assets that have finite useful lives, such as client relationships, in connection with business combinations. We review intangible assets that have finite useful lives and other long-lived assets whenever an event or change in circumstances indicates that the carrying value of the asset may not be recoverable. Factors considered important that could result in an impairment review include, but are not limited to, significant underperformance relative to historical or planned operating results or significant changes in business strategies. We estimate the recoverability of these assets by comparing the carrying amount of the asset to the future undiscounted cash flows that we expect the asset to generate. An impairment loss is recognized when the estimated undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the use of the asset plus net proceeds expected from disposition of the asset (if any) are less than the carrying value of the asset. When an impairment loss is recognized, the carrying amount of the asset is reduced to its estimated fair value based on discounted cash flow analysis or other valuation techniques. With the decrease in demand for our services due to the economic impact caused by the response to COVID-19, we lowered our future expectations, which was the primary trigger of an impairment to our acquired client relationships intangible assets for our PeopleScout RPO and PeopleManagement On-Site reporting units of $34.7 million, which was included in goodwill and intangible asset impairment charge on our Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the

thirteen weeks ended March 29, 2020. The impairment charge for PeopleScout RPO and PeopleManagement On-site reporting units was $25.0 million and $9.7 million, respectively, leaving a remaining client relationship balance of $6.2 million and $8.5 million, respectively as of March 29, 2020. Considerable management judgment was necessary to determine key assumptions, including projected revenue of acquired clients and an appropriate discount rate of 12.0%. Should actual results decline further or longer than we have currently estimated, the remaining goodwill balances may be further impaired.

Indefinite-lived intangible assets

We have indefinite-lived intangible assets related to our Staff Management and PeopleScout trade names. We test our trade names annually for impairment, and when indicators of potential impairment exist. We utilize the relief from royalty method to determine the fair value of each of our trade names. If the carrying value exceeds the fair value, we recognize an impairment loss in an amount equal to the excess, not to exceed the carrying value. Management uses considerable judgment to determine key assumptions, including projected revenue, royalty rates and appropriate discount rates.

We performed an interim impairment test of our indefinite-lived intangible assets as of the last day of our first fiscal quarter for 2020 and determined that the estimated fair values exceeded the carrying amounts for our indefinite-lived trade names. Accordingly, no impairment loss was recognized for the thirteen weeks ended March 29, 2020.