Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Goodwill and Long-Lived Assets (Notes)

v2.4.0.8
Goodwill and Long-Lived Assets (Notes)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2013
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]  
Goodwill and Long-Lived Assets
Goodwill and Other Long-Lived Assets
 
Acquisition of TQI

On March 4, 2013, the Company entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement ("Agreement") with all of the shareholders of TQI to acquire 100% of the outstanding stock. Pursuant to the terms of the Agreement and concurrently with the execution of the Agreement, the Company acquired all of the outstanding capital stock of TQI in exchange for $45,328 in net cash, $20,113 in assumed debt and an available earn-out of up to $5,000. The assumed debt was immediately paid in full after funding of the acquisition. The acquisition and settlement of the assumed debt were funded using the Company's cash on hand. Under the purchase agreement, $4,500 of the purchase price was paid into an escrow account to protect the Company against potential unknown liabilities. The amount held in escrow will be remitted to the sellers on September 4, 2014.

Pursuant to the terms of the Agreement, the Company could pay the former shareholders of TQI additional cash consideration from $0 to $5,000 if certain earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization ("EBITDA") goals are exceeded. The ultimate payout is based on the level by which TQI operating results exceed specified thresholds as defined by the Agreement in both 2013 and 2014. At the time of acquisition the Company recognized an estimated earn-out liability of $615. The fair value of the earn-out liability (level 3) was estimated using an income approach based on the present value of probability-weighted amounts payable under a range of performance scenarios for 2013 and 2014 and a discount rate of 10.9%. However, based on the most probable outcomes the estimated earn-out liability was reduced to $0 and recognized as a gain in our results from operations during the fourth quarter of 2013. If TQI's 2014 EBITDA performance does exceed the goals established by the Agreement, the final value of the liability could be significantly higher than the liability the Company has currently recorded.

The Company incurred total transaction costs related to the acquisition of approximately $943, which was expensed during the year ended December 31, 2013, in accordance with U.S. GAAP. These transaction costs were primarily included in "Other operating expenses" expense in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income.

The acquisition allows the Company to expand and diversify its complimentary truckload operations while maintaining its goal of offering high-value added services.     

The following table presents the allocation of the TQI purchase price to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on their estimated fair values and resulting residual goodwill (in thousands):
    

March 4, 2013
Tangible assets:


Accounts receivable
$5,639
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
1,093

Property and equipment
5,103

Other assets
728

Deferred income taxes
947

Total tangible assets
13,510

Intangible assets:


Non-compete agreements
470

Trade name
1,000

Customer relationships
22,300

Goodwill
45,164

Total intangible assets
68,934

Total assets acquired
82,444



Liabilities assumed:

Current liabilities
4,725

Other liabilities
1,735

Debt
20,113

Deferred income taxes
10,543

Total liabilities assumed
37,116

Net assets acquired
$45,328


The acquired non-compete agreements and trade names are being amortized on straight-line basis over a 5 year life. Customer relationships acquired are being amortized on straight-line basis over a 15 year life.
    
The fair value of the non-compete agreements, trade name and customer relationship assets were estimated using an income approach (level 3). Under this method, an intangible asset's fair value is equal to the present value of the incremental after-tax cash flows (excess earnings) attributable solely to the intangible asset over its remaining useful life. To calculate fair value, the Company used cash flows discounted at rates considered appropriate given the inherent risks associated with each type of asset. The Company believes that the level and timing of cash flows appropriately reflect market participant assumptions. The fair value of the TQI trade name was estimated using an income approach, specifically known as the relief from royalty method. The relief from royalty method is based on a hypothetical royalty stream that would be paid if the Company did not own the TQI name and had to license the trade name. The Company derived the hypothetical royalty income from the projected revenues of TQI. Cash flows were assumed to extend through the remaining economic useful life of each class of intangible asset.

Included in the assumed liabilities of TQI is a liability for unrecognized tax benefits for $1,120. The liability is attributable to TQI not filing income tax returns in all jurisdictions in which it operated. The $1,120 consists of unrecognized tax benefits of $853 and related penalties and interest of $174 and $93, respectively. In accordance with the Agreement, the former shareholders of TQI have indemnified the Company against this tax exposure. As a result, the Company also recognized an offsetting receivable net of the estimated federal tax benefit for $728.

The assets, liabilities, and operating results of TQI have been included in the Company's consolidated financial statements from the date of acquisition and have been assigned to a new TQI reportable segment. The results of TQI reflected in the Company's consolidated statements of comprehensive income are as follows (in thousands, except per share data):


March 4, 2013 to December 31, 2013
Logistics revenue
$
41,842

Operating income
3,600

Net income
1,961

Net income per share

Basic
$
0.07

Diluted
$
0.06


The following unaudited pro forma information presents a summary of the Company's consolidated results of operations as if the TQI acquisition occurred as of January 1, 2012 (in thousands, except per share data).

Year ended

December 31,
2013
 
December 31,
2012
Operating revenue
$
661,025

 
$
641,943

Income from operations
84,664

 
87,774

Net income
54,660

 
55,277

Net income per share

 

Basic
$
1.81

 
$
1.91

Diluted
$
1.78

 
$
1.87



Goodwill

The following is a summary of the changes in goodwill for the year ended December 31, 2013. All goodwill, except the goodwill assigned to TQI, is deductible for tax purposes.


Forward Air

FASI

TQI

Total


Accumulated


Accumulated


Accumulated



Goodwill
Impairment

Goodwill
Impairment

Goodwill
Impairment

Net
Beginning balance, December 31, 2012
$
37,926

$


$
12,359

$
(6,953
)

$

$


$
43,332

TQI acquisition






45,164



45,164

Ending balance, December 31, 2013
$
37,926

$


$
12,359

$
(6,953
)

$
45,164

$


$
88,496



The Company conducted its annual impairment assessments and tests of goodwill for each reporting unit as of June 30, 2013 and no impairment charges were required. The Company conducts an annual (or more frequently if circumstances indicate possible impairment) impairment test of goodwill for each reporting unit at June 30 of each year. The first step of the goodwill impairment test is the Company assesses qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than the reporting unit's carrying amount, including goodwill. When performing the qualitative assessment, the Company considers the impact of factors including, but not limited to, macroeconomic and industry conditions, overall financial performance of each reporting unit, litigation and new legislation. If based on the qualitative assessments, the Company believes it more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than the reporting unit's carrying amount, or periodically as deemed appropriate by management, the Company will prepare an estimation of the respective reporting unit's fair value utilizing a quantitative approach. If a quantitative fair value estimation is required, the Company calculates the fair value of the applicable reportable units, using a combination of discounted projected cash flows and market valuations for comparable companies as of the valuation date. The Company's inputs into the fair value calculations for goodwill are classified within level 3 of the fair value hierarchy as defined in the FASB Accounting Standards Codification and the Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“the FASB Codification”). If this estimation of fair value indicates that impairment potentially exists, the Company will then measure the amount of the impairment, if any. Goodwill impairment exists when the calculated implied fair value of goodwill is less than its carrying value. Changes in strategy or market conditions could significantly impact these fair value estimates and require adjustments to recorded asset balances.

Through acquisitions between 2005 and 2013, including TQI, the Company acquired customer relationships, non-compete agreements and trade names of $68,650, $2,250 and $1,000, respectively, having weighted-average useful lives of 12.6, 5.4 and 5.0 years, respectively.  Amortization expense on acquired customer relationships, non-compete agreements and trade names for each of the three years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 was $5,762, $4,566 and $4,591, respectively.

The estimated amortization expense for the next five years on definite-lived intangible assets as of December 31, 2013 is as follows:


2014

2015

2016

2017

2018
Customer relationships
$
5,554


$
4,747


$
4,216


$
4,101


$
2,596

Non-compete agreements
114


114


114


106


16

Trade name
200


200


200


200


33

Total
$
5,868


$
5,061


$
4,530


$
4,407


$
2,645



Additionally, the Company reviews its long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. Impairment is recognized on assets classified as held and used when the sum of undiscounted estimated cash flows expected to result from the use of the asset is less than the carrying value. If such measurement indicates a possible impairment, the estimated fair value of the asset is compared to its net book value to measure the impairment charge, if any.