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Acquisitions
9 Months Ended
Jun. 28, 2020
Business Combinations [Abstract]  
Acquisitions Acquisitions
In the second quarter of fiscal 2020, we acquired Segue Technologies, Inc. ("SEG"), a leading information technology management consulting firm based in Arlington, Virginia. SEG is part of our Government Services Group ("GSG") segment. The fair value of the purchase price was $40.8 million. This amount was comprised of $30.0 million in initial cash payments made to the sellers, $0.5 million of receivables related to estimated post-closing adjustments for net assets acquired, and $11.3 million for the estimated fair value of contingent earn-out obligations, with a maximum of $20.0 million, based upon the achievement of specified operating income targets in each of the three years following the acquisition.

In the second quarter of fiscal 2019, we acquired eGlobalTech ("EGT"), a high-end information technology solutions, cloud migration, cybersecurity, and management consulting firm based in Arlington, Virginia. EGT is part of our GSG segment. The fair value of the purchase price was $49.1 million. This amount was comprised of a $24.7 million promissory note issued to the sellers (which was subsequently paid in full in the third quarter of fiscal 2019), $3.3 million of payables related to estimated post-closing adjustments for net assets acquired, and $21.1 million for the estimated fair value of contingent earn-out obligations, with a maximum of $25.0 million, based upon the achievement of specified operating income targets in each of the three years following the acquisition.

In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2019, we acquired WYG plc (“WYG”), which employs approximately 1,600 staff primarily in the United Kingdom and Europe, delivering consulting and engineering solutions for complex projects across key service areas including planning, water and environment, transport, infrastructure, the built environment, architecture, urban design, surveying, asset management, program management, and international development. WYG’s United Kingdom based consulting and engineering business is part of our CIG segment, while its international development business is part of our GSG segment. The fair value of the purchase price was $54.2 million, entirely paid in cash. In addition, we assumed a net debt of $11.5 million, which was subsequently paid in full in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2019. We also incurred $10.4 million in acquisition and transaction costs related to the WYG acquisition in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2019.

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 2019 acquisitions represent the value of a workforce with emerging technology and new techniques that incorporate artificial
intelligence, data analytics and advanced cybersecurity solutions for government and commercial clients, and expanding our geographic presence in the United Kingdom with a strong platform for growth in the United Kingdom and Europe. The fiscal 2020 goodwill addition represents the value of a workforce with distinct expertise in the high-end information technology field, in the areas of data analytics, modeling and simulation, cloud, and agile software development. 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 our consolidated financial statements from their respective closing dates. These acquisitions 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 one to ten years, and trade names with lives ranging from three to five years. For detailed information regarding our intangible assets, see Note 5, “Goodwill and Intangible Assets”.

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 each quarter during the first nine months of fiscal 2020, we evaluated our estimates for contingent consideration liabilities for the remaining earn-out periods for each individual acquisition, which included a review of their financial results to-date, the status of ongoing projects in their RUPOs, and the inventory of prospective new contract awards. In addition, we considered the potential impact of the global economic disruption due to the COVID-19 pandemic on our operating income projections over the various earn-out periods. As a result, we had a net reduction of $1.5 million in our contingent earn-out liabilities as of June 28, 2020 and a net gain of $1.5 million in our operating income for the first nine months of fiscal 2020 (substantially all in the second quarter). These adjustments were immaterial for the first nine months of fiscal 2019.

        At June 28, 2020, there was a total potential maximum of $65.9 million of outstanding contingent consideration related to acquisitions. Of this amount, $41.1 million was estimated as the fair value and accrued on our consolidated balance sheet. If the global economic disruption due to the COVID-19 pandemic is prolonged, we could have more significant reductions in our contingent earn-out liabilities and related gains in operating income in future periods.