DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Description of Business

TriNet Group, Inc. (TriNet, or the Company, we, our and us), a professional employer organization (PEO) founded in 1988, provides comprehensive human resources (HR) solutions for small to midsize businesses (SMBs) under a co-employment model. These HR solutions include bundled services, such as multi-state payroll processing and tax administration, employee benefits programs, including health insurance and retirement plans, workers' compensation insurance and claims management, employment and benefit law compliance, and other services. Through the co-employment relationship, we are the employer of record for most administrative and regulatory purposes, including:


•	compensation through wages and salaries,


•	employer payroll-related tax payments,


•	employee payroll-related tax withholdings and payments,


•	employee benefit programs including health and life insurance, and others, and


•	workers' compensation coverage.

Our clients are responsible for the day-to-day job responsibilities of the worksite employees (WSEs).

We operate in one reportable segment. All of our service revenues are generated from external clients. Less than 1% of our revenue is generated outside of the U.S.

Basis of Presentation

These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements (Financial Statements) and accompanying notes have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP) for interim financial reporting and the instructions to Form 10-Q and Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X of the Rules and Regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Certain information and note disclosures included in our annual financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. In the opinion of management, the condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments, that are normal and recurring in nature, necessary for fair financial statement presentation. The results of operations for the three and the six months ended June 30, 2018 are not necessarily indicative of the operating results anticipated for the full year. These Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with the audited Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II, Item 8 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 (2017 Form 10-K).

Reclassifications

Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to current period presentation. These reclassifications include short-term restricted cash, cash equivalents and investments previously classified as WSE-related assets and now presented within restricted cash, cash equivalents and investments. Refer to the accounting policy below for a description of amounts currently included in restricted cash, cash equivalents, and investments.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect certain reported amounts and related disclosures. Significant estimates include:


•	liability for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses (loss reserves) related to workers' compensation and workers' compensation collateral receivable,


•	health insurance loss reserves,


•	liability for insurance premiums payable,


•	impairments of goodwill and other intangible assets,


•	income tax assets and liabilities, and


•	liability for legal contingencies.

These estimates are based on historical experience and on various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable from the facts available to us. Some of the assumptions are highly uncertain at the time of estimation. To the extent actual experience differs from the assumptions used, our consolidated financial statements could be materially affected.

Revenue Recognition

On January 1, 2018, we adopted Accounting Standards Codification Topic 606 (ASC Topic 606) using the modified retrospective method applied to those contracts which were not completed as of January 1, 2018. Results for reporting periods beginning after January 1, 2018 are presented under ASC Topic 606, while the comparative prior period amounts are not restated and continue to be reported in accordance with statements previously accounted for under Accounting Standards Codification Topic 605.

Upon adoption of ASC Topic 606, we recorded a $1 million cumulative effect adjustment to opening retained earnings as of January 1, 2018. Impacts from adoption of the new standard on our revenue recognition include:


•	Our annual service contracts with our clients that are cancellable with 30 days' notice are initially considered 30-day contracts under the new standard;


•	Professional service revenues are recognized on an output basis which results in recognition at the time payroll is processed;


•	Our non-refundable set up fees are no longer deferred but accounted for as part of our transaction price and are allocated among professional service revenues and insurance services revenues; and


•	The majority of sales commissions related to onboarding new clients that were previously expensed are capitalized as contract assets and amortized over the estimated customer life.

Revenues are recognized when control of the promised services are transferred to our clients, in an amount that reflects the consideration that we expect to receive in exchange for services. We generate all of our revenue from contracts with customers. We disaggregate revenues into professional services revenues and insurance services revenues as reported on the condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income. Generally, both the client and the Company may terminate the contract without penalty by providing a 30-day notice.

Performance Obligations

At contract inception, we assess the services promised in our contracts with customers and identify a performance obligation for each distinct promise to transfer to the customer a service or bundle of services. We determined that the following distinct services represent separate performance obligations:


•	Payroll and payroll tax processing,


•	Health benefits services, and


•	Workers’ compensation services.

Payroll and payroll tax processing performance obligations include services to process payroll and payroll tax-related transactions on behalf of our clients. Revenues associated with this performance obligation are reported as professional service revenues and recognized using an output method in which the control of the promised services is considered transferred when a client's payroll is processed by us and its WSEs are paid. Professional service revenues are stated net of the gross payroll and payroll tax amounts funded by our clients. Although we assume the responsibilities to process and remit the payroll and payroll related obligations, we do not assume employment-related responsibilities such as determining the amount of the payroll and related payroll obligations. As a result, we are the agent in this arrangement for revenue recognition purposes.

Health benefits and workers' compensation services include performance obligations to provide TriNet-sponsored health benefits and workers' compensation insurance coverage through insurance policies provided by third-party insurance carriers and settle high deductible amounts on those policies. Revenues associated with these performance obligations are reported as insurance services revenues and are recognized using the output method over the period of time that the client and WSEs are covered under TriNet-sponsored insurance policies.

We control the selection of health benefits and workers' compensation coverage made available, insurance services revenues are reported gross as we are the principal in this arrangement for revenue recognition purposes. See Item 8 Note 1 in our 2017 Form 10-K for further discussion on our accounting policy for insurance costs.

We generally charge new customers a nominal upfront non-refundable fee to recover our costs to set up the client on our TriNet platform for payroll processing and other administrative services, such as benefit enrollments. These fees are accounted for as part of our transaction price and are allocated among the performance obligations based on their relative standalone selling price.

Variable Consideration and Pricing Allocation

Our contracts with customers generally do not include any variable consideration. However, from time to time, we may offer incentive credits to our clients considered to be variable consideration including incentive credits issued related to contract renewals. Incentive credits are recorded as a reduction to revenue as part of the transaction price at contract inception when there is a basis to reasonably estimate the amount of the incentive credit and only to the extent that it is probable that a significant reversal of any incremental revenue will not occur. These incentive credits are allocated among the performance obligations based on their relative standalone selling price.

We allocate the total transaction price to each performance obligation based on the estimated relative standalone selling prices of the promised services underlying each performance obligation. The transaction price for payroll and payroll tax processing performance obligations are determined upon establishment of the contract that contains the final terms of the sale, including the description and price of each service purchased. The estimated service fee is calculated based on observable inputs and include the following key assumptions: target profit margin, pricing strategies including the mix of services purchased and competitive factors, and customer and industry specifics.

The transaction price for health benefits insurance and worker’s compensation insurance performance obligations is determined during the new client on-boarding and enrollment processes based on the types of benefits coverage the clients and WSEs have elected and the applicable risk profile of the client. We estimate our service fees based on actuarial forecasts of our expected insurance premiums and claim costs, and to amounts to cover our costs to administer these programs.

We require our clients to prefund payroll and related taxes and other withholding liabilities before payroll is processed or due for payment. Under the provision of our contracts with customers, we generally will process the payment of a client’s payroll only when the client successfully funds the amount required. As a result, there is no financing arrangement for the contracts, however, certain contracts to provide payroll and payroll tax processing services permit the client to pay certain payroll tax components ratably over a 12-month period rather than as payroll tax is determined on wages paid, which may be considered a significant financing arrangement under ASC Topic 606. However, as the period between our performing the service under the contract and when the client pays for the service is less than one year, we have elected as a practical expedient, not to adjust the transaction price.

Contract Costs

We recognize as deferred commission expense the incremental cost to obtain a contract with a client for certain components under our commission plans for sales representatives and channel partners that are directly related to new customers onboarded as we expect to recover these costs through future service fees. Such assets will be amortized over the estimated average client tenure. These commissions are earned on the basis of the revenue generated from payroll and payroll tax processing performance obligations. When the commission on a renewal contract is not commensurate with the commission on the initial contract, such commission will be capitalized and amortized over the estimated average client tenure. If the commission for both initial contract and renewal contracts are commensurate, such commissions are expensed in the contract period. When the amortization period is less than one year, we apply practical expedient to expense sales commissions in sales and marketing expenses in the period incurred. The below table summarizes the amounts capitalized and amortized during the three and six months ended June 30, 2018:



	Three Months Ended June 30, 2018				Six Months Ended June 30, 2018
(in millions)	Capitalized		Amortized		Capitalized		Amortized
Deferred commission costs	$	7	$	1	$	16	$	1

Certain commission plans will pay a commission on estimated professional service revenues over the first 12 months of the contract with customers. The portion of commission paid in excess of the actual commission earned in that period is recorded as prepaid commission. When the prepaid commission is considered earned, it is classified as a deferred commission expense and subject to amortization.

We do not have material contract assets and contract liabilities as of June 30, 2018. We require our clients to prefund payroll and related liabilities before payroll is processed or due for payment. If a client fails to fund payroll or misses the funding cut-off, at our sole discretion, we may pay the payroll and the resulting unfunded payroll is recognized as accounts receivable on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. When client payment is received in advance of our performance under the contract, such amount is recorded as client deposits.

Restricted Cash, Cash Equivalents and Investments

Restricted cash, cash equivalents and investments presented on our condensed consolidated balance sheets include:


•	corporate cash and cash equivalents in trust accounts functioning as security deposits for our insurance carriers,


•	payroll funds collected represents cash collected in advance from clients which we designate as restricted for the purpose of funding WSE payroll and payroll taxes and other payroll related liabilities, and


•	amounts held in trust for current and future premium and claim obligations with our insurance carriers, which amounts are held in trust according to the terms of the relevant insurance policies and by the local insurance regulations of the jurisdictions in which the policies are in force.

Investments

Our investments are classified as available-for-sale and are carried at estimated fair value.

Unrealized gains and losses are reported as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of deferred income taxes. The amortized cost of debt investments is adjusted for amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts from the date of purchase to maturity or sale. Such amortization is included in interest income as an addition to or deduction from the coupon interest earned on the investments. We use the specific identification method to determine the realized gains and losses on the sale of available-for-sale securities. Realized gains and losses are included in other income in the accompanying consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income.

We assess our investments for an other-than-temporary impairment loss due to a decline in fair value or other market conditions. We review several factors to determine whether a loss is other than temporary, such as the length and extent of the fair value decline, the financial condition and near-term prospects of the issuer and whether we have the intent to sell or will more likely than not be required to sell before the securities' anticipated recovery, which may be at maturity. If management determines that a security is impaired under these circumstances, the impairment recognized in earnings is measured as the entire difference between the amortized cost and the then-current fair value.

We have investments within our unrestricted and our restricted accounts. Unrestricted investments are recorded on the balance sheet as current or noncurrent based upon the remaining time to maturity, and investments subject to WSE restrictions are classified as current or noncurrent based on the expected payout of the related liability.

Concentrations of Credit Risk

Financial instruments subject to concentrations of credit risk include cash, cash equivalents and investments (unrestricted and restricted), accounts receivable, and amounts due from insurance carriers. We maintain these financial assets principally in domestic financial institutions. We perform periodic evaluations of the relative credit standing of these institutions. Our exposure to credit risk in the event of default by the financial institutions holding these funds is limited to amounts currently held by the institution in excess of insured amounts.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Recently adopted accounting guidance

Revenue Recognition - In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09-Revenue from Contracts with Customers, which will replace most existing revenue recognition guidance under GAAP. The core principle of the guidance is that an entity should recognize revenue for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The standard provides a five-step analysis of transactions to determine when and how revenue is recognized.

We have adopted the new standard effective January 1, 2018 using the modified retrospective method. For further discussion of our adoption of ASC Topic 606, including our operating results under the new standard, see Revenue Recognition section above.

The impact from the adoption of ASC Topic 606 to our condensed consolidated income statements and balance sheets is as follows:



	Three Months Ended June 30, 2018							Six Months Ended June 30, 2018
(in millions, except per share data)	As Reported		Balance Using Previous Standard		Increase (Decrease)			As Reported		Balance Using Previous Standard		Increase (Decrease)
Income statement
Revenue
Professional service revenues	$	115	$	115	$	—		$	244	$	242	$	2
Total revenues	850		850		—			1,711		1,709		2
Expense
Sales and marketing expense
Commissions expense	8		14		(6		)	12		27		(15		)
Total expense	774		780		(6		)	1,564		1,579		(15		)
Income before provision for income taxes	72		66		6			139		122		17
Income tax expense	14		12		2			27		23		4
Net income	58		54		4			112		99		13
Basic earnings per share	0.82		0.77		0.05			1.59		1.41		0.18
Diluted earnings per share	$	0.80	$	0.75	$	0.05		$	1.55	$	1.37	$	0.18



	June 30, 2018
(in millions)	As reported			Balance Using Previous Standard			Increase (Decrease)
Balance sheet
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$	202		$	208		$	(6	)
Restricted cash, cash equivalents and investments	629			623			6
Unbilled revenue (net of advance collections)	268			274			(6		)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	37			29			8
Other assets	23			17			6
Liabilities
Accounts payable and other current liabilities	39			43			(4		)
Deferred income taxes	70			68			2
Other liabilities	16			20			(4		)
Equity
Retained earnings	$	(302	)	$	(316	)	$	14

Statement of Cash Flows - In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-18, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Restricted Cash. ASU 2016-18 addresses diversity in practice from entities classifying and presenting transfers between cash and restricted cash as operating, investing or financing activities or as a combination of those activities in the statement of cash flows. The ASU requires entities to show the changes in the total of cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents in the Statement of Cash Flows. As a result, transfers between such categories are no longer be presented in the Statement of Cash Flows. We adopted ASU 2016-18 on January 1, 2018 using the retrospective method.

Recently issued accounting pronouncements

Lease arrangements - In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02-Leases. The amendment requires that lease arrangements longer than 12 months result in an entity recognizing lease assets and lease liabilities and most significantly impacts those leases classified as operating leases under previous U.S. GAAP. Under the new standard, disclosures are required to meet the objective of enabling users of financial statements to assess the amount, timing, and uncertainty of cash flows arising from leases.

The amendment is effective for annual reporting periods and interim periods within those years beginning after December 15, 2018. We currently anticipate adoption of the new standard effective January 1, 2019.

We anticipate this standard will have a material impact on our condensed consolidated financial statements. While we continue to assess all potential impacts of the standard, we anticipate that there will be a material increase to assets and lease liabilities for existing property leases representing our nationwide office locations not already included on our condensed consolidated balance sheets.