UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM10-Q

 

(MARK ONE)

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934.

FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED March 31, 20202021

OR

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934.

COMMISSION FILE NUMBER: 000-21433

 

FORRESTER RESEARCH, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

DelawareDelaware

 

04-2797789

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)

60 Acorn Park Drive

CAMBRIDGE, Cambridge, Massachusetts

 

02140

(Zip Code)

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

 

 

(617) 613-6000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of Each Class

 

Trading Symbol(s)

 

Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered

Common Stock, $.01 Par Value

 

FORR

 

Nasdaq Global Select Market

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes       No  

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter)during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).    Yes       No  

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer

 

 

Accelerated filer

 

Non-accelerated filer

 

 

Smaller reporting company

 

Emerging growth company

 

 

 

 

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by checkmark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes       No  

As of May 6, 2020, 18,760,0003, 2021, 19,129,000 shares of the registrant’s common stock were outstanding.



 

FORRESTER RESEARCH, INC.

INDEX TO FORM 10-Q

 

 

 

Page

PART I

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1.

Financial Statements (Unaudited)

3

 

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 20202021 and December 31, 20192020

3

 

Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Three Months Endedthree months ended March 31, 20202021 and 20192020

4

 

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive LossIncome (Loss) for the Three Months Endedthree months ended March 31, 20202021 and 20192020

5

 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Three Months Endedthree months ended March 31, 20202021 and 20192020

6

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

7

Item 2.

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

2119

Item 3.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

2926

Item 4.

Controls and Procedures

2926

 

 

 

PART II

OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1.

Legal Proceedings

27

Item 1A.

Risk Factors

3027

Item 2.

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

3027

Item 3.

Defaults Upon Senior Securities

27

Item 4.

Mine Safety Disclosures

27

Item 5.

Other Information

27

Item 6.

Exhibits

3128

SIGNATURES

29

 

 


PART I.

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FORRESTER RESEARCH, INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands, except per share data, unaudited)

 

 

March 31,

 

 

December 31,

 

 

March 31,

 

 

December 31,

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

69,815

 

 

$

67,904

 

 

$

125,600

 

 

$

90,257

 

Accounts receivable, net of allowance for expected credit losses of $1,144 and $628 as

of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively

 

 

59,505

 

 

 

84,605

 

Accounts receivable, net of allowance for expected credit losses of $731 and $708 as

of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively

 

 

68,822

 

 

 

84,695

 

Deferred commissions

 

 

18,603

 

 

 

20,326

 

 

 

21,937

 

 

 

23,620

 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

 

24,980

 

 

 

19,201

 

 

 

19,913

 

 

 

18,588

 

Total current assets

 

 

172,903

 

 

 

192,036

 

 

 

236,272

 

 

 

217,160

 

Property and equipment, net

 

 

28,748

 

 

 

29,937

 

 

 

26,513

 

 

 

27,032

 

Operating lease right-of-use assets

 

 

64,220

 

 

 

69,100

 

 

 

73,810

 

 

 

69,296

 

Goodwill

 

 

242,690

 

 

 

243,895

 

 

 

245,691

 

 

 

247,211

 

Intangible assets, net

 

 

92,655

 

 

 

97,363

 

 

 

73,898

 

 

 

77,995

 

Other assets

 

 

7,082

 

 

 

6,829

 

 

 

7,535

 

 

 

5,524

 

Total assets

 

$

608,298

 

 

$

639,160

 

 

$

663,719

 

 

$

644,218

 

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable

 

$

352

 

 

$

505

 

 

$

380

 

 

$

657

 

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

 

 

51,450

 

 

 

79,857

 

 

 

54,747

 

 

 

76,620

 

Current portion of long-term debt

 

 

10,156

 

 

 

9,375

 

 

 

12,500

 

 

 

12,500

 

Deferred revenue

 

 

195,399

 

 

 

179,194

 

 

 

216,522

 

 

 

179,968

 

Total current liabilities

 

 

257,357

 

 

 

268,931

 

 

 

284,149

 

 

 

269,745

 

Long-term debt, net of deferred financing fees

 

 

104,202

 

 

 

121,170

 

 

 

92,319

 

 

 

95,299

 

Non-current operating lease liabilities

 

 

63,840

 

 

 

67,062

 

 

 

74,567

 

 

 

70,323

 

Other non-current liabilities

 

 

24,727

 

 

 

23,909

 

 

 

20,447

 

 

 

23,085

 

Total liabilities

 

 

450,126

 

 

 

481,072

 

 

 

471,482

 

 

 

458,452

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stockholders' Equity (Note 12):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commitments and contingencies (Note 4, 13)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stockholders' Equity (Note 11):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Preferred stock, $0.01 par value

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Authorized - 500 shares; issued and outstanding - none

 

 

 

 

 

 

Authorized - 500 shares; issued and outstanding - NaN

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock, $0.01 par value

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Authorized - 125,000 shares

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Issued - 23,389 and 23,275 shares as of March 31, 2020 and

December 31, 2019, respectively

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Outstanding - 18,758 and 18,644 shares as of March 31, 2020 and

December 31, 2019, respectively

 

 

234

 

 

 

233

 

Issued - 23,755 and 23,648 shares as of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020,

respectively

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Outstanding - 19,124 and 19,017 shares as of March 31, 2021 and

December 31, 2020, respectively

 

 

238

 

 

 

236

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

 

220,308

 

 

 

216,454

 

 

 

234,752

 

 

 

230,128

 

Retained earnings

 

 

117,477

 

 

 

118,147

 

 

 

131,937

 

 

 

127,981

 

Treasury stock - 4,631 shares as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, at cost

 

 

(171,889

)

 

 

(171,889

)

Treasury stock - 4,631 shares as of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020

 

 

(171,889

)

 

 

(171,889

)

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

 

 

(7,958

)

 

 

(4,857

)

 

 

(2,801

)

 

 

(690

)

Total stockholders’ equity

 

 

158,172

 

 

 

158,088

 

 

 

192,237

 

 

 

185,766

 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

 

$

608,298

 

 

$

639,160

 

 

$

663,719

 

 

$

644,218

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

 


FORRESTER RESEARCH, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(In thousands, except per share data, unaudited)

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

March 31,

 

 

March 31,

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Research services

 

$

72,796

 

 

$

68,609

 

Advisory services and events

 

 

33,549

 

 

 

32,040

 

Research

 

$

74,968

 

 

$

74,267

 

Consulting

 

 

38,550

 

 

 

31,988

 

Events

 

 

263

 

 

 

90

 

Total revenues

 

 

106,345

 

 

 

100,649

 

 

 

113,781

 

 

 

106,345

 

Operating expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of services and fulfillment

 

 

43,353

 

 

 

45,110

 

 

 

47,477

 

 

 

43,353

 

Selling and marketing

 

 

40,273

 

 

 

42,033

 

 

 

39,279

 

 

 

40,273

 

General and administrative

 

 

12,005

 

 

 

13,190

 

 

 

13,178

 

 

 

12,005

 

Depreciation

 

 

2,406

 

 

 

2,023

 

 

 

2,290

 

 

 

2,406

 

Amortization of intangible assets

 

 

4,712

 

 

 

6,210

 

 

 

3,903

 

 

 

4,712

 

Acquisition and integration costs

 

 

2,875

 

 

 

2,967

 

Integration costs

 

 

118

 

 

 

2,875

 

Total operating expenses

 

 

105,624

 

 

 

111,533

 

 

 

106,245

 

 

 

105,624

 

Income (loss) from operations

 

 

721

 

 

 

(10,884

)

Income from operations

 

 

7,536

 

 

 

721

 

Interest expense

 

 

(1,538

)

 

 

(2,352

)

 

 

(1,129

)

 

 

(1,538

)

Other income (expense), net

 

 

310

 

 

 

(270

)

 

 

(470

)

 

 

310

 

Gain (loss) on investments, net

 

 

13

 

 

 

(36

)

Loss before income taxes

 

 

(494

)

 

 

(13,542

)

Income tax expense (benefit)

 

 

19

 

 

 

(226

)

Net loss

 

$

(513

)

 

$

(13,316

)

Basic loss per common share

 

$

(0.03

)

 

$

(0.73

)

Diluted loss per common share

 

$

(0.03

)

 

$

(0.73

)

Gain on investments, net

 

 

 

 

 

13

 

Income (loss) before income taxes

 

 

5,937

 

 

 

(494

)

Income tax expense

 

 

1,981

 

 

 

19

 

Net income (loss)

 

$

3,956

 

 

$

(513

)

Basic income (loss) per common share

 

$

0.21

 

 

$

(0.03

)

Diluted income (loss) per common share

 

$

0.21

 

 

$

(0.03

)

Basic weighted average common shares outstanding

 

 

18,705

 

 

 

18,363

 

 

 

19,061

 

 

 

18,705

 

Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding

 

 

18,705

 

 

 

18,363

 

 

 

19,288

 

 

 

18,705

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

 


FORRESTER RESEARCH, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE LOSSINCOME (LOSS)

(In thousands, unaudited)

 

Three Months Ended

 

Three Months Ended

 

March 31,

 

March 31,

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

Net loss

$

(513

)

 

$

(13,316

)

Net income (loss)

$

3,956

 

 

$

(513

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other comprehensive loss, net of taxes:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other comprehensive loss net of tax:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign currency translation

 

(1,920

)

 

 

(430

)

 

(2,301

)

 

 

(1,920

)

Net change in market value of interest rate swap

 

(1,181

)

 

 

 

 

190

 

 

 

(1,181

)

Other comprehensive loss

 

(3,101

)

 

 

(430

)

 

(2,111

)

 

 

(3,101

)

Comprehensive loss

$

(3,614

)

 

$

(13,746

)

Comprehensive income (loss)

$

1,845

 

 

$

(3,614

)

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

 


FORRESTER RESEARCH, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In thousands, unaudited)

 

Three Months Ended

 

Three Months Ended

 

March 31,

 

March 31,

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

Cash flows from operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss

$

(513

)

 

$

(13,316

)

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

$

3,956

 

 

$

(513

)

Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation

 

2,406

 

 

 

2,023

 

 

2,290

 

 

 

2,406

 

Impairment of property and equipment

 

626

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

626

 

Amortization of intangible assets

 

4,712

 

 

 

6,210

 

 

3,903

 

 

 

4,712

 

Net (gains) losses from investments

 

(13

)

 

 

36

 

Net gains from investments

 

 

 

 

(13

)

Deferred income taxes

 

(251

)

 

 

(10,529

)

 

(2,395

)

 

 

(251

)

Stock-based compensation

 

2,802

 

 

 

2,685

 

 

2,492

 

 

 

2,802

 

Operating lease right-of-use asset amortization and impairments

 

4,535

 

 

 

3,225

 

Operating lease right-of-use assets, amortization, and impairments

 

2,666

 

 

 

4,535

 

Amortization of deferred financing fees

 

244

 

 

 

230

 

 

232

 

 

 

244

 

Foreign currency (gains) losses

 

(229

)

 

 

330

 

 

521

 

 

 

(229

)

Changes in assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Changes in assets and liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts receivable

 

24,556

 

 

 

19,239

 

 

15,181

 

 

 

24,556

 

Deferred commissions

 

1,723

 

 

 

(1,577

)

 

1,683

 

 

 

1,723

 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

(6,943

)

 

 

(1,945

)

 

(1,255

)

 

 

(6,943

)

Accounts payable

 

(143

)

 

 

902

 

 

(275

)

 

 

(143

)

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

 

(27,264

)

 

 

(7,244

)

 

(22,235

)

 

 

(27,264

)

Deferred revenue

 

18,574

 

 

 

29,108

 

 

36,505

 

 

 

18,574

 

Operating lease liabilities

 

(2,999

)

 

 

(3,389

)

 

(2,718

)

 

 

(2,999

)

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

21,823

 

 

 

25,988

 

 

40,551

 

 

 

21,823

 

Cash flows from investing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Acquisitions, net of cash acquired

 

 

 

 

(238,943

)

Purchases of property and equipment

 

(2,401

)

 

 

(2,772

)

 

(1,468

)

 

 

(2,401

)

Net cash used in investing activities

 

(2,401

)

 

 

(241,715

)

 

(1,468

)

 

 

(2,401

)

Cash flows from financing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from borrowings, net of costs

 

 

 

 

171,275

 

Payments on borrowings

 

(16,344

)

 

 

(21,563

)

 

(3,125

)

 

 

(16,344

)

Payment of debt issuance costs

 

 

 

 

(857

)

Deferred acquisition payments

 

 

 

 

(766

)

Proceeds from issuance of common stock under employee equity incentive plans

 

1,955

 

 

 

3,361

 

 

2,614

 

 

 

1,955

 

Taxes paid related to net share settlements of stock-based compensation awards

 

(902

)

 

 

(89

)

 

(480

)

 

 

(902

)

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

 

(15,291

)

 

 

151,361

 

Net cash used in financing activities

 

(991

)

 

 

(15,291

)

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

 

(2,683

)

 

 

438

 

 

(478

)

 

 

(2,683

)

Net change in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

 

1,448

 

 

 

(63,928

)

 

37,614

 

 

 

1,448

 

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period

 

69,192

 

 

 

140,296

 

 

90,652

 

 

 

69,192

 

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period

$

70,640

 

 

$

76,368

 

$

128,266

 

 

$

70,640

 

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash paid for interest

$

1,286

 

 

$

1,948

 

$

902

 

 

$

1,286

 

Cash paid for income taxes

$

1,356

 

 

$

849

 

$

1,719

 

 

$

1,356

 

Non-cash financing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2019 include $3.7 million of debt issuance costs deducted directly from the proceeds of borrowings by the lender. Refer to Note 4 – Debt for further information.

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 


FORRESTER RESEARCH, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

 

 

Note 1 — Interim Consolidated Financial Statements

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) for reporting on Form 10-Q. Accordingly, certain information and footnote disclosures required for complete financial statements are not included herein. The year-end balance sheet data was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by GAAP. It is recommended that these financial statements be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes that appear in the Forrester Research, Inc. (“Forrester”) Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019.2020. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) considered necessary for a fair statement of the financial position, results of operations, comprehensive lossincome (loss), and cash flows as of the dates and for the periods presented have been included. The results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 20202021 may not be indicative of the results for the year ending December 31, 2020,2021, or any other period.

Reclassification

Liquidity and Impact of COVID-19

The global spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), which has been declared by the World Health Organization to be a “pandemic”, has spread to many countries and is impacting worldwide economic activity. Many governments have implemented policies intended to stop or slow the further spread of the disease, such as shelter-in-place orders, resulting in the temporary closure of non-essential businesses, and these measures may remain in placeEffective for a significant period of time. Due to COVID-19 materially impacting our business beginning only in the last month of the quarter, the impact on our business in the first quarter of 20202021, the Company modified its key metrics, as further described in Item 2. Management’s Discussions and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations. As part of these changes, beginning January 1, 2021, the Company is primarily limitedclassifying all components of its subscription research products within the Research revenues financial statement line on the Consolidated Statements of Operations. In prior periods, the separate advisory session performance obligations included in any of the Company’s subscription research products were classified within the Consulting revenues financial statement line. Prior periods have been reclassified to conform to the current presentation which resulted in approximately $1.4 million of revenue being reclassified from Consulting revenues to Research revenues during the three months ended March customer contract bookings and31, 2020. This reclassification had 0 impact on the amount of consulting projects delivered. While the duration and severity of this pandemic is uncertain, the Company currently expects that its results of operations in the second quarter of 2020 will have the most significant impact of the effects of COVID-19, and that subsequent periods will also be negatively impacted. The Company typically generates a significant portion of its Eventstotal revenues in the second quarter of the year, including revenues from its two flagship events, the SiriusDecisions Summit and CX North America, both of which will be held as virtual events, resulting in a significant reduction in revenues and profits from these two events. In addition, the Company cancelled two smaller events originally scheduled for the second quarter of the year. The Company also expects a reduction in its subscription Research, Connect and Analytics revenues and a reduction in Consulting revenues during the second quarter due to reduced customer contract booking activity in March, which is expected to continue through at least the second quarter of 2020. The extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic ultimately impacts the Company’s business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows, and liquidity may differ from the Company’s current estimates due to inherent uncertainties regarding the duration and further spread of the outbreak, its severity, actions taken to contain the virus or treat its impact, and how quickly and to what extent normal economic and operating conditions can resume.previously reported.

The Company has implemented several cost-reduction measures that include reductions to travel, new hiring, and employee incentive compensation programs. The Company will continue to proactively respond to the situation and may take further actions that alter the Company’s business operations as may be required by governmental authorities, or that the Company determines are in the best interests of its employees and customers.

As of March 31, 2020, the Company is in compliance with its financial covenants under its Credit Agreement (refer to Note 4 – Debt). The Company currently forecasts that it will be in compliance with its financial covenants for at least one year from the issuance of these interim financial statements, after taking into consideration the measures noted above. If the impact of COVID-19 is more severe than currently forecasted this may impact the Company’s ability to comply with its financial covenants which could have a material adverse effect on the Company.

The Company assessed certain accounting matters that generally require consideration of forecasted financial information in context with the information reasonably available to it and the unknown future impacts COVID-19 as of March 31, 2020 and through the date of this report. The accounting matters assessed included, but were not limited to, the allowance for expected credit losses, the carrying value of our goodwill and other long-lived assets, valuation allowances for tax assets and revenue recognition. While there was not a material impact to the consolidated financial statements as of and for the quarter ended March 31, 2020 resulting from the Company’s assessments, the Company’s future assessment of its current expectations of the magnitude and duration of COVID-19, as well as other factors, could result in material impacts to its consolidated financial statements in future reporting periods.


Presentation of Restricted Cash

The following table summarizes the end-of-period cash and cash equivalents from the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets and the total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash as presented inon the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (in thousands).

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

Cash and cash equivalents

$

69,815

 

 

$

75,012

 

$

125,600

 

 

$

69,815

 

Restricted cash classified in (1):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

787

 

 

 

208

 

 

360

 

 

 

787

 

Other assets

 

38

 

 

 

1,148

 

 

2,306

 

 

 

38

 

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash shown in statement of cash flows

$

70,640

 

 

$

76,368

 

$

128,266

 

 

$

70,640

 

 

(1)

Restricted cash consists primarily of collateral required for leased office space, letters of credit.credit, and credit card processing outside of the U.S. The short-term or long-term classification regarding the collateral for the leased office space and letters of credit is determined in accordance with the expiration of the underlying lease as the letters of credit are non-cancellable while the leases are in effect.leases.

Adoption of New Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2016,The Company adopted the guidance in the Financial Accounting Standards BoardBoard’s (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2019-12, Income Taxes – Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes on January 1, 2021. The standard provides guidance to simplify the accounting for income taxes in certain areas, changes the accounting for select income tax transactions, and makes other minor improvements. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses: Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (“Topic 326”). The standard amends the existing financial instrument incurred loss impairment model by requiring entities to use a forward-looking approach based on expected losses and to consider a broader range of reasonable and


supportable information to estimate credit losses on certain types of financial instruments, including trade receivables. On January 1, 2020, the Company adopted the standard using the modified retrospective method in which prior periods are not adjusted and recorded a cumulative effect adjustment of $0.2 million to decrease retained earnings. Expected losses are based, in part, on the Company’s historical loss rate experience as well as management’s expectations of future losses as informed by current economic conditions.

The allowance for expected credit losses on accounts receivable for the three months ended March 31, 2020 is summarized as follows (in thousands):

 

Total

Allowance

 

Balance at December 31, 2019

$

628

 

Cumulative effect adjustment of adopting Topic 326

 

218

 

Provision for expected credit losses

 

433

 

Net write-offs

 

(122

)

Translation adjustments

 

(13

)

Balance at March 31, 2020

$

1,144

 

The Company adopted the guidance in ASU No. 2017-04, Intangibles-Goodwill and Other: Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment on January 1, 2020. The new standard simplifies the subsequent measurement of goodwill by eliminating Step 2 from the goodwill impairment test and requires that instead, an entity should perform its goodwill impairment test by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount. The adoption of this standard did not impact the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

The Company adopted the guidance in ASU No. 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement Disclosure Framework – Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement on January 1, 2020. The new standard modifies the disclosure requirements on fair value measurements in Topic 820, Fair Value Measurement, including changes to fair value transfers and Level 3 fair value measurements. Changes required upon adoption of this standard are included in Note 87Fair Value Measurements and did not impact the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

The Company adopted the guidance in ASU No. 2018-15, Intangibles-Goodwill and Other-Internal-Use Software: Customer’s Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That is a Service Contract on January 1, 2020. The new standard aligns the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software (and hosting arrangements that include an internal-use software license). The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.


Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In December 2019,March 2020, the FASB issued ASU No. 2019-12, Income Taxes2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848)SimplifyingFacilitation of the Accounting for Income TaxesEffects of Reference Rate Reform on Finance Reporting. The new standard provides optional guidance for a limited period of time to simplifyease the potential burden in accounting for, income taxes in certain areas, changesor recognizing the accounting for select income taxeffects of, reference rate reform on financial reporting due to the risk of cessation of the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”). The updates apply to contracts, hedging relationships, and other transactions that reference LIBOR, or another reference rate expected to be discontinued because of reference rate reform, and makes other minor improvements. The new standard will be effective foras a result require a modification. An entity may elect to apply the Company on January 1, 2021.amendments immediately or at any point through December 31, 2022. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact that this standard may have on its financial position and results of operations.operations, including the standard’s potential impact on any contractual changes in the future that may result from reference rate reform.

Note 2 — Acquisitions

Forrester accounts for business combinations in accordance with the acquisition method of accounting as prescribed by Accounts Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 805, Business Combinations (“Topic 805”).��The acquisition method of accounting requires the Company to record the assets and liabilities acquired based on their estimated fair values as of the acquisition date, with any excess of the consideration transferred over the estimated fair value of the net assets acquired, including identifiable intangible assets, to be recorded to goodwill. The Company did not have any business combinations during the three months ended March 31, 2020.

SiriusDecisions, Inc.

On January 3, 2019, Forrester acquired 100% of the issued and outstanding shares of SiriusDecisions, Inc. (“SiriusDecisions”), a privately-held company based in Wilton, Connecticut with approximately 350 employees globally. SiriusDecisions equips business-to-business (B2B) sales, marketing, and product leaders with the actionable research, frameworks, tools, operational benchmarks and expert advice they need to maximize performance and drive alignment. The acquisition creates several opportunities for the Company, including cross-selling services to the Company’s respective client bases, extending SiriusDecisions’ platform, methodologies, data, and best-practices tools into new roles, and accelerating international and industry growth. The acquisition of SiriusDecisions was determined to be an acquisition of a business under the provisions of Topic 805.

Pursuant to the terms of the merger agreement, the Company paid $246.8 million at closing after certain transaction expense adjustments, which was subject to a working capital adjustment.

SiriusDecisions’ operating results and the related goodwill are reported within the Company’s Products and Research segments, as realigned on January 1, 2020 and further discussed in Note 14 – Operating Segments. During the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company finalized the purchase price allocation and related accounting for the acquisition.

The Company recognized $1.7 million of acquisition costs in the three months ended March 31, 2019 related to the SiriusDecisions acquisition. The costs primarily consisted of investment banker fees and other professional services costs and are included in acquisition and integration costs within the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Note 3 — Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

Goodwill

Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price of acquired businesses over the estimated fair values of the tangible and identifiable intangible net assets acquired. Goodwill is not amortized; however, it is required to be tested for impairment annually, which requires assessment of the potential impairment at the reporting unit level. Testing for impairment is also required on an interim basis if an event or circumstance indicates it is more likely than not an impairment loss has been incurred.

The Company performed its annual impairment testing as of November 30, 2020 utilizing a qualitative assessment to determine if it was more likely than not thatthe fair values of each of its reporting units was less than their respective carrying values and concluded that 0 impairments existed. Subsequent to completing the annual test and through March 31, 2021, there were no events or circumstances that required an interim impairment test. Accordingly, as of March 31, 2021, the Company had 0 accumulated goodwill impairment losses. Approximately $8.2 million of goodwill is allocated to the Company’s Consulting reporting unit, which has a negative carrying value as of March 31, 2021.

 

The change in the carrying amount of goodwill for the three months ended March 31, 20202021 is summarized as follows (in thousands):

 

Total

 

Balance at December 31, 2019

$

243,895

 

Translation adjustments

 

(1,205

)

Balance at March 31, 2020

$

242,690

 

 

Total

 

Balance at December 31, 2020

$

247,211

 

Translation adjustments

 

(1,520

)

Balance at March 31, 2021

$

245,691

 

The Company assesses goodwill for impairment annually on November 30, or on an interim basis if an event indicates a specific impairment may exist. As a result of the Company’s segment realignment on January 1, 2020 (refer to Note 14 -Operating Segments for additional information), the Company performed a qualitative assessment of goodwill for all reporting units immediately prior to and after the reporting unit change, which was based on the quantitative assessment performed as of November 30, 2019 and activity in December 2019. The Company concluded that no impairment existed and goodwill was reassigned based on the relative fair values of the product lines transferred to each reporting unit. Approximately $12 million of goodwill is allocated to the Company’s Product reporting unit, which has a negative carrying value as of March 31, 2020.

As of March 31, 2020, the Company had no accumulated goodwill impairment losses.

 


Finite-Lived Intangible Assets

The carrying values of finite-lived intangible assets are as follows (in thousands):

 

March 31, 2020

 

March 31, 2021

 

Gross

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net

 

Gross

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net

 

Carrying

 

 

Accumulated

 

 

Carrying

 

Carrying

 

 

Accumulated

 

 

Carrying

 

Amount

 

 

Amortization

 

 

Amount

 

Amount

 

 

Amortization

 

 

Amount

 

Amortizable intangible assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Customer relationships

$

109,608

 

 

$

42,100

 

 

$

67,508

 

$

78,375

 

 

$

19,384

 

 

$

58,991

 

Technology

 

16,676

 

 

 

7,796

 

 

 

8,880

 

 

16,740

 

 

 

10,929

 

 

 

5,811

 

Backlog

 

13,000

 

 

 

8,125

 

 

 

4,875

 

Trademarks

 

12,453

 

 

 

1,061

 

 

 

11,392

 

 

12,463

 

 

 

3,367

 

 

 

9,096

 

Total

$

151,737

 

 

$

59,082

 

 

$

92,655

 

$

107,578

 

 

$

33,680

 

 

$

73,898

 

 

December 31, 2019

 

December 31, 2020

 

Gross

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net

 

Gross

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net

 

Carrying

 

 

Accumulated

 

 

Carrying

 

Carrying

 

 

Accumulated

 

 

Carrying

 

Amount

 

 

Amortization

 

 

Amount

 

Amount

 

 

Amortization

 

 

Amount

 

Amortizable intangible assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Customer relationships

$

109,825

 

 

$

40,169

 

 

$

69,656

 

$

78,450

 

 

$

17,277

 

 

$

61,173

 

Technology

 

16,661

 

 

 

7,051

 

 

 

9,610

 

 

16,956

 

 

 

10,197

 

 

 

6,759

 

Backlog

 

13,000

 

 

 

6,500

 

 

 

6,500

 

Trademarks

 

12,451

 

 

 

854

 

 

 

11,597

 

 

12,495

 

 

 

2,432

 

 

 

10,063

 

Total

$

151,937

 

 

$

54,574

 

 

$

97,363

 

$

107,901

 

 

$

29,906

 

 

$

77,995

 

 

Estimated intangible asset amortization expense for each of the five succeeding years is as follows (in thousands):

 

2020 (remainder)

$

14,133

 

2021

 

12,344

 

2021 (remainder)

$

11,212

 

2022

 

11,005

 

 

13,179

 

2023

 

10,830

 

 

11,938

 

2024

 

9,721

 

 

9,895

 

2025

 

8,879

 

Thereafter

 

34,622

 

 

18,795

 

Total

$

92,655

 

$

73,898

 

 

Note 43 — Debt

In connection with the acquisition of SiriusDecisions, onOn January 3, 2019, (the “Closing Date”) the Company entered into a $200.0 million credit agreement (the “Credit Agreement”). The Credit Agreement provides for: (1) senior secured term loans in an aggregate principal amount of $125.0 million (the “Term Loans”) and (2) a senior secured revolving credit facility in an aggregate principal amount of $75.0 million (the “Revolving Credit Facility”). On the Closing Date, the full $125.0 million of the Term Loans and $50.0 million of the Revolving Credit Facility were used to finance a portion of the acquisition of SiriusDecisions and to pay certain fees, costs and expenses incurred in connection with the acquisition and the Credit Agreement. The Credit Agreement is scheduled to mature on January 3, 2024.

The Credit Agreement permits the Company to borrow incremental term loans and/or increase commitments under the Revolving Credit Facility in an aggregate principal amount up to $50.0 million, subject to approval by the administrative agent and certain customary terms and conditions.

The Term Loans and Revolving Credit Facility can be repaid early, in part or in whole, at any time and from time to time, without premium or penalty, other than customary breakage reimbursement requirements for London Interbank Offering Rate (“LIBOR”)LIBOR based loans. The Term Loans must be prepaid with net cash proceeds of (i) certain debt incurred or issued by Forrester and its restricted subsidiaries and (ii) certain asset sales and condemnation or casualty events, subject to certain reinvestment rights.


Amounts borrowed under the Credit Agreement bear interest, at Forrester’s option, at a rate per annum equal to either (i) LIBOR for the applicable interest period plus a margin that is between 1.75% and 2.50% based on Forrester’s consolidated total leverage ratio, or (ii) the alternate base rate plus a margin that is between 0.75% and 1.50% based on Forrester’s consolidated total leverage ratio. In addition, the Company pays a commitment fee that is between 0.25% and 0.35% per annum, based on Forrester’s consolidated total leverage ratio, on the average daily unused portion of the Revolving Credit Facility, payable quarterly, in arrears.


The Term Loans require repayment of the outstanding principal balance in quarterly installments each year, commencing on March 31, 2019 with the balance repayable on the maturity date, subject to customary exceptions. TheAs of March 31, 2021, the amount payable in each year as of March 31, 2020 is set forth in the table below (in thousands):

 

2020 (remainder)

$

7,031

 

2021

 

12,500

 

2021 (remainder)

 

9,375

 

2022

 

12,500

 

 

12,500

 

2023

 

15,625

 

 

15,625

 

2024

 

68,750

 

 

68,750

 

Total remaining principal payments

$

116,406

 

$

106,250

 

 

The Revolving Credit Facility does not require repayment prior to maturity, subject to customary exceptions. In addition to financingThe Company has $74.1 million of available borrowing capacity on the acquisition, proceedsrevolver (not including the expansion feature) as of March 31, 2021. Proceeds from the Revolving Credit Facility can also be used towards working capital and general corporate purposes. Up to $5.0 million of the Revolving Credit Facility is available for the issuance of letters of credit, and any drawings under the letters of credit must be reimbursed within one business day. As of March 31, 2020,2021, $0.9 million in letters of credit were issued under the Revolving Credit Facility.

Forrester incurred $1.8 million in costs related to the Revolving Credit Facility, which are recorded in other assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. These costs are being amortized as interest expense on the Consolidated Statements of Operations on a straight-line basis over the five-year term of the Revolving Credit Facility. Forrester incurred $2.8 million in costs related to the Term Loans, which are recorded as a reduction to the face value of long-term debt on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. These costs are being amortized as interest expense on the Consolidated Statements of Operations utilizing the effective interest rate method.

Outstanding Borrowings

The following table summarizes the Company’s total outstanding borrowings as of the dates indicated (in thousands):

 

Description:

 

March 31, 2020

 

 

December 31, 2019

 

 

March 31, 2021

 

 

December 31, 2020

 

Term loan facility (1)

 

$

116,406

 

 

$

118,750

 

Revolving credit facility (2)

 

 

 

 

 

14,000

 

Principal amount outstanding (3)

 

 

116,406

 

 

 

132,750

 

Principal amount outstanding (1) (2)

 

$

106,250

 

 

$

109,375

 

Less: Deferred financing fees

 

 

(2,048

)

 

 

(2,205

)

 

 

(1,431

)

 

 

(1,576

)

Net carrying amount

 

$

114,358

 

 

$

130,545

 

 

$

104,819

 

 

$

107,799

 

 

(1)

This amount consists entirely of the outstanding Term Loan balance.

(2)

The contractual annualized interest rate as of March 31, 20202021 on the Term loan facility was 3.00%2.125%, which consisted of LIBOR of 1.00%0.125% plus a margin of 2.00%2.000%. However, the Company has an interest rate swap that effectively converts the floating LIBOR base rates on a portion of the amounts outstanding to a fixed base rate. Refer to Note 76Derivatives and Hedging for further information on the swap.

(2)

The Company had $75.0 million of available borrowing capacity on the revolver (not including the expansion feature) as of March 31, 2020.

(3)

The weighted average annual effective rate on the Company's total debt outstanding for the three months ended March 31, 2020,2021, was 3.88%2.146%.

The Credit Agreement contains certain customary restrictive loan covenants, including among others, financial covenants that apply a maximum leverage ratio and minimum fixed charge coverage ratio. The maximum leverage ratio is based on total debt outstanding at the measurement date divided by EBITDA (as defined in the Credit Agreement) and the fixed charge coverage ratio is based upon EBITDA as(as defined in the Credit Agreement), less capital expenditures, as a ratio to certain fixed charges, including Term Loan amortization, cash interest expense and cash taxes. The negative covenants limit, subject to various exceptions, the Company’s ability to incur additional indebtedness, create liens on assets, merge, consolidate, liquidate or dissolve any part of the Company, sell assets, pay dividends or other payments in respect to capital stock, change fiscal year, or enter into certain transactions with affiliates and subsidiaries. The Credit Agreement also contains customary events of default, representations, and warranties.


As of March 31, 2020,2021, the Company is in compliance with its financial covenants under the Credit Agreement. The Company currently forecasts that it will be in compliance with its financial covenants for at least one year from the issuance of these interim financial statements, after taking into consideration the cost-reduction measures implemented during the first quarter of the year. If the impact of COVID-19 is more severe than currently forecasted this may impact the Company’s ability to comply with its financial covenants, and it is not certain that the Company would be able to renegotiate the terms of the Credit Agreement in order to provide relief related to the financial covenants. If the Company were unable to meet its financial covenants and then were unable to renegotiate the terms of its financial covenants, all debt outstanding under the Credit Agreement could become immediately due and payable. statements.


All obligations under the Credit Agreement are unconditionally guaranteed by each of the Company’s existing and future, direct and indirect material wholly-owned domestic subsidiaries, other than certain excluded subsidiaries, and are collateralized by a first priority lien on substantially all tangible and intangible assets including intellectual property and all of the capital stock of the Company and its subsidiaries (limited to 65% of the voting equity of certain subsidiaries).

Note 54 — Leases

All of the Company’s leases are operating leases, the majority of which are for office space. Operating lease right-of-use (“ROU”) assets and non-current operating lease liabilities are included as individual line items on the Consolidated Balance Sheets, while short-term operating lease liabilities are recorded within accrued expenses and other current liabilities. Leases with an initial term of twelve months or less are not recorded on the Consolidated Balance Sheets and are not material.

The components of lease expense were as follows (in thousands):

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

For the Three Months Ended March 31,

 

March 31, 2020

 

 

March 31, 2019

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

Operating lease cost

$

3,991

 

 

$

3,569

 

$

3,819

 

 

$

3,991

 

Short-term lease cost

 

81

 

 

 

255

 

 

88

 

 

 

81

 

Variable lease cost

 

1,356

 

 

 

1,234

 

 

1,436

 

 

 

1,356

 

Sublease income

 

(61

)

 

 

 

 

(61

)

 

 

(61

)

Total lease cost

$

5,367

 

 

$

5,058

 

$

5,282

 

 

$

5,367

 

 

Additional lease information is summarized in the following table (in thousands, except lease term and discount rate):

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

For the Three Months Ended March 31,

 

March 31, 2020

 

 

March 31, 2019

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of operating

lease liabilities

$

2,999

 

 

$

3,753

 

$

2,718

 

 

$

2,999

 

Operating right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for lease

obligations

$

1,466

 

 

$

12,011

 

Operating lease ROU assets obtained in exchange for lease

obligations

$

7,433

 

 

$

1,466

 

Weighted-average remaining lease term - operating leases (years)

 

6.3

 

 

 

7.0

 

 

6.5

 

 

 

6.3

 

Weighted-average discount rate - operating leases

 

5.1

%

 

 

5.1

%

 

4.4

%

 

 

5.1

%

 

Future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable leases as of March 31, 20202021 are as follows (in thousands):

 

2020 (remainder)

$

11,828

 

2021

 

14,022

 

2021 (remainder)

$

11,642

 

2022

 

13,505

 

 

16,623

 

2023

 

12,974

 

 

16,582

 

2024

 

12,619

 

 

16,208

 

2025

 

14,233

 

Thereafter

 

23,902

 

 

27,076

 

Total lease payments

 

88,850

 

 

102,364

 

Less imputed interest

 

(12,945

)

 

(15,623

)

Present value of lease liabilities

$

75,905

 

$

86,741

 

 


Lease balances as of March 31, 20202021 are as follows (in thousands):

 

Operating lease right-of-use assets

$

64,220

 

Operating lease ROU assets

$

73,810

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Short-term operating lease liabilities (1)

$

12,065

 

$

12,174

 

Non-current operating lease liabilities

 

63,840

 

 

74,567

 

Total operating lease liabilities

$

75,905

 

$

86,741

 

 

(1)

Included in accrued expenses and other current liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

The Company’s leases do not contain residual value guarantees, material restrictions or covenants, and all sublease transactions are not material. The Company incurred $1.4 million of ROU asset impairments during the three months ended March 31, 2020 related to facility leases from the SiriusDecisions, Inc. acquisition andthat the Company no longer used as a result of the integration of SiriusDecisions. These impairments are recorded in acquisition and integration costs inon the Consolidated Statements of Operations.Operations.

During the three months ended March 31, 2020, the Company entered into several operating leases for office space which do not commence until later in 2020. These operating leases, which aggregated $17.2 million of undiscounted lease payments, have lease terms of up to ten years. Additionally, the Company could receive a variable incentive payment from its landlord to terminate one of its office space leases early. The range of possible incentive payments is zero to $3.5 million, would be received in late 2020 or the first half of 2021, and is dependent on the Company’s ability to exit the existing facility by the proposed early termination dates.


Note 65Revenue and Related Matters

Disaggregated Revenue

The Company disaggregates revenue as set forth in the following tables (in thousands):

Revenue by Geography

 

 

For the Three Months Ended March 31,

 

Revenues: (1)

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

North America

 

$

90,896

 

 

$

88,410

 

Europe

 

 

15,081

 

 

 

11,787

 

Asia Pacific

 

 

6,393

 

 

 

5,051

 

Other

 

 

1,411

 

 

 

1,097

 

Total

 

$

113,781

 

 

$

106,345

 

(1)

Revenue location is determined based on where the products and services are consumed.

Contract Assets and Contract Liabilities

Accounts Receivable

Accounts receivable includes amounts billed and currently due from customers. Since the only condition for payment of ourthe Company’s invoices is the passage of time, the Company records a receivable is recorded on the date thean invoice is issued. Also included in accounts receivable are unbilled amounts resulting from revenue exceeding the amount billed to the customer, where the right to payment is unconditional. If the right to payment for services performed was conditional on something other than the passage of time, the unbilled amount would be recorded as a separate contract asset. There were no0 contract assets as of March 31, 20202021 or 2019.2020.

The majority of the Company’s contracts are non-cancellable. However, for contracts that are cancellable by the customer, the Company does not record a receivable when it issues an invoice. The Company records accounts receivable on these contracts only up to the amount of revenue earned but not yet collected.

In addition, since the majority of the Company’s contracts are for a duration of one year and payment is expected within one year from the transfer of products and services, the Company does not adjust its receivables or transaction priceprices for the effects of a significant financing component.

Deferred Revenue

The Company refers to contract liabilities as deferred revenue on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Payment terms in the Company’s customer contracts vary, but generally require payment in advance of fully satisfying the performance obligation(s). Deferred revenue consists of billings in excess of revenue recognized. Similar to accounts receivable, the Company does not record deferred revenue for unpaid invoices issued on a cancellable contract.

 

The Company recognized revenue of $69.9 and $58.1 million duringDuring the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company recognized $72.3 and 2019,$69.9 million of revenue, respectively, related to its deferred revenue balancebalances at the beginningJanuary 1 of each such period. To determine revenue recognized in each such period from deferred revenue at the beginning of theeach period, the Company first allocates revenue to the individual deferred revenue balance outstanding at the beginning of theeach period, until the revenue equals that balance.

 

Approximately $343.6$489.0 million of revenue is expected to be recognized during the next 12 to 24 months from remaining performance obligations as of March 31, 2020.2021.

Reserves for Credit Losses

The allowance for expected credit losses on accounts receivable for the three months ended March 31, 2021 is summarized as follows (in thousands):

 

 

Total

Allowance

 

Balance at December 31, 2020

 

$

708

 

Provision for expected credit losses

 

 

86

 

Write-offs

 

 

(63

)

Balance at March 31, 2021

 

$

731

 

When evaluating the adequacy of the allowance for expected credit losses, the Company makes judgments regarding the collectability of accounts receivable based, in part, on the Company’s historical loss rate experience, customer concentrations, management’s expectations of future losses as informed by current economic conditions, and changes in customer payment terms. If


the expected financial condition of the Company’s customers were to deteriorate, resulting in an impairment of their ability to make payments, additional allowances may be required. If the expected financial condition of the Company’s customers were to improve, the allowances may be reduced accordingly.

Cost to Obtain Contracts

The Company capitalizes commissions paid to internal sales representatives and related fringe benefits costs that are incremental to obtaining customer contracts. These costs are included in deferred commissions on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Company accounts for these costs at a portfolio level as the Company’s contracts are similar in nature and the amortization model used closely matches the amortization expense that would be recognized on a contract-by-contract basis. Costs to obtain a contract are amortized to operations asearnings over the initial contract term, which is the same period the related revenue is recognized over the initial contract term.recognized. Amortization expense related to deferred commissions was $8.1 million and $7.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 was $8.8 million and 2019,$8.1 million, respectively. The Company evaluates the recoverability of deferred commissions at each balance sheet date.date and there were 0 impairments recorded during the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020.


Note 76 — Derivatives and Hedging

During 2019, theThe Company entered into anhas a derivative contract (an interest rate swap contractswap) to mitigate the cash flow risk associated with changes in interest rates on its variable rate debt (see(refer to Note 43Debt). The Company accounts for its outstanding interest rate swapderivative contract in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 815 – Derivatives and Hedging (“Topic 815”), which requires all derivatives, including derivatives designated as accounting hedges, to be recorded on the balance sheet at fair value.

Interest Rate Swap

At March 31, 2020,2021, the Company had a single interest rate swap contract that matures in 2022, with an initial notional amount of $95.0 million. The notional amount at March 31, 20202021 was $89.1$52.7 million. The Company pays a base fixed rate of 1.65275% and in return receives the greater of (1) 1-month LIBOR, rounded up to the nearest 1/16 of a percent, or (2) 0.00%. The fair value of the swap on March 31, 20202021 was a liability of $1.8$0.9 million (see(refer to Note 87Fair Value Measurements for information on determining the fair value). The liability is included in other non-current liabilities inon the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

The swap has been designated and accounted for as a cash flow hedge of the forecasted interest payments on the Company’s debt. As long as the swap continues to be a highly effective hedge of the designated interest rate risk, changes in the fair value of the swap are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss,income (loss), a component of equity.equity in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Any ineffective portion of a change in the fair value of a hedge is recorded in earnings.

As required under Topic 815, the swap’s effectiveness is assessed on a quarterly basis. Since its inception, and through March 31, 2020,2021, the interest rate swap was considered highly effective. Accordingly, the $1.3 million net accumulated lossentire negative fair value as of March 31, 2020 continues to be deferred and recorded,2021 of $0.6 million, net of taxes, is recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss. The Company expects $0.7$0.5 million of this loss, net of taxes, to be reclassified into earnings within the next 12 months. Realized gains or losses related to the interest rate swap are included as operating activities in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

The Company’s derivative counterparty is an investment grade financial institution. The Company does not have any collateral arrangements with its derivativethis counterparty and the derivative contract does not contain credit risk related contingent features.

The Company did not have any derivatives astable below provides information regarding amounts recognized in the Consolidated Statements of or during,Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2019.derivative contract for the periods indicated (in thousands):

 

 

For the Three Months Ended

 

 

 

March 31,

 

Amount recorded in:

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

Interest expense (1)

 

$

(259

)

 

$

13

 

Total

 

$

(259

)

 

$

13

 

(1)

Consists of interest expense from the interest rate swap contract.


Note 87 — Fair Value Measurements

The carrying amounts reflected inon the Consolidated Balance Sheets for cash, accounts receivable, accounts payable, and accrued expenses (excluding the contingent consideration discussed below) approximate fair value due to their short-term maturities. The Company’s financial instruments also include its outstanding variable-rate borrowings (refer to Note 43Debt). The Company believes that the carrying amount of its variable-rate borrowings reasonably approximate their fair values because the rates of interest on those borrowings reflect current market rates of interest.

Additionally, the Company measures certain financial assets and liabilities at fair value on a recurring basis including cash equivalents contingent purchase price related to acquisitions, and its interest rate swap.derivative contract. The fair values of these financial assets and liabilities have been classified as Level 1, 2, or 3 within the fair value hierarchy as described in the accounting standards for fair value measurements:

Level 1 — Fair value based on quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

Level 2 — Fair value based on inputs other than Level 1 inputs that are observable, either directly or indirectly, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities;liabilities, quoted prices in markets that are not active;active, or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.

Level 3 — Fair value based on unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and such inputs are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities.

The following table represents the Company’s fair value hierarchy for its financial assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis (in thousands):

 

 

 

As of March 31, 2020

 

 

 

Level 1

 

 

Level 2

 

 

Level 3

 

 

Total

 

Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Money market funds (1)

 

$

2,811

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

2,811

 

Total Assets:

 

$

2,811

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

2,811

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contingent purchase price (2)

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

(2,524

)

 

$

(2,524

)

Interest rate swap (3)

 

 

 

 

$

(1,787

)

 

 

 

 

 

(1,787

)

Total Liabilities:

 

$

 

 

$

(1,787

)

 

$

(2,524

)

 

$

(4,311

)

 

 

As of March 31, 2021

 

 

 

Level 1

 

 

Level 2

 

 

Total

 

Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Money market funds (1)

 

$

503

 

 

$

 

 

$

503

 

Total Assets

 

$

503

 

 

$

 

 

$

503

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest rate swap (2)

 

 

 

 

$

(880

)

 

$

(880

)

Total Liabilities

 

$

 

 

$

(880

)

 

$

(880

)

 


 

 

As of December 31, 2019

 

 

 

Level 1

 

 

Level 2

 

 

Level 3

 

 

Total

 

Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Money market funds (1)

 

$

2,354

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

2,354

 

Total Assets:

 

$

2,354

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

2,354

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contingent purchase price (2)

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

(2,511

)

 

$

(2,511

)

Interest rate swap (3)

 

 

 

 

$

(144

)

 

 

 

 

 

(144

)

Total Liabilities:

 

$

 

 

$

(144

)

 

$

(2,511

)

 

$

(2,655

)

 

 

As of December 31, 2020

 

 

 

Level 1

 

 

Level 2

 

 

Total

 

Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Money market funds (1)

 

$

503

 

 

$

 

 

$

503

 

Total Assets

 

$

503

 

 

$

 

 

$

503

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest rate swap (2)

 

 

 

 

$

(1,144

)

 

$

(1,144

)

Total Liabilities

 

$

 

 

$

(1,144

)

 

$

(1,144

)

 

(1)

Included in cash and cash equivalents on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

(2)

The acquisition of FeedbackNow on July 6, 2018 included a contingent consideration arrangement that required up to $4.2 million of consideration to be paid to the sellers based on the financial performance of FeedbackNow during the two-year period subsequent to the closing date. The fair value of the remaining contingent consideration to be paid to the sellers is $2.5 million at both March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, and is included in accrued expenses and other current liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

(3)

The Company has an interest rate swap contract that hedges the risk of variability from interest payments on its borrowings (see(refer to Note 43 – Debt and Note 76 – Derivatives and Hedging). The fair value of the interest rate swap is based on mark-to-market valuations prepared by a third-party broker. Those valuations are based on observable interest rates and other observable market data, which the Company considers Level 2 inputs.

During the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019,2021, the Company did not transfer assets or liabilities between levels of the fair value hierarchy. Additionally, there have been no changes to the valuation techniques for Level 2 or Level 3 liabilities.

Level 3 liabilities at March 31, 2020 consist entirely of the contingent purchase price related to the acquisition of FeedbackNow. Changes in the fair value of Level 3 contingent consideration for the three months ended March 31, 2020 were as follows (in thousands):

 

Contingent

 

 

Consideration

 

Balance at December 31, 2019

$

(2,511

)

Fair value adjustment of contingent purchase price (1)

 

(11

)

Payment of contingent purchase price

 

 

Foreign exchange effect

 

(2

)

Balance at March 31, 2020

$

(2,524

)

(1)

This amount was recognized as acquisition and integration costs within the Consolidated Statements of Operations. As of March 31, 2020, the remaining range of undiscounted amounts that could be payable under this arrangement is zero to $2.5 million. The significant unobservable inputs used in the Monte Carlo simulation to fair value the contingent consideration included projected contract bookings, a discount rate of 17.3%, and revenue volatility of 26.6%. Increases or decreases in the inputs would result in a higher or lower fair value measurement.

Note 98 — Income Taxes

Forrester provides for income taxes on an interim basis according to management’s estimate of the effective tax rate expected to be applicable for the full fiscal year. Certain items such as changes in tax rates, tax benefits or expense related to settlements of share-based payment awards, and foreign currency gains or losses are treated as discrete items and are recorded in the period in which they arise.

Income tax expense for the three months ended March 31, 2021 was $2.0 million resulting in an effective tax rate of 33.4% for the period. Income tax expense for the three months ended March 31, 2020 was $19 thousand resulting in an effective tax rate of


negative 3.8% for the period. IncomeThe increase in income tax benefit forexpense during the three months ended March 31, 20192021 period was $0.2 million resultingprimarily due to the increase in an effective tax rate of 1.7% for the period.overall U.S. profitability.

The Company anticipates that its effective tax rate for the full year 20202021 will be approximately 10% to 15%32%.

On March 27, 2020, Congress enacted the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security ("CARES") Act to provide certain relief as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. The Company is currently evaluatingevaluated the potential impact that the provisions inof the CARES may have onAct and determined it was not material to its financial position andor results of operations.


Note 109 — Accumulated Other Comprehensive LossIncome (Loss) (“AOCI/L”)

The components of accumulated other comprehensive lossincome (loss) are as follows (in(net of tax, in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

 

 

Net Unrealized Gain

 

 

Cumulative

 

 

Accumulated

 

 

 

(Loss) on Interest

 

 

Translation

 

 

Other Comprehensive

 

 

 

Rate Swap

 

 

Adjustment

 

 

Loss

 

Balance at December 31, 2019

 

$

(104

)

 

$

(4,753

)

 

$

(4,857

)

Foreign currency translation

 

 

 

 

 

(1,920

)

 

 

(1,920

)

Unrealized loss on interest rate swap, net of tax of $462

 

 

(1,181

)

 

 

 

 

 

(1,181

)

Balance at March 31, 2020

 

$

(1,285

)

 

$

(6,673

)

 

$

(7,958

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest Rate

 

 

Translation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Swap

 

 

Adjustment

 

 

Total AOCI/L

 

Balance at December 31, 2020

 

$

(821

)

 

$

131

 

 

$

(690

)

Foreign currency translation (1)

 

 

 

 

 

(2,301

)

 

 

(2,301

)

Unrealized gain before reclassification, net

    of tax of $(1)

 

 

4

 

 

 

 

 

 

4

 

Reclassification of AOCI/L to income, net

    of tax of $(73) (2)

 

 

186

 

 

 

 

 

 

186

 

Balance at March 31, 2021

 

$

(631

)

 

$

(2,170

)

 

$

(2,801

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

Cumulative

 

 

Accumulated

 

 

 

 

 

Translation

 

 

Other Comprehensive

 

 

 

 

 

Adjustment

 

 

Loss

 

Balance at December 31, 2018

 

 

 

$

(5,154

)

 

$

(5,154

)

Foreign currency translation

 

 

 

 

(430

)

 

 

(430

)

Balance at March 31, 2019

 

 

 

$

(5,584

)

 

$

(5,584

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest Rate

 

 

Translation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Swap

 

 

Adjustment

 

 

Total AOCI/L

 

Balance at December 31, 2019

 

$

(104

)

 

$

(4,753

)

 

$

(4,857

)

Foreign currency translation (1)

 

 

 

 

 

(1,920

)

 

 

(1,920

)

Unrealized loss, net of tax of $462

 

 

(1,181

)

 

 

 

 

 

(1,181

)

Balance at March 31, 2020

 

$

(1,285

)

 

$

(6,673

)

 

$

(7,958

)

(1)

The Company does not record tax provisions or benefits for the net changes in foreign currency translation adjustments as it intends to permanently reinvest undistributed earnings of its foreign subsidiaries.

(2)

Reclassification is related to the Company’s interest rate swap (cash flow hedge) and was recorded in interest expense on the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Refer to Note 6 – Derivatives and Hedging.

 

Note 1110 — Net LossIncome (Loss) Per Common Share

Basic net lossincome (loss) per common share is computed by dividing net lossincome (loss) by the basic weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net lossincome (loss) per common share is computed by dividing net lossincome (loss) by the diluted weighted average number of common shares and common equivalent shares outstanding during the period. The weighted average number of common equivalent shares outstanding has been determined in accordance with the treasury-stock method. Common equivalent shares consist of common stock issuable on the exercise of outstanding stock options and the vesting of restricted stock units.

Basic and diluted weighted average common shares are as follows (in thousands):

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

March 31,

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

Basic weighted average common shares outstanding

 

 

18,705

 

 

 

18,363

 

 

 

 

19,061

 

 

 

18,705

 

Weighted average common equivalent shares

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

227

 

 

 

 

Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding

 

 

18,705

 

 

 

18,363

 

 

 

 

19,288

 

 

 

18,705

 

Options and restricted stock units excluded from diluted

weighted average share calculation as effect would have

been anti-dilutive

 

 

980

 

 

 

703

 

 

 

 

3

 

 

 

980

 

 


Note 1211 — Stockholders’ Equity

The components of stockholders’ equity are as follows (in thousands):

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31, 2020

 

 

Common Stock

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Treasury Stock

 

 

Accumulated

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number

of

Shares

 

 

$0.01

Par

Value

 

 

Additional

Paid-in

Capital

 

 

Retained

Earnings

 

 

Number

of

Shares

 

 

Cost

 

 

Other

Comprehensive

Income (Loss)

 

 

Total

Equity

 

Balance at December 31, 2019

 

23,275

 

 

$

233

 

 

$

216,454

 

 

$

118,147

 

 

 

4,631

 

 

$

(171,889

)

 

$

(4,857

)

 

$

158,088

 

Issuance of common stock under

   stock plans, net

 

114

 

 

 

1

 

 

 

1,052

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,053

 

Stock-based compensation expense

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,802

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,802

 

Cumulative effect adjustment due

   to adoption of new accounting

   pronouncement, net of tax of $61

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(157

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(157

)

Net loss

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(513

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(513

)

Net change in interest rate swap, net

   of tax of $462

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1,181

)

 

 

(1,181

)

Foreign currency translation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1,920

)

 

 

(1,920

)

Balance at March 31, 2020

 

23,389

 

 

$

234

 

 

$

220,308

 

 

$

117,477

 

 

 

4,631

 

 

$

(171,889

)

 

$

(7,958

)

 

$

158,172

 


 

 

Three Months Ended March 31, 2019

 

 

Common Stock

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Treasury Stock

 

 

Accumulated

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number

of

Shares

 

 

$0.01

Par

Value

 

 

Additional

Paid-in

Capital

 

 

Retained

Earnings

 

 

Number

of

Shares

 

 

Cost

 

 

Other

Comprehensive

Income (Loss)

 

 

Total

Equity

 

Balance at December 31, 2018

 

22,951

 

 

$

230

 

 

$

200,696

 

 

$

127,717

 

 

 

4,631

 

 

$

(171,889

)

 

$

(5,154

)

 

$

151,600

 

Issuance of common stock under

   stock plans, net

 

99

 

 

 

1

 

 

 

3,274

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3,275

 

Stock-based compensation expense

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,685

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,685

 

Net loss

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(13,316

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(13,316

)

Foreign currency translation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(430

)

 

 

(430

)

Balance at March 31, 2019

 

23,050

 

 

$

231

 

 

$

206,655

 

 

$

114,401

 

 

 

4,631

 

 

$

(171,889

)

 

$

(5,584

)

 

$

143,814

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31, 2021

 

 

Common Stock

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Treasury Stock

 

 

Accumulated

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number

of

Shares

 

 

$0.01

Par

Value

 

 

Additional

Paid-in

Capital

 

 

Retained

Earnings

 

 

Number

of

Shares

 

 

Cost

 

 

Other

Comprehensive

Income (Loss)

 

 

Total

Stockholders'

Equity

 

Balance at December 31, 2020

 

23,648

 

 

$

236

 

 

$

230,128

 

 

$

127,981

 

 

 

4,631

 

 

$

(171,889

)

 

$

(690

)

 

$

185,766

 

Issuance of common stock under

   stock plans, including tax effects

 

107

 

 

 

2

 

 

 

2,132

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,134

 

Stock-based compensation expense

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,492

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,492

 

Net income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3,956

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3,956

 

Net change in interest rate swap,

   net of tax

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

190

 

 

 

190

 

Foreign currency translation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(2,301

)

 

 

(2,301

)

Balance at March 31, 2021

 

23,755

 

 

$

238

 

 

$

234,752

 

 

$

131,937

 

 

 

4,631

 

 

$

(171,889

)

 

$

(2,801

)

 

$

192,237

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31, 2020

 

 

Common Stock

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Treasury Stock

 

 

Accumulated

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number

of

Shares

 

 

$0.01

Par

Value

 

 

Additional

Paid-in

Capital

 

 

Retained

Earnings

 

 

Number

of

Shares

 

 

Cost

 

 

Other

Comprehensive

Income (Loss)

 

 

Total

Stockholders'

Equity

 

Balance at December 31, 2019

 

23,275

 

 

$

233

 

 

$

216,454

 

 

$

118,147

 

 

 

4,631

 

 

$

(171,889

)

 

$

(4,857

)

 

$

158,088

 

Issuance of common stock under

   stock plans, including tax effects

 

114

 

 

 

1

 

 

 

1,052

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,053

 

Stock-based compensation expense

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,802

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,802

 

Cumulative effect adjustment due

   to adoption of new accounting

   pronouncement, net of tax

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(157

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(157

)

Net loss

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(513

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(513

)

Net change in interest rate swap,

   net of tax

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1,181

)

 

 

(1,181

)

Foreign currency translation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1,920

)

 

 

(1,920

)

Balance at March 31, 2020

 

23,389

 

 

$

234

 

 

$

220,308

 

 

$

117,477

 

 

 

4,631

 

 

$

(171,889

)

 

$

(7,958

)

 

$

158,172

 

 

Equity Plans

 

Restricted stock unit activity for the three months ended March 31, 20202021 is presented below (in thousands, except per share data):

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted-

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted-

 

 

 

 

 

 

Average

 

 

 

 

 

 

Average

 

 

Number of

 

 

Grant Date

 

 

Number of

 

 

Grant Date

 

 

Shares

 

 

Fair Value

 

 

Shares

 

 

Fair Value

 

Unvested at December 31, 2019

 

 

656

 

 

$

42.94

 

Unvested at December 31, 2020

 

 

642

 

 

$

38.99

 

Granted

 

 

15

 

 

 

37.15

 

 

 

7

 

 

 

46.04

 

Vested

 

 

(71

)

 

 

44.34

 

 

 

(38

)

 

 

41.24

 

Forfeited

 

 

(48

)

 

 

43.71

 

 

 

(13

)

 

 

39.44

 

Unvested at March 31, 2020

 

 

552

 

 

$

42.53

 

Unvested at March 31, 2021

 

 

598

 

 

$

38.93

 

 


Stock option activity for the three months ended March 31, 20202021 is presented below (in thousands, except per share data and contractual term):

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted -

 

 

Weighted -

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Average

 

 

Average

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exercise

 

 

Remaining

 

 

Aggregate

 

 

 

Number

 

 

Price Per

 

 

Contractual

 

 

Intrinsic

 

 

 

of Shares

 

 

Share

 

 

Term (in years)

 

 

Value

 

Outstanding at December 31, 2020

 

 

292

 

 

$

35.46

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exercised

 

 

(30

)

 

 

36.04

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Outstanding at March 31, 2021

 

 

262

 

 

$

35.40

 

 

 

3.15

 

 

$

1,859

 

Vested and Exercisable at March 31, 2021

 

 

262

 

 

$

35.40

 

 

 

3.15

 

 

$

1,859

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted -

 

 

Weighted -

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Average

 

 

Average

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exercise

 

 

Remaining

 

 

Aggregate

 

 

 

Number

 

 

Price Per

 

 

Contractual

 

 

Intrinsic

 

 

 

of Shares

 

 

Share

 

 

Term (in years)

 

 

Value

 

Outstanding at December 31, 2019

 

 

436

 

 

$

35.62

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Granted

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exercised

 

 

(17

)

 

 

33.53

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Forfeited

 

 

(33

)

 

 

38.46

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Outstanding at March 31, 2020

 

 

386

 

 

$

35.47

 

 

 

3.54

 

 

$

4

 

Exercisable at March 31, 2020

 

 

378

 

 

$

35.42

 

 

 

3.56

 

 

$

4

 

Vested and expected to vest at March 31, 2020

 

 

386

 

 

$

35.47

 

 

 

3.54

 

 

$

4

 


 

NaN stock options were granted or forfeited during the three months ended March 31, 2021.

Stock-Based Compensation

Forrester recognizes the fair value of stock-based compensation over the requisite service period of the individual grantee, which generally equals the vesting period. Stock-based compensation was recorded in the following expense categories inon the Consolidated Statements of Operations (in thousands):

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

March 31,

 

 

March 31,

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

Cost of services and fulfillment

 

$

1,593

 

 

$

1,463

 

 

$

1,435

 

 

$

1,593

 

Selling and marketing

 

 

362

 

 

 

440

 

 

 

449

 

 

 

362

 

General and administrative

 

 

847

 

 

 

782

 

 

 

608

 

 

 

847

 

Total

 

$

2,802

 

 

$

2,685

 

 

$

2,492

 

 

$

2,802

 

 

Forrester utilizes the Black-Scholes valuation model for estimating the fair value of shares subject to purchase under the employee stock purchase plan, which were valued using the following assumptions:

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

March 31,

 

 

March 31,

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

Average risk-free interest rate

 

 

0.30

%

 

 

2.51

%

 

 

0.05

%

 

 

0.30

%

Expected dividend yield

 

 

0.0

%

 

 

0.0

%

 

 

0.0

%

 

 

0.0

%

Expected life

 

0.5 Years

 

 

0.5 Years

 

 

0.5 Years

 

 

0.5 Years

 

Expected volatility

 

 

26

%

 

 

34

%

 

 

35

%

 

 

26

%

Weighted average fair value

 

$

8.10

 

 

$

12.50

 

 

$

11.50

 

 

$

8.10

 

Dividends

AsIn 2019, the Company suspended its dividends program as a result of the acquisition of SiriusDecisions, on January 3, 2019 (see Note 2 – Acquisitions),Inc. and the related debt incurred to fund the acquisition (see(refer to Note 43Debt), the Company suspended its dividends program in 2019.. The Company did not declare or pay any dividends in the three months ended March 31, 20202021 and March 31, 2019,2020, respectively.

Treasury Stock

As of March 31, 2020,2021, Forrester’s Board of Directors had authorized an aggregate $535.0 million to purchase common stock under its stock repurchase program. The shares repurchased may be used, among other things, in connection with Forrester’s equity incentive and purchase plans. In the three months ended March 31, 20202021 and March 31, 2019,2020, the Company did not0t repurchase any shares of common stock. From the inception of the program through March 31, 2020,2021, the Company repurchased 16.3 million shares of common stock at an aggregate cost of $474.9 million.


Note 1312Non-Marketable InvestmentsOperating Segments

At March 31, 2020The Company’s operations are grouped into 3 segments: Research, Consulting, and December 31, 2019,Events. These segments are based on the carrying valuemanagement structure of the Company and how management uses financial information to evaluate performance and determine how to allocate resources. The Company’s products and services are delivered through each segment as described below. Additionally, the tables below include the reclassification of revenues for the components of the Company’s non-marketable investments, which were composed of interestsCV subscription research products, as described further in technology-related private equity funds, was $2.5 million, and is included in other assets in theNote 1: Interim Consolidated Balance Sheets.Financial Statements.

The Company’s non-marketable investments are accounted for using the equity method as the investments are limited partnerships and the Company has an ownership interest in excess of 5% and, accordingly, the Company records its share of the investee’s operating results each period. Gains (losses) from non-marketable investments were immaterial during the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 and are included in gain (loss) on investments, net in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. During the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, no distributions were received from the funds.

Note 14 — Operating Segments

As of January 1, 2020, the Company realigned its internal management and reporting into Products and Research segments. The realignment eliminated the SiriusDecisions segment as it no longer operated under a separate management structure. The 2019 amounts have been revised to conform to the current presentation.

The Products segment includes the revenues from all of the Connect, Analytics,Company’s research products as well as consulting revenues from advisory services (such as speeches and Events products andadvisory days) delivered by the Company’s research organization. Research segment costs include the cost of the organizations responsible for developing and delivering these products in addition to the costs of the product management organization responsible for product pricing and packaging, and the launch of new products. In addition, thisMay 2021, the Company announced the launch of a new research portfolio called Forrester Decisions, anticipated to be available in August 2021. This new portfolio of products will help executives, functional leaders, and their teams, across technology, marketing,customer experience, sales, and product management, plan ​and pursue initiatives for driving growth. The Forrester Decisions product combines the research, frameworks, models, and methodologies of the Company’s Forrester Research and SiriusDecisions Research product offerings, as well as features of the Company’s Connect and Analytics products. In connection with the launch of Forrester Decisions, the Company will no longer provide disaggregation of revenue by its research products in the segment tables below (refer to Note 5 – Revenue and Related Matters for disclosure of disaggregated revenue).


The Consulting segment includes Consultingthe revenues and the related costcosts of the Company’s project consulting organization. The project consulting organization delivers a majority of the Company’s project consulting revenue and certain advisory services primarily related toservices.

The Events segment includes the Analytics product line. This segment also includesrevenues and the costs of the product management organization that is responsible for product pricing and packaging and the launch of new products.

The Research segment includes the revenues of the Research products and the cost of the organizations responsible for developing and delivering the Company’s Research products. In addition, this segment includes Consulting revenues primarily from the delivery of advisory services (such as workshops, speecheshosting in-person and advisory days) delivered by the Company’s research analysts.virtual events.

The Company evaluates reportable segment performance and allocates resources based on segment revenues and expenses. Segment expenses include the direct expenses of each segment organization and excludesexclude selling and marketing expenses, general and administrative expenses, stock-based compensation expense, depreciation expense, adjustments to incentive bonus compensation from target amounts, amortization of intangible assets, interest and other expense, and lossesgains on investments. The accounting policies used by the segments are the same as those used in the consolidated financial statements.

The Company provides disaggregated revenueinformation by productreportable segment in the segment tables below (in thousands):

 

 

 

Products

 

 

Research

 

 

Consolidated

 

Three Months Ended March 31, 2020

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Research services revenues

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Research

 

$

 

 

$

53,606

 

 

$

53,606

 

Connect

 

 

13,889

 

 

 

 

 

 

13,889

 

Analytics

 

 

5,301

 

 

 

 

 

 

5,301

 

Total research services revenues

 

 

19,190

 

 

 

53,606

 

 

 

72,796

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Advisory services and events revenues

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consulting

 

 

20,638

 

 

 

12,821

 

 

 

33,459

 

Events

 

 

90

 

 

 

 

 

 

90

 

Total advisory services and events revenues

 

 

20,728

 

 

 

12,821

 

 

 

33,549

 

Total segment revenues

 

 

39,918

 

 

 

66,427

 

 

 

106,345

 

Segment expenses

 

 

(19,378

)

 

 

(18,784

)

 

 

(38,162

)

Selling, marketing, administrative and other expenses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(59,875

)

Amortization of intangible assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(4,712

)

Acquisition and integration costs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(2,875

)

Interest expense, other income and gain on investments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1,215

)

Loss before income taxes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

(494

)

 

 

Research Segment

 

 

Consulting Segment

 

 

Events Segment

 

 

Consolidated

 

Three Months Ended March 31, 2021

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Research revenues

 

$

74,968

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

74,968

 

Consulting revenues

 

 

12,731

 

 

 

25,819

 

 

 

 

 

 

38,550

 

Events revenues

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

263

 

 

 

263

 

Total segment revenues

 

 

87,699

 

 

 

25,819

 

 

 

263

 

 

 

113,781

 

Segment expenses

 

 

(30,717

)

 

 

(12,325

)

 

 

(714

)

 

 

(43,756

)

Selling, marketing, administrative and other expenses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(58,468

)

Amortization of intangible assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(3,903

)

Integration costs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(118

)

Interest expense, other expense, and gains on investments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1,599

)

Loss before income taxes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

5,937

 

 


 

 

Research Segment

 

 

Consulting Segment

 

 

Events Segment

 

 

Consolidated

 

Three Months Ended March 31, 2020

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Research revenues

 

$

74,267

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

74,267

 

Consulting revenues

 

 

12,582

 

 

 

19,406

 

 

 

 

 

 

31,988

 

Events revenues

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

90

 

 

 

90

 

Total segment revenues

 

 

86,849

 

 

 

19,406

 

 

 

90

 

 

 

106,345

 

Segment expenses

 

 

(27,464

)

 

 

(10,021

)

 

 

(677

)

 

 

(38,162

)

Selling, marketing, administrative and other expenses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(59,875

)

Amortization of intangible assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(4,712

)

Integration costs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(2,875

)

Interest expense, other income, and gains on investments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1,215

)

Loss before income taxes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

(494

)

 

 

 

Products

 

 

Research

 

 

Consolidated

 

Three Months Ended March 31, 2019

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Research services revenues

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Research

 

$

 

 

$

49,780

 

 

$

49,780

 

Connect

 

 

13,571

 

 

 

 

 

 

13,571

 

Analytics

 

 

5,258

 

 

 

 

 

 

5,258

 

Total research services revenues

 

 

18,829

 

 

 

49,780

 

 

 

68,609

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Advisory services and events revenues

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consulting

 

 

18,885

 

 

 

12,902

 

 

 

31,787

 

Events

 

 

253

 

 

 

 

 

 

253

 

Total advisory services and events revenues

 

 

19,138

 

 

 

12,902

 

 

 

32,040

 

Total segment revenues

 

 

37,967

 

 

 

62,682

 

 

 

100,649

 

Segment expenses

 

 

(19,948

)

 

 

(20,397

)

 

 

(40,345

)

Selling, marketing, administrative and other expenses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(62,011

)

Amortization of intangible assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(6,210

)

Acquisition and integration costs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(2,967

)

Interest expense, other income and loss on investments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(2,658

)

Loss before income taxes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

(13,542

)

Note 13 — Contingencies

From time to time, the Company may be subject to legal proceedings and civil and regulatory claims that arise in the ordinary course of its business activities. Regardless of the outcome, litigation can have a material adverse effect on the Company because of defense and settlement costs, diversion of management resources, and other factors.

 


ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OFOF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Overview

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as “expects,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “estimates,” or similar expressions are intended to identify these forward-looking statements. Reference is made in particular to our statements about possible acquisitions, payments pursuant to existing acquisition agreements, acquisition and integration costs, future dividends, future share repurchases, future growth rates, results from operations and operating income,tax rates, the launch of Forrester Decisions, future compliance with financial covenants under our credit facility, future interest expense, anticipated increases in, and productivity of, our sales force and headcount, and the adequacy of our cash, and cash flows to satisfy our working capital and capital expenditures.expenditures, and the anticipated impact of accounting standards. These statements are based on our current plans and expectations and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual future activities and results of operations to be materially different from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.uncertainties. Important factors that could cause actual future activities and results to differ include, among others, our ability to retain and enrich subscriptions to, and licenses of, our Research Connect,products and Analytics products,services, our ability to fulfill existing or generate new advisory and consulting engagements and advisory services, our ability to generate and increase demand for ourthe Events we host, technology spending, our ability to mitigate the adverse impact from the widespread outbreak of COVID-19 which could disrupt or restrict our ability to sell or fulfill, or reduce demand for, our products, services, and events, the risks and challenges inherent in international business activities including any impact of Brexit, our ability to offer new products and services, our dependence on key personnel, our ability to attract and retain qualified professional staff, our ability to respond to business and economic conditions and market trends, our ability to integrate the operations of acquired companies, the impact of our outstanding debt, competition and industry consolidation, possible variations in our quarterly operating results, concentration of our stock ownership, the possibility of network disruptions and security breaches, competition and industry consolidation, our ability to enforce and protect our intellectual property rights, compliance with privacy laws, possible variations in our quarterly operating results, taxation risks, concentration of our stock ownership and any weakness identified in our system of internal controls. These risks are described more completely in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 and in Item 1A of Part II of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the year ended March 31, 2020. We undertake no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

The global spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), which has been declared by the World Health Organization to be a “pandemic”, has spread to many countries and is impacting worldwide economic activity. Many governments have implemented policies intended to stop or slow the further spread of the disease, such as shelter-in-place orders, resultingCOVID-19 pandemic significantly affected us beginning in the temporary closure of non-essential businesses, and these measures may remain in place for a significant period of time. Due to COVID-19 materially impacting our business beginning only in the last month of the quarter, the impact on our business in the first quarter ofMarch 2020 is primarily limited to March customerthrough lower contract bookings and a reduction in revenues from the amountconversion of consulting projects delivered.our events from in-person events to virtual events. While the duration and severity of thisthe pandemic is uncertain, we currently expect that our results of operationsdid experience a rebound in contract bookings beginning in the secondfourth quarter of 2020 will haveand continuing through the most significant impactfirst quarter of the effects of COVID-19, and2021. We expect that subsequent periods will alsotrend to continue in 2021. Our events business continues to be negatively impacted. We typically generate a significant portion of our Events revenuesaffected by the pandemic. As we previously announced, all events in the second quarterfirst half of the year, including revenues from our two flagship events, the SiriusDecisions Summit and CX North America, both of which2021 will be held as virtual events, resulting in a significant reduction in revenuesincluding two of our flagship events, B2B Summit North America and profits from these two events. In addition, we cancelled two smallerCX North America. We hope to hold our events originally scheduled for the second quarter of the year. We also expect a reduction in our subscription Research, Connect and Analytics revenues and a reduction in Consulting revenues during the second quarter due to reduced customer contract booking activity in March, which is expected to continue through at least the second quarterhalf of 2020. 2021 as hybrid events, consisting of both in-person and virtual experiences.

The extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic ultimately impacts our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows, and liquidity may differ from our current estimates due to inherent uncertainties regarding the duration and further spread of the outbreak, its severity, actions taken to contain the virus or treat its impact, and how quickly and to what extent normal economic and operating conditions can resume.

We have implemented several cost-reduction measures that include reductions to travel, new hiring, and employee incentive compensation programs. We will continue to proactively respond to the situation and may take further actions that alter our business operations as may be required by governmental authorities, or that we determine are in the best interests of our employees and customers.

As previously noted, on January 3, 2019, we acquired 100% of the issued and outstanding shares of SiriusDecisions, Inc., a privately held company based in Wilton, Connecticut with approximately 350 employees globally. SiriusDecisions equips business-to-business (B2B) sales, marketing, and product leaders with the actionable research, frameworks, tools, operational benchmarks and expert advice to maximize performance and drive alignment. Pursuant to the terms of the merger agreement, the Company paid $246.8 million at closing. Net cash paid, which accounts for the cash acquired of $7.9 million and a subsequent working capital adjustment, was $237.7 million. We paid for the acquisition with $175.0 million of debt and cash on hand. See Note 2 - Acquisitions and Note 4 – Debt in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for more information on the acquisition and related debt obligations.


We derive revenues from subscriptions to our Research Connect and Analytics products and services, licensing electronic “reprints” of our Research, performing consulting projects and advisory services, and consulting projects, and hosting Events. We offer contracts for our Research Connect and Analytics products that are typically renewable annually and payable in advance. Subscription products are recognized as revenue ratably over the term of the contract. Accordingly, a substantial portion of our billings are initially recorded as deferred revenue. Reprints include an obligation to deliver a customer-selected research document and certain usage data provided through an on-line platform, which represents two performance obligations. We recognize revenue for the performance obligation for the data portion of the reprint ratably over the license term. We recognize revenue for the performance obligation for the research document at the time of providing access to the document. Billings for licensing of reprints are initially recorded as deferred revenue. Clients purchase advisoryconsulting projects and consultingadvisory services independently and/or to supplement their access to our subscription-based products. Consulting project revenues, which generally are short-term in nature and based upon fixed-fee agreements, are recognized as the services are provided. Advisory service revenues, such as workshops, speeches and advisory days, are recognized when the service is complete or the customer receives the agreed upon deliverable. Billings attributable to consulting projects and advisory services and consulting projects are initially recorded as deferred revenue. Events revenues consist of ticket orand sponsorship sales for a Forrester-hosted event. Billings for Events are also initially recorded as deferred revenue and are recognized as revenue upon completion of each Event.

Our primary operating expenses consist of cost of services and fulfillment, selling and marketing expenses, and general and administrative expenses. Cost of services and fulfillment represents the costs associated with the production and delivery of our products and services, including salaries, bonuses, employee benefits, and stock-based compensation expense for all personnel that produce and deliver our products and services, including all associated editorial, travel, and support services. Selling and marketing expenses include salaries, sales commissions, bonuses, employee benefits, stock-based compensation expense, travel expenses, promotional costs, and other costs incurred in marketing and selling our products and services. General and administrative expenses include the costs of the technology, operations, finance, and human resources groups and our other administrative functions, including


salaries, bonuses, employee benefits, and stock-based compensation expense. Overhead costs such as facilities and annual fees for cloud-based information technology systems are allocated to these categories according to the number of employees in each group.

Client retention includes allEffective for the first quarter of 2021, we have modified our key metrics to focus on our contract value (“CV”) products (as described below) in comparison to our prior metrics which included measures of our broader product portfolio. For 2021, we have focused on increasing our CV product bookings and have modified our compensation programs and metrics accordingly. We are focusing on CV products as these products are our most profitable products and historically our contracts for CV products have renewed at high rates (as measured by our client relationships except for clients that only purchase web-based products such as individual reports, workshops and Event tickets. Dollar retention and enrichment are calculated at a client account level which results in a broader viewwallet retention metrics). Our CV products make up essentially all of dollar retention and enrichment as it includes virtually all products inour research revenues.

We have included the calculations (except for web-based products mentioned above) and captures all enrichment that occurs withinhistorical calculation of the year for an account.metrics below, dating back to the first quarter of 2019, on the investor relations section of our website.

Deferred revenue, agreementContract value, client retention, dollarwallet retention, enrichment, and number of clients are metrics that we believe are important to understanding our research business. We believe that the amount of deferred revenue, along with the agreement value of contracts, provide a significant measure of our business activity. We define these metrics as follows:

Deferred revenue — billings in advance of revenue recognition as of the measurement date.

Contract value (CV) — is defined as the value attributable to all of our recurring research-related contracts. Contract value is calculated as the annualized value of all contracts in effect at a specific point in time, without regard to how much revenue has already been recognized. Contract value primarily consists of subscription-based contracts for which revenue is recognized on a ratable basis, except for the entitlements embedded in our subscription products, such as event tickets and advisory sessions, for which the revenue is recognized when the item is utilized. Contract value also includes our reprint products, as these products are used throughout the year by our clients and are typically renewed.

Agreement value the total revenues recognizable from all contracts to purchase our services in force at a given time (excluding contracts that consist solely of Consulting services and the value of Event sponsorships included in all contracts), without regard to how much revenue has already been recognized.

Client retention — represents the percentage of client companies (defined as all clients that buy a CV product) at the prior year measurement date that have active contracts at the current year measurement date.

Wallet retention — represents a measure of the CV we have retained with clients over a twelve-month period. Wallet retention is calculated on a percentage basis by dividing the annualized contract value of our current clients, who were also clients a year ago, by the total annualized contract value from a year ago.

Clients — is calculated at the enterprise level as all clients that have an active CV contract.

Client retention the percentage of client companies (defined as all clients except those that only purchase web-based products such as individual reports, workshops and Event tickets) at the prior year measurement date that have active contracts at the current year measurement date.

Dollarwallet retention — the percentage of the total dollar value of client companies’ active contracts at the prior year measurement date that have active contracts at the current year measurement date.

Enrichment  the dollar value of client companies’ active contracts at the current year measurement date compared to the dollar value of the corresponding client companies’ active contracts at the prior year measurement date.

Clients we aggregate the various divisions and subsidiaries of a corporate parent as a single client and we also aggregate separate instrumentalities of the federal, state, and provincial governments as a single client. We include only clients that purchased subscription-based products in our definition of clients.


Client retention, dollar retention, and enrichment are not necessarily indicative of the rate of future retention of our revenue base. A summary of our key metrics is as follows (dollars in millions):

 

 

As of

 

 

Absolute

 

 

Percentage

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

Increase

 

 

Increase

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

(Decrease)

 

 

(Decrease)

 

Deferred revenue

 

$

195.4

 

 

$

191.6

 

 

$

3.8

 

 

 

2

%

Agreement value

 

$

354.9

 

 

$

345.3

 

 

$

9.6

 

 

 

3

%

Client retention

 

 

69

%

 

 

72

%

 

 

(3

)

 

 

(4

%)

Dollar retention

 

 

89

%

 

 

90

%

 

 

(1

)

 

 

(1

%)

Enrichment

 

 

102

%

 

 

106

%

 

 

(4

)

 

 

(4

%)

Number of clients

 

 

2,805

 

 

 

2,850

 

 

 

(45

)

 

 

(2

%)

 

 

As of

 

 

Absolute

 

 

Percentage

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

Increase

 

 

Increase

 

 

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

 

(Decrease)

 

 

(Decrease)

 

Contract value

 

$

307.3

 

 

$

308.0

 

 

$

(0.7

)

 

 

 

Client retention

 

 

75

%

 

 

74

%

 

 

1

 

 

 

1

%

Wallet retention

 

 

89

%

 

 

90

%

 

 

(1

)

 

 

(1

%)

Number of clients

 

 

2,907

 

 

 

2,835

 

 

 

72

 

 

 

3

%

Deferred revenueContract value and our retention metrics were essentially flat at March 31, 2020 increased 2% compared to the prior year, with 4% of the increase due to the fair value adjustment of pre-acquisition deferred revenue that reduced deferred revenue in the prior year, and a 2% decrease primarily due to a reduction in contract billings during the three months ended March 31, 2020. Agreement value increased 3% at March 31, 2020 compared to the prior year due primarily to increased bundling of Consulting services with our Research and Connect products in our contracts. Client retention rate decreased 3 percentage points2021 compared to the prior year period. Dollar retention rate decreased 1 percentage point compared toThese metrics were at their lows during the prior year period. Enrichment rate decreased 4 percentage points compared to the prior year period. Retentionsecond and enrichment rates were negatively affected by a decrease in contract bookings experienced in Marchthird quarters of 2020 as contract booking declined during 2020 due to the economic effectspandemic. We have seen an improvement in these metrics from their lows in the middle of COVID-19 became widespread in Europe2020 as contract bookings expanded during the second half of 2020 and North America.the first quarter of 2021.

Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations are based upon our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“GAAP”). The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. On an ongoing basis, we evaluate our policies and estimates, including but not limited to, those related to our revenue recognition, leases, goodwill, intangible and other long-lived assets, and income taxes. Management bases its estimates on historical experience, data available at the time the estimates are made and various assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. Our critical accounting policies and estimates are described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019.2020.


Results of Operations

The following table sets forth our statement of operations as a percentage of total revenues for the periods indicated:

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

March 31,

 

 

March 31,

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Research services

 

 

68.5

%

 

 

68.2

%

Advisory services and events

 

 

31.5

 

 

 

31.8

 

Research revenues

 

 

65.9

%

 

 

69.8

%

Consulting revenues

 

 

33.9

 

 

 

30.1

 

Events revenues

 

 

0.2

 

 

 

0.1

 

Total revenues

 

 

100.0

 

 

 

100.0

 

 

 

100.0

 

 

 

100.0

 

Operating expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of services and fulfillment

 

 

40.8

 

 

 

44.8

 

 

 

41.7

 

 

 

40.8

 

Selling and marketing

 

 

37.9

 

 

 

41.8

 

 

 

34.5

 

 

 

37.9

 

General and administrative

 

 

11.3

 

 

 

13.1

 

 

 

11.6

 

 

 

11.3

 

Depreciation

 

 

2.2

 

 

 

2.0

 

 

 

2.1

 

 

 

2.2

 

Amortization of intangible assets

 

 

4.4

 

 

 

6.2

 

 

 

3.4

 

 

 

4.4

 

Acquisition and integration costs

 

 

2.7

 

 

 

2.9

 

Income (loss) from operations

 

 

0.7

 

 

 

(10.8

)

Integration costs

 

 

0.1

 

 

 

2.7

 

Income from operations

 

 

6.6

 

 

 

0.7

 

Interest expense

 

 

(1.4

)

 

 

(2.3

)

 

 

(1.0

)

 

 

(1.4

)

Other income (expense), net

 

 

0.2

 

 

 

(0.3

)

 

 

(0.4

)

 

 

0.2

 

Gain (loss) on investments, net

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loss before income taxes

 

 

(0.5

)

 

 

(13.5

)

Income tax expense (benefit)

 

 

 

 

 

(0.3

)

Net loss

 

 

(0.5

%)

 

 

(13.2

%)

Gain on investments, net

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income (loss) before income taxes

 

 

5.2

 

 

 

(0.5

)

Income tax expense

 

 

1.7

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

 

 

3.5

%

 

 

(0.5

%)

 


Three Months Ended March 31, 20202021 and 20192020

Revenues

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

Absolute

 

 

Percentage

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

Absolute

 

 

Percentage

 

 

March 31,

 

 

Increase

 

 

Increase

 

 

March 31,

 

 

Increase

 

 

Increase

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

(Decrease)

 

 

(Decrease)

 

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

 

(Decrease)

 

 

(Decrease)

 

 

(dollars in millions)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(dollars in millions)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues

 

$

106.3

 

 

$

100.6

 

 

$

5.7

 

 

 

6

%

Revenues from research services

 

$

72.8

 

 

$

68.6

 

 

$

4.2

 

 

 

6

%

Revenues from advisory services and events

 

$

33.5

 

 

$

32.0

 

 

$

1.5

 

 

 

5

%

Total revenues

 

$

113.8

 

 

$

106.3

 

 

$

7.4

 

 

 

7

%

Research revenues

 

$

75.0

 

 

$

74.3

 

 

$

0.7

 

 

 

1

%

Consulting revenues

 

$

38.6

 

 

$

32.0

 

 

$

6.6

 

 

 

21

%

Events revenues

 

$

0.3

 

 

$

0.1

 

 

$

0.2

 

 

 

192

%

Revenues attributable to customers outside of the U.S.

 

$

21.4

 

 

$

22.4

 

 

$

(1.0

)

 

 

(4

%)

 

$

26.8

 

 

$

21.4

 

 

$

5.5

 

 

 

26

%

Percentage of revenue attributable to customers

outside of the U.S.

 

 

20

%

 

 

21

%

 

 

(1

)

 

 

(5

%)

 

 

24

%

 

 

20

%

 

 

4

 

 

 

20

%

Number of events

 

 

 

 

2

 

 

 

(2

)

 

 

(100

%)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total revenues increased 6%7% during the three months ended March 31, 20202021 compared to the prior year period. Approximately 4%period, with 1% of the growth wasincrease due to changes in foreign currencies. Revenues from customers outside the fair value adjustment of pre-acquisition deferred revenue that reduced revenuesU.S. increased 25% during the three months ended March 31, 2019. Revenues from customers outside the U.S. decreased 4% during the three months ended March 31, 2020 which was primarily2021, due to a decreasean increase in revenues in Canada and the United Kingdom.Kingdom, Asia Pacific region, Europe and Canada. Approximately 7% of the increase was due to changes in foreign currencies.

Research services revenues are recognized as revenue primarily on a ratable basis over the term of the contracts, which are generally twelve-month periods. Research services revenues increased 6%1% during the three months ended March 31, 20202021 compared to the prior year period, which was primarily driven byresulted from flat contract value growth in Research and Connect products. Approximately 5% of the growth was due to the fair value adjustment of pre-acquisition deferred revenue that reducedduring this period.

Consulting revenues increased 21% during the three months ended March 31, 2019.2021 compared to the prior year period due to continued strong demand for our content marketing offerings and growth in our advisory services.

Revenues from advisory servicesEvents revenues were insignificant and events increased 5%remained essentially consistent during the three months ended March 31, 20202021 compared to the prior year period which was due to growth of Consulting revenues. Approximately 1% of the growth was due to the fair value adjustment of pre-acquisition deferred revenue that reduced revenuesas no events took place during the three months ended March 31, 2019.either period.

Refer to the “Segments Results” section below for a discussion of revenues and expenses by segment.


Cost of Services and Fulfillment

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

Absolute

 

 

Percentage

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

Absolute

 

 

Percentage

 

 

March 31,

 

 

Increase

 

 

Increase

 

 

March 31,

 

 

Increase

 

 

Increase

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

(Decrease)

 

 

(Decrease)

 

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

 

(Decrease)

 

 

(Decrease)

 

Cost of services and fulfillment (dollars in millions)

 

$

43.4

 

 

$

45.1

 

 

$

(1.7

)

 

 

(4

%)

 

$

47.5

 

 

$

43.4

 

 

$

4.1

 

 

 

10

%

Cost of services and fulfillment as a percentage of

total revenues

 

 

40.8

%

 

 

44.8

%

 

 

(4.0

)

 

 

(9

%)

 

 

41.7

%

 

 

40.8

%

 

 

0.9

 

 

 

2

%

Service and fulfillment employees

(at end of period)

 

 

786

 

 

 

754

 

 

 

32

 

 

 

4

%

 

 

760

 

 

 

786

 

 

 

(26

)

 

 

(3

%)

 

Cost of services and fulfillment expenses decreased 4%increased 10% during the three months ended March 31, 20202021 compared to the prior year period. The decreaseincrease was primarily due to (1) a $2.6$4.0 million decreaseincrease in compensation and benefit costs resulting principally from a decrease indue to reinstating incentive bonuses due tobonus programs that were eliminated as part of the cost-reduction measures implemented in 2020 as a result of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, merit increases, and severance costs, and (2) a $2.3 million increase in professional services costs primarily due to increases in outsourced services related to revenue delivery and survey costs. These increases were partially offset by an increase in headcount and merit increases, and a $0.6$1.5 million decrease in travel and entertainment expenses. These decreases were partially offset byexpenses due to reduced travel as a $1.6 million increase in professional services costs.result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Selling and Marketing

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

Absolute

 

 

Percentage

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

Absolute

 

 

Percentage

 

 

March 31,

 

 

Increase

 

 

Increase

 

 

March 31,

 

 

Increase

 

 

Increase

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

(Decrease)

 

 

(Decrease)

 

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

 

(Decrease)

 

 

(Decrease)

 

Selling and marketing expenses (dollars in millions)

 

$

40.3

 

 

$

42.0

 

 

$

(1.7

)

 

 

(4

%)

 

$

39.3

 

 

$

40.3

 

 

$

(1.0

)

 

 

(2

%)

Selling and marketing expenses as a percentage of

total revenues

 

 

37.9

%

 

 

41.8

%

 

 

(3.9

)

 

 

(9

%)

 

 

34.5

%

 

 

37.9

%

 

 

(3.4

)

 

 

(9

%)

Selling and marketing employees (at end of period)

 

 

771

 

 

 

739

 

 

 

32

 

 

 

4

%

 

 

746

 

 

 

771

 

 

 

(25

)

 

 

(3

%)


Selling and marketing expenses decreased 4%2% during the three months ended March 31, 20202021 compared to the prior year period. The decrease was primarily due to (1) a $1.1$1.7 million decrease in travel and entertainment expenses due to reduced travel as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and (2) a $0.7$0.4 million decrease in bad debt expense. These decreases were partially offset by a $1.5 million increase in compensation and benefit costs resulting principally from a decrease indue to reinstating incentive bonuses due tobonus programs that were eliminated as part of the cost-reduction measures implemented in 2020 as a result of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, partially offset by an increase in headcountcommissions expense, and merit increases.

General and Administrative

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

Absolute

 

 

Percentage

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

Absolute

 

 

Percentage

 

 

March 31,

 

 

Increase

 

 

Increase

 

 

March 31,

 

 

Increase

 

 

Increase

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

(Decrease)

 

 

(Decrease)

 

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

 

(Decrease)

 

 

(Decrease)

 

General and administrative expenses (dollars in millions)

 

$

12.0

 

 

$

13.2

 

 

$

(1.2

)

 

 

(9

%)

 

$

13.2

 

 

$

12.0

 

 

$

1.2

 

 

 

10

%

General and administrative expenses as a percentage of

total revenues

 

 

11.3

%

 

 

13.1

%

 

 

(1.8

)

 

 

(14

%)

 

 

11.6

%

 

 

11.3

%

 

 

0.3

 

 

 

3

%

General and administrative employees (at end of period)

 

 

237

 

 

 

247

 

 

 

(10

)

 

 

(4

%)

 

 

243

 

 

 

237

 

 

 

6

 

 

 

3

%

 

General and administrative expenses decreased 9%increased 10% during the three months ended March 31, 20202021 compared to the prior year period. The decreaseincrease was primarily due to a $1.1$1.3 million decreaseincrease in compensation and benefit costs resulting principally from a decrease indue to reinstating incentive bonuses due tobonus programs that were eliminated as part of the cost-reduction measures implemented in 2020 as a result of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.pandemic and merit increases.

Depreciation

Depreciation expense increased by $0.4 million during the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared to2021 was consistent with the prior year period due to additional leasehold improvements being put into service.period.

Amortization of Intangible Assets

Amortization expense decreased by $1.5 million during the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared to the prior year period due to certain technology intangible assets becoming fully amortized.

Acquisition and Integration Costs

Acquisition and integration costs remained consistent during the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared to the prior year period. We expect to incur integration costs in a range of $3.5 million to $4.0 million for the year ending December 31, 2020.

Interest Expense

Interest expense consists of interest on our borrowings used to finance the previous acquisition of SiriusDecisions. Interest expense decreased by $0.8 million during the three months ended March 31, 20202021 compared to the prior year period. This decrease wasperiod primarily due to a certain intangible asset becoming fully amortized in 2020.


Integration Costs

Integration costs consist of direct and incremental costs to integrate acquired companies and in 2020 primarily consisted of certain fair value adjustments, consulting, severance, accounting and tax professional fees, and expenses related to unused lease facilities.

Integration costs decreased by $2.8 million during the three months ended March 31, 2021 compared to the prior year period due to the substantial completion of the integration of SiriusDecisions, Inc. (acquired at the beginning of 2019) during 2020. Integration costs in 2021 relate to unused lease facilities from the SiriusDecisions acquisition.

We expect to incur integration costs in a range of $0.3 million to $0.5 million for the year ending December 31, 2021.

Interest Expense

Interest expense consists of interest on our borrowings and realized gains (losses) on the related interest rate swap. Interest expense decreased by $0.4 million during the three months ended March 31, 2021 compared to the prior year period due to lower average outstanding borrowings and a lower effective interest rates.rate.

Other Income (Expense), Net

Other income (expense), net primarily consists of gains (losses) on foreign currency and interest income. The increasedecrease in other income (expense), net of $0.6$0.8 million during the three months ended March 31, 2020 2021 compared to the prior year period was primarily due to a decreasean increase in foreign currency losses.

Gain (Loss) on Investments, Net

Gain (loss) on investments, net primarily represents our share of equity method investment gains and losses from our technology-related investment funds. Gain (loss) on investments, net remained essentially consistent during the three months ended March 31, 20202021 compared to the prior year period.

Income Tax Expense (Benefit)

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

Absolute

 

 

Percentage

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

Absolute

 

 

Percentage

 

 

March 31,

 

 

Increase

 

 

Increase

 

 

March 31,

 

 

Increase

 

 

Increase

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

(Decrease)

 

 

(Decrease)

 

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

 

(Decrease)

 

 

(Decrease)

 

Provision (benefit) for income taxes (dollars in millions)

 

$

 

 

$

(0.2

)

 

$

0.2

 

 

 

100

%

Provision for income taxes (dollars in millions)

 

$

2.0

 

 

$

 

 

$

2.0

 

 

 

100

%

Effective tax rate

 

 

(3.8

%)

 

 

1.7

%

 

 

(5.5

)

 

 

(324

%)

 

 

33.4

%

 

 

(3.8

%)

 

 

37.2

 

 

 

968

%

 


Income tax expense forincreased by $2.0 million during the three months ended March 31, 2020 was $19 thousand resulting in an effective tax rate of negative 3.8% for2021 compared to the prior year period primarily due to discrete items for the period, primarily tax expense related to the exercise of stock options and the vesting of restricted stock units.increase in overall U.S. profitability. For the full year 2020,2021, we anticipate that our effective tax rate will be approximately 10% to 15%32%.

Segment Results

As of January 1, 2020, we realignedOur operations are grouped into three segments: Research, Consulting, and Events. These segments are based on our internal management structure and reporting into Productshow management uses financial information to evaluate performance and Research segments. The realignment eliminated the SiriusDecisionsdetermine how to allocate resources. Our products and services are delivered through each segment as it no longer operated under a separate management structure. The 2019 amounts have been reviseddescribed below. Additionally, the tables below include the reclassification of revenues for the components of our CV subscription research products, as described further in Note 1: Interim Consolidated Financial Statements in the Notes to conform to the current presentation.Consolidated Financial Statements.

The ProductsResearch segment includes the revenues from all of our research products as well as consulting revenues from advisory services (such as speeches and advisory days) delivered by our research organization. Research segment costs include the Connect, Analytics, and Events products and the costscost of the organizations responsible for developing and delivering these products in addition to the cost of the product management organization that is responsible for product pricing and packaging and the launch of new products. In addition, thisMay 2021, we announced the launch of a new research portfolio called Forrester Decisions, anticipated to be available in August 2021. This new portfolio of products will help executives, functional leaders, and their teams, across technology, marketing,customer experience, sales, and product management, plan ​and pursue their initiatives for driving growth. The Forrester Decisions product combines the research, frameworks, models, and methodologies of our Forrester Research and SiriusDecisions Research product offerings, as well as features of our Connect and Analytics products.

The Consulting segment includes Consultingthe revenues and the related costcosts of our project consulting organization. The project consulting organization delivers a majority of our project consulting revenue and certain advisory services primarily related toservices.

The Events segment includes the Analytics product line. This segment also includesrevenues and the costs of the product management organization that is responsible for product pricing and packaging and the launch of new products.

The Research segment includes the revenues of the Research products and the cost of the organizations responsible for developing and delivering our Research products. In addition, this segment includes Consulting revenues primarily from the delivery of advisory services (such as workshops, speecheshosting in-person and advisory days) delivered by our research analysts.virtual events.

We evaluate reportable segment performance and allocate resources based on segment revenues and expenses.


Segment expenses include the direct expenses of each segment organization and exclude selling and marketing expenses, general and administrative expenses, stock-based compensation expense, depreciation expense, adjustments to incentive bonus compensation from target amounts, amortization of intangible assets, interest and other expense, and gains (losses) on investments. The accounting policies used by the segments are the same as those used in the consolidated financial statements.

 

 

 

Products

 

 

Research

 

 

Consolidated

 

Three Months Ended March 31, 2020

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Research services revenues

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Research

 

$

 

 

$

53,606

 

 

$

53,606

 

Connect

 

 

13,889

 

 

 

 

 

 

13,889

 

Analytics

 

 

5,301

 

 

 

 

 

 

5,301

 

Total research services revenues

 

 

19,190

 

 

 

53,606

 

 

 

72,796

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Advisory services and events revenues

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consulting

 

 

20,638

 

 

 

12,821

 

 

 

33,459

 

Events

 

 

90

 

 

 

 

 

 

90

 

Total advisory services and events revenues

 

 

20,728

 

 

 

12,821

 

 

 

33,549

 

Total segment revenues

 

 

39,918

 

 

 

66,427

 

 

 

106,345

 

Segment expenses

 

 

(19,378

)

 

 

(18,784

)

 

 

(38,162

)

Year over year revenue change

 

 

5

%

 

 

6

%

 

 

6

%

Year over year expense change

 

 

(3

%)

 

 

(8

%)

 

 

(5

%)

 

 

Research Segment

 

 

Consulting Segment

 

 

Events Segment

 

 

Consolidated

 

 

 

(dollars in thousands)

 

Three Months Ended March 31, 2021

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Research revenues

 

$

74,968

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

74,968

 

Consulting revenues

 

 

12,731

 

 

 

25,819

 

 

 

 

 

 

38,550

 

Events revenues

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

263

 

 

 

263

 

Total segment revenues

 

 

87,699

 

 

 

25,819

 

 

 

263

 

 

 

113,781

 

Segment expenses

 

 

(30,717

)

 

 

(12,325

)

 

 

(714

)

 

 

(43,756

)

Year over year revenue change

 

 

1

%

 

 

33

%

 

 

192

%

 

 

7

%

Year over year expense change

 

 

12

%

 

 

23

%

 

 

5

%

 

 

15

%

 

 

 

Products

 

 

Research

 

 

Consolidated

 

Three Months Ended March 31, 2019

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Research services revenues

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Research

 

$

 

 

$

49,780

 

 

$

49,780

 

Connect

 

 

13,571

 

 

 

 

 

 

13,571

 

Analytics

 

 

5,258

 

 

 

 

 

 

5,258

 

Total research services revenues

 

 

18,829

 

 

 

49,780

 

 

 

68,609

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Advisory services and events revenues

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consulting

 

 

18,885

 

 

 

12,902

 

 

 

31,787

 

Events

 

 

253

 

 

 

 

 

 

253

 

Total advisory services and events revenues

 

 

19,138

 

 

 

12,902

 

 

 

32,040

 

Total segment revenues

 

 

37,967

 

 

 

62,682

 

 

 

100,649

 

Segment expenses

 

 

(19,948

)

 

 

(20,397

)

 

 

(40,345

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Research Segment

 

 

Consulting Segment

 

 

Events Segment

 

 

Consolidated

 

 

 

(dollars in thousands)

 

Three Months Ended March 31, 2020

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Research revenues

 

$

74,267

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

74,267

 

Consulting revenues

 

 

12,582

 

 

 

19,406

 

 

 

 

 

 

31,988

 

Events revenues

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

90

 

 

 

90

 

Total segment revenues

 

 

86,849

 

 

 

19,406

 

 

 

90

 

 

 

106,345

 

Segment expenses

 

 

(27,464

)

 

 

(10,021

)

 

 

(677

)

 

 

(38,162

)

 


ProductResearch segment revenues increased 5%1% during the three months ended March 31, 20202021 compared to the prior year period. ConnectResearch revenues increased 2% driven by the executive program product while Analytics revenueswithin this segment increased 1%. which primarily resulted from flat contract value growth during this period. Consulting revenues increased 9% driven by strong consultant delivery. Approximately 1% of the Productwithin this segment growth was due to the fair value adjustmentincreased delivery of pre-acquisition deferred revenue that reduced revenuesadvisory services.

Research segment expenses increased 12% during the three months ended March 31, 2019.

Product segment2021 compared to the prior year period. The increase in expenses decreased 3% during the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared to the prior year period. The decrease in expenses2021 was primarily due to (1) a (1) $1.5$3.6 million decreaseincrease in compensation and benefit costs primarily due to a decrease inreinstating incentive bonuses due tobonus programs that were eliminated as part of the cost-reduction measures implemented in 2020 as a result of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, merit increases, and severance costs and (2) a $0.9 million increase in professional services costs due to an increase in survey costs and new product development. These increases were partially offset by ana $1.1 million decrease in travel and entertainment expenses due to reduced travel as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Consulting segment revenues increased 33% during the three months ended March 31, 2021 compared to the prior year period driven by continued strong demand for our content marketing offerings.

Consulting segment expenses increased 23% during the three months ended March 31, 2021 compared to the prior year period. The increase in headcount and merit increases, (2)expenses during the three months ended March 31, 2021 was primarily due to (1) a $1.4 $1.5 million increase in professional services primarily due to an increase in survey costs and an increase in outsourced services related to revenue delivery, and (3)(2) a $0.4$1.1 million decrease in travel and entertainment expenses.

Research segment revenues increased 6% for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared to the prior year period. The Research product line increased 8% driven by our reprint product, which was offset by a 1% decrease in Consulting revenues due to lower delivery of advisory revenues. Approximately 5% of the Research segment growth was due to the fair value adjustment of pre-acquisition deferred revenue that reduced revenues during the three months ended March 31, 2019.

Research segment expenses decreased 8% during the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared to the prior year period. The decrease in expenses was primarily due to a $1.5 million decreaseincrease in compensation and benefit costs primarily due to a decrease inreinstating incentive bonuses due tobonus programs that were eliminated as part of the cost-reduction measures implemented in 2020 as a result of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic partially offset by an increase in headcount.

Event segment revenues and merit increases.expenses remained essentially consistent during the three months ended March 31, 2021 compared to the prior year period. No events were held during either period.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

We have historically financed our operations primarily through funds generated from operations. Research services revenues, which constituted approximately 69%66% of our revenues during the three months ended March 31, 2020,2021, are generally renewable annually and are typically payable in advance. We generated cash from operating activities of $21.8$40.6 million and $26.0$21.8 million during the three months ended March 31, 20202021 and 2019,2020, respectively. The $4.2$18.8 million decreaseincrease in cash provided from operations for the three months ended March 31, 2020 2021 compared to the prior year period was primarily attributabledue to a $5.3$10.8 million reduction in cash used for working capital (excluding accounts receivable and deferred revenue) and an $8.6 million increase in cash generated from accounts receivable and deferred revenue due to a reductionan increase in contract bookings and strong collections activity.


During the three months ended March 31, 2021, we used cash in investing activities of $1.5 million for the period.

purchases of property and equipment, primarily consisting of computer software and equipment. During the three months ended March 31, 2020, we used cash in investing activities of $2.4 million for purchases of property and equipment, primarily consisting of software and leasehold improvements. During the three months ended March 31, 2019, we used cash in investing activities of $241.7 million, consisting primarily of $238.9 million for the acquisition of SiriusDecisions, net of cash acquired, and $2.8 million in purchases of property and equipment, consisting primarily ofcomputer software and leasehold improvements.

We used $15.3$1.0 million of cash from financing activities during the three months ended March 31, 20202021 primarily due to $16.3$3.1 million of repayments of debt that consisted of $14.0our term loan, partially offset by $2.1 million of discretionary payments onnet proceeds from the issuance of common stock under our revolving credit facility and $2.3 million of required repayments of our term loan.stock-based incentive plans. We generated $151.4used $15.3 million of cash in financing activities during the three months ended March 31, 2019 2020 primarily due to $171.3 million of borrowings, which reflects the face value of debt of $175.0 million less $3.7 million that was netted against the proceeds to pay debt issuance costs. This was partially offset by $21.6$16.3 million of repayments of debt during the quarter that consisted of $20.0included $14.0 million of discretionary payments on our revolving credit facility and $1.6 million of required repayments of our term loan. During 2020, we anticipate paying approximately $3.5 million of deferred acquisition purchase price (which consists of up to $2.5 million for a contingent consideration agreement (refer to Note 8 – Fair Value Measurements in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements) and $1.0 million of an indemnity holdback) for the FeedbackNow acquisition that occurred in 2018.facility.

In connection with the acquisition of SiriusDecisions, weWe entered into a $200.0 million credit agreement on January 3, 2019 (the “Credit Agreement”).2019. The Credit Agreementcredit agreement provides for: (1) senior secured term loans in an aggregate principal amount of $125.0 million (the Term Loans“Term Loans”) and, (2) a senior secured revolving credit facility in an aggregate principal amount of $75.0 million (the Revolving“Revolving Credit Facility”). We utilized the full $125.0 million of the Term LoansFacility” and, $50.0 million of the Revolving Credit Facility to finance a portion of the acquisition of SiriusDecisions and to pay certain fees, costs and expenses incurred in connectiontogether with the Term Loans, and Revolving Credit Facility.the “Facilities”). Additional information is provided in Note 43 – Debt in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

Borrowings under the Credit Agreement can be repaid early, in part or in whole, at any time and from time to time, without premium or penalty, other than customary breakage reimbursement requirements for the London Interbank Offering Rate (“LIBOR”) based loans.Statements. The Term Loans must be prepaid with net cash proceedsFacilities mature on January 3, 2024. As of (i) certain debt incurred or issued by us and our restricted subsidiaries and (ii) certain asset sales and condemnation or casualty events, subject to certain reinvestment rights.


Amounts borrowed under the Credit Agreement bear interest, at our option, at a rate per annum equal to either (i) LIBOR for the applicable interest period plus a margin that is between 1.75% and 2.50% based on our consolidated total leverage ratio or (ii) the alternate base rate plus a margin that is between 0.75% and 1.50% based on our consolidated total leverage ratio. In addition,March 31, 2021, we will pay a commitment fee that is between 0.25% and 0.35% per annum, based on our consolidated total leverage ratio,had remaining principal payments on the average daily unused portionFacilities totaling $106.3 million, contractually due as follows: $9.4 million in 2021, $28.1 million within 2022 and 2023, and $68.8 million in 2024. We were in full compliance with the covenants as of March 31, 2021 and expect to continue to be in compliance through the Revolving Credit Facility, payable quarterly, in arrears. During 2019, we entered into an interest rate swap contract to effectively convert the floating base interest rate to a fixed rate on approximately 80% of the outstanding Term Loan principal balance. Additional information is provided in Note 7 – Derivatives and Hedging in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.next 12 months.

The Credit Agreement containsFacilities contain certain customary restrictive loan covenants, including among others, financial covenants that apply a maximum leverage ratio and minimum fixed charge coverage ratio. The negative covenants limit, subject to various exceptions, our ability to incur additional indebtedness, create liens on assets, merge, consolidate, liquidate or dissolve any part of Forrester,the Company, sell assets, pay dividends or other payments in respect to capital stock, change fiscal year, or enter into certain transactions with affiliates and subsidiaries.

Additional future contractual cash obligations extending over the next 12 months and beyond primarily consist of operating lease payments. We lease office space under non-cancellable operating lease agreements (refer to Note 4 – Leases in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information). The Credit Agreement also contains customary eventsremaining duration of default, representations,non-cancellable office space leases ranges from less than 1 year to 11 years. As of March 31, 2021, remaining non-cancelable lease payments are due as follows: $11.6 million in 2021, $33.2 million within 2022 and warranties.2023, $30.4 million within 2024 and 2025, and $27.1 million beyond 2025.

In addition to the contractual cash commitments included above, we have other payables and liabilities that may be legally enforceable but are not considered contractual commitments.

As of March 31, 2020, we were in compliance with our financial covenants under the Credit Agreement. We currently forecast that we will be in compliance with our financial covenants for at least one year from the issuance of these interim financial statements, after taking into consideration the cost cutting measures implemented during the first quarter of the year. If the impact of COVID-19 is more severe than currently forecasted this may impact our ability to comply with our financial covenants which could have a material adverse effect on our business. 

As of March 31, 2020,2021, we had cash and cash equivalents of $69.8$125.6 million. This balance includes $51.8$60.2 million held outside of the U.S. If the cash outside of the U.S. areis needed for operations in the U.S., we would be required to accrue and pay U.S. state taxes and may be required to pay withholding taxes to foreign jurisdictions to repatriate these funds. However, our intent is to permanently reinvest these funds outside of the U.S. and our current plans do not demonstrate a need to repatriate these funds for our U.S. operations. We believe that our current cash balance and cash flows from operations will satisfy working capital, financing activities, and capital expenditure requirements for the next twelve months.

Contractual Obligations

There has been a material change to the operating lease payments and purchase commitment lines of the contractual obligations table as disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019. As of March 31, 2020, we have the following updated contractual obligations (in thousands):

Contractual Obligations

 

 

 

Total

 

 

2020

 

 

2021

 

 

2022

 

 

2023

 

 

2024

 

 

Thereafter

 

Operating lease payments (1)

 

 

 

$

106,026

 

 

$

12,046

 

 

$

15,777

 

 

$

15,387

 

 

$

14,872

 

 

$

14,534

 

 

$

33,410

 

Purchase commitments (2)

 

 

 

 

8,372

 

 

 

6,632

 

 

 

870

 

 

 

870

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

114,398

 

 

$

18,678

 

 

$

16,647

 

 

$

16,257

 

 

$

14,872

 

 

$

14,534

 

 

$

33,410

 

(1)

We primarily lease office space under non-cancellable operating lease agreements. During the three months ended March 31, 2020, we entered into several operating leases that commence later in 2020. These leases require us to make $17.2 million of lease payments over the terms of the leases, which are up to ten years. This additional amount is reflected in the table above. Refer to Note 5 - Leasesin the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

(2)

Purchase commitments principally consist of contractual commitments for software, outsourced research services and Event venues. As noted earlier, due to the impact of COVID-19, we moved our two flagship events during the second quarter, the SiriusDecisions Summit and CX North America, to a virtual format, and we cancelled two smaller everts originally scheduled to take place during the same period. As a result of these changes, during the three months ended March 31, 2020 we were able to cancel contracts for event venues, reducing our previously disclosed purchase commitments amounts by a total of $2.1 million.

Other than as noted above, the Contractual Obligations section in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 remains current in all material respects.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We do not maintain any off-balance sheet financing arrangements.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

SeeRefer to Note 1 – Interim Consolidated Financial Statements in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for a full description of recent accounting pronouncements including the expected dates of adoption and effects on results of operations and financial condition.

 


ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVEQUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

There have been no material changes in our assessment of our sensitivity to market risk since our presentation set forth in Item 7A, “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk,” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019.2020.

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

We maintain “disclosure controls and procedures,” as such term is defined under Securities Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(e), that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our Exchange Act reports is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures. In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, our management recognized that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives and our management necessarily was required to apply its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures. Our management, with the participation of our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of March 31, 2020.2021. Based upon their evaluation and subject to the foregoing, the principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective to provide reasonable assurance as of that date.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

Except as noted below, there was no change in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) of the Exchange Act) that occurred during the quarter ended March 31, 2020,2021, which has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting. In response to COVID-19, we have undertaken measures to protect our employees, partners, and clients, including encouraging employees to work remotely. These changes have compelled us to modify some of our control procedures. However, these changes have so far not been material.

 

 


PART II. OTHEROTHER INFORMATION

We are not currentlyFrom time to time, we may be subject to legal proceedings and civil and regulatory claims that arise in the ordinary course of our business activities. Regardless of the outcome, litigation can have a party to any material legal proceedings.adverse effect on us because of defense and settlement costs, diversion of management resources, and other factors.

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

In addition to the other information set forth in this Form 10-Q, you should carefully consider the factors discussed in Part I, “Item 1A: Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019,2020, which could materially affect our business, financial condition or future results. The risk factors described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K remain applicable to our business. In addition, we are updating the risk factor included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K titled “We Face Risks Related to Health Epidemics That Could Adversely Impact Our Business” as follows.

We Face Risks Related to Health Epidemics That Could Adversely Impact Our Business.  Our business has been and could continue to be adversely affected by the effects of a widespread outbreak of contagious disease, including the outbreak of respiratory illness caused by a novel coronavirus first identified in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, or COVID-19. Any outbreak of contagious diseases, and other adverse public health developments, could have a material and adverse effect on our business operations. This could include disruptions or restrictions on the ability of our employees or our customers to travel and a slowdown in the global economy, which could adversely affect our ability to sell or fulfill, and a reduction in demand for, our products, services or events. Any disruption or delay of our customers or third-party service providers would likely impact our operating results. Due to COVID-19 materially impacting our business beginning only in the last month of the quarter, the impact on our business in the first quarter of 2020 is primarily limited to March customer contract bookings and the amount of consulting projects delivered. While the duration and severity of this pandemic is uncertain, we currently expect that its results of operations in the second quarter of 2020 will have the most significant impact of the effects of COVID-19, and that subsequent periods will also be negatively impacted. We typically generate a significant portion of our Events revenues in the second quarter of the year, including revenues from our two flagship events, the SiriusDecisions Summit and CX North America, both of which will be held as virtual events, resulting in significant reduction in revenues and profits from these two events. In addition, we cancelled two small events originally scheduled for the second quarter of the year. We also expect a reduction in our subscription Research, Connect and Analytics revenues and a reduction in Consulting revenues during the second quarter due to reduced customer contract booking activity in March, which is expected to continue through at least the second quarter of 2020.  The extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic ultimately impacts our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows, and liquidity may differ from our current estimates due to inherent uncertainties regarding the duration and further spread of the outbreak, its severity, actions taken to contain the virus or treat its impact, and how quickly and to what extent normal economic and operating conditions can resume.  

We have implemented several cost-reduction measures that include reductions to travel, new hiring, and employee incentive compensation programs. We will continue to proactively respond to the situation and may take further actions that alter our business operations as may be required by governmental authorities, or that we determine are in the best interests of our employees and customers.

As of March 31, 2020, we were in compliance with our financial covenants under our Credit Agreement (see Note 4 – Debt in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements). We currently forecast that we will be in compliance with our financial covenants for at least one year from the issuance of these interim financial statements, after taking into consideration the measures noted above. If the impact of COVID-19 is more severe than currently forecasted this may impact our ability to comply with our financial covenants which could have a material adverse effect us. 

The risks described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and the updated risks within this Form 10-Q are not the only risks that we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial also may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and/or operating results.

ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

Through March 31, 2020,2021, our Board of Directors authorized an aggregate $535.0 million to purchase common stock under our stock repurchase program. During the quarter ended March 31, 2020,2021, we did not purchase any shares of our common stock under the stock repurchase program. As previously disclosed, subsequent to our acquisition of SiriusDecisions we anticipate continuing to substantially reduce or eliminate repurchases of our common stock during 2020.

ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

Not applicable.

ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

Not applicable.

ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION

Not applicable.

 


ITEM 6. EXHIBITS

 

    3.1

 

Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Forrester Research, Inc. (see Exhibit 3.1 to Registration Statement on Form S-1A filed on November 5, 1996)

 

 

 

    3.2

 

Certificate of Amendment of the Certificate of Incorporation of Forrester Research, Inc. (see Exhibit 3.1 to Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999)

 

 

 

    3.3

 

Certificate of Amendment to Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Forrester Research, Inc.

 

 

 

    3.4

 

Amended and Restated By-Laws of Forrester Research, Inc.

 

 

 

    4.1

 

Specimen Certificate for shares of Common Stock, $.01 par value, of Forrester Research, Inc. (see Exhibit 4 to Registration Statement on Form S-1A filed on November 5, 1996)

 

 

 

  31.1

 

Certification of the Principal Executive Officer. (filed herewith)

 

 

 

  31.2

 

Certification of the Principal Financial Officer. (filed herewith)

 

 

 

  32.1

 

Certification of the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. (furnished herewith)

 

 

 

  32.2

 

Certification of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. (furnished herewith)

 

 

 

101.INS

 

Inline XBRL Instance Document.Document – the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document. (filed herewith)

 

 

 

101.SCH

 

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema.Schema Document. (filed herewith)

 

 

 

101.CAL

 

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase.Linkbase Document. (filed herewith)

 

 

 

101.DEF

 

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase.Linkbase Document. (filed herewith)

 

 

 

101.LAB

 

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase.Linkbase Document. (filed herewith)

 

 

 

101.PRE

 

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase.Linkbase Document. (filed herewith)

104

Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL Document). (filed herewith)

 

 

 


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

FORRESTER RESEARCH, INC.

 

 

 

By:

 

/s/ Michael A. DoyleSCOTT R. CHOUINARD

 

 

Michael A. DoyleScott R. Chouinard

 

 

Interim Chief Financial Officer

(Principal financial and accounting officer)

 

Date: May 11, 20206, 2021

 

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