Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Other Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets

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Other Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2018
Text Block [Abstract]  
Other Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets

NOTE 9. OTHER INDEFINITE-LIVED INTANGIBLE ASSETS

Other indefinite-lived intangible consists of mastheads, or the graphic elements that identify our publications to readers and advertisers. These include customized typeset page headers, section headers, and column graphics as well as other name and identity stylized elements within the body of each publication. We are not aware of any legal, competitive, economic or other factors that materially limit the useful life of our mastheads. We account for mastheads in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 350 Intangibles—Goodwill and Other. We do not amortize mastheads, but rather test for impairment annually or more frequently if events or circumstances indicate that an asset may be impaired.

We regularly perform quantitative reviews of mastheads due to the low margins by which the estimated fair value has exceeded our carrying value. We engaged Bond & Pecaro, an independent appraisal and valuation firm, to assist us in estimating the fair value of mastheads as of the annual testing period ended December 31, 2018. The estimated fair value of mastheads is determined using a Relief from Royalty method, a form of the income approach.

The Relief from Royalty method estimates the fair value of mastheads through use of a discounted cash flow model that incorporates a hypothetical “royalty rate” that a third-party owner would be willing to pay in lieu of owning the asset. The royalty rate is based on observed royalty rates for comparable assets as of the measurement date. We adjust the selected royalty rate to account for a percentage of the royalty fee that could be attributed to the use of other intangibles, such as goodwill, time in existence, trade secrets and industry expertise. The adjusted royalty rate represents the royalty fee remaining that could be attributed to the use of the masthead only.

Pre-tax royalty income is based on a 10-year revenue forecast and assumed to carry on into perpetuity. Revenue beyond the projection period (terminal year) is based on estimated long-term industry growth rates. The analysis also incorporated the present value of the tax amortization benefit associated with the mastheads. The key estimates and assumptions are as follows:

 

Mastheads

  

December 31, 2017

  

December 31, 2018

Risk-adjusted discount rate

   10.0%    10.0%

Long-term revenue growth rates

   (3.2%) - 0.9%    (4.0%) - (1.0%)

Royalty rate

   3.0%    3.0%

The risk-adjusted discount rate reflects the WACC developed based on data from same or similar industry participants and publicly available market data as of the measurement date.

Based on our review and analysis, we recorded an impairment charge to mastheads of $36,000 as of the annual testing period ended December 31, 2018. The impairment charge was driven by decreases in the projected long-term revenue growth rates for the print magazine industry. We believe that these decreases are indicative of trends in the industry as a whole and not unique to our company or operations.