Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Other Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets

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Other Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2020
Text Block [Abstract]  
Other Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets
NOTE 11. OTHER INDEFINITE-LIVED INTANGIBLE ASSETS
Other indefinite-lived intangible assets consist 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 performed an interim review of mastheads during the first quarter of 2020 due to the
COVID-19
pandemic and the resulting
stay-at-home
orders that began to adversely impact revenues. We assessed a variety of factors, including media industry forecasts and the amount by which the prior estimated fair value exceeded the carrying value. The results of our first quarter of 2020 interim impairment analysis are described further below.
Impairment testing requires estimates of the fair value of our indefinite-lived intangible assets. We believe that these fair value estimates are critical accounting estimates as the value is significant in relation to our total assets and the estimates incorporate variables and assumptions based on our experiences and judgment about our future operating performance. Fair value measurements use significant unobservable inputs that reflect our own assumptions about the estimates that market participants would use in measuring fair value, including assumptions about risk. If actual future results are less favorable than the assumptions and estimates used in our estimates, we are subject to future impairment charges, the amount of which may be material. The unobservable inputs are defined in FASB ASC Topic 820 “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures” as Level 3 inputs discussed in detail in Note 14 – Fair Value Measurements.
For the interim testing performed in the first quarter of 2020, we engaged Bond & Pecaro, an independent appraisal and valuation firm, to assist us in estimating the fair value of mastheads 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 incorporates the present value of the tax amortization benefit associated with mastheads. The key estimates and assumptions are as follows:
 
Mastheads
  
December 31, 2019
  
March 31, 2020
Risk-adjusted discount rate
   10.0%   
10.5%
Long-term revenue growth rates
   (4.0%) – (1.0%)   
(1.0%) – (25.0%)
Royalty rate
   3.00%   
3.00%
 
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 $0.3 million as of the interim testing period ended March 31, 2020. The impairment charge was driven by decreases in the projected long-term revenue growth rates for the print magazine industry and an increase in the WACC. We believe that these factors are indicative of trends in the industry as a whole and not unique to our company or operations. The impairment charge during the first quarter of 2020 reduced the value of our mastheads to zero eliminating subsequent testing.