UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-K

 

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017

Commission File Number 0-21886

 

BARRETT BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

(360) 828-0700

(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

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

 

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ☐ No ☒

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes ☐ No ☒

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 and posted on its corporate Website, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted 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 and post such files). Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. ☒

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, 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.

 

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark 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 Act). Yes ☐ No ☒

State the aggregate market value of the common equity held by non-affiliates of the registrant: $402,103,034 at June 30, 2017

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the registrant's classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date:

 

 

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Portions of the definitive Proxy Statement for the 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders are hereby incorporated by reference in Part III of Form 10-K.

 

 

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BARRETT BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.

2017 ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

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General

Company Background

Barrett Business Services, Inc. (“BBSI,” the “Company,” “our” or “we”), is a leading provider of business management solutions for small and mid-sized companies. The Company has developed a management platform that integrates a knowledge-based approach from the management consulting industry with tools from the human resource outsourcing industry. This platform, through the effective leveraging of human capital, helps our business owner clients run their businesses more effectively. We believe this platform, delivered through a decentralized organizational structure, differentiates BBSI from our competitors. BBSI was incorporated in Maryland in 1965.

Certain statements below contain forward-looking information that is subject to risks and uncertainties. See “Forward-Looking Information” in Item 7 of Part II of this report and “Risk Factors” in Item 1A of Part I of this report.

Business Strategy

Our strategy is to align local operations teams with the mission of small and mid-sized business owners, driving value to their business. To do so, BBSI:

Business Organization

We operate a decentralized delivery model using operationally-focused business teams, typically located within 50 miles of our client companies. These teams are led by senior level business generalists and comprise senior level professionals with expertise in human resources, organizational development, risk mitigation and workplace safety, and various types of administration, including payroll. These teams are responsible for growth of their operations, and for providing strategic leadership, guidance and expert consultation to our client companies. The decentralized structure fosters autonomous decision-making in which business teams deliver plans that closely align with the objectives of each business owner client. This structure also provides a means of incubating talent to support increased growth and capacity. We support clients with employees located in 24 states and the District of Columbia through a network of 58 branch locations in California, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Idaho, Arizona, Colorado, Maryland, North Carolina, Delaware, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Virginia. We also have several smaller recruiting locations in our general market areas, which are under the direction of a branch office.

BBSI believes that making significant investments in the best talent available allows us to leverage the value of this investment many times over. We motivate our management employees through a compensation package that includes a competitive base salary and the opportunity for profit sharing. At the branch level, profit sharing is in direct correlation to client performance, reinforcing a culture focused on achievement of client goals.

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Services Overview

BBSI’s core purpose is to advocate for business owners, particularly in the small and mid-sized business segment. Our evolution from an entrepreneurially run company to a professionally managed organization has helped to form our view that all businesses experience inflection points at key stages of growth. The insights gained through our own growth, along with the trends we see in working with more than 5,600 companies each day, define our approach to guiding business owners through the challenges associated with being an employer. BBSI’s business teams align with each business owner client through a structured three-tiered progression. In doing so, business teams focus on the objectives of each business owner and deliver planning, guidance and resources in support of those objectives.

Tier 1: Tactical Alignment

The first stage focuses on the mutual setting of expectations and is essential to a successful client relationship. It begins with a process of assessment and discovery in which the business owner’s business objectives, attitudes, and culture are aligned with BBSI’s processes, controls and culture. This stage includes an implementation process, which addresses the administrative components of employment.

Tier 2: Dynamic Relationship

The second stage of the relationship emphasizes organizational development as a means of achieving each client’s business objectives. There is a focus on process improvement, development of best practices, supervisor training and leadership development.

Tier 3: Strategic Counsel

With an emphasis on advocacy on behalf of the business owner, the third stage of the relationship is more strategic and forward-looking with a goal of cultivating an environment in which all efforts are directed by the mission and long-term objectives of the business owner.

In addition to serving as a resource and guide, BBSI has the ability to provide workers’ compensation coverage as a means of meeting statutory requirements and protecting our clients from employment-related injury claims. Through our third-party administrators, we provide claims management services for our clients. We work aggressively to manage and reduce job injury claims, identify fraudulent claims and structure optimal work programs, including modified duty.

Categories of Services

We report financial results in two categories of services: Professional Employer Services (“PEO”) and Staffing. During 2017, we supported in excess of 5,600 PEO clients and approximately 188,000 employees. This compares to more than 4,900 PEO clients and approximately 171,000 employees during 2016. See Item 7 of this Report for information regarding the percentages of total net revenues provided by our PEO and staffing services for each of the last three fiscal years, and our consolidated financial statements incorporated into Item 8 of Part II of this Report for information regarding revenues, net income and total assets in our single reportable segment.

PEO

We enter into a client services agreement to establish a co-employment relationship with each client company, assuming responsibility for payroll, payroll taxes, workers’ compensation coverage and certain other administrative functions for the client’s existing workforce. The client maintains physical care, custody and control of their workforce, including the authority to hire and terminate employees.

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Staffing and Recruiting

Our staffing services include on-demand or short-term staffing assignments, contract staffing, direct placement, and long-term or indefinite-term on-site management. On-site management employees are BBSI management employees who are based on the client-site and whose jobs are to assist BBSI staffing employees. Our recruiting experts maintain a deep network of professionals from which we source candidates. Through an assessment process, we gain an understanding of the short and long-term needs of our clients, allowing us to identify and source the right talent for each position. We then conduct a rigorous screening process to help ensure a successful hire.

Clients and Client Contracts

Our business is typically characterized by long-term relationships that result in recurring revenue. The terms and conditions applicable to our client relationships are set forth in a client services agreement, which typically provides for an initial term of one year with renewal for additional one-year periods, but generally permits cancellation by either party upon 30 days’ written notice. In addition, we may terminate the agreement at any time for specified breach of contract, including nonpayment or failure to follow our workplace safety recommendations.

The client services agreement also provides for indemnification by the client against losses arising out of any default by the client under the agreement, including failure to comply with any employment-related, health and safety, or immigration laws or regulations. Our client service agreement requires that clients enter into a co-employment arrangement and maintain comprehensive liability coverage in the amount of $1.0 million for acts of their employees. It is nevertheless possible that claims not satisfied through indemnification or insurance may be asserted against us, which could adversely affect our results of operations.

We have client services agreements with a diverse array of customers, including electronics manufacturers, various light-manufacturing industries, agriculture-based companies, transportation and shipping enterprises, food processors, telecommunications companies, public utilities, general contractors in various construction-related fields, and professional services firms. None of our clients individually represented more than 1% of our total revenues in 2017.

Market Opportunity

As a company that aligns with the mission of business owners by providing resources and guidance to small and mid-size businesses, BBSI believes its growth is driven by the desire of business owners to focus on mission-critical functions, reduce complexity associated with the employment function, mitigate costs and maximize their investment in human capital. Our integrated management platform has enabled us to capitalize on these needs within the small to mid-size business sector.

The small and mid‑sized business segment is particularly attractive because:

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Competition

The business environment in which we operate is characterized by intense competition and fragmentation. BBSI is not aware of reliable statistics regarding the number of its competitors, but certain large, well-known companies typically compete with us in the same markets and also have greater financial and marketing resources than we do, including Automatic Data Processing, Inc., ManpowerGroup, Inc., Kelly Services, Inc., Insperity, Inc., TriNet Group, Inc., Robert Half International Inc. and Paychex, Inc. We face additional competition from regional providers and we may in the future also face competition from new entrants to the field, including other staffing services companies, payroll processing companies and insurance companies. The principal competitive factors in the business environment in which we operate are price and level of service.

We believe that our growth is attributable to our ability to provide small and mid-sized companies with the resources and knowledge base of a large employer delivered through a local operations team. Our level of integration with each client business provides us an additional competitive advantage.

Growth Strategy

We believe our clients are our best advocates and powerful drivers of referral-based growth. In each market, operations teams provide expertise, consultation and support to our clients, driving growth and supporting retention. We anticipate that by adding business teams to existing branches, we can achieve incremental growth in those markets, driven by our reputation and by client referrals. While in most markets business development efforts are led by area managers, in some markets our sales efforts are further supported by business development managers.

Our business growth has three primary sources: referrals from existing clients, direct business-to-business sales efforts by our area managers and an extensive referral network. Partners in our referral network include insurance brokers, financial advisors, attorneys, CPA’s, and other business professionals who can facilitate an introduction to prospective clients. These referral partners facilitate introductions to business owners on our behalf, typically in exchange for a fee equal to a small percentage of payroll.

We see two key drivers to our growth:

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Workers’ Compensation

Through our client services agreement, BBSI has the ability to provide workers’ compensation coverage to its clients. We provide this coverage through a variety of methods, all of which are subject to rigorous underwriting to assess financial stability, risk factors and cultural alignment related to safety and the client’s desire to improve their operations. In providing this coverage, we are responsible for complying with applicable statutory requirements for workers' compensation coverage.

Risk mitigation is also an important contributor to our principal goal of helping business owners operate their business more efficiently. It is in the mutual interests of the client and BBSI to commit to workplace safety and risk mitigation. We maintain clear guidelines for our area managers and risk management consultants, directly tying their continued employment to their diligence in understanding and addressing the risks of accident or injury associated with the industries in which client companies operate and in monitoring clients’ compliance with workplace safety requirements.

Elements of Workers' Compensation System

State law (and for certain types of employees, federal law) generally mandates that an employer reimburse its employees for the costs of medical care and other specified benefits for injuries or illnesses, including catastrophic injuries and fatalities, incurred in the course and scope of employment. Most states require employers to maintain workers' compensation insurance or otherwise demonstrate financial responsibility to meet workers' compensation obligations to employees. The benefits payable for various categories of claims are determined by state regulation and vary with the severity and nature of the injury or illness and other specified factors. In return for this guaranteed protection, workers' compensation is an exclusive remedy and employees are generally precluded from seeking other damages from their employer for workplace injuries. In many states, employers who meet certain financial and other requirements are permitted to self-insure.

Insurance Coverage for Workers' Compensation

The Company is a self-insured employer with respect to workers' compensation coverage for all of its employees (including employees co-employed through our client service agreements) working in Colorado, Maryland and Oregon. In the state of Washington, state law allows only the Company's staffing services and internal management employees to be covered under the Company's self-insured workers' compensation program.

Regulations governing self-insured employers in each jurisdiction typically require the employer to maintain surety bonds, surety deposits of government securities, letters of credit or other financial instruments to cover workers' claims in the event the employer is unable to pay for such claims.

BBSI was self-insured as to worker’s compensation claims in California from 1995 until December 31, 2014. Effective January 1, 2015, the Company stopped maintaining a certificate to self-insure in the state of California, and it now maintains policies with Chubb Limited (“Chubb”)  for all California-based clients, along with clients in Delaware, Virginia, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, New Jersey, West Virginia, Idaho, and the District of Columbia. The arrangement with Chubb, known as a fronted program, provides BBSI a licensed, admitted insurance carrier to issue policies on behalf of BBSI.

Our wholly owned, fully licensed captive insurance company incorporated in Arizona, Associated Insurance Company for Excess (“AICE”), provides reinsurance coverage up to $5.0 million per occurrence, except in Maryland and Colorado, where our retention per occurrence is $1.0 million and $2.0 million, respectively. The Company maintains excess workers’ compensation insurance coverage with Chubb between $5.0 million and statutory limits per occurrence, except in Maryland, where coverage with Chubb is between $1.0 million and statutory limits per occurrence, and in Colorado, where the coverage with Chubb is between $2.0 million and statutory limits per occurrence.

Overall, this approach results in a per occurrence retention on a consolidated basis of $5.0 million for most claims. In light of the per occurrence retention, we may experience significant workers' compensation costs from catastrophic claims, should they occur.

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AICE provides us with access to an alternative mechanism for insurance coverage, as well as certain income tax benefits arising from the ability to accelerate the tax deduction of certain accruals for workers' compensation claims.

The Company also operates a wholly owned insurance company, Ecole Insurance Company (“Ecole”). Ecole is a fully licensed insurance company holding a certificate of authority from the Arizona Department of Insurance. Ecole provides workers’ compensation coverage to the Company’s employees working in Arizona, Utah and Nevada. The Company maintains additional reinsurance coverage for Ecole with Chubb between $5.0 million and statutory limits per occurrence.

Claims Management

As a result of our status as a self-insured employer in four states and our retention arrangements, our workers' compensation expense is tied directly to the incidence and severity of covered workplace injuries. We seek to contain our workers' compensation costs through an aggressive approach to claims management. We use managed-care systems to reduce medical costs and keep time-loss costs to a minimum by assigning injured workers, whenever possible, to short-term assignments which accommodate the workers' physical limitations. We believe that these assignments minimize both time actually lost from work and covered time-loss costs. We engage third-party claims administrators ("TPAs") to provide the primary claims management expertise. Typical claims management procedures include performing thorough and prompt on-site investigations of claims filed by employees, working with physicians to encourage efficient medical management of cases, denying questionable claims and attempting to negotiate early settlements to eliminate future adverse development of claims costs. We also maintain a corporate-wide pre-employment drug screening program and a post-injury drug test program. We believe our claims management program has resulted in a reduction in the frequency of fraudulent claims and in accidents in which the use of illicit drugs appears to have been a contributing factor.

Employees and Employee Benefits

At December 31, 2017, we had 124,212 total employees, including 8,753 staffing services employees, 114,775 employees under our client service agreements, 679 managerial, sales and administrative employees (together, “management employees”), and 5 executive officers. The number of employees at any given time may vary significantly due to business conditions at customer or client companies. We believe our employee relations are good.

We offer various qualified employee benefit plans to our employees, including those employees for whom we are the administrative employer in a co-employment arrangement who so elect. Employees covered under a PEO arrangement may participate in our 401(k) plan at the sole discretion of the PEO client. Our qualified staffing and management employee benefit plans include our 401(k) plan, in which employees may enroll upon reaching 21 years of age and completing 1,000 hours of service in a 12 consecutive month period. We make matching contributions to the 401(k) plan under a safe harbor provision, which are immediately 100% vested. We match 100% of contributions by management and staffing employees up to 3% of each participating employee's annual compensation and 50% of the employee's contributions up to an additional 2% of annual compensation. We may also make discretionary contributions to the 401(k) plan, which vest over six years and are subject to certain legal limits, at the sole discretion of our Board of Directors.

We also offer a cafeteria plan under Section 125 of the Internal Revenue Code and group health, life insurance and disability insurance plans to qualified staffing and management employees. Generally, qualified employee benefit plans are subject to provisions of both the Internal Revenue Code and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 ("ERISA"). In order to qualify for favorable tax treatment under the Internal Revenue Code, qualified plans must be established and maintained by an employer for the exclusive benefit of its employees.

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The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (collectively, the “Acts”) subject us to potential penalties unless we offer to our employees minimum essential healthcare coverage that is affordable. Because each PEO client is considered to be the sole employer in the application of any rule or law included within the scope of the Acts, we do not offer health care coverage to the employees of our PEO clients. However, in order to comply with the employer mandate provision of the Acts, we offer health care coverage to all eligible staffing employees and management employees eligible for coverage under the Acts.

Regulatory and Legislative Issues

We are subject to the laws and regulations of the jurisdictions within which we operate, including those governing self-insured employers under the workers' compensation systems in Oregon, Maryland, and Colorado, as well as in Washington for staffing and management employees. We are also subject to laws and regulations governing our two wholly owned insurance companies in Arizona. While the specific laws and regulations vary among these jurisdictions, they typically require some form of licensing and often have statutory requirements for workplace safety and notice of change in obligation of workers’ compensation coverage in the event of contract termination. Although compliance with these requirements imposes some additional financial risk, particularly with respect to those clients who breach their payment obligation to us, such compliance has not had a material adverse effect on our business to date.

Our operations are affected by numerous federal and state laws relating to labor, tax and employment matters. Through our client services agreement, we assume certain obligations and responsibilities as the administrative employer under federal and state laws. Since many of these federal and state laws were enacted prior to the development of nontraditional employment relationships, such as professional employer, temporary employment, and outsourcing arrangements, many of these laws do not specifically address the obligations and responsibilities of nontraditional employers. In addition, the definition of "employer" under these laws is not uniform.

As an employer, we are subject to all federal statutes and regulations governing our employer-employee relationships. Subject to the discussion of risk factors below, we believe that our operations are in compliance in all material respects with applicable federal statutes and regulations.

Additional Information

Our filings with the SEC, including our annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, periodic reports on Form 8-K and amendments to these reports, are accessible free of charge at our website at http://www.barrettbusiness.com as soon as reasonably practicable after they are electronically filed with the SEC. By making this reference to our website, we do not intend to incorporate into this report any information contained in the website. The website should not be considered part of this report.

Materials that the Company files with the SEC may be read and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, NE., Washington, DC 20549. Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC also maintains a website at http://www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers with publicly traded securities, including the Company.

 

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In addition to other information contained in this report, the following risk factors should be considered carefully in evaluating our business.

Risks Relating to Our Business and Industry

Our consolidated retention for workers' compensation claims is $5.0 million per occurrence under our insurance arrangement with Chubb in the majority of states in which we operate.

We maintain our consolidated retention at $5.0 million per occurrence, except in Colorado and Maryland where our retention is at $2.0 million and $1.0 million per occurrence, respectively, due to regulatory requirements. The Company maintains its excess workers’ compensation insurance coverage with Chubb through our AICE subsidiary. Additionally, Ecole’s retention is at $5.0 million per occurrence for coverage in Arizona, Nevada and Utah. Thus, the Company has financial risk for most workers' compensation claims under $5.0 million on a per occurrence basis. This level of per occurrence retention may result in higher workers’ compensation costs to us with a corresponding negative effect on our operating results and financial condition.

Adverse developments in the market for excess workers' compensation insurance could lead to increases in our costs.

To manage our financial exposure in the event of catastrophic injuries or fatalities, we maintain excess workers' compensation insurance. Changes in the market for excess workers' compensation insurance may lead to limited availability of such coverage, additional increases in our insurance costs or further increases in the amount for which we retain financial risk, any of which may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.

Our ability to continue our business operations under our present service model is dependent on maintaining workers' compensation insurance coverage.

Our arrangement with Chubb to provide workers’ compensation coverage to BBSI’s PEO clients in California, Delaware, Virginia, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, New Jersey, West Virginia, Idaho and the District of Columbia extends through February 1, 2019, with the possibility of additional annual renewals. If Chubb is unwilling or unable to renew our arrangement in the future, we would need to seek alternative coverage. If replacement coverage were unavailable or available only on significantly less favorable terms, our business and results of operations would be materially adversely affected.

Failure to manage the severity and frequency of workplace injuries will increase our workers’ compensation expenses.

Significant increases in the relative frequency or severity of workplace injuries due to failures to accurately assess potential risks or assure implementation of effective safety measures by our clients may result in increased workers’ compensation claims expenses, with a corresponding negative effect on our results of operations and financial condition.

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Our investment portfolio is subject to market and credit risks, which could adversely impact our financial condition or results of operations.

We seek to hold a diversified portfolio of high-quality investments that is managed by a professional investment advisory firm in accordance with our investment policy and routinely reviewed by management and approved by the risk management committee. However, our investments are subject to general economic conditions and market risks as well as risks inherent to particular securities, including credit and liquidity risks. Our portfolio consists primarily of debt securities and is subject to the risk that certain investments may default or become impaired due to deterioration in the financial condition of one or more issuers of the securities. Although our investment strategy is designed to preserve our capital, we cannot be certain that our investment objectives will be achieved, and we could incur substantial realized and unrealized investment losses in future periods.

We may be unable to draw on our revolving credit facility in the future.

As discussed in more detail in “Note 6. Revolving Credit Facility and Long-Term Debt” to the consolidated financial statements incorporated into Item 8 of Part II of this report, our Credit Agreement with our principal bank, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association (the “Bank”), which expires July 1, 2018, provides for a revolving credit facility with a borrowing capacity of up to $25.0 million at December 31, 2017, to be used to finance working capital. There was no outstanding balance at that date. The Credit Agreement includes a standby letter of credit agreement providing for a sublimit of approximately $6.0 million in unsecured letters of credit, as well as a mortgage loan with a balance of approximately $4.4 million secured by our company office building in Vancouver, Washington.

If our business does not perform as expected, including if we generate less revenue than anticipated from our operations or encounter significant unexpected costs, we may fail to comply with the financial covenants under our credit facilities. If we do not comply with our financial covenants and we do not obtain a waiver or amendment from the Bank, the Bank may elect to cause all amounts owed to become immediately due and payable or may decline to renew our credit facility. In that event, we would seek to establish a replacement credit facility with one or more other lenders, including lenders with which we have an existing relationship, potentially on less desirable terms. There can be no guarantee that replacement financing would be available at commercially reasonable terms, if at all.

Our business is subject to risks associated with geographic market concentration.

Our California operations accounted for approximately 79% of our total revenues in 2017. As a result of the current importance of our California operations and anticipated continued growth from these operations, our profitability over the next several years is expected to be largely dependent on economic and regulatory conditions in California. If California experiences an economic downturn, or if the regulatory environment changes in a way that adversely affects our ability to do business or limits our competitive advantages, our profitability and growth prospects may be materially adversely affected.

In order to continue to grow revenues at or near current rates, we are dependent on retaining current clients and attracting new clients.

The Company has experienced significant growth in recent years. Revenues increased 9.5% in 2017 and 13.5% in 2016. There can be no assurance that we will continue to grow revenues at or near current rates of growth. Maintaining rates of growth at these levels becomes increasingly difficult as the size of the Company increases. Efforts to achieve business growth intensifies pressure on retaining current clients and attracting increasing numbers of new clients.

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Economic conditions, particularly in California, may impact our ability to attract new clients and cause our existing clients to reduce staffing levels or cease operations.

Weak economic conditions typically have a negative impact on small-and mid-sized businesses, which make up the majority of our clients. In turn, these businesses could cut costs, including trimming employees from their payrolls, or closing locations or ceasing operations altogether. If weak economic conditions were to develop, these forces may result in decreased revenues due both to the downsizing of our current clients and increased difficulties in attracting new clients in a poor economic environment. In addition, weak economic conditions may also result in additional bad debt expense to the extent that existing clients cease operations.

Our business is subject to risks associated with healthcare reforms.

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (collectively, the “Acts”) subject us to potential penalties unless we offer our employees minimum essential healthcare coverage that is affordable. In order to comply with the employer mandate provision of the Acts, we offer health care coverage to all temporary and permanent employees eligible for coverage under the Acts other than employees of our PEO clients, which are responsible for providing required health care coverage to their employees. Designating employees as eligible is complex, and is subject to challenge by employees and the Internal Revenue Service. While we believe we have properly identified eligible employees, a later determination that we failed to offer the required health coverage to eligible employees could result in penalties that may materially harm our business. We cannot be certain that compliant insurance coverage will remain available to us on reasonable terms, and we could face additional risks arising from future changes to or repeal of the Acts or changed interpretations of our obligations under the Acts. There can be no assurance that we will be able to recover all related costs through increased pricing to our customers or that such costs will be recovered in the period in which costs are incurred, and the net financial impact on our results of operations could be significant.

If we are unable to maintain our brand image and corporate reputation, our business may suffer.

Our success depends in part on our ability to maintain our reputation for providing excellent service to our customers. Service quality issues, actual or perceived, even when false or unfounded, could tarnish the image of our brand and may cause customers to use other companies. Also, adverse publicity surrounding labor relations, data breaches, SEC investigations, securities class actions and the like, could negatively affect our overall reputation. Damage to our reputation could reduce demand for our services and thus have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Our staffing business is vulnerable to economic fluctuations.

Demand for our staffing services is sensitive to changes in the level of economic activity in the regions in which we do business. As economic activity slows down, companies often reduce their use of temporary employees before undertaking layoffs of permanent staff, resulting in decreased demand for staffing services. During strong economic periods, on the other hand, we often experience shortages of qualified employees to meet customer needs, as occurred during 2017.

Because we assume the obligation to make wage, tax and regulatory payments in respect of some employees, we are exposed to client credit risks.

We generally assume credit risk associated with our clients’ employee payroll obligations, including liability for payment of salaries and wages (including payroll taxes), as well as retirement benefits. These obligations are fixed whether or not the client makes payments to us as required by our services agreement. We attempt to mitigate this risk by invoicing our clients at the end of their specific payroll processing cycle. We also carefully monitor the timeliness of our clients' payments and impose strict credit standards on our customers. If we fail to successfully manage our credit risk, our results of operations and financial condition could be materially and adversely affected.

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Increases in unemployment claims could raise our state and federal unemployment tax rates which we may not be able to pass on to our customers.

During weak economic conditions in our markets, the level of unemployment claims tends to rise as a result of employee layoffs at our clients and lack of work in our temporary staffing pool. The rise in unemployment claims often results in higher state and federal unemployment tax rates, which in most instances cannot be concurrently passed on to our customers either due to existing client services agreements or competitive pricing pressures. Increases in our state and federal unemployment tax rates could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, particularly in the early part of the calendar year when payroll tax rates are at or near their maximum.

If we are determined not to be an “employer” under certain laws and regulations, our clients may stop using our services, and we may be subject to additional liabilities.

We are the administrative employer in our co-employment relationships under the various laws and regulations of the Internal Revenue Service and the U.S. Department of Labor. If we are determined not to be the administrative employer under such laws and regulations and are therefore unable to assume our clients’ obligations for employment and other taxes, our clients may be held jointly and severally liable for payment of such taxes. Some clients or prospective clients may view such potential liability as an unacceptable risk, discouraging current clients from continuing a relationship with us or prospective clients from entering into a new relationship with us. Any determination that we are not the administrative employer for purposes of ERISA could also adversely affect our cafeteria benefits plan operated under Section 125 of the Internal Revenue Code and result in liabilities to us under the plan.

We may be exposed to employment‑related claims and costs and periodic litigation that could adversely affect our business and results of operations.

We either co-employ employees in connection with our PEO client services agreements or place our employees in our customers' workplace in connection with our staffing business. As such, we are subject to a number of risks inherent to our status as the administrative employer, including without limitation:

If we experience significant incidents involving any of the above-described risk areas, we could face substantial out-of-pocket losses, fines or negative publicity. In addition, such claims may give rise to litigation, which may be time consuming, distracting and costly, and could have a material adverse effect on our business. With respect to claims involving our co-employer relationships, although our client services agreement provides that the client will indemnify us for any liability attributable to the conduct of the client or its employees, we may not be able to enforce such contractual indemnification, or the client may not have sufficient assets to satisfy its obligations to us. An increase in employment-related claims against us may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.

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We are dependent upon technology services and if we experience damage, service interruptions or failures in our computer and telecommunications systems, our client relationships and our ability to attract new clients may be adversely affected.

We rely extensively on our computer systems to manage our branch network, perform employment-related services and accounting and reporting functions, and summarize and analyze our financial results. Our systems are subject to damage or interruption from telecommunications failures, power-related outages, computer viruses and malicious attacks, security breaches and catastrophic events. If our systems are damaged or fail to function properly, we may incur substantial costs to repair or replace them, experience loss of critical data and interruptions or delays in our ability to manage our operations, and encounter a loss of client confidence. In addition, our clients’ businesses may be adversely affected by any system or equipment failure or breach we experience. As a result, our relationships with our clients may be impaired, we may lose clients, our ability to attract new clients may be adversely affected, and we could be exposed to contractual liability. We may continue to invest in upgrades or replacements to our existing systems or additional security measures, each of which can involve substantial costs and risks relating to installation and implementation.

We depend on third-party software in order to provide our services and support our operations.

Significant portions of our services and operations rely on software that is licensed from third-party vendors. The fees associated with these license agreements could increase in future periods, resulting in increased operating expenses. If there are significant changes to the terms and conditions of our license agreements, or if we are unable to renew these license agreements, we may be required to make changes to our vendors or information technology systems. These changes may impact the services we provide to our clients or the processes we have in place to support our operations, which could have an adverse effect on our business.

If our efforts to protect the security of personal information about our employees and clients are unsuccessful, we could be subject to costly government enforcement actions and private litigation and our reputation could suffer.

The nature of our business involves the receipt, storage, and transmission of personal and proprietary information about thousands of employees and clients. If we experience a significant data security breach or fail to detect and appropriately respond to a significant data security breach, we could be exposed to government enforcement actions and private litigation. In addition, our employees and clients could lose confidence in our ability to protect their personal and proprietary information, which could cause them to terminate their relationships with us. Any loss of confidence arising from a significant data security breach could hurt our reputation, further damaging our business.

We operate in a complex regulatory environment, and failure to comply with applicable laws and regulations could adversely affect our business.

Corporate human resource operations are subject to a broad range of complex and evolving laws and regulations, including those applicable to payroll practices, benefits administration, employment practices, workers’ compensation coverage, and privacy. Because our clients have employees in many states throughout the United States, we must perform our services in compliance with the legal and regulatory requirements of multiple jurisdictions. Some of these laws and regulations may be difficult to ascertain or interpret and may change from time to time. Violation of such laws and regulations could subject us to fines and penalties, damage our reputation, constitute a breach of our client agreements, impair our ability to obtain and renew required licenses, and decrease our profitability or competitiveness. If any of these effects were to occur, our operating results and financial condition could be adversely affected.

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Changes in government regulations may result in restrictions or prohibitions applicable to the provision of employment services or the imposition of additional licensing, regulatory or tax requirements.

Our business is heavily regulated in most jurisdictions in which we operate. We cannot provide assurance that the states in which we conduct or seek to conduct business will not:

Any changes in applicable laws and regulations may make it more difficult or expensive for us to do business, inhibit expansion of our business, or result in additional expenses that limit our profitability or decrease our ability to attract and retain clients.

The tax status of our insurance subsidiaries could be challenged resulting in an acceleration of income tax payments.

In conjunction with our workers’ compensation program, we operate two wholly owned insurance subsidiaries, AICE and Ecole. We treat the two subsidiaries as insurance companies for federal income tax purposes with respect to our consolidated federal income tax return. If the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) were to determine that the subsidiaries do not qualify as insurance companies, in which insurance reserves are currently deductible, we could be required to make accelerated income tax payments to the IRS that we otherwise would have deferred until future periods.

We may find it difficult to expand our business into additional states due to varying state regulatory requirements.

Future growth in our operations depends, in part, on our ability to offer our services to prospective clients in new states, which may subject us to different regulatory requirements and standards. In order to operate effectively in a new state, we must obtain all necessary regulatory approvals, adapt our procedures to that state's regulatory requirements and modify our service offerings to adapt to local market conditions. As we expand into additional states, we may not be able to duplicate in other markets the financial performance experienced in our current markets.

We face competition from a number of other companies.

We face competition from various companies that may provide all or some of the services we offer. Our competitors include companies that are engaged in staffing services such as Robert Half International Inc., Kelly Services, Inc., and ManpowerGroup Inc.; companies that are focused on co-employment, such as Insperity, Inc., and TriNet Group, Inc.; and companies that primarily provide payroll processing services, such as Automatic Data Processing, Inc. and Paychex, Inc. We also face competition from information technology outsourcing firms and broad-based outsourcing and consulting firms that perform individual projects.

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Several of our existing or potential competitors have substantially greater financial, technical and marketing resources than we do, which may enable them to:

In order to compete effectively in our markets, we must target our potential clients carefully, continue to improve our efficiencies and the scope and quality of our services, and rely on our service quality, innovation, education and program clarity. If our competitive advantages are not compelling or sustainable, then we are unlikely to increase or sustain profits and our stock price could decline.

We are dependent upon certain key personnel and recruitment and retention of key employees may be difficult and expensive.

We believe that the successful operation of our business is dependent upon our retention of the services of key personnel, including our Chief Executive Officer, other executive officers and area managers. We may not be able to retain all of our executives, senior managers and key personnel in light of competition for their services. If we lose the services of one of our executive officers or a significant number of our senior managers, our results of operations likely would be adversely affected.

We do not have an expansive in-house sales staff and therefore rely extensively on referral partners.

We maintain a minimal internal professional sales force, and we rely heavily on referral partners to provide referrals to new business. In connection with these arrangements, we pay a fee to referral partners for new clients. These referral firms and individuals do not have an exclusive relationship with us. If we are unable to maintain these relationships or if they increase their fees or lose confidence in our services, we could face declines in our business and additional costs and uncertainties as we attempt to hire and train an internal sales force.

We depend on attracting and retaining qualified employees; during periods of economic growth, our costs to do so increase and attracting and retaining people becomes more difficult.

Our teams of client-facing professionals are the foundation of our value proposition. Our ability to attract and retain qualified personnel could be impaired by economic conditions resulting in lower unemployment and increases in compensation. During periods of economic growth, we face increased competition for retaining and recruiting qualified personnel, which in turn leads to greater advertising and recruiting costs and increased salary expenses. If we cannot attract and retain qualified employees, the quality of our services may deteriorate and our reputation and results of operations could be adversely affected.

Our service agreements may be terminated on short notice, leaving us vulnerable to loss of a significant amount of customers in a short period of time, if business or regulatory conditions change or events occur that negatively affect our reputation.

Our client services agreements are generally terminable on 30 days’ notice by either us or our client. As a result, our clients may terminate their agreement with us at any time, making us particularly vulnerable to changing business or regulatory conditions or changes affecting our reputation or the reputation of our industry.

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Our industry has at times received negative publicity that, if it were to become more prevalent, could cause our business to decline.

In the staffing and co-employment industries in which we compete, companies periodically have been tarnished by negative publicity or scandals from poor business judgment or even outright fraud. If we or our industry face negative publicity, customers' confidence in the use of temporary personnel or co-employed workers may deteriorate, and they may be unwilling to enter into or continue our staffing or co-employment relationships. If a negative perception were to prevail, it would be more difficult for us to attract and retain customers.

Changes in federal and state unemployment tax laws and regulations could adversely affect our business.

In past years, there has been significant negative publicity relating to the use of staffing or PEO companies to shield employers from poor unemployment history and high unemployment taxes. New legislation enacted at the state or federal level to try to counter this perceived problem could have a material adverse effect on our business by limiting our ability to market our services or making our services less attractive to our customers and potential customers.

Risks Related to Ownership of our Common Stock

Our stock price may be volatile or may decline, resulting in substantial losses for our stockholders.

The market price of our Common Stock has been, and may continue to be, volatile for the foreseeable future. Important factors that may cause our trading price to decline include the factors listed below and other factors that may have a material adverse effect on our business or financial results, including those described above in this “Risk Factors” section:

Maryland law and our Charter and bylaws contain provisions that could make the takeover of the Company more difficult.

Certain provisions of Maryland law and our Charter and bylaws could have the effect of delaying or preventing a third party from acquiring the Company, even if a change in control would be beneficial to our stockholders. These provisions of our Charter and bylaws:

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In addition, the Company is subject to the Maryland control share act (the “Control Share Act”). Under the Control Share Act, a person (an “Acquiring Person”) who acquires voting stock in a transaction (a “Control Share Acquisition”) which results in its holding voting power within specified ranges cannot vote the shares it acquires in the Control Share Acquisition unless voting rights are accorded to such control shares by the holders of two-thirds of the outstanding voting shares, excluding the Acquiring Person and the Company's officers and directors who are also employees of the Company.

The Company is also subject to the provisions of Maryland law limiting the ability of certain Maryland corporations to engage in specified business combinations (the “Business Combination Act”). Subject to certain exceptions, the Business Combination Act prohibits a Maryland corporation from engaging in a business combination with a stockholder who, with its affiliates, owns 10% or more of the corporation's voting stock. These provisions will not apply to business combinations that are approved by the Board of Directors before the stockholder became an interested stockholder.

None.

We operate through 58 branch offices. The following table shows the number of locations in each state in which we have offices. We also lease office space in other locations in our market areas which we use to recruit and place employees.

 

 

 

We lease office space for our branch offices. At December 31, 2017, our leases had expiration dates ranging from less than one year to seven years. Our corporate headquarters occupies approximately 75 percent of the 65,300 square foot building we own in Vancouver, Washington.

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BBSI is not subject to material legal proceedings and claims other than those which arise in the ordinary course of our business, except for those matters discussed in “Note 12. Litigation” to the consolidated financial statements incorporated into Item 8 of Part II of this report.

Not Applicable

PART II

Our common stock (the "Common Stock") trades on the Global Select Market segment of The Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbol "BBSI."  At March 1, 2018, there were 25 stockholders of record and approximately 1,525 beneficial owners of the Common Stock.

The following table presents the high and low sales prices of the Common Stock and cash dividends paid for each quarterly period during the last two fiscal years, as reported by The Nasdaq Stock Market. Any future determination as to the payment of dividends will be made at the discretion of the Board and will depend upon the Company's operating results, financial condition, capital requirements, general business conditions and such other factors as the Board deems relevant.

 

 

The Company maintains a Board-approved stock repurchase program which originally authorized up to 3.0 million shares of the Company’s Common Stock to be repurchased from time to time in open market purchases. The repurchase program allowed for the repurchase of approximately 1.1 million shares as of December 31, 2017. No repurchases were made during the quarter ended December 31, 2017.

  

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The following graph shows the cumulative total return at the dates indicated for the period from December 31, 2012 until December 31, 2017, for our Common Stock, The Nasdaq Composite Index, and the S&P 1500 Human Resource & Employment Services Index, a published industry index that is considered reflective of the Company’s peers.

 

The stock performance graph has been prepared assuming that $100 was invested on December 31, 2012 in our Common Stock and the indexes shown, and that dividends are reinvested. The stock price performance reflected in the graph may not be indicative of future price performance.

 

 

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The following selected consolidated financial data should be read in conjunction with the Company's consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes incorporated into Item 8 of Part II, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data,” and the information contained in Item 7 of Part II, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”  Historical results are not necessarily indicative of future results.

 

 

The net loss in 2014 is primarily due to expense associated with an increase in the Company’s reserve for workers’ compensation claims liabilities of approximately $104.2 million.

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Overview

The Company is a leading provider of business management solutions for small and mid-sized companies. The Company has developed a management platform that integrates a knowledge-based approach from the management consulting industry with tools from the human resource outsourcing industry. This platform, through the effective leveraging of human capital, helps our business owner clients run their businesses more effectively. We believe this platform, delivered through a decentralized organizational structure, differentiates BBSI from our competitors.

We report revenues in our financial results in two categories of services: professional employer services (“PEO”) and staffing.

With our PEO clients, we enter into a co-employment arrangement in which we become the administrative employer while the client maintains physical care, custody and control of their workforce. Our PEO services are billed as a percentage of client payroll, with the gross amount invoiced including direct payroll costs, employer payroll-related taxes, workers’ compensation coverage (if provided) and a service fee. PEO customers are invoiced following the end of each payroll processing cycle, with payment generally due on the invoice date. Revenues for PEO services exclude direct payroll billings because we are not the primary obligor for those payments.

We generate staffing services revenues primarily from short-term staffing, contract staffing, on-site management and direct placement services. For staffing services other than direct placement, invoiced amounts include direct payroll, employer payroll-related taxes, workers’ compensation coverage and a service fee. Staffing customers are invoiced weekly and typically have payment terms of 30 days. Direct placement services are billed at agreed fees at the time of a successful placement.

Our business is concentrated in California, and we expect to continue to derive a majority of our revenues from this market in the future. Revenues generated in our California offices accounted for 79% of our total net revenues in 2017, 78% in 2016 and 78% in 2015. Consequently, any weakness in economic conditions or changes in the regulatory or insurance environment in California could have a material adverse effect on our financial results.

Our cost of revenues for PEO services includes employer payroll-related taxes and workers' compensation costs. Our cost of revenues for staffing services includes direct payroll costs, employer payroll-related taxes, employee benefits, and workers’ compensation costs. Direct payroll costs represent the gross payroll earned by staffing services employees based on salary or hourly wages. Payroll taxes and employee benefits consist of the employer's portion of Social Security and Medicare taxes, federal and state unemployment taxes and staffing services employee reimbursements for materials, supplies and other expenses, which are paid by our customer. Workers' compensation costs consist primarily of the costs associated with our workers' compensation program, including claims reserves, claims administration fees, legal fees, medical cost containment (“MCC”) expense, state administrative agency fees, third-party broker commissions, risk manager payroll, premiums for excess insurance and the fronted insurance program, and costs associated with operating our two wholly owned insurance companies, AICE and Ecole.

Selling, general and administrative expenses represent both branch office and corporate-level operating expenses. Branch operating expenses consist primarily of branch office staff payroll and personnel related costs, advertising, rent, office supplies, professional and legal fees and branch incentive compensation. Corporate-level operating expenses consist primarily of executive and office staff payroll and personnel related costs, professional and legal fees, travel, occupancy costs, information systems costs, and executive and corporate staff incentive compensation.

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Depreciation and amortization represent depreciation of property and equipment, leasehold improvements and capitalized software costs. Property, equipment and software are depreciated using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives, which range from 3 to 39 years. Leasehold improvements are amortized using the straight-line method over the shorter of the lease term or estimated useful life.  

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

We have identified the following accounting estimate as critical to our business and the understanding of our results of operations. For a detailed discussion of the application of this and other accounting policies, see “Note 1. Summary of Operations and Significant Accounting Policies” to the consolidated financial statements incorporated into Item 8 of Part II of this report. The preparation of this Annual Report on Form 10-K requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Management bases its estimates on historical experience and on various other 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.

Workers' Compensation Reserves

We recognize our liability for the ultimate payment of incurred claims and claims adjustment expenses by establishing a reserve which represents our estimates of future amounts necessary to pay claims and related expenses with respect to workplace injuries that have occurred. When a claim involving a probable loss is reported, our independent third-party administrator for workers’ compensation claims (“TPA”) establishes a case reserve for the estimated amount of ultimate loss. The estimate reflects a judgment based on established case reserving practices and the experience and knowledge of the TPA regarding the nature and expected amount of the claim, as well as the estimated expenses of settling the claim, including legal and other fees and expenses of claims administration. The adequacy of such case reserves in part depends on the professional judgment of the TPA to properly and comprehensively evaluate the economic consequences of each claim.

Our reserves include an additional component for potential future increases in the cost to finally resolve open injury claims and claims incurred in prior periods but not reported (together, "IBNR") based on actuarial estimates provided by the Company’s independent actuary. IBNR reserves, unlike specific case reserves, do not apply to a specific claim but rather apply to the entire population of claims arising from a specific time period. IBNR primarily covers costs relating to:

The process of estimating unpaid claims and claims adjustment expense involves a high degree of judgment and is affected by both internal and external events, including changes in claims handling practices, modifications in reserve estimation procedures, changes in individuals involved in the reserve estimation process, inflation, trends in the litigation and settlement of pending claims, and legislative changes.

Our estimates are based on informed judgment, derived from individual experiences and expertise applied to multiple sets of data and analyses. We consider significant facts and circumstances known both at the time that loss reserves are initially established and as new facts and circumstances become known. Due to the inherent uncertainty underlying loss reserve estimates, the expenses incurred through final resolution of our liability for our workers’ compensation claims will likely vary from the related loss reserves at the reporting date. Therefore, as specific claims are paid out in the future, actual paid losses may be materially different from our current loss reserves.

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A basic premise in most actuarial analyses is that historical data and past patterns demonstrated in the incurred and paid historical data form a reasonable basis upon which to project future outcomes, absent a material change. Significant structural changes to the available data can materially impact the reserve estimation process. To the extent a material change affecting the ultimate claim liability becomes known, such change is quantified to the extent possible through an analysis of internal company data and, if available and when appropriate, external data. Actuaries exercise a considerable degree of judgment in the evaluation of these factors and the need for such actuarial judgment is more pronounced when faced with material uncertainties.

We believe that the amounts recorded for our estimated liabilities for workers’ compensation claims, which are based on informed judgement, analysis of data, actuarial estimates, and analysis of other trends associated with the Company’s historical universe of claims data, are reasonable. Nevertheless, adjustments to such estimates will be required in future periods if the development of claim costs varies materially from our estimates and such future adjustments may be material to our results of operations.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

For a discussion of recent accounting pronouncements and their potential effect on the Company's results of operations and financial condition, see “Note 1. Summary of Operations and Significant Accounting Policies” to the consolidated financial statements incorporated into Item 8 of Part II of this report.

Forward-Looking Information

Statements in this Item or in Items 1, 1A, 3 and 9A of this report include forward-looking statements which are not historical in nature and are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include, among others, discussion of economic conditions in our market areas and their effect on revenue levels, the effect of changes in our mix of services on gross margin, the adequacy of our workers' compensation reserves, the effect of changes in estimates of our future claims liabilities on our workers’ compensation reserves, including the effect of changes in our reserving practices and claims management process on our actuarial estimates, the effects of recent federal tax legislation, our ability to generate sufficient taxable income in the future to utilize our deferred tax assets, the effect of our formation and operation of two wholly owned licensed insurance subsidiaries, the risks of operation and cost of our fronted insurance program with Chubb, the financial viability of our excess insurance carriers, the effectiveness of our management information systems, our relationship with our primary bank lender and the availability of financing and working capital to meet our funding requirements, litigation costs and the effect of the potential resolution of any enforcement action that may be brought by the SEC Division of Enforcement, the effect of changes in the interest rate environment on the value of our investment securities and long-term debt, the adequacy of our allowance for doubtful accounts, and the potential for and effect of acquisitions.

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All of our forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company or industry to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors with respect to the Company include our ability to retain current clients and attract new clients, difficulties associated with integrating clients into our operations, economic trends in our service areas, the potential for material deviations from expected future workers’ compensation claims experience, the workers’ compensation regulatory environment in our primary markets, security breaches or failures in the Company’s information technology systems, collectability of accounts receivable, the carrying values of deferred income tax assets and goodwill (which may be affected by our future operating results), the impact of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and escalating medical costs on our business, the effect of conditions in the global capital markets on our investment portfolio, and the availability of capital, borrowing capacity on our revolving credit facility, or letters of credit necessary to meet state-mandated surety deposit requirements for maintaining our status as a qualified self-insured employer for workers' compensation coverage or our fronted insurance program. Additional risk factors affecting our business are discussed in Item 1A of Part I of this report. We disclaim any obligation to update any such factors or to publicly announce any revisions to any of the forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect future events or developments.

Results of Operations

The following table sets forth the percentages of total revenues represented by selected items in the Company's consolidated statements of operations for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, included in Item 15 of this report. References to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements appearing below are to the notes to the Company's consolidated financial statements incorporated into Item 8 of Part II of this report.

 

 

 

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We report PEO revenues net of direct payroll costs because we are not the primary obligor for wage payments to our clients’ employees. However, management believes that gross billing amounts and wages are useful in understanding the volume of our business activity and serve as an important performance metric in managing our operations, including the preparation of internal operating forecasts and establishing executive compensation performance goals. We therefore present for purposes of analysis gross billing and wage information for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015. 

 

 

Because safety incentives represent consideration payable to PEO customers, safety incentive costs are netted against PEO revenue in our consolidated statements of operations. Management considers safety incentives to be an integral part of our workers’ compensation program because they encourage client companies to maintain safe-work practices and minimize workplace injuries. We therefore present below for purposes of analysis non-GAAP gross workers’ compensation expense, which represents workers’ compensation costs including safety incentive costs. We believe this non-GAAP measure is useful in evaluating the total costs of our workers’ compensation program.

 

In monitoring and evaluating the performance of our operations, management also reviews the following ratios, which represent selected amounts as a percentage of gross billings. Management believes these ratios are useful in understanding the efficiency and profitability of our service offerings.

The presentation of revenues on a net basis and the relative contributions of staffing and professional employer services revenues can create volatility in our gross margin percentage. The general impact of fluctuations in our revenue mix is described below.

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Years Ended December 31, 2017 and 2016

Net income for 2017 was $25.2 million compared to net income of $18.8 million for 2016. Diluted income per share for 2017 was $3.33 compared to diluted income per share of $2.55 for 2016.

Revenues for 2017 totaled $920.4 million, an increase of $79.8 million or 9.5% over 2016, which reflects an increase in the Company’s professional employer service fee revenue of $84.1 million or 12.5% and a decrease in staffing services revenue of $4.3 million or 2.6%. There was one less business day in 2017 compared to 2016.

Our growth in professional employer service revenues was attributable to both new and existing customers. Due to continued strength in our referral channels, business from new customers during 2017 exceeded business lost from former customers. Professional employer service revenue from continuing customers grew 7.2% on a year-over-year basis, primarily resulting from increases in employee headcount and hours worked. The decrease in staffing services revenue was due primarily to a decrease in revenue from continuing customers compared to the prior year.

Gross margin for 2017 totaled $158.5 million or 17.2% of revenue compared to $145.5 million or 17.3% of revenue for 2016. The decrease in gross margin as a percentage of revenues is primarily due to increases in payroll taxes and workers’ compensation expense as a percentage of revenues, partially offset by a decrease in direct payroll costs.

Direct payroll costs for 2017 totaled $122.5 million or 13.3% of revenue compared to $126.8 million or 15.1% of revenue for 2016. The decrease in direct payroll costs percentage was primarily due to the increase in professional employer services and the decrease of staffing services within the mix of our customer base compared to 2016.

Payroll taxes and benefits for 2017 totaled $404.7 million or 44.0% of revenue compared to $357.9 million or 42.6% of revenue for 2016. The increase in payroll taxes and benefits as a percentage of revenues is due to a $3.8 million federal unemployment tax refund recognized in the third quarter of 2016, the increase in professional employer services where payroll taxes and benefits are presented at gross cost, and a decrease in staffing revenue during the period.

Workers’ compensation expense for 2017 totaled $234.7 million or 25.5% of revenue compared to $210.4 million or 25.0% of revenue for 2016. The increase in workers’ compensation expense as a percentage of revenue was primarily due to an unfavorable adjustment of $5.2 million in 2017 compared to a favorable adjustment of $300,000 in 2016 due to changes in actuarial estimates of our workers’ compensation reserves related to claims incurred in prior periods.

Selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expenses for 2017 totaled $123.1 million or 13.4% of revenue compared to $113.3 million or 13.5% of revenue for 2016. The decrease as a percentage of revenues was primarily attributable to a $5.0 million decrease in total legal and accounting fees, partially offset by an increase in employee related expenses.   

Other income for 2017 totaled $4.4 million compared to other expense of $3.4 million for 2016. The change was attributable to a decrease in litigation costs of $3.3 million as well as an increase in investment income of $3.7 million in 2017.

Our effective income tax rate for 2017 was 26.8% compared to 26.5% for 2016. Our income tax rate typically differs from the federal statutory tax rate of 35% primarily due to federal and state tax credits. Our effective tax rate in 2017 also includes a provisional adjustment of 3.2% related to a change in the federal tax rate enacted on December 22, 2017. See “Note 9. Income Taxes” to the consolidated financial statements incorporated into Item 8 of Part II of this report for additional information regarding income taxes.

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Years Ended December 31, 2016 and 2015

Net income for 2016 was $18.8 million compared to net income of $25.5 million for 2015. Diluted income per share for 2016 was $2.55 compared to diluted income per share of $3.47 for 2015.

Revenues for 2016 totaled $840.6 million, an increase of $99.7 million or 13.5% over 2015, which reflects an increase in the Company’s professional employer service fee revenue of $101.6 million or 17.8% and a decrease in staffing services revenue of $1.9 million or 1.1%.

Our growth in professional employer service revenues was attributable to both new and existing customers. Due to continued strength in our referral channels, business from new customers during 2016 nearly doubled business lost from former customers. Professional employer service revenue from continuing customers grew 6.8% on a year-over-year basis, primarily resulting from increases in employee headcount and hours worked. The decrease in staffing services revenue was due primarily to a decrease in revenue from continuing customers, partially offset by an increase in net staffing revenue from new customers over lost customers.

Gross margin for 2016 totaled $145.5 million or 17.3% of revenue compared to $129.5 million or 17.5% of revenue for 2015. The decrease in gross margin percentage was primarily due to increases in workers’ compensation expense and payroll taxes and benefits, partially offset by a decrease in direct payroll costs.

Direct payroll costs for 2016 totaled $126.8 million or 15.1% of revenue compared to $128.0 million or 17.3% of revenue for 2015. The decrease in direct payroll costs as a percentage of revenues was primarily due to the increase in professional employer services and the decrease of staffing services within the mix of our customer base compared to 2015.

Payroll taxes and benefits for 2016 totaled $357.9 million or 42.6% of revenue compared to $312.3 million or 42.1% of revenue for 2015. The increase in payroll taxes and benefits as a percentage of revenues was primarily due to the effect of growth in professional employer services, where payroll taxes and benefits are presented at gross cost.

Workers’ compensation expense for 2016 totaled $210.4 million or 25.0% of revenue compared to $171.1 million or 23.1% of revenue for 2015. The increase in workers’ compensation expense as a percentage of revenues was primarily due to a decrease in our workers’ compensation reserves in 2015 of $13.7 million related to actuarial adjustments in that year.

SG&A expenses for 2016 totaled $113.3 million, or 13.5% of revenue, compared to $90.2 million or 12.2% of revenue for 2015. The increase as a percentage of revenues was primarily attributable to an increase in employee related expenses and an $11.0 million increase in total legal and accounting expenses, of which $8.5 million pertained to non-recurring legal and accounting costs associated with financial restatements, outside investigations, and legal proceedings related to securities law issues.

Other expense, net for 2016 totaled $3.4 million compared to $1.3 million for 2015. The change was primarily attributable to a $3.3 million litigation settlement recognized in the third quarter of 2016, partially offset by a decrease in interest expense and an increase in investment income.

Our effective income tax rate for 2016 was 26.5% compared to 27.5% for 2015. Our income tax rate typically differs from the federal statutory tax rate of 35% primarily due to federal and state tax credits.

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Fluctuations in Quarterly Operating Results

We have historically experienced significant fluctuations in our quarterly operating results, including losses in the first quarter of each year, and expect such fluctuations to continue in the future. Our operating results may fluctuate due to a number of factors such as seasonality, wage limits on statutory payroll taxes, claims experience for workers’ compensation, demand for our services, and competition. Payroll taxes, as a component of cost of revenues, generally decline throughout a calendar year as the applicable statutory wage bases for federal and state unemployment taxes and Social Security taxes are exceeded on a per employee basis. Our revenue levels may be higher in the third quarter due to the effect of increased business activity of our customers’ businesses in the agriculture, food processing and forest products-related industries. In addition, revenues in the fourth quarter may be reduced by many customers’ practice of operating on holiday-shortened schedules. Workers’ compensation expense varies with both the frequency and severity of workplace injury claims reported during a quarter and the estimated future costs of such claims. In addition, adverse loss development of prior period claims during a subsequent quarter may also contribute to the volatility in the Company’s estimated workers’ compensation expense.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

The Company's cash balance of $59.8 million at December 31, 2017 increased $9.1 million compared to December 31, 2016. The increase in cash was primarily due to increased cash provided by operating activities and decreased cash used by financing activities, partially offset by an increase in purchases of restricted and unrestricted cash and investments.

Net cash provided by operating activities in 2017 amounted to $112.9 million, compared to $80.3 million for 2016. In 2017, cash flow from operating activities was primarily provided by net income of $25.2 million, increased workers’ compensation claims liabilities of $57.1 million, and increased accrued payroll, payroll taxes and related benefits of $28.5 million, partially offset by increased trade accounts receivable of $10.2 million.

Net cash used in investing activities totaled $94.8 million in 2017, compared to $33.1 million in 2016. In 2017, cash used in investing activities consisted primarily of purchases of restricted and unrestricted cash and investments of $1,084.6 million, partially offset by proceeds from sales and maturities of restricted and unrestricted cash and investments of $993.5 million.

Net cash used in financing activities in 2017 was $9.0 million compared to $21.7 million for 2016. In 2017, cash was primarily used for dividend payments of $7.3 million.

The states of California, Maryland, Oregon, Washington, Colorado and Delaware required us to maintain specified financial instruments totaling $96.8 million and $135.0 million at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, to cover potential workers’ compensation claims losses related to the Company’s current and former status as a self-insured employer. At December 31, 2017, the Company provided surety bonds and standby letters of credit totaling $96.8 million, including a California requirement of $84.8 million. Management expects the surety bonds and letters of credit to decrease over time as a result of a declining self-insured liability in California. The Company’s self-insured status in California ended on December 31, 2014.

As part of its fronted workers’ compensation insurance program with Chubb, the Company makes monthly payments into a trust account (the “Chubb trust account”) to be used for the payment of future claims. The balance in the Chubb trust account was $380.6 million and $277.1 million at December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively. The Chubb trust account balances are included as a component of the current and long-term restricted cash and investments in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.

The Company maintains a credit agreement (the “Agreement”) with its principal bank, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association (the “Bank”). The Agreement provides for a $25.0 million revolving credit line, with a $6.0 million sublimit for unsecured standby letters of credit.

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Advances under the revolving credit facility bear interest as selected by the Company of either (a) a daily floating rate of one month LIBOR plus 1.75% or (b) a fixed rate of LIBOR plus 1.75%. The Agreement also provides for an unused commitment fee of 0.375% per year on the average daily unused amount of the revolving credit facility, as well as a fee of 1.75% of the face amount of each letter of credit reserved under the line of credit and 0.95% on standalone, fully secured letters of credit. The Company had no outstanding borrowings on its revolving credit line at December 31, 2017 and 2016. The revolving line of credit expires on July 1, 2018.

The credit facility is collateralized by the Company’s accounts receivable and other rights to receive payment, general intangibles, inventory and equipment.

The Agreement requires the satisfaction of certain financial covenants as follows:

 

The Agreement includes certain additional restrictions as follows:

The Agreement also contains customary events of default. If an event of default under the Agreement occurs and is continuing, the Bank may declare any outstanding obligations under the  Agreement to be immediately due and payable. At December 31, 2017, the Company was in compliance with all covenants.

The Company maintains a mortgage loan with the Bank with a balance of approximately $4.4 million and $4.6 million at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, secured by the Company’s corporate office building in Vancouver, Washington. This loan requires payment of monthly installments of $18,375, bearing interest at the one month LIBOR plus 2.0%, with the unpaid principal balance due July 1, 2022.

Management expects that the funds anticipated to be generated from operations, current liquid assets, and availability under the Company’s revolving credit facility will be sufficient in the aggregate to fund the Company’s working capital needs for the next twelve months.

- 29 -

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Contractual Obligations

The Company's contractual obligations as of December 31, 2017 are summarized below:

 

Inflation

Inflation generally has not been a significant factor in the Company's operations during the periods discussed above. The Company has taken into account the impact of escalating medical and other costs in establishing reserves for future workers' compensation claims payments.

The Company's exposure to market risk for changes in interest rates primarily relates to its investment portfolio and its outstanding borrowings on its line of credit and long-term debt. As of December 31, 2017, the Company’s investments consisted principally of approximately $184.7 million in corporate bonds, $86.2 million in mortgage backed securities, $46.2 million in U.S. treasuries, $38.0 million in U.S. government agency securities, $19.0 million in commercial paper, $16.1 million in money market funds, and $0.5 million in municipal bonds. The Company’s outstanding debt totaled approximately $4.4 million at December 31, 2017. Based on the Company's overall interest exposure at December 31, 2017, a 50 basis point increase in market interest rates would have a $6.2 million effect on the fair value of the Company's investment portfolio. A 50 basis point increase would have an immaterial effect on the Company’s outstanding borrowings because of the relative size of the outstanding borrowings.

The consolidated financial statements and notes thereto required by this item begin on page F-1 of this report, as listed in Item 15.

None.

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

We maintain “disclosure controls and procedures” that are designed with the objective of providing reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed in the reports we file or submit under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), 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 Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. In designing and evaluating our disclosure controls and procedures, our management recognizes 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 is required to apply their judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures.

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Based on their evaluation, the Company’s CEO and CFO have concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) were effective as of December 31, 2017.

Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting (“ICFR”) as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act. Our ICFR is a process designed by, or under the supervision of, our CEO and our CFO to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of our consolidated financial statements for external purposes in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Management, with the participation of our CEO and CFO, conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our ICFR based on the framework established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based upon that evaluation, management has concluded that the Company’s internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2017.

The effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting has also been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report included below.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

Management previously identified a material weakness in internal controls related to its information and technology systems (“IT systems”). Specifically, the Company did not maintain effective controls over user access to IT systems and changes to programs and data. The following steps have been implemented by the Company in 2017 to remediate the material weakness:

 

As of December 31, 2017, management completed its assessment of the design and operating effectiveness of the internal controls over financial reporting, and based on this assessment, management concluded that the material weakness was remediated as of December 31, 2017.

Other than the activities described above, there have been no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the quarter ended December 31, 2017 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

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Inherent Limitations

Control systems, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the control systems' objectives are being met. Further, the design of any control systems must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of all controls must be considered relative to their costs. Due to the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within the Company have been detected. These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision making can be faulty and that breakdowns can occur because of simple errors or mistakes. Control systems can also be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons, by collusion of two or more people, or by management override of the controls. The design of any system of controls is based in part on certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions. Over time, controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions or deterioration in the degree of compliance with policies or procedures.

Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer Certifications

The certifications of our CEO and CFO required under Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act have been filed as Exhibits 31.1 and 31.2 to this report.

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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of

Barrett Business Services, Inc.

Vancouver, Washington

Opinion on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

We have audited the internal control over financial reporting of Barrett Business Services, Inc.  (the “Company”) and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2017, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2017, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued by COSO.

We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2017, of the Company and our report dated March 6, 2018, expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements.

Basis for Opinion

The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management's Report over Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Definition and Limitations of Internal Control over Financial Reporting

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

 

Portland, Oregon  

March 6, 2018  

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None.

PART III

Information required by this item is incorporated by reference to the information set forth under the captions "Item 1-Election of Directors," "Stock Ownership by Principal Stockholders and Management--Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance," “Background and Experience of Executive Officers” and "Code of Ethics" in our definitive Proxy Statement to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Regulation 14A within 120 days after the end of the fiscal year covered by this report (the “Proxy Statement”).

The information required by this item is incorporated by reference to the information set forth under the captions “Director Compensation for 2017” and “Executive Compensation” in the Proxy Statement.

The information required by this item is incorporated by reference to the information set forth under the caption "Stock Ownership of Principal Stockholders and Management – Beneficial Ownership Table" and “Additional Equity Compensation Plan Information” in the Proxy Statement.

The information required by this item is incorporated by reference to the information set forth under the caption "Item 1-Election of Directors" and "Related Person Transactions" in the Proxy Statement.

The information required by this item is incorporated by reference to the information set forth under the caption "Matters Relating to Our Independent Registered Public Accounting Firms” in the Proxy Statement.

 

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PART IV

Financial Statements and Schedules

The Financial Statements, together with the report thereon of Deloitte & Touche LLP and Moss Adams LLP, are included on the pages indicated below:

 

No schedules are required to be filed herewith.

Exhibits

Exhibits are listed in the Exhibit Index that follows the signature page of this report.

None.

 

 

 

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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Directors of and Stockholders

Barrett Business Services, Inc.

Vancouver, Washington

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Barrett Business Services, Inc. and subsidiaries (the "Company") as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, stockholders' equity, and cash flows, for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2017, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the "financial statements"). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2017, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2017, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated March 6, 2018, expressed an unqualified opinion on the Company's internal control over financial reporting.

Basis for Opinion

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company's financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

 

Portland, Oregon  

March 6, 2018  

 

We have served as the Company's auditor since 2016.

F-1

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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders

Barrett Business Services, Inc.

 

We have audited the accompanying consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, stockholders’ equity, and cash flows of Barrett Business Services, Inc. (the “Company”) for the year ended December 31, 2015. These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audit.

 

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement. Our audit of the consolidated financial statements included examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall consolidated financial statement presentation. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements of Barrett Business Services, Inc. referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated results of operations and cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2015, in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America.

 

/s/ Moss Adams LLP

 

Portland, Oregon

May 25, 2016

 

F-2

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Barrett Business Services, Inc.

Consolidated Balance Sheets

December 31, 2017 and 2016

(In Thousands, Except Par Value)

 

 

 

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

F-3

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Barrett Business Services, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Operations

Years Ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015

(In Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)

 

 

 

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

F-4

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Barrett Business Services, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income

Years Ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015

(In Thousands)

 

 

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

 

 

F-5

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Barrett Business Services, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity

Years Ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015

(In Thousands)

 

 

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

 

F-6

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Barrett Business Services, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

Years Ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015

(In Thousands)

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

F-7

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Barrett Business Services, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Note 1 - Summary of Operations and Significant Accounting Policies

Nature of operations

Barrett Business Services, Inc. (“BBSI” or the “Company”), is a leading provider of business management solutions for small and mid-sized companies. The Company has developed a management platform that integrates a knowledge-based approach from the management consulting industry with tools from the human resource outsourcing industry. This platform, through the effective leveraging of human capital, helps our business owner clients run their businesses more effectively.

We believe this platform, delivered through our decentralized organizational structure, differentiates BBSI from our competitors. The Company operates through a network of 58 branch offices throughout California, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Idaho, Arizona, Colorado, Maryland, North Carolina, Delaware, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Virginia. Approximately 79%, 78% and 78%, respectively, of our revenue during 2017, 2016, and 2015 was attributable to our California operations. BBSI was incorporated in Maryland in 1965.

The Company operates a wholly owned captive insurance company, Associated Insurance Company for Excess ("AICE"). AICE is a fully licensed captive insurance company holding a certificate of authority from the Arizona Department of Insurance. The purpose of AICE is twofold: (1) to provide access to more competitive and cost effective insurance markets and (2) to provide additional flexibility in cost effective risk management. AICE provides the Company with reinsurance coverage up to $5.0 million per occurrence, except in Maryland and Colorado, where our retention per occurrence is $1.0 million and $2.0 million, respectively. The Company maintains excess workers’ compensation insurance coverage with Chubb Limited (“Chubb”) between $5.0 million and statutory limits per occurrence, except in Maryland, where coverage with Chubb is between $1.0 million and statutory limits per occurrence, and in Colorado, where the coverage with Chubb is between $2.0 million and statutory limits per occurrence.

The Company also operates a fully licensed, wholly owned insurance company, Ecole Insurance Company (“Ecole”). Ecole is a fully licensed insurance company holding a certificate of authority from the Arizona Department of Insurance. Ecole provides workers’ compensation coverage to the Company’s employees working in Arizona, Utah and Nevada.

Principles of consolidation

The accompanying financial statements are prepared on a consolidated basis. All intercompany account balances and transactions between BBSI, AICE, and Ecole have been eliminated in consolidation.

Reportable segment

The Company has one operating and reporting segment. The chief operating decision maker (our Chief Executive Officer) regularly reviews the financial information of our business at a consolidated level in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance.

F-8

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Revenue recognition

We recognize professional employer (“PEO”) service and staffing service revenue as services are rendered by our workforce. PEO services are normally used by organizations to satisfy ongoing needs related to the management of human capital and are governed by the terms of a client services agreement which covers all employees at a particular work site. Our client services agreements have a minimum term of one year, are renewable on an annual basis and typically require 30 days’ written notice to cancel or terminate the contract by either party. In addition, our client services agreements provide for immediate termination upon any default of the client regardless of when notice is given.

We report PEO revenues net of direct payroll costs because we are not the primary obligor for these payments to our clients’ employees. Direct payroll costs include salaries, wages, health insurance, and employee out-of-pocket expenses incurred incidental to employment. Safety incentives represent consideration payable to PEO customers, and therefore safety incentive costs are also netted against PEO revenue. Safety incentives are paid to certain client companies for maintaining safe-work practices and minimizing workplace injuries. The safety incentive is based on a percentage of annual payroll and is paid annually to clients who meet predetermined workers' compensation claims cost objectives.

Cost of revenues

Our cost of revenues for PEO services includes employer payroll-related taxes and workers' compensation costs. Our cost of revenues for staffing services includes direct payroll costs, employer payroll-related taxes, employee benefits, and workers’ compensation costs. Direct payroll costs represent the gross payroll earned by staffing services employees based on salary or hourly wages. Payroll taxes and employee benefits consist of the employer's portion of Social Security and Medicare taxes, federal and state unemployment taxes, and staffing services employee reimbursements for materials, supplies and other expenses, which are paid by our customer. Workers' compensation costs consist primarily of claims reserves, claims administration fees, legal fees, medical cost containment (“MCC”) expense, state administrative agency fees, third-party broker commissions, risk manager payroll, premiums for excess insurance, and the fronted insurance program, and costs associated with operating our two wholly owned insurance companies, AICE and Ecole.

Cash and cash equivalents

We consider non-restricted short-term investments, which are highly liquid, readily convertible into cash, and have maturities at acquisition of less than three months to be cash equivalents for purposes of the consolidated statements of cash flows and consolidated balance sheets. The Company maintains cash balances in bank accounts that normally exceed FDIC insured limits. The Company has not experienced any losses related to its cash concentration.

Investments

The Company classifies investments as trading or available-for-sale. We had no trading securities at December 31, 2017 and 2016. The Company’s investments are reported at fair value with unrealized gains and losses, net of taxes, shown as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in stockholders' equity. Management considers available evidence in evaluating potential impairment of investments, including the duration and extent to which fair value is less than cost. Realized gains and losses on sales of investments are included in investment income in our consolidated statements of operations. In the event a loss is determined to be other-than-temporary, the loss will be recognized in the consolidated statements of operations.

F-9

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Restricted cash and investments

The Company holds restricted cash and investments primarily for the future payment of workers’ compensation claims. Restricted investments have been categorized as available-for-sale. They are reported at fair value with unrealized gains and losses, net of taxes, shown as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in stockholders’ equity. Management considers available evidence in evaluating potential impairment of restricted investments, including the duration and extent to which fair value is less than cost. Realized gains and losses on sales of restricted investments are included in investment income in our consolidated statements of operations. In the event a loss is determined to be other-than-temporary, the loss will be recognized in the consolidated statements of operations.

Allowance for doubtful accounts

The Company had an allowance for doubtful accounts of $265,000 and $78,000 at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. We make estimates of the collectability of our accounts receivable for services provided to our customers. Management analyzes historical bad debts, customer concentrations, customer credit-worthiness, current economic trends and changes in customers' payment trends when evaluating the adequacy of the allowance for doubtful accounts. If the financial condition of our customers deteriorates resulting in an impairment of their ability to make payments, additional allowances may be required.

Our allowance for doubtful accounts activity is summarized as follows (in thousands):

 

 

 

F-10

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Income taxes

Our income taxes are accounted for using an asset and liability approach. This requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between the financial statement and tax basis of assets and liabilities at the applicable tax rates. A valuation allowance is recorded against deferred tax assets if, based on the weight of the available evidence, it is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The factors used to assess the likelihood of realization include the Company’s forecast of the reversal of temporary differences, future taxable income and available tax planning strategies that could be implemented to realize the net deferred tax assets. Failure to achieve forecasted taxable income in applicable tax jurisdictions could affect the ultimate realization of deferred tax assets and could result in an increase in the Company’s effective tax rate on future earnings.

The determination of our provision for income taxes requires significant judgment, the use of estimates, and the interpretation and application of complex tax laws. Significant judgment is required in assessing the timing and amounts of deductible and taxable items and the probability of sustaining uncertain tax positions. The Company recognizes the tax benefit from uncertain tax positions if it is more likely than not that the tax positions will be sustained on examination by the tax authorities. The tax benefit is measured based on the largest benefit that has a greater than 50% likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement. As facts and circumstances change, we reassess these probabilities and record any changes in the consolidated financial statements as appropriate. The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense.

Goodwill and intangible assets

Goodwill is recorded as the difference, if any, between the aggregate consideration paid for a business combination and the fair value of the net assets acquired. Goodwill is not amortized but is evaluated for impairment annually, or more frequently if circumstances indicate that it is more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit is below its carrying value. The Company has one reporting unit and evaluates the carrying value of goodwill annually at December 31. No impairment has been recognized in the periods presented.

Property, equipment and software

Property, equipment and software are stated at cost. Expenditures for maintenance and repairs are charged to selling, general and administrative expenses as incurred and expenditures for additions and improvements are capitalized. The cost of assets sold or otherwise disposed of and the related accumulated depreciation are eliminated from the accounts, and any resulting gain or loss is reflected in the consolidated statements of operations.

Depreciation of property, equipment and software is calculated using either straight-line or accelerated methods over estimated useful lives of the related assets or lease terms, as follows:

 

F-11

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Impairment of long-lived assets

Long-lived assets, such as property, equipment and software and acquired intangibles subject to amortization, are reviewed for impairment annually, or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the remaining estimated useful life may warrant revision or that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Some of the events or changes in circumstances that would trigger an impairment review include, but are not limited to, significant under-performance relative to expected and/or historical results, significant negative industry or economic trends or knowledge of transactions involving the sale of similar property at amounts below the carrying value.

Assets are grouped for measurement of impairment at the lowest level for which identifiable cash flows are largely independent of the cash flows of other assets. If the carrying amount of an asset group exceeds the estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to be generated by the asset group, then an impairment charge is recognized to the extent the carrying amount exceeds the asset group’s fair value. In determining fair value, management considers current results, trends, future prospects, and other economic factors.

Leases

The Company leases office facilities and equipment under operating leases. For significant lease agreements that provide for escalating rent payments or free-rent occupancy periods, the Company recognizes rent expense on a straight-line basis over the non-cancelable lease term. Deferred rent is included in other accrued liabilities and customer deposits and other long-term liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets.

Workers’ compensation claims liabilities

Our workers’ compensation claims liabilities do not represent an exact calculation of liability but rather management’s best estimate, utilizing actuarial expertise and projection techniques, at a given reporting date. The estimated liability for open workers’ compensation claims is based on an evaluation of information provided by our third-party administrators for workers’ compensation claims, coupled with an actuarial estimate of future adverse loss development with respect to reported claims and incurred but not reported claims (together, “IBNR”). At December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, workers' compensation claims liabilities included case reserve estimates for reported losses, plus additional amounts for estimated IBNR claims, MCC and legal costs, and unallocated loss adjustment expenses. These estimates are reviewed at least quarterly and adjustments to estimated liabilities are reflected in current operating results as they become known.

The process of arriving at an estimate of unpaid claims and claims adjustment expense involves a high degree of judgment and is affected by both internal and external events, including changes in claims handling practices, changes in reserve estimation procedures, inflation, trends in the litigation and settlement of pending claims, and legislative changes.

Our estimates are based on informed judgment, derived from individual experience and expertise applied to multiple sets of data and analyses. We consider significant facts and circumstances known both at the time that loss reserves are initially established and as new facts and circumstances become known. Due to the inherent uncertainty underlying loss reserve estimates, the expenses incurred through final resolution of our liability for our workers’ compensation claims will likely vary from the related loss reserves at the reporting date. Therefore, as specific claims are paid out in the future, actual paid losses may be materially different from our current loss reserves.

The Company’s independent actuary provides management with an estimate of the current and long-term portions of our total workers’ compensation claims, which is an important factor in our process for estimating workers' compensation claims liabilities. The current portion represents the independent actuary’s best estimate of payments the Company will make related to workers’ compensation claims over the ensuing twelve months.

F-12

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A basic premise in most actuarial analyses is that historical data and past patterns demonstrated in the incurred and paid historical data form a reasonable basis upon which to project future outcomes, absent a material change. Significant structural changes to the available data can materially impact the reserve estimation process. To the extent a material change affecting the ultimate claim liability becomes known, such change is quantified to the extent possible through an analysis of internal Company data and, if available and when appropriate, external data. Nonetheless, actuaries exercise a considerable degree of judgment in the evaluation of these factors and the need for such actuarial judgment is more pronounced when faced with material uncertainties.

Safety incentives liability

Safety incentives represent cash incentives paid to certain PEO client companies for maintaining safe-work practices and minimizing workplace injuries. The incentive is based on a percentage of annual payroll and is paid annually to customers who meet predetermined workers’ compensation claims cost objectives. Safety incentive payments are made only after closure of all workers' compensation claims incurred during the customer’s contract period. The safety incentive liability is estimated and accrued each month based upon contract year-to-date payroll and the then current amount of the customer’s estimated workers’ compensation claims reserves as established by us and our third party administrator. The Company provided $28.5 million and $24.8 million at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, as an estimate of the liability for unpaid safety incentives.

Customer deposits

We require deposits from certain PEO customers to cover a portion of our accounts receivable due from such customers in the event of default of payment.

Comprehensive income (loss)

Comprehensive income (loss) includes all changes in equity during a period except those that resulted from investments by or distributions to the Company's stockholders.

Other comprehensive income (loss) refers to revenues, expenses, gains and losses that under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) are included in comprehensive income (loss), but excluded from net income (loss) as these amounts are recorded directly as an adjustment to stockholders' equity. Our other comprehensive income (loss) comprises unrealized holding gains and losses on our available-for-sale investments.

Statements of cash flows

Interest paid during 2017, 2016, and 2015 did not materially differ from interest expense. Income taxes paid (received) by the Company totaled $9.9 million, $4.2 million and $($4.1) million in 2017, 2016, and 2015, respectively.

F-13

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Basic and diluted earnings per share

Basic earnings per share are computed based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for each year using the treasury method. Diluted earnings per share reflect the potential effects of the exercise of outstanding stock options and the issuance of stock associated with outstanding restricted stock units. Basic and diluted shares outstanding are summarized as follows (in thousands):

 

 

Reclassifications

Due to the adoption of Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2015-17, Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes, prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation. Such reclassifications had no impact on the Company’s financial condition, operating results, cash flows or stockholders’ equity.

Accounting estimates

The preparation of our consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Management bases its estimates on historical experience and on various other 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. Estimates are used for fair value measurement of investments, allowance for doubtful accounts, deferred income taxes, carrying values for goodwill and property and equipment, accrued workers' compensation liabilities and safety incentive liabilities. Actual results may or may not differ from such estimates.

F-14

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Recent accounting pronouncements

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU No. 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers.” The core principle of the update is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which an entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The update also requires disclosure of sufficient information to enable users of financial statements to understand the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers.

In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-14, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers: Deferral of the Effective Date.” The update defers the effective date of ASU 2014-09 by one year, requiring public business entities to apply the guidance in ASU 2014-09 to annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim reporting periods within that reporting period.

In March, April and May 2016, the FASB issued the following ASUs: ASU No. 2016-08, “Principal versus Agent Considerations - Reporting Revenue Gross versus Net;” ASU No. 2016-10, “Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing”; and ASU No. 2016-12, “Narrow-Scope Improvements and Practical Expedients.” The amendments in these updates do not change the core principles of the guidance in ASU 2014-09. The effective date and transition requirements for these updates are the same as the effective date and transition requirements in ASU 2015-14. We have adopted ASU 2014-09 and all related ASUs effective January 1, 2018 using the modified retrospective method. We have determined that there are no material changes to our revenue recognition policies or to our consolidated financial statements as a result of adopting the standard.  

In November 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-17, “Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes.” The amendments in this update simplify the presentation of deferred income taxes by requiring that deferred tax liabilities and assets be classified as noncurrent on the consolidated balance sheets. The amendments in this update are effective for financial statements issued for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those years. The Company adopted this standard in the first interim period for the year ending December 31, 2017. The adoption of this standard resulted in a current to noncurrent adjustment to the Company’s current deferred tax asset balance of $25.2 million at December 31, 2016.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, “Leases.” The core principle is that a lessee should recognize the assets and liabilities that arise from leases, including operating leases. Under the new guidance, a lessee should recognize in the statement of financial position a liability to make lease payments (the lease liability) and a right-of-use asset representing its right to use the underlying asset for the lease term. For leases with a term of 12 months or less, a lessee is permitted to make an accounting policy election by class of underlying asset not to recognize lease assets and lease liabilities. The recognition, measurement, and presentation of expenses and cash flows arising from a lease by a lessee have not significantly changed from previous GAAP. The amendments in this update are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those years. The Company is currently evaluating the standard and the impact on its consolidated financial statements and footnote disclosures.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-09, “Compensation – Stock Compensation.” The amendments in this update simplify several aspects of the accounting for share-based payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, and classification on the statement of cash flows. The amendments in this update are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those years. The Company adopted this standard in the first interim period for the year ending December 31, 2017, resulting in an immaterial amount of excess tax benefit being recognized in income tax benefit on the consolidated statement of operations, which was classified along with other income tax cash flows as an operating activity on the statement of cash flows.

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In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-18, “Statement of Cash Flows: Restricted Cash.” The amendments in this update require that a statement of cash flows explain the change during the period in the total of cash, cash equivalents, and amounts generally described as restricted cash or restricted cash equivalents. Therefore, amounts generally described as restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents should be included with cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning-of-period and end-of-period total amounts shown on the statement of cash flows. The amendments in this update are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those years. The Company is adopting this standard in the first interim period for the year ending December 31, 2018. The Company’s balance of restricted cash, which is within restricted cash and investments under current and non-current assets on the consolidated balance sheets, was $70.6 million for the period ended December 31, 2017.

In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-08, “Premium Amortization on Purchased Callable Debt.” The amendments in this update shorten the amortization period for certain callable debt securities held at a premium. Specifically, the amendments require the premium to be amortized to the earliest call date. Under current GAAP, premiums and discounts on callable debt securities generally are amortized to the maturity date. The amendments do not require an accounting change for securities held at a discount; the discount continues to be amortized to maturity. The amendments in this update are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those years. As of December 31, 2017, the amendments in this update would not have a material impact on the Company.

 

Note 2 - Concentration of Credit Risk

Financial instruments that potentially subject us to concentration of credit risk consist primarily of cash equivalents, investments, restricted cash and investments, and trade accounts receivable. We limit investment of cash equivalents and investments to financial institutions with high credit ratings. Credit risk on trade accounts is minimized as a result of the large and diverse nature of our customer base.

At December 31, 2017, we had concentrations of credit risk as follows:

 

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Note 3 - Fair Value Measurement

Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date.

All of our financial instruments are recognized in our consolidated balance sheets. Carrying values approximate fair value of most financial assets and liabilities. Investments and restricted cash and investments are recorded at market value. The interest rates on our investments approximate current market rates for these types of investments.

In determining the fair value of our financial assets, the Company predominately uses the market approach. In determining the fair value of all its corporate bonds, mortgage backed securities, U.S. treasuries, U.S. government agency securities, commercial paper, money market funds, municipal bonds, and asset backed securities, the Company utilizes non-binding quotes provided by our investment brokers.

Factors used in determining the fair value of our financial assets and liabilities are summarized into three levels as established in the fair value hierarchy framework. The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are described below.

Level 1 – Inputs to the valuation methodology are unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets.

Level 2 – Inputs to the valuation methodology include:

Level 3 - Inputs to the valuation methodology are unobservable and significant to the fair value measurement.

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In determining the fair value measurement of our financial assets, the fair value measurement level within the hierarchy is based on the lowest level input and is applied to each financial asset. Valuation techniques are used to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs.

The following table summarizes the Company’s investments at December 31, 2017 and 2016 measured at fair value on a recurring basis (in thousands):

 

 

(1) Included in restricted cash and investments within the consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2017 is restricted cash and long term workers' compensation deposits of $6.3 million, which is excluded from the table above. Restricted cash and investments are classified as current and noncurrent on the balance sheet based on the nature of the restriction.

 

 

 

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The following table summarizes the Company's financial assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis by fair value hierarchy level (in thousands):

 

 

(1) Investments in money market funds measured at fair value using the net asset value per share practical expedient are not subject to hierarchy level classification disclosure. The Company invests in money market funds that seek to maintain a stable net asset value. These investments include commingled funds that comprise high-quality short-term securities representing liquid debt and monetary instruments where the redemption value is likely to be the fair value. Redemption is permitted daily without written notice.

 

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Note 4 - Property, Equipment and Software

Property, equipment and software consist of the following (in thousands):

 

 

 

Note 5 - Workers' Compensation Claims

The following table summarizes the aggregate workers' compensation reserve activity (in thousands):

 

The Company is a self-insured employer with respect to workers' compensation coverage for all of its employees (including employees co-employed through our client service agreements) working in Colorado, Maryland and Oregon, except as described below. In the state of Washington, state law allows only the Company's staffing services and internal management employees to be covered under the Company's self-insured workers' compensation program.

Effective January 1, 2015, the Company stopped maintaining a certificate to self-insure in the state of California, and it now obtains policies from Chubb Limited (“Chubb”) for all California-based clients along with clients in Delaware, Virginia, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, New Jersey, West Virginia, Idaho and the District of Columbia. The arrangement with Chubb, known as a fronted program, provides BBSI a licensed, admitted insurance carrier to issue policies on behalf of BBSI. The risk of loss up to the first $5.0 million per occurrence is retained by BBSI through a reinsurance agreement. Chubb assumes credit risk should BBSI be unable to satisfy its indemnification obligations.

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As part of its fronted workers’ compensation insurance program with Chubb, the Company makes monthly payments into a trust account (“the Chubb trust account”) to be used for the payment of future claims. The balance in the Chubb trust account was $380.6 million and $277.1 million at December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively. The Chubb trust account balances are included as a component of the current and long-term restricted cash and investments in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.

The states of California, Maryland, Oregon, Washington, Colorado and Delaware required us to maintain specified investment balances or other financial instruments totaling $96.8 million and $135.0 million at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, to cover potential workers’ compensation claims losses related to the Company’s current and former status as a self-insured employer. At December 31, 2017, the Company provided surety bonds and standby letters of credit totaling $96.8 million, including a California requirement of $84.8 million.

The Company provided a total of $363.5 million and $312.5 million at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, as an estimated future liability for unsettled workers' compensation claims liabilities. Of this amount, $3.0 million and $9.1 million at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, represent case reserves incurred in excess of the Company’s retention. The accrual for costs incurred in excess of retention limits is offset by a receivable from excess insurance carriers of $3.0 million and $9.1 million at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, included in other assets on the consolidated balance sheets.

Note 6 - Revolving Credit Facility and Long-Term Debt

The Company maintains a credit agreement (the “Agreement”) with its principal bank, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association (the “Bank”).

The Agreement provided for a $25.0 million revolving credit line, with a $6.0 million sublimit for standby letters of credit, at December 31, 2017. Of the $6.0 million sublimit for standby letters of credit, $5.9 million was used at December 31, 2017. Advances under the revolving credit facility bear interest, as selected by the Company, of either (a) a daily floating rate of one month LIBOR plus 1.75% or (b) a fixed rate of LIBOR plus 1.75%. The Agreement also provides for an unused commitment fee of 0.375% per year on the average daily unused amount of the revolving credit facility, as well as a fee of 1.75% of the face amount of each letter of credit reserved under the line of credit and 0.95% on standalone, fully secured letters of credit. The Company had no outstanding borrowings on its revolving credit line at December 31, 2017 and 2016. The line of credit expires on July 1, 2018.

The credit facility is collateralized by the Company’s accounts receivable and other rights to receive payment, general intangibles, inventory and equipment.

The Agreement requires the satisfaction of certain financial covenants as follows:

The Agreement includes certain additional restrictions as follows:

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The Agreement also contains customary events of default. If an event of default under the Agreement occurs and is continuing, the Bank may declare any outstanding obligations under the Agreement to be immediately due and payable. At December 31, 2017, the Company was in compliance with all covenants.

The Company maintains a mortgage loan with the Bank with a balance of approximately $4.4 million and $4.6 million at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, secured by the Company’s corporate office building in Vancouver, Washington. This loan requires monthly principal payments of $18,375 plus interest at a rate of one month LIBOR plus 2.00%, with the unpaid principal balance due July 1, 2022.

Note 7 - 401(k) Savings Plan

We have a 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan for the benefit of our eligible employees. All staffing and management employees 21 years of age or older become eligible to participate in the savings plan upon completion of 1,000 hours of service in a consecutive 12-month period following the initial date of employment. Employees covered under a PEO arrangement may participate in the plan at the sole discretion of the PEO client. The determination of discretionary Company contributions to the plan, if any, is at the sole discretion of our Board of Directors. No discretionary Company contributions were made to the plan for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015.

We make matching contributions to the 401(k) plan under a safe harbor provision, whereby the Company matches 100% of contributions by management and staffing employees up to 3% of each participating employee's annual cash compensation and 50% of the employee's contributions up to an additional 2% of annual cash compensation. Participants' interests in Company safe harbor contributions to the plan are fully vested when payments are made.

Note 8 - Commitments

Our operating lease agreements require minimum annual payments as follows (in thousands):

 

 

 

Rent expense was approximately $4.9 million, $4.5 million, and $4.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

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Note 9 - Income Taxes

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Tax Act”) was signed into law on December 22, 2017. The Tax Act, which has provisions that will affect 2017 and 2018, lowers the U.S. statutory corporate tax rate from 35% to 21%; eliminates the corporate alternative minimum tax (“AMT”) and changes how existing AMT credits can be realized; creates a new limitation on deductible interest expense; and changes the rules related to uses and limitations of net operating loss carryforwards created in tax years beginning after December 31, 2017. We have made reasonable estimates of the impact of the Tax Act and recorded provisional amounts in our financial statements as of December 31, 2017. We recorded provisional tax expense for the impact of the Tax Act of approximately $1.1 million, which is primarily due to the remeasurement of federal net deferred tax assets resulting from the permanent reduction in the U.S. statutory corporate tax rate from 35% to 21%. Due to the complexity and timing of the Tax Act, we may make adjustments to the provisional amounts as we complete our analysis of the Tax Act and interpret additional guidance as it becomes available.

The provision (benefit) for income taxes from operations is as follows (in thousands):

 

 

Deferred income tax assets and liabilities consist of the following components (in thousands):

 

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The effective tax rate for operations differed from the U.S. statutory federal tax rate due to the following:

 

 

The realization of a significant portion of net deferred tax assets is based in part on our estimates of the timing of reversals of certain temporary differences and on the generation of taxable income before such reversals.

Under ASC 740, “Income Taxes,” management evaluates the realizability of the deferred tax assets on a quarterly basis under a “more-likely than not” standard. As part of this evaluation, management reviews all evidence both positive and negative to determine if a valuation allowance is needed. One component of this analysis is to determine whether the Company was in a cumulative loss position for the most recent 12 quarters. The Company was in a cumulative income position for the 12 quarters ended at both December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016.

The Company is subject to income taxes in U.S. federal and multiple state and local tax jurisdictions. The Internal Revenue Service is examining the Company’s federal tax returns for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014. In the major jurisdictions where it operates, the Company is generally no longer subject to income tax examinations by tax authorities for years before 2011. As of December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, the Company had no unrecognized tax benefits.

A portion of the consolidated income the Company generates is not subject to state income tax. Depending on the percentage of this income as compared to total consolidated income, the Company's state effective rate could fluctuate from expectations.

At December 31, 2017, the Company did not have a federal general business tax credit carry forward. The Company had an alternative minimum tax credit carry forward of approximately $1.8 million which will not expire until utilized or refunded.

At December 31, 2017, the Company had state net operating loss carry forwards of approximately $39.7 million, which begin to expire in tax years ending on or after December 31, 2025, unless utilized.

 

 

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Note 10 - Stock Incentive Plans

The Company's 2015 Stock Incentive Plan (the "2015 Plan"), which provides for share-based awards to Company employees, non-employee directors and outside consultants or advisors, was approved by stockholders on May 27, 2015.  The number of shares of common stock reserved for issuance under the 2015 Plan is 1,000,000, of which the maximum number of shares for which incentive stock options may be granted is 900,000.  The 2015 Plan replaced the Company’s 2009 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2009 Plan”), and no new share-based awards may be granted under the 2009 Plan. The number of shares available for grant at December 31, 2017 is 693,686. Outstanding option awards under all the plans generally expire ten years after the date of grant.

Share-based compensation expense included in selling, general and administrative expenses during the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, was $4.2 million, $2.8 million and $2.4 million, respectively. Related income tax benefits for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, were $1.5 million, $1.1 million and $948,000, respectively.

Stock Options

Stock options are generally exercisable in four equal annual installments beginning one year following the date of grant.

A summary of the status of the Company’s stock options at December 31, 2017, together with changes during the periods then ended, is presented below:

 

No stock options were granted during 2017. The weighted average fair value of stock options granted for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 was $17.10 and $10.76, respectively. There were no stock options granted with an exercise price below market price during 2016 and 2015. 

The intrinsic value of stock options exercised for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 was $479,000, $113,000 and $1.1 million, respectively. The fair value of stock options vested for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 was $328,000, $319,000 and $383,000, respectively. As of December 31, 2017, unrecognized compensation expense related to stock options was $414,000 with a weighted average remaining amortization period of 1.5 years.

 

Restricted Stock Units

Restricted stock units vest in four equal annual installments beginning one year following the date of grant.

The following table presents restricted stock unit activity:

 

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The total fair value of restricted stock units vested during the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 was $3.3 million, $1.9 million and $1.7 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2017, unrecognized compensation expense related to restricted stock units was $9.1 million with a weighted average remaining amortization period of 2.8 years.

Note 11 - Stock Repurchase Program

The Company maintains a stock repurchase program approved by the Board of Directors, which authorizes the repurchase of shares from time to time in open market purchases. The repurchase program currently allows for the repurchase of approximately 1.1 million additional shares as of December 31, 2017. No share repurchases were made under the repurchase program during 2017 and 2016.

Note 12 - Litigation

BBSI received a subpoena from the San Francisco office of the Division of Enforcement of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) in April 2016 in connection with the SEC’s inquiry into reported errors in our financial statements. The Company previously received a subpoena from the SEC in May 2015 in connection with the SEC’s investigation of the Company’s accounting policies with regard to its workers’ compensation reserves. Although the investigation continues, the Company has engaged in discussions with the Division of Enforcement staff concerning the potential resolution of any enforcement action that the Division may recommend. BBSI was also advised by the United States Department of Justice in June 2016 that it had commenced an investigation. The Company continues to cooperate with the investigations.

On June 17, 2015, Daniel Salinas (“Salinas”) filed a shareholder derivative lawsuit against BBSI and certain of its officers and directors in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, Maryland. The complaint alleges breaches of fiduciary duty, unjust enrichment and other violations of law and seeks recovery of various damages, including the costs and expenses incurred in connection with BBSI’s reserve strengthening process, reserve study and consultants, the cost of stock repurchases by BBSI in October 2014, compensation paid to BBSI’s officers, and costs of negotiating BBSI’s credit facility with its principal lender, as well as the proceeds of sales of stock by certain of BBSI’s officers and directors during 2013 and 2014. On September 28, 2015, BBSI and the individual defendants filed motions to dismiss the derivative suit and a motion to stay pending resolution of another lawsuit which was settled in the fourth quarter of 2016. On December 4, 2015, Salinas filed an opposition to each motion. On January 27, 2016, the defendants filed a reply to the opposition brief. On February 11, 2016, Judge Michel Pierson heard oral argument on the motions. A decision has not been issued.

Management is unable to estimate the probability or the potential range of loss arising from the legal actions described above.

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BBSI is subject to other legal proceedings and claims that arise in the ordinary course of our business. Management does not expect the amount of ultimate liability with respect to other currently pending or threatened actions to materially affect BBSI’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.

Note 13 - Quarterly Financial Information (Unaudited)

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

 

Note 14 - Subsequent Events

We have evaluated events and transactions occurring after the balance sheet date through our filing date and noted no events that are subject to recognition or disclosure.

 

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) 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.

 

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities indicated on the 6th day of March, 2018.

 

 

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EXHIBIT INDEX**

 

 

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