RCM TECHNOLOGIES, INC. - Annual Report: 2017 (Form 10-K)

FORM 10-K

[X] ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)

 OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 30, 2017

OR

[  ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from ........... to ...........

Commission file number 1-10245

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.  YES [   ]   NO [X]

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 [X]

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 [X]   NO [   ]

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, 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 [X]   NO [   ]

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§229.405 of this chapter) 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. [X]

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company or 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).  (Check one):

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 Exchange Act).

YES [   ]   NO [X]

The aggregate market value of the voting stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant was approximately $26.3 million based upon the closing price of $5.05 per share of the registrant's common stock on June 30, 2017 on The NASDAQ Global Market.  For purposes of making this calculation only, the registrant included all directors, executive officers and beneficial owners of more than 5% of the Common Stock of the Company as affiliates.

The number of shares of registrant's common stock (par value $0.05 per share) outstanding as of March 7, 2018: 12,239,758.

Documents Incorporated by Reference

Portions of the definitive proxy statement for the registrant's 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the "2018 Proxy Statement") are incorporated by reference into Items 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 in Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.  If the 2018 Proxy Statement is not filed by May 1, 2018 (the first business day following the day that is 120 days after the last day of the registrant's 2017 fiscal year), an amendment to this annual report on Form 10-K setting forth this information will be duly filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Private Securities Litigation Reform Act Safe Harbor Statement

Certain statements included herein and in other reports and public filings made by RCM Technologies, Inc. ("RCM" or the "Company") are forward-looking within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements regarding the adoption by businesses of new technology solutions; the use by businesses of outsourced solutions, such as those offered by the Company, in connection with such adoption; the Company's strategic and business initiatives and growth strategies; and the outcome of litigation (at both the trial and appellate levels) and arbitrations, or other business disputes, involving the Company.  Readers are cautioned that such forward-looking statements, as well as others made by the Company, which may be identified by words such as "may," "will," "expect," "anticipate," "continue," "estimate," "project," "intend," "believe," and similar expressions, are only predictions and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause the Company's actual results and financial position to differ materially from such statements.  Such risks and uncertainties include, without limitation:  (i) unemployment and general economic conditions affecting the provision of information technology and engineering services and solutions and the placement of temporary staffing personnel; (ii) the Company's ability to continue to attract, train and retain personnel qualified to meet the requirements of its clients; (iii) the Company's ability to identify appropriate acquisition candidates, complete such acquisitions and successfully integrate acquired businesses; (iv) the Company's relationships with and reliance upon significant customers, and ability to collect accounts receivable from such customers; (v) risks associated with foreign currency fluctuations and changes in exchange rates, particularly with respect to the Canadian dollar; (vi) uncertainties regarding amounts of deferred consideration and earnout payments to become payable to former shareholders of acquired businesses; (vii) the adverse effect a potential decrease in the trading price of the Company's common stock would have upon the Company's ability to acquire businesses through the issuance of its securities; (viii) the Company's ability to obtain financing on satisfactory terms; (ix) the reliance of the Company upon the continued service of its executive officers; (x) the Company's ability to remain competitive in the markets that it serves; (xi) the Company's ability to maintain its unemployment insurance premiums and workers compensation premiums; (xii) the risk of claims being made against the Company associated with providing temporary staffing services; (xiii) the Company's ability to manage significant amounts of information and periodically expand and upgrade its information processing capabilities; (xiv) the Company's ability to remain in compliance with federal and state wage and hour laws and regulations; (xv) uncertainties in predictions as to the future need for the Company's services; (xvi) uncertainties relating to the allocation of costs and expenses to each of the Company's operating segments; (xvii) the costs of conducting and the outcome of litigation, arbitrations and other business disputes involving the Company, and the applicability of insurance coverage with respect to any such litigation; (xviii) the results of, and costs relating to, any interactions with shareholders of the Company who may pursue specific initiatives with respect to the Company's governance and strategic direction, including without limitation a contested proxy solicitation initiated by such shareholders, or any similar such interactions; and (ixx) other economic, competitive and governmental factors affecting the Company's operations, markets, products and services.  Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made.  Except as required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly release the results of any revision of these forward-looking statements to reflect these trends or circumstances after the date they are made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

General

RCM Technologies, Inc. is a premier provider of business and technology solutions designed to enhance and maximize the operational performance of its customers through the adaptation and deployment of advanced engineering, specialty health care and information technology services.  RCM has been an innovative leader in the design, development, and delivery of these services to commercial and government sectors for over 40 years.  Over the years, the Company has developed and assembled an attractive, diverse and extensive portfolio of capabilities, service offerings and delivery options, established a proven record of performance and credibility, and built an efficient pricing structure.  This combination offers clients a compelling value proposition with the potential to substantially accelerate the successful attainment of their business objectives.

RCM consists of three operating segments: Engineering, Specialty Health Care and Information Technology Services.  RCM's Engineering segment provides engineering and design, engineering analysis, technical writing and technical support services, Engineer, Procure and Construction Management ("EPC") as well as Demand Side Management/Energy Conservation Services.   The Company's Specialty Health Care Services segment provides the staffing of health care professionals, primarily health information management professionals, nurses, paraprofessionals, physicians and therapists.  The Company's Information Technology, or IT, segment provides enterprise business solutions, application services, infrastructure solutions, competitive advantage & productivity solutions, life sciences solutions and other selected vertical market specific offerings.

The Company services some of the largest national and international companies in North America as well as a lengthy roster of Fortune 1000 and mid-sized businesses in such industries as Aerospace/Defense, Educational Institutions, Energy, Financial Services, Health Care, Life Sciences, Manufacturing & Distribution, the Public Sector and Technology.  RCM believes it offers a range of solutions that foster long-term client relationships, affords cross-selling opportunities, and minimizes the Company's dependence on any single technology or industry sector.  RCM sells and delivers its services through a network of approximately 30 offices in selected regions throughout North America and Serbia.

The Company is a Nevada corporation organized in 1971.  The address of its principal executive office is 2500 McClellan Avenue, Suite 350, Pennsauken, NJ  08109-4613.

During the fiscal year ended December 30, 2017, approximately 44.3% of RCM's total revenues were derived from Engineering services, 38.2% from Specialty Health Care services, and the remaining 17.5% from IT services.

Demand for the Company's services and spending by its customers can be significantly impacted by changes in the general level of economic activity, particularly technology spending.  During periods of reduced economic activity, such as the environment in the United States and the world in general that followed the economic dislocations that commenced in mid-2007, the Company may also be subject to increased pricing pressure in its markets due to reduced spending by clients and potential clients of the Company.  Extended periods of weakness in the economy can have a material adverse impact on the Company's business and results of operations.

Industry Overview

Businesses today face intense competition, the challenge of constant technological change and the ongoing need for business process optimization.  To address these issues and to compete more effectively, companies are continually evaluating the need for implementing innovative solutions to upgrade their systems, applications and processes.  As a result, the ability of an organization to integrate and align advanced technologies with new business objectives is critical.

Industry Overview (Continued)

Although most companies recognize the importance of optimizing their systems, applications and processes to compete in today's challenging environment, the process of designing, developing and implementing business and technology solutions is becoming increasingly complex.  The Company believes that many businesses are focused on return on investment analysis in prioritizing their initiatives.

The Company's Engineering group continues to focus on areas of growth within the energy, aerospace and commercial building industries and has provided a new focus on the industrial and oil and gas industries.  In recent years, many businesses have been adversely impacted by oil prices and other energy-related costs and developments, and for that reason as well as the concern of climate change, there has been growing sentiment around the world for the development of alternative sources of energy.

In the health care services industry, a shortage of nurses and other medical personnel in the United States has led to increases in business activity for health care service companies, including the Company's Specialty Health Care Services group.  Due in part to an aging population and improved medical technology, the demand for selected health care professionals is expected to continue over the next several years.  In addition, public educational institutions are outsourcing their requirements for school nurses, therapists and paraprofessionals to lower their costs and it is expected that this will continue and grow.  Medical coding standards have become increasingly complex and this is driving increased demand for hospitals to require consulting services regarding hospital information managements system, which also is expected to continue into the future.

The current economic environment challenges many companies to integrate and manage computing environments consisting of multiple computing platforms, operating systems, databases and networking protocols and off-the-shelf software applications to support business objectives.  Companies also need to keep pace with new technology developments, which often rapidly render existing equipment and internal skills obsolete.  At the same time, external economic factors have caused many organizations to focus on core competencies and trim workforces in the IT management area.  Accordingly, these organizations often lack the quantity, quality and variety of IT skills necessary to design and support IT solutions.  IT managers are charged with supporting increasingly complex systems and applications of significant strategic value, while working under budgetary, personnel and expertise constraints within their own organizations.

The Company believes its target market for IT services is among middle-market companies, which typically lack the time and technical resources to satisfy all of their IT needs internally.  These companies commonly require sophisticated, experienced IT assistance to achieve their business objectives and often rely on IT service providers to help implement and manage their systems.  RCM is structured to provide middle-market companies a single source for their IT needs.

Business Strategy

RCM is dedicated to providing solutions to meet its clients' business needs by delivering engineering, specialty health care and information technology services.  The Company's objective is to remain a recognized leader of specialized professional staffing, consulting services and solutions in major markets throughout North America.  The Company adapts operating strategies to achieve this objective.  The following is a discussion of the key elements of its growth and operating strategies:

Growth Strategy

The Company promotes a full life cycle solution capability to its customers.  The goal of the full life cycle solution strategy is to fully address a client's project implementation cycle at each stage of its development and deployment.  This entails the Company working with its clients from the initial conceptualization of a project through its design and project execution, and extending into ongoing management and support of the delivered product.  RCM's strategy is to build projects and solutions offerings selectively, utilizing its extensive resource base.

The Company believes that the effective execution of this strategy will generate improved margins on its existing resources.  The completion of this service-offering continuum is intended to afford the Company the opportunity to strengthen long-term client relationships that will further contribute to a more predictable revenue stream.

In addition to a full life cycle solution offering, the Company continues to focus on transitioning into higher value oriented services in an effort to increase its margins on its various service lines and generate revenue that is more sustainable.  The Company believes this transition is accomplished by pursuing additional vertical market specific solutions in conjunction or combination with longer-term based solutions, through expansion of its client relationships and by pursuing strategic alliances and partnerships.

The Company continues to promote its internal growth strategies which it designed to better serve the Company's customers, generate higher revenue and achieve greater operating efficiencies.  Every division of the Company continuously focuses on services and client diversification.  Business units are collaborating on penetrating and servicing accounts as sales teams are increasing their activity levels.  This enables clients to be supported by specialists in their areas of need while RCM productivity increases.

RCM provides an orientation program in which sales managers and professionals receive relevant information about Company operations.

RCM has adopted an industry-centric approach to sales and marketing.  This initiative contemplates that clients within the same industry sectors tend to have common business challenges.  It therefore allows the Company to present and deliver enhanced value to those clients in the vertical markets in which RCM has assembled the greatest work experience. RCM's consultants continue to acquire project experience that offers differentiated awareness of the business challenges that clients in that industry are facing.  This alignment also facilitates and creates additional cross-selling opportunities.  The Company believes this strategy will lead to greater account penetration and enhanced client relationships.

Operational strategies contributing to RCM's internal productivity include the delineation of certain new solutions practice areas in markets where its clients had historically known the Company as a contract service provider.  The formation of these practice areas facilitates the flow of project opportunities and the delivery of project-based solutions.

The industries in which the Company operates continues to be highly fragmented, and the Company plans to continue to selectively assess opportunities to make strategic acquisitions as such opportunities are presented to the Company. The Company's acquisition strategy is designed to broaden the scope of services and technical competencies and grow its full life cycle solution capabilities.  In considering acquisition opportunities, the Company focuses principally on companies with (i) technologies or market segments RCM has targeted for strategic value enhancement, (ii) margins that are accretive to existing margins, (iii) experienced management personnel, (iv) substantial growth prospects and (v) sellers who desire to join the Company's management team.  To retain and provide incentives for management of its acquired companies, the Company has generally structured a significant portion of the acquisition price in the form of multi-tiered consideration based on growth of operating profitability of the acquired company over a two to four year period.

Operating Strategy

The Company seeks to develop and maintain strong interactive customer relationships by anticipating and focusing on its customers' needs.  The Company emphasizes a relationship-oriented approach to business, rather than the transaction or assignment-oriented approach that the Company believes is used by many of its competitors.  This industry-centric strategy is designed to allow RCM to expand further its relationships with clients in RCM's targeted sectors.

To develop close customer relationships, the Company's practice managers and/or sales people regularly meet with both existing and prospective clients to identify areas of need and help design solutions and identify the resources needed to execute their strategies.  The Company's managers also maintain close communications with their customers during each project and on an ongoing basis after its completion.  The Company believes that this relationship-oriented approach can result in greater customer satisfaction.  Additionally, the Company believes that by collaborating with its customers in designing business solutions, it can generate new opportunities to cross-sell additional services that the Company has to offer.  The Company focuses on providing customers with qualified individuals or teams of experts compatible with the business needs of its customers and makes a concerted effort to follow the progress of such relationships to ensure their continued success.

The Company believes it has been successful in attracting and retaining highly qualified consultants and contractors by (i) providing stimulating and challenging work assignments, (ii) offering competitive wages, (iii) effectively communicating with its candidates, (iv) providing selective training to maintain and upgrade skills and (v) aligning the needs of its customers with appropriately skilled personnel.  The Company believes it has been successful in retaining these personnel due in part to its use of practice managers who are dedicated to maintaining contact with, and monitoring the satisfaction levels of, the Company's consultants and contractors while they are on assignment.

The Company continues to improve its operational efficiencies by integrating general and administrative functions at the corporate or regional level, and reducing or eliminating redundant functions formerly performed at smaller branch offices.  This enables the Company to realize savings and synergies and to control and monitor its operations efficiently, as well as to quickly integrate new acquisitions.  It also allows local branches to focus more on growing their local operations.

To accomplish this, the Company's financial reporting and accounting systems are centralized in the Company's operational headquarters in Parsippany, NJ.  The systems have been configured to perform all back office functions, including payroll, project cost accounting, billing, human resource administration and financial reporting and consolidation.  The Company utilizes third-party software for its financial reporting and accounting system which was implemented in 1999 and has not undergone significant upgrades since its initial implementation.  The Company believes that it will become necessary to upgrade or replace its financial reporting and accounting system at some point in the future, and anticipates a comprehensive review of the system may take place during fiscal 2018. The Company has not determined when this contemplated replacement may be necessary. The Company estimates this upgrade or replacement of their financial reporting and accounting system will cost somewhere between $1.0 million and $2.0 million.  These estimates are subject to change.

Engineering

The Company's Engineering segment consists of two business units – Energy Services and Aerospace Services. Energy Services provides solutions to the utility industry both power and transmission and distribution as well as industrial, chemical, commercial and oil and gas industries in the US and Canada. Aerospace Services provides engineering and technical services to the aircraft industry.

RCM provides a full range of Engineering services including Project Management Engineering & Design, Engineering Analysis, Engineer-Procure-Construct, Configuration Management, Hardware/Software Validation & Verification, Quality Assurance, Technical Writing & Publications, Manufacturing Process Planning & Improvement and 3D/BIM Integrated Design.  Engineering services are provided at the site of the client or at the Company's own facilities.

The Company believes that the deregulation of the utilities industry and the aging of nuclear power plants offer the Company an opportunity to capture a greater share of professional services and project management requirements of the utilities industry both in engineering services and through cross-selling of its information technology services.  Heightened competition, deregulation and rapid technological advances are forcing the utilities industry to make fundamental changes in its business process.  These pressures have compelled the utilities industry to focus on internal operations and maintenance activities and to increasingly outsource their design and engineering modification requirements.  Additionally, the Company believes that competitive performance demands from deregulation should increase the importance of information technology to this industry.  The Company believes that its expertise and strong relationships with certain customers within the utilities industry position the Company to be a leading provider of professional services to the utilities industry.

RCM provides a wide array of turnkey energy management services offering clients/customers opportunities for demand side management from concept to turnover.

The Company provides its engineering services through a number of delivery methods.  These include managed tasks and resources, complete project services, outsourcing, both on and off-site, and a full complement of resourcing alternatives.

As of December 30, 2017, the Company assigned approximately 645 engineering and technical personnel to its customers.

Specialty Health Care

The Company's Specialty Health Care Group specializes in long-term and short-term staffing as well as executive search and placement for the following fields: rehabilitation (physical therapists, occupational therapists and speech language pathologists), nursing, managed care, allied health care, health care management, medical office support and non-medical caregivers or companions.  The Specialty Health Care Group provides services to hospitals, long-term care facilities, schools, sports medicine facilities and private practices.  Services include in-patient, outpatient, sub-acute and acute care, multilingual speech pathology, rehabilitation, and geriatric, pediatric, and adult day care. The Specialty Healthcare Group also provides Hospital Information Management System consulting services to the hospital industry. Typical engagements either range from three to six months or are on a day-to-day shift basis.

As of December 30, 2017, the Company assigned approximately 2,135 specialty health care services personnel to its customers.

Information Technology

The Company's IT segment is an integrated group of business units providing staff supplementation services and project solutions with physical locations in the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico primarily supporting Financial, Technical, Manufacturing, Life Sciences and Distribution applications.  Areas of specialization in project solutions include:

·	Enterprise Infrastructure Management

·	Enterprise Integration

·	Enterprise Supply Chain

·	Enterprise Project Management

·	Enterprise HR

·	Life Sciences

·	Assessment and Remediation of Federally Regulated Life Science Equipment and Processes

The RCM Enterprise Business Solutions Group's core business mission is to continue its strategic transformation designed to focus the Company on developing proprietary customized solutions and methodologies by bundling software, systems, tools and services into integrated business and technology solutions.  Invoices on projects whereby the Company sold its own proprietary software were not material for the fiscal year ended December 30, 2017.

RCM's sector knowledge coupled with technical and business process experience enable the Company to provide strategic planning, project execution and management and support services throughout the entire project life cycle.  RCM has successfully completed multimillion-dollar projects in a variety of industry verticals using time-tested methodologies that manage strict budgets, timelines and quality metrics.

Among those IT services provided by RCM to its clients are:

·	Enterprise Business Solutions

·	Application Services

·	Infrastructure Solutions

·	Competitive Advantage & Productivity Solutions

·	Life Sciences Solutions

The Company believes that its ability to deliver information technology solutions across a wide range of technical platforms provides an important competitive advantage.  RCM ensures that its consultants have the expertise and skills needed to keep pace with rapidly evolving information technologies.  The Company's strategy is to maintain expertise and acquire knowledge in multiple technologies so it can offer its clients non-biased technology solutions best suited to their business needs.

The Company provides its IT services through a number of flexible delivery methods.  These include management consulting engagements, project management of client efforts, project implementation of client initiatives, outsourcing, both on and off site, and a full complement of resourcing alternatives.

As of December 30, 2017, the Company assigned approximately 245 information technology personnel to its customers.

Branch Offices

The Company's organization consists of 29 branch offices located in the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico and Serbia.  The locations and services of each of the branch offices are set forth in the table below.

(1) Services provided are abbreviated as follows:

Branch offices are primarily located in markets that the Company believes have strong growth prospects for the Company's services.  The Company's branches are operated in a decentralized, entrepreneurial manner with most branch offices operating as independent profit centers.  The Company's branch managers are given significant autonomy in the daily operations of their respective offices and, with respect to such offices, are responsible for overall guidance and supervision, budgeting and forecasting, sales and marketing strategies, pricing, hiring and training.  Branch managers are paid on a performance-based compensation system designed to motivate the managers to maximize growth and profitability.

Branch Offices (Continued)

The Company is domiciled in the United States and its segments operate in the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico and Serbia.  Revenues for the fiscal year ended December 30, 2017 and total assets by geographic area as of December 30, 2017 are as follows ($ in thousands):

The Company believes that substantial portions of the buying decisions made by users of the Company's services are made on a local or regional basis and that the Company's branch offices most often compete with local and regional providers.  Since the Company's branch managers are in the best position to understand their local markets and customers often prefer local providers, the Company believes that a decentralized operating environment enhances operating performance and contributes to employee and customer satisfaction.

From its headquarters locations in New Jersey, the Company provides its branch offices with centralized administrative, marketing, finance, MIS, human resources and legal support.  Centralized administrative functions minimize the administrative burdens on branch office managers and allow them to spend more time focusing on sales and marketing and practice development activities.

The Company's principal sales offices typically have one general manager, one sales manager, three to six sales people, several technical delivery or practice managers and several recruiters.  The general managers report to regional vice presidents who are responsible for ensuring that performance goals are achieved.  The Company's regional vice presidents meet frequently to discuss "best practices" and ways to increase the Company's cross selling of its professional services.  The Company's practice managers meet periodically to strategize, maintain continuity, and identify developmental needs and cross-selling opportunities.

Sales and Marketing

Sales and marketing efforts are conducted at the local and national level through the Company's network of branch offices.  Sales activities and productivity are tracked and rankings established and published.  Sales between business units are recognized and financially encouraged.  The Company emphasizes long-term personal relationships with customers that are developed through regular assessment of customer requirements and proactive monitoring of service performance.  The Company's sales personnel make regular visits to existing and prospective customers.  New customers are obtained through active sales programs and referrals.  The Company encourages its employees to participate in national and regional trade associations, local chambers of commerce and other civic associations.  The Company seeks to develop strategic partnering relationships with its customers by providing comprehensive solutions for all aspects of a customer's engineering, information technology and other professional services needs.  The Company concentrates on providing carefully screened professionals with the appropriate skills in a timely manner and at competitive prices.  The Company regularly monitors the quality of the services provided by its personnel and obtains feedback from its customers as to their satisfaction with the services provided.

Sales and Marketing (Continued)

The Company's larger recognizable customers include ADP, Alstom Grid, American Electric Power, Amgen, AMN Healthcare, Atlantic City Electric Company, Atrium Medical, Baltimore Gas & Electric, Bimbo Bakeries, Black and McDonald, BorgWarner, Bruce Power Limited Partnership ("Bruce Power"), Bruckner Supply Company, Chicago Public Schools, Chrysler Corporation, Con Edison, Covanta, Entergy, Cross Country, E.S. Fox Limited, Eversource Energy, Exelon Nuclear, FlightSafety International, Hamilton Sundstrand, Hawaii Department of Education, Hawaii Department of Public Safety, Hawaii State Hospital, ImClone Systems, Immucor, Johnson and Johnson, Lilly del Caribe, New York City Board of Education, New York Power Authority, Ontario Power Generation, Pfizer, Pratt and Whitney, PSE&G, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Remedy Partners, Right Sourcing, School District of Philadelphia, Sikorsky Aircraft, SNC Lavalin, United Health Group, United Technologies Corporation, Verizon, Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power and WE Energies.  The Company serves Fortune 1000 companies and many middle market clients.  The Company's relationships with these customers are typically formed at the customers' local or regional level and from time to time, when appropriate, at the corporate level for national accounts.

During the fiscal year ended December 30, 2017, Sikorsky Aircraft represented 10.4% of the Company's revenues.  No other client accounted for 10% or more of total revenues during the year.   The Company's five, ten and twenty largest customers accounted for approximately 37.9%, 51.4% and 65.2%, respectively, of the Company's revenues for the fiscal year ended December 30, 2017.

Recruiting and Training

The Company devotes a significant amount of time and resources, primarily at the branch level, to locating, training and retaining its professional personnel.  Full-time recruiters utilize the Company's proprietary databases of available personnel, which are cross-indexed by competency and skill to match potential candidates with the specific project requirements of the customer.  The qualified personnel in the databases are identified through numerous channels, including networking, referrals, trade shows, job fairs, schools, newspaper and trade journal advertising, Internet recruiting services and the Company's website.

The Company believes that a significant element of the Company's success in retaining qualified consultants and contract personnel is the Company's use of consultant relationship managers and technical practice managers.  Consultant relationship managers are qualified Company personnel dedicated to maintaining on-site contact with, and monitoring the satisfaction levels of, the Company's consultants and contract personnel while they are on assignment.  Practice managers are consulting managers responsible for the technical development and career development of the Company's technical personnel within the defined practice areas.  The Company provides technical training and skills development through vendor-sponsored courses, computer-based training tools and on the job mentoring programs.

Information Systems

RCM has continued to engage in strategic initiatives to improve upon its ability to secure data, deliver services and improve on its communication infrastructure.

RCM has partnered with several internationally recognized vendors to deploy their business solutions internally, with systems designed to provide centralized management and a supported network.

RCM has upgraded its perimeter network and WAN architecture throughout the U.S. and Canada to a secure centralized model. The hub datacenter at its operational headquarters has been outfitted with redundant fiber circuits, and redundant firewalls, routers and switching architecture that protects against hardware failure. Access to the network is restricted for security reasons.

Information Systems (Continued)

The Company has enhanced its ERP hardware, Application and Operating system to accommodate its growing needs.  The branch offices of the Company are networked to the corporate offices via private circuits, which enable the ERP application to be accessed securely at all operational locations.  The ERP system supports Company-wide operations such as payroll, billing, human resources, project systems, accounts receivable, accounts payable, all general ledger accounting, budgeting and consolidation reporting functionality.  The Company believes that at some point it will become necessary to upgrade or replace its financial reporting and accounting system.  The Company has not determined when this contemplated replacement may be necessary, but may undertake a comprehensive review of the system during fiscal 2018. The Company estimates this upgrade or replacement of its ERP system will cost somewhere between $1.0 million and $2.0 million. These estimates are subject to change.

The Company's internet presence is an integral part of its strategic initiative to improve visibility and contextualize its business offerings. The Company's website has been revised, making the site more interactive, with improved web analytics.

The Company uses a cloud based solution for sourcing candidates and fulfilling client requirements. The integrated solution allows RCM to track all client requirements on an enterprise level.  RCM recruiters are able to search multiple sources (e.g. job boards) to identify and match suitable candidates for an opportunity or need, and to build and maintain a proprietary database of prequalified candidates, thereby enhancing our ability to respond quickly to client demands.  Customized reporting and query capabilities allow RCM management to monitor personnel performance and client responsiveness. All data and information is accessible via a web portal.

In the interest of consolidation and being green, RCM continues to deploy sophisticated virtualization technology. Implementation of V-motion, fault tolerance, high availability and centralized management are an integral part of this solution.  Green initiatives include partnerships with vendors for the recycling of used printers, toners, servers, desktops and mobile devices.

Other Information

RCM has implemented a number of safeguards to protect the Company from various system-related risks including Redundant Telecommunications and server systems architecture, multi-tiered server and desktop backup infrastructure, and data center physical and environmental controls.  In addition, RCM has developed disaster recovery / business continuity procedures for all offices.

Given the significant amount of data generated in the Company's key processes including recruiting, sales, payroll and customer invoicing, RCM has established redundant procedures, functioning on a daily basis, within the Company's primary data center.  This redundancy should mitigate the risks related to hardware, application and data loss by utilizing the concept of live differential backups of servers and desktops to Storage Area Network (SAN) devices on its backup LAN, culminating in offsite tape storage at an independent facility. Controls within the data center environment ensure that all systems are proactively monitored and data is properly archived.

Additionally, RCM has contracted and brokered strategic relationships with third-party vendors to meet its recovery objectives in the event of a system disruption.  For example, comprehensive service level agreements for RCM's data circuits and network devices guarantee minimal outages as well as network redundancy and scalability.

Other Information (Continued)

The Company's ability to protect its data assets against damage from fire, power loss, telecommunications failures, and facility violations is critical.  To address potential cyber security threats, the Company uses a third-party mail management service to filter all emails destined for the RCMT domain before being delivered to the corporate mail servers. The service has also been deployed to safeguard the enterprise from malicious internet content. The deployment of virus, spam, and patch management controls extends from the perimeter network to all desktops and is centrally monitored and managed.  In addition to the virus and malware controls, an Intrusion Protection System (IPS) monitors and alerts on changes in network traffic patterns as well as known hostile signatures.

The Company maintains a disaster recovery plan that outlines the recovery time / point objectives (RTO / RPO), organization structure, roles and procedures, including site addendum disaster plans for all of its key operating offices.  Corporate IT personnel regulate the maintenance and integrity of backed-up data throughout the Company.

The Parsippany Datacenter moved in the first quarter of fiscal 2015 to a third-party Internet Data Center ("IDC"). The IDC provides RCM with a robust data center environment with redundant HVAC, commercial power feeds, ten 2000kW diesel generator sets with five 10,000-gallon, above-ground fuel oil storage tanks to provide standby power and dry pipe fire suppression.  In addition, the IDC provides 24x7 security staffing, closed-circuit monitors, secure-card key access, biometrics scanners, man traps, and alarmed doors.  

Competition

The market for engineering and IT services is highly competitive and is subject to rapid change.  As the market demand has shifted, many software companies have adopted tactics to pursue services and consulting offerings making them direct competitors when in the past they may have been alliance partners.  Primary competitors include participants from a variety of market segments, including publicly and privately held firms, systems consulting and implementation firms, application software firms, service groups of computer equipment companies, facilities management companies, general management consulting firms and staffing companies.  In addition, the Company competes with its clients' internal resources, particularly where these resources represent a fixed cost to the client.  Such competition may impose additional pricing pressures on the Company.

The Company believes its principal competitive advantages in the engineering and IT services market include: strong relationships with existing clients, a long-term track record with over 1,000 clients, a broad range of services, technical expertise, knowledge and experience in multiple industry sectors, quality and flexibility of service, responsiveness to client needs and speed in delivering IT solutions.

Additionally, the Company competes for suitable acquisition candidates based on its differentiated acquisition model, its entrepreneurial and decentralized operating philosophy, and its strong corporate-level support and resources.

Seasonality

The Company's operating results can be affected by the seasonal fluctuations in client expenditures.  Expenditures in the Engineering and Information Technology segments can be negatively impacted during the first quarter of the year when clients are finalizing their budgets.  Quarterly results generally fluctuate depending on, among other things, the number of billing days in a quarter and the seasonality of clients' businesses. The business is also affected by the timing of holidays and seasonal vacation patterns, generally resulting in lower revenues and gross profit in the fourth quarter of each year, not considering any non-seasonal impact. Extreme weather conditions may also affect demand in the first and fourth quarters of the year as certain clients' facilities are located in geographic areas subject to closure or reduced hours due to inclement weather.  The Company generally experiences an increase in its cost of sales and a corresponding decrease in gross profit and gross margin percentage in the first and second fiscal quarters of each year as a result of resetting certain state and federal employment tax rates and related salary limitations.  Also, the Company's Specialty Health Care segment typically experiences a significant decline in revenues due to the substantial closure of one of its largest customers, the New York City Department of Education, and other educational institution clients during the third quarter due to their summer recess.

Government Regulations

The Company is a consulting firm and employment service provider and  is generally subject to one or more of the following types of government regulation: (1) regulation of the employer/employee relationship between a firm and its employees, including tax withholding or reporting, social security or retirement, benefits, workplace compliance, wage and hour, anti-discrimination, immigration and workers' compensation; (2) registration, licensing, record keeping and reporting requirements; and (3) federal contractor compliance.  The Company believes it is in material compliance with all employee related statutes.

Intellectual Property

Management believes the RCM Technologies, Inc. name is extremely valuable and important to its business. The Company endeavors to protect its intellectual property rights and maintain certain trademarks, trade names, service marks and other intellectual property rights, including The Source of Smart Solutions®.  The Company is not currently aware of any infringing uses or other conditions that would be reasonably likely to materially and adversely affect the Company's use of its proprietary rights.

Workforce

As of December 30, 2017, the Company employed an administrative, sales, recruiting and management staff of approximately 220 people, including licensed engineers and certified IT specialists who, from time to time, participate in engineering design and IT projects undertaken by the Company.  As of December 30, 2017, there were approximately 645 engineering and technical personnel, 2,135 specialty health care services personnel and approximately 245 information technology personnel assigned by the Company to work on client projects or assignments for various periods.  None of the Company's employees are party to a collective bargaining agreement.

Access to Company Information

RCM has adopted a Code of Conduct applicable to all of its directors, officers and employees. In addition, the Company has adopted a Code of Ethics, within the meaning of applicable SEC rules, applicable to its Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Controller. Both the Code of Conduct and Code of Ethics are available, free of charge, by sending a written request to the Company's Corporate Secretary. If the Company makes any amendments to either of these Codes (other than technical, administrative, or other non-substantive amendments), or waives (explicitly or implicitly) any provision of the Code of Ethics to the benefit of its Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer or Controller, it intends to disclose the nature of the amendment or waiver, its effective date and to whom it applies in the investor relations portion of the website, or in a report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC.

The Company's business involves a number of risks, some of which are beyond its control.  The risk and uncertainties described below are not the only ones the Company faces.  Set forth below is a discussion of the risks and uncertainties that management believes to be material to the Company.

Economic Trends

Adverse global economic conditions, such as the worldwide crisis that began in mid-2007, may create conditions such as a general tightening in the credit markets, lower levels of liquidity, increases in the rates of default and bankruptcy, and volatility in credit, equity and fixed income markets.   Any or all of these developments can negatively affect the Company's business, operating results or financial condition in a number of ways.  For example, current or potential customers may be unable to fund capital spending programs, new product launches of other similar endeavors whereby they might procure services from the Company, and therefore delay, decrease or cancel purchases of services or not pay or delay paying for previously purchased services.  In addition, these conditions may cause the Company to incur increased expenses or make it more difficult either to utilize existing debt capacity or otherwise obtain financing for operations, investing activities (including the financing of any future acquisitions), or financing activities, all of which could adversely affect the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations.

Government Regulations

Staffing firms and employment service providers are generally subject to one or more of the following types of government regulation: (1) regulation of the employer/employee relationship between a firm and its employees, including tax withholding or reporting, social security or retirement, benefits, workplace compliance, wage and hour, anti-discrimination, immigration and workers' compensation; (2) registration, licensing, record keeping and reporting requirements; and (3) federal contractor compliance.  Failure to comply with these regulations could result in the Company incurring penalties and other liabilities, monetary and otherwise.

Highly Competitive Business

The staffing services and outsourcing markets are highly competitive and have limited barriers to entry.  RCM competes in global, national, regional, and local markets with numerous temporary staffing and permanent placement companies.  Price competition in the staffing industry is significant and pricing pressures from competitors and customers are increasing.  In addition, there is increasing pressure on companies to outsource certain areas of their business to low cost offshore outsourcing firms.  RCM expects that the level of competition will remain high in the future, which could limit RCM's ability to maintain or increase its market share or profitability.  Our inability to compete successfully with our competitors could adversely affect the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations.

Seasonality of Business

As described in "Item 1. Business," our operating results are subject to seasonal fluctuations, with reduced demand often occurring during first quarter of the year when clients are finalizing their engineering and IT budgets, and also during periods in which there are a substantial amount of holidays and season vacations.  In particular, one of the largest customers in our Specialty Health Care group, the New York City Department of Education, significantly reduces activity during the third quarter, when schools are closed for summer recess.  Our operating results for any given period may fluctuate as a result of the timing of holidays, vacations and other events, and if we were to experience unfavorable performance during periods in which we would otherwise expect to have high seasonal demand, we may have limited ability to make up for such performance during periods of seasonally lower demand.

Events Affecting Significant Customers

The Company has a dispute with a customer that is a major utility in the United States. Essentially, the customer has not paid the balance of accounts receivable the Company believes are owed to the Company. The Company recently compelled arbitration with this customer. The total amount due from this customer is $6.9 million, subject to an upward adjustment following disclosures by the customer in the arbitration.  Additionally, as part of the arbitration process, the customer has asserted counter claims of $9.3 million. The Company also believes these counter claims were retaliatory in nature.  Prior to the arbitration, the customer had not asserted any claims.  The Company believes these asserted claims have no merit and were merely asserted as a strategy to reduce the Company's claims in any arbitration award or potential settlement agreement. The Company believes that its accounts receivable balance, subject to reserves, is collectible. Furthermore, the Company believes that this arbitration will conclude sometime in fiscal year 2018.  While the Company believes the customer's counter claims to be frivolous and without merit, it can give no assurances that it will ultimately not have to pay all or a portion of such claims.

Safety Concerns Regarding Nuclear Power Plants; Limitations on Insurance

Especially in light of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant malfunction that occurred in March 2011, new and existing concerns are being expressed in public forums about the safety of nuclear generating units and nuclear fuel.  Among other things, these concerns have led to, and are expected to continue to lead to, various proposals to regulators and governing bodies in some localities where nuclear facilities are located for legislative and regulatory changes that could lead to the shut-down of nuclear units, denial of license renewal applications, municipalization of nuclear units, restrictions on nuclear units or other adverse effects on owning and operating nuclear generating units.  Should these concerns or proposals lead to a diminishment of or reduced growth in the nuclear power industry, the Company's Engineering segment, which has a focus on the nuclear power industry, could be harmed, and the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially adversely affected.

In addition, our liability insurance does not cover accidents occurring at nuclear power facilities.  Should we be found to be responsible for such an event, we may not be able to cover relating damages, and our business would be adversely affected.

  

Subcontractors, Transit Accounts Receivable and Transit Accounts Payables Related to Construction Management Contracts

The Company's Engineering segment has entered into arrangements to provide construction management and engineering services to customers under which arrangements the Company then engages subcontractors to provide the construction services.  Ultimately, as a primary contractor, the Company is responsible for the nonperformance or negligence of its subcontractors, whom the Company requires to be adequately insured and to issue performance bonds for their assignment.  Should a subcontractor not perform or act negligently and should there be inadequate insurance or performance bonds in place, the Company might not be able to mitigate its primary liability to the customer, and the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially adversely affected.  In addition, while payments to subcontractors typically are due from the Company only after the Company receives payment from the ultimate customer, the Company faces the risk that, should a customer not pay the Company, or should a subcontractor demand payment from the Company prior to the Company's receipt of payment from its customer, the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially adversely affected.

Dependence Upon Personnel

The Company's operations depend on the continued efforts of its officers and other executive management.  The loss of key officers and members of executive management may cause a significant disruption to the Company's business.

RCM also depends on the performance and productivity of its local managers and field personnel.  The Company's ability to attract and retain new business is significantly affected by local relationships and the quality of service rendered.  The loss of key managers and field personnel may also jeopardize existing client relationships with businesses that continue to use the Company's services based upon past relationships with local managers and field personnel.  In order to fulfill the requirements of the Company's customers, the Company must be able to recruit and retain appropriate personnel for client assignments.

Revolving Credit Facility and Liquidity

If the Company were unable to borrow under its Revolving Credit Facility (see "Item 7.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Liquidity and Capital Resources – Financing Activities"), it may adversely affect liquidity, results of operations and financial condition.  The Company's liquidity depends on its ability to generate sufficient cash flows from operations and, from time to time, borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility with the Company's agent lender Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania. The Company believes that Citizens Bank is liquid and is not aware of any current risk that they will become illiquid.  At December 30, 2017, the Company had $27.2 million in borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility outstanding and $0.8 million outstanding under letters of credit.  At December 30, 2017, the Company had availability for additional borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility of $7.0 million.

The Revolving Credit Facility contains various financial and non-financial covenants.  At December 30, 2017, the Company was in compliance with the covenants and other provisions of the Credit Facility. Any failure to be in compliance could have a material adverse effect on liquidity, results of operations and financial condition.

Foreign Currency Fluctuations and Changes in Exchange Rates

The Company is exposed to risks associated with foreign currency fluctuations and changes in exchange rates.  RCM's exposure to foreign currency fluctuations relates to operations in Canada and Serbia, principally conducted through its Canadian and Serbian subsidiaries.  Exchange rate fluctuations affect the U.S. dollar value of reported earnings derived from the Canadian operations as well as the carrying value of the Company's investment in the net assets related to these operations.  The Company does not engage in hedging activities with respect to foreign operations.

Changes in Tax Laws

At any time, U.S. federal tax laws or the administrative interpretations of those laws may be changed. In December 2017, the legislation commonly referred to as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which made widespread changes to the Internal Revenue Code, was signed into law; while the Company believes that this law generally will have a favorable effect on corporations and their shareholders, uncertainty remains regarding the full effect that this law will have on the Company and its customers, vendors, shareholders and other stakeholders. The Company also cannot predict whether, when or to what extent other new U.S. federal tax laws, regulations, interpretations or rulings will be issued. As a result, changes in U.S. federal tax laws could negatively impact our operating results, financial condition and business operations, and adversely impact the Company's shareholders.

Workers' Compensation and Employee Medical Insurance

The Company self-insures a portion of the exposure for losses related to workers' compensation and employees' medical insurance.  The Company has established reserves for workers' compensation and employee medical insurance claims based on historical loss statistics and periodic independent actuarial valuations.  Significant differences in actual experience or significant changes in assumptions may materially affect the Company's future financial results.

Improper Activities of Temporary Professionals Could Result in Damage to Business Reputation, Discontinuation of Client Relationships and Exposure to Liability

The Company may be subject to claims by clients related to errors and omissions, misuse of proprietary information, discrimination and harassment, theft and other criminal activity, malpractice, and other claims stemming from the improper activities or alleged activities of temporary professionals.  There can be no assurance that current liability insurance coverage will be adequate or will continue to be available in sufficient amounts to cover damages or other costs associated with such claims.

Claims raised by clients stemming from the improper actions of temporary professionals, even if without merit, could cause the Company to incur significant expense associated with rework costs or other damages related to such claims.  Furthermore, such claims by clients could damage the Company's business reputation and result in the discontinuation of client relationships.

Acquisitions May Not Succeed

The Company reviews prospective acquisitions as an element of its growth strategy.  The failure of any acquisition to meet the Company's expectations, whether due to a failure to successfully integrate any future acquisition or otherwise, may result in damage to the Company's financial performance and/or divert management's attention from its core operations or could negatively affect the Company's ability to meet the needs of its customers promptly.

International Operations

The Company operates its business in Canada and, to a less significant extent, in Puerto Rico and Serbia.  For the fiscal year ended December 30, 2017, approximately 18.5% of the Company's revenues were generated outside the United States.  There are certain risks inherent in conducting business internationally including:  the imposition of trade barriers, foreign exchange restrictions, longer payment cycles, greater difficulties in accounts receivables collection, difficulties in complying with a variety of foreign laws, changes in legal or regulatory requirements, difficulties in staffing and managing foreign operations, complex and uncertain employment environments, political instability and potentially adverse tax consequences.  To the extent the Company experiences these risks, the business and results of operations could be adversely affected.

Trademarks

Management believes the RCM Technologies, Inc. name is extremely valuable and important to its business. The Company endeavors to protect its intellectual property rights and maintain certain trademarks, trade names, service marks and other intellectual property rights, including The Source of Smart Solutions®.  The Company is not currently aware of any infringing uses or other conditions that would be reasonably likely to materially and adversely affect the Company's use of its proprietary rights.  The Company's success depends on its ability to successfully obtain and maintain, and prevent misappropriation or infringement of, its intellectual property, maintain trade secret protection, and conduct operations without violating or infringing on the intellectual property rights of third parties.  Intellectual property litigation is expensive and time-consuming, and it is often difficult, if not impossible, to predict the outcome of such litigation.  If the Company is involved in an intellectual property litigation, its business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially adversely affected.

Data Center Capacity and Telecommunication Links

Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS), card key access, fire suppression, and environmental control systems protect RCM's datacenter.  All systems are monitored on a 24/7 basis with alerting capabilities via voice or email.  The telecommunications architecture at RCM utilizes managed private circuits from AT&T, which encompasses provisioning redundancy and diversity.

The Company's ability to protect its data center against damage from fire, power loss, telecommunications failure and other disasters is critical to business operations.  In order to provide many of its services, RCM must be able to store, retrieve, process and manage large databases and periodically expand and upgrade its capabilities.  Any damage to the Company's data centers or any failure of the Company's telecommunication links that interrupts its operations or results in an inadvertent loss of data could adversely affect the Company's ability to meet its customers' needs and their confidence in utilizing the Company for future services.

RCM's ability to protect its data, provide services and safeguard its installations, as it relates to the IT infrastructure, is in part dependent on several outside vendors with whom the Company maintains service level agreements.

Cyber Security

We are highly dependent on information technology systems to operate our business. A breakdown, invasion, corruption, destruction or interruption of critical information technology systems by employees, others with authorized access to our systems or unauthorized persons could negatively impact operations.  In the ordinary course of business, we collect, store and transmit confidential information and it is critical that we do so in a secure manner to maintain the confidentiality and integrity of such information.  Additionally, we outsource certain elements of our information technology systems to third parties.  As a result of this outsourcing, our third party vendors may or could have access to our confidential information making such systems vulnerable.  Data breaches of our information technology systems, or those of our third party vendors, may pose a risk that sensitive data may be exposed to unauthorized persons or to the public.  While we believe that we have taken appropriate security measures to protect our data and information technology systems, and have been informed by our third party vendors that they have as well, there can be no assurance that our efforts will prevent breakdowns or breaches in our systems, or those of our third party vendors, that could adversely affect our business.

Litigation and Other Disputes

The Company is currently, and may in the future become, involved in legal or arbitration proceedings and claims arising from time to time in the course of its business.  An adverse outcome in any such litigation or arbitration could have an adverse impact on the consolidated financial position, consolidated results of operations and cash flows of the Company.

Not applicable.

The Company provides specialty professional consulting services, principally performed at various client locations, through 30 administrative and sales offices located in the United States, Puerto Rico, Canada and Serbia.  The majority of the Company's offices typically consist of 1,000 to 15,000 square feet and are typically leased by the Company for terms of one to three years.  Offices in larger or smaller markets may vary in size from the typical office.  The Company does not expect that it will be difficult to maintain or find suitable lease space at reasonable rates in its markets or in areas where the Company contemplates expansion.

The Company's executive office is located at 2500 McClellan Avenue, Suite 350, Pennsauken, New Jersey 08109-4613. These premises consist of approximately 11,200 square feet and are leased at a rate of approximately $16.80 per square foot per annum for a term ending on June 30, 2020.

The Company's operational office is located at 20 Waterview Boulevard, 4^th Floor, Parsippany, NJ 07054-1271.  These premises consist of approximately 16,000 square feet and are leased at a rate of approximately $21.25 per square foot per annum for a term ending on October 31, 2018.

From time to time, the Company is a defendant or plaintiff in various legal actions that arise in the normal course of business.  As such, the Company is required to assess the likelihood of any adverse outcomes to these matters as well as potential ranges of losses and possible recoveries.  The Company may not be covered by insurance as it pertains to some or all of these matters.  A determination of the amount of the provision required for these commitments and contingencies, if any, which would be charged to earnings, is made after careful analysis of each matter.  Once established, a provision may change in the future due to new developments or changes in circumstances, and could increase or decrease the Company's earnings in the period that the changes are made.  Asserted claims in these matters sought approximately $10.0 million in damages (including $9.3 million in counter claims described below) as of December 30, 2017.  As of December 30, 2017, the Company had an accrual of $0.1 million for any such liabilities.

The Company has a dispute with a customer that is a major utility in the United States. Essentially, the customer has not paid the balance of accounts receivable the Company believes are owed to the Company. The Company recently compelled arbitration with this customer. The total amount due from this customer is $6.9 million, subject to an upward adjustment following disclosures by the customer in the arbitration.  Additionally, as part of the arbitration process, the customer has asserted counter claims of $9.3 million. The Company also believes these counter claims were retaliatory in nature.  Prior to the arbitration, the customer had not asserted any claims.  The Company believes these asserted claims have no merit and were merely asserted as a strategy to reduce the Company's claims in any arbitration award or potential settlement agreement. The Company believes that its accounts receivable balance, subject to reserves, is collectible. Furthermore, the Company believes that this arbitration will conclude sometime in fiscal year 2018.  While the Company believes the customer's counter claims to be frivolous and without merit, it can give no assurances that it will ultimately not have to pay all or a portion of such claims.

The Company is also subject to other pending legal proceedings and claims that arise from time to time in the ordinary course of its business, which may not be covered by insurance.

Not applicable.

Shares of the Company's common stock are traded on The NASDAQ Global Market under the Symbol "RCMT."  The following table sets forth approximate high and low sales prices for the two years in the period ended December 30, 2017 as reported by The NASDAQ Global Market:

Holders

As of February 12, 2018, the approximate number of holders of record of the Company's Common Stock was 335 and the number of beneficial owners of its Common Stock is approximately 2,605.

Dividends

On December 28, 2017, the Company paid to stockholders of record on December 22, 2017 a special cash dividend of $1.00 per share of common stock.  The Company also accrued $1.00 per share on 87,034 unvested restricted share units.  All restricted share units contain a dividend equivalent provision entitling holders to dividends paid between the restricted stock unit grant date and ultimate share distribution date.  Total accrued dividends as of December 30, 2017 were $87,034 to be paid from fiscal 2018 to fiscal 2020.  Dividends on any forfeited restricted share units will be forfeited.

The entire fiscal 2017 dividend was treated as return of capital.

While the Company, at this time, has no plans to issue any future dividends, any future payment of dividends will depend upon, among other things, the Company's earnings, financial condition, capital requirements, level of indebtedness, contractual restrictions, and other factors that the Board of Directors deems relevant.  The Revolving Credit Facility (as discussed in Item 7 hereof) prohibits the payment of any dividends or distributions on account of the Company's capital stock without the prior consent of the majority of the Company's lenders.  Such consent was received prior to the fiscal 2017 distribution.

Stock Repurchase by Issuer

On October 28, 2013, the Board of Directors authorized a repurchase program to purchase up to $5.0 million of outstanding shares of common stock at prevailing market prices, from time to time over the subsequent 12-month period.  On September 30, 2014, the Board extended this repurchase program through October 31, 2015. On September 11, 2015, the Board extended this repurchase program through December 31, 2016.  On August 9, 2016, the Board authorized an additional $5.0 million to the repurchase program and extended this repurchase program through December 31, 2017.  For the fiscal year ended December 30, 2017, the Company repurchased 59,312 shares for an average price of $5.54 per share.  For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016, the Company repurchased 701,114 shares for an average price of $6.07 per share for a total of $4.3 million.  As of December 30, 2017, $2.5 million approved funds remain available for future common stock repurchases.

Not required.

Overview

RCM participates in a market that is cyclical in nature and sensitive to economic changes.  As a result, the impact of economic changes on revenues and operations can be substantial, resulting in significant volatility in the Company's financial performance. 

The Company believes it has developed and assembled an attractive portfolio of capabilities, established a proven record of performance and credibility and built an efficient pricing structure.  The Company is committed to optimizing its business model as a single-source premier provider of business and technology solutions with a strong vertical focus offering an integrated suite of services through a global delivery platform.

 

The Company believes that most companies recognize the importance of advanced technologies and business processes to compete in today's business climate.  However, the process of designing, developing and implementing business and technology solutions is becoming increasingly complex.  The Company believes that many businesses today are focused on return on investment analysis in prioritizing their initiatives.  This has had an adverse impact on spending by current and prospective clients for many emerging new solutions.

Nonetheless, the Company continues to believe that businesses must implement more advanced information technology and engineering solutions to upgrade their systems, applications and processes so that they can maximize their productivity and optimize their performance in order to maintain a competitive advantage.  Although working under budgetary, personnel and expertise constraints, companies are driven to support increasingly complex systems, applications and processes of significant strategic value.  This has given rise to a demand for outsourcing.  The Company believes that its current and prospective clients are continuing to evaluate the potential for outsourcing business critical systems, applications and processes. 

The Company provides project management and consulting services, which are billed based on either agreed-upon fixed fees or hourly rates, or a combination of both.  The billing rates and profit margins for project management and solutions services are generally higher than those for professional consulting services.  The Company generally endeavors to expand its sales of higher margin solutions and project management services.  The Company also realizes revenues from client engagements that range from the placement of contract and temporary technical consultants to project assignments that entail the delivery of end-to-end solutions.  These services are primarily provided to the client at hourly rates that are established for each of the Company's consultants based upon their skill level, experience and the type of work performed. 

The majority of the Company's services are provided under purchase orders.  Contracts are utilized on certain of the more complex assignments where the engagements are for longer terms or where precise documentation on the nature and scope of the assignment is necessary.  Although contracts normally relate to longer-term and more complex engagements, they do not obligate the customer to purchase a minimum level of services and are generally terminable by the customer on 60 to 90 days' notice.  The Company, from time to time, enters into contracts requiring the completion of specific deliverables.  Typically these contracts are for less than one year.  The Company recognizes revenue on these deliverables at the time the client accepts and approves the deliverables.

Costs of services consist primarily of salaries and compensation-related expenses for billable consultants and employees, including payroll taxes, employee benefits and insurance.  Selling, general and administrative expenses consist primarily of salaries and benefits of personnel responsible for business development, recruiting, operating activities, and training, and include corporate overhead expenses.  Corporate overhead expenses relate to salaries and benefits of personnel responsible for corporate activities, including the Company's corporate marketing, administrative and financial reporting responsibilities and acquisition program.  The Company records these expenses when incurred. 

Critical Accounting Policies

The Company's consolidated financial statements were prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, which require management to make subjective decisions, assessments and estimates about the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain. As the number of variables and assumptions affecting the judgment increases, such judgments become even more subjective. While management believes its assumptions are reasonable and appropriate, actual results may be materially different from estimated. Management has identified certain critical accounting policies, described below, that require significant judgment to be exercised by management.

Revenue Recognition

The Company derives its revenues from several sources.  The Company's Engineering Services and Information Technology Services segments perform consulting and project solutions services.  All of the Company's segments perform staff augmentation services and derive revenue from permanent placement fees.  The majority of the Company's revenues are invoiced on a time and materials basis.

The Company recognizes revenues in accordance with current revenue recognition standards under Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 605, Revenue Recognition, which clarifies application of U.S. generally accepted accounting principles to revenue transactions.  Project services are generally provided on a cost-plus, fixed-fee or time-and-material basis.  Typically, a customer will outsource a discrete project or activity and the Company assumes responsibility for the performance of such project or activity.  The Company recognizes revenues and associated costs on a gross basis as services are provided to the customer and costs are incurred using its employees. The Company, from time to time, enters into contracts requiring the completion of specific deliverables.  The Company may recognize revenues on these deliverables at the time the client accepts and approves the deliverables.  In instances where project services are provided on a fixed-price basis and the contract will extend beyond a 12-month period, revenue is recorded in accordance with the terms of each contract.  In some instances, revenue is billed at the time certain milestones are reached, as defined in the contract.  Revenues under these arrangements are recognized as the costs on these contracts are incurred.  Amounts invoiced in excess of revenues recognized are recorded as deferred revenue, included in accounts payable and accrued expenses on the accompanying balance sheets.  In other instances, revenue is billed and recorded based upon contractual rates per hour (i.e., percentage of completion). In addition, some contracts contain "Performance Fees" (bonuses) for completing a contract under budget.  Performance Fees, if any, are recorded when earned.  Some contracts also limit revenues and billings to specified maximum amounts.  Provision for contract losses, if any, are made in the period such losses are determined.  For contracts where there is a deliverable, the work is not complete on a specific deliverable and the revenue is not recognized, the costs are deferred.  The associated costs are expensed when the related revenue is recognized.

Revenues derived from consulting and staffing services are recorded on a gross basis as services are performed and associated costs have been incurred using employees of the Company.  These services are typically billed on a time and material basis. 

In certain cases, the Company may utilize other companies and their employees to fulfill customer requirements. In these cases, the Company receives an administrative fee for arranging for, billing for, and collecting the billings related to these companies.  The customer is typically responsible for assessing the work of these companies who have responsibility for acceptability of their personnel to the customer.  Under these circumstances, the Company's reported revenues are net of associated costs (effectively recognizing the net administrative fee only).

Revenue Recognition (Continued)

From time to time, the Company's Engineering segment enters into agreements to provide, among other things, construction management and engineering services.  In certain circumstances, the Company may acquire equipment as a purchasing agent for the client for a fee.  Pursuant to these agreements, the Company: a) may engage subcontractors to provide construction or other services or contracts with manufacturers on behalf of the Company's clients to procure equipment or fixtures; b) typically earns a fixed percentage of the total project value or a negotiated mark-up on subcontractor or procurement charges as a fee; and c) assumes no ownership or risks of inventory.  In such situations, the Company acts as an agent under the provisions of "Overall Considerations of Reporting Revenue Gross as a Principal versus Net as an Agent" and therefore recognizing revenue on a "net-basis."  The Company records revenue on a "net" basis on relevant engineering and construction management projects, which require subcontractor/procurement costs or transit costs. In those situations, the Company charges the client a negotiated fee, which is reported as net revenue when earned.  During the fifty-two week period ended December 30, 2017, total gross billings, including both transit cost billings and the Company's earned fees, was $38.9 million, for which the Company recognized $26.1 million of its net fee as revenue.  During the fifty-two week period ended December 31, 2016, total gross billings, including both transit cost billings and the Company's earned fees, was $49.7 million, for which the Company recognized $27.3 million of its net fee as revenue.  

Under the terms of the agreements, the Company is typically not required to pay the subcontractor until after the corresponding payment from the Company's end-client is received.  Upon invoicing the end-client on behalf of the subcontractor or staffing agency the Company records this amount simultaneously as both a "transit account receivable" and "transit account payable" as the amount when paid to the Company is due to and generally paid to the subcontractor within a few days.  The Company typically does not pay a given transit account payable until the related transit account receivable is collected.  The Company's transit accounts payable generally exceeds the Company's transit accounts receivable but absolute amounts and spreads fluctuate significantly from quarter to quarter in the normal course of business.  The transit accounts receivable was $3.0 million and related transit accounts payable was $4.7 million, a net payable of $1.7 million, as of December 30, 2017. 

The Company earns permanent placement fees from providing permanent placement services.  Fees for placements are recognized at the time the candidate commences employment.  The Company guarantees its permanent placements on a prorated basis for 90 days.  In the event a candidate is not retained for the 90-day period, the Company will provide a suitable replacement candidate.  In the event a replacement candidate cannot be located, the Company will provide a prorated refund to the client.  An allowance for refunds, based upon the Company's historical experience, is recorded in the financial statements.  Revenues are recorded on a gross basis.

Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

The Company's accounts receivable are primarily due from trade customers.  Credit is extended based on evaluation of customers' financial condition and, generally, collateral is not required.  Accounts receivable payment terms vary and are stated in the financial statements at amounts due from customers net of an allowance for doubtful accounts.  Accounts outstanding longer than the payment terms are considered past due.  The Company determines its allowance by considering a number of factors, including the length of time trade accounts receivable are past due, the Company's previous loss history, the customer's current ability to pay its obligation to the Company, and the condition of the general economy and the industry as a whole.  The Company writes off accounts receivable when they become uncollectible, and payments subsequently received on such receivables previously written off are credited to bad debt expense.

Goodwill

Goodwill is not amortized but is subject to periodic testing for impairment in accordance with ASC Topic 350 "Intangibles - Goodwill and Other - Testing Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets for Impairment" ("ASC Topic 350"). The Company tests goodwill for impairment on an annual basis as of the last day of the Company's fiscal December each year or more frequently if events occur or circumstances change indicating that the fair value of the goodwill may be below its carrying amount. The Company has three reporting units.  The Company uses a market-based approach to determine the fair value of the reporting units.  This approach uses earnings/revenue multiples of similar companies recently completing acquisitions and the ability of our reporting units to generate cash flows as measures of fair value of our reporting units. The Company adopted Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2017-04, "Intangibles - Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment" effective December 30, 2017 which has eliminated Step 2 from the goodwill impairment test. Under this update, an entity should perform its goodwill impairment test by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount.

As of December 30, 2017, the carrying amount of our Information Technology reporting unit exceeded its fair value; therefore, the Company recorded a goodwill impairment charge of $3.5 million in the fiscal year ended December 30, 2017.  This charge is recognized as "Goodwill Impairment" on our Consolidated Statements of Income. The remaining goodwill balance as of December 30, 2017 for the Information Technology segment was approximately $2.0 million. The continued future decline of our revenue, cash flows and/or stock price may give rise to a triggering event that may require the Company to record additional impairment charges on goodwill in the future.  The Company did not record a goodwill impairment charge in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016.

During all periods presented, the Company determined that the existing qualitative factors did not suggest that an impairment of goodwill exists for both its Engineering and Specialty Healthcare Segments.  There can be no assurance that future indicators of impairment and tests of goodwill impairment will not result in impairment charges for both its Engineering and Specialty Healthcare segments.

Long-Lived and Intangible Assets

The Company evaluates long-lived assets and intangible assets with definite lives for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable.  When it is probable that undiscounted future cash flows will not be sufficient to recover an asset's carrying amount, the asset is written down to its fair value.  Assets to be disposed of by sale, if any, are reported at the lower of the carrying amount or fair value less cost to sell.

Accounting for Stock Options and Restricted Stock Units

The Company uses stock options and restricted stock units to attract, retain and reward employees for long-term service.  The Company follows "Share-Based Payment," which requires that the compensation cost relating to stock-based payment transactions be recognized in the financial statements.  This compensation cost is measured based on the fair value of the equity or liability instruments issued.  The Company measures stock-based compensation cost using the Black-Scholes option pricing model for stock options and the fair value of the underlying common stock at the date of grant for restricted stock units.

Insurance Liabilities

The Company has risk participation arrangements with respect to workers compensation and health care insurance.  The Company establishes loss provisions based on historical experience and in the case of expected losses from workers compensation, considers input from third parties.  The amounts included in the Company's costs related to this risk participation are estimated and can vary based on changes in assumptions, the Company's claims experience or the providers included in the associated insurance programs.

Accounting for Income Taxes

In establishing the provision for income taxes and deferred income tax assets and liabilities, and valuation allowances against deferred tax assets, the Company makes judgments and interpretations based on enacted tax laws, published tax guidance and estimates of future earnings.  As of December 30, 2017, the Company had a net domestic long term deferred tax net asset of $2.2 million and a foreign long-term deferred tax net liability of $0.4 million.   The domestic long term deferred tax net asset includes $3.2 million in deferred assets offset by $1.0 million in deferred tax liabilities. The deferred tax assets consist of a net operating loss carryforward of $2.5 million, and various deferred expense accruals and reserves of $0.7 million. The deferred tax liabilities consist of prepaid expenses of $0.5 million, advance depreciation deductions of $0.3 million and acquisition amortization of $0.2 million.  Realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the likelihood that future taxable income will be sufficient to realize these benefits over time, and the effectiveness of tax planning strategies in the relevant tax jurisdictions.  In the event that actual results differ from these estimates and assessments, valuation allowances may be required. 

The Company conducts its operations in multiple tax jurisdictions in the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico and Serbia. The Company and its subsidiaries file a consolidated U.S. Federal income tax return and file in various states. The Company's federal income tax returns have been examined through 2010.  The Internal Revenue Service is currently examining fiscal tax years 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2015.  The State of New Jersey is currently examining fiscal tax years 2009 through 2012.  Except for New Jersey and other limited exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to audits by state and local tax authorities for tax years prior to 2011.  The Company is no longer subject to audit in Canada for the tax years prior to tax year 2013.  The Company is no longer subject to audit in Puerto Rico for the tax years prior to tax year 2007.

The Company's future effective tax rates could be adversely affected by changes in the valuation of its deferred tax assets or liabilities or changes in tax laws or interpretations thereof. In addition, the Company is subject to the examination of its income tax returns by the Internal Revenue Service and other tax authorities. The Company regularly assesses the likelihood of adverse outcomes resulting from these examinations to determine the adequacy of its provision for income taxes.

There were no changes to unrecognized tax benefits during both fifty-two week periods presented.

Accrued Bonuses

The Company pays bonuses to certain executive management, field management and corporate employees based on, or after giving consideration to, a variety of financial performance measures. Bonuses for executive management, field management and certain corporate employees are accrued throughout the year for payment during the first quarter of the following year, based in part upon anticipated annual results compared to annual budgets.  In addition, the Company pays discretionary bonuses to certain employees, which are not related to budget performance. Variances in actual results versus budgeted amounts can have a significant impact on the calculations and therefore on the estimates of the required accruals.  Accordingly, the actual earned bonuses may be materially different from the estimates used to determine the quarterly accruals.

Forward-looking Information

The Company's growth prospects are influenced by broad economic trends.  The pace of customer capital spending programs, new product launches and similar activities have a direct impact on the need for engineering and information technology services.  When the U.S., Canadian or global economies decline, the Company's operating performance could be adversely impacted.  The Company believes that its fiscal discipline, strategic focus on targeted vertical markets and diversification of service offerings provides some insulation from adverse trends.  However, declines in the economy could result in the need for future cost reductions or changes in strategy. 

Additionally, changes in government regulations could result in prohibition or restriction of certain types of employment services or the imposition of new or additional employee benefits, licensing or tax requirements with respect to the provision of employment services that may reduce the Company's future earnings.  There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to increase the fees charged to its clients in a timely manner and in a sufficient amount to cover increased costs as a result of any of the foregoing.

The consulting and employment services market is highly competitive with limited barriers to entry.  The Company competes in global, national, regional and local markets with numerous competitors in all of the Company's service lines.  Price competition in the industries the Company serves is significant, and pricing pressures from competitors and customers are increasing.  The Company expects that the level of competition will remain high in the future, which could limit the Company's ability to maintain or increase its market share or profitability.

Fiscal Year Ended December 30, 2017 Compared to Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2016

A summary of operating results for the fifty-two week periods ended December 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 is as follows (in thousands):

The Company follows a 52/53 week fiscal reporting calendar ending on the Saturday closest to December 31.  The fiscal years ended December 30, 2017 (fiscal 2017) and December 31, 2016 (fiscal 2016) consisted of fifty-two weeks each.

Revenues.  Revenues increased 5.8%, or $10.3 million, for the fifty-two week period ended December 30, 2017 as compared to the fifty-two week period ended December 31, 2016 (the "comparable prior year period").  Revenues increased $8.9 million in the Engineering segment, increased $11.5 million in the Specialty Health Care segment and decreased $10.1 million in the Information Technology segment.  See Segment Discussion for further information on revenue changes.

The Company has material operations in Canada, primarily from the Company's Engineering segment; this business is conducted primarily in Canadian dollars. Since the Company reports its consolidated results in U.S. dollars the consolidated results are subject to potentially material fluctuations as a result of changes in the Canadian dollar to U.S. dollar exchange rate (the "Exchange Rate"). For the fifty-two week period ended December 30, 2017, the Company generated total revenues from its Canadian clients of $30.1 million in U.S. dollars at an Exchange Rate of 77.2% as compared to $24.4 million in U.S. dollars at an Exchange Rate of 75.5% for the prior year comparable period.

The Company has an office in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Due largely to the impact of Hurricane Maria, the Company estimates that it lost revenues of approximately $0.3 million from September through December 2017. The lost revenues in Puerto Rico did not have a material impact to consolidated operating income for the fifty-two weeks ended December 30, 2017. The Company believes that, for at least the next several quarters, San Juan revenues and gross profit will be continue to be impacted.

Fiscal Year Ended December 30, 2017 Compared to Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2016

Cost of Services and Gross Profit.  Cost of services increased 6.9%, or $8.9 million, for the fifty-two week period ended December 30, 2017 as compared to the comparable prior year period. Cost of services as a percentage of revenues for the fifty-two week periods ended December 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 was 74.1% and 73.4%, respectively.  See Segment Discussion for further information regarding changes in cost of services and gross profit.

Selling, General and Administrative.  Selling, general and administrative ("SGA") expenses increased to $40.4 million for the fifty-two week period ended December 30, 2017 as compared to $40.1 million for the comparable prior year period.  As a percentage of revenues, SGA expenses were 21.6% for the fifty-two week period ended December 30, 2017 and 22.7% for the comparable prior year period.   See Segment Discussion for further information on SGA expense changes.

Legal, Office Closures and Other Charges. The Company experienced $1.4 million in legal, office closures and other charges for the fifty-two week period ended December 30, 2017, up slightly from $1.3 million in the comparable prior year period.  Fiscal year 2017 charges included costs relating to closure of the Purchase, NY engineering office and Edina, MN Information Technology office, totaling approximately $0.8 million; severance to a senior executive of approximately $0.3 million; legal fees associated with the PSR acquisition of approximately $0.2 million; and other legal related and miscellaneous charges of approximately $0.1 million. Fiscal year 2016 charges included a settled wage and hour class action lawsuit in December 2016 with total expenses of $0.7 million, including professional fees. The balance is primarily related to facilities consolidation charges associated with the closure of the Company's Grand Rapids, MI office.

Tax Credit Professional Fees. The Company incurred $0.3 million in professional fees related to certain tax credits in the United States and Canada and, to a lesser extent, Puerto Rico, during the fifty-two week period ended December 30, 2017. The Company recognized $0.6 million in tax benefits associated with these consulting fees in fiscal 2017.

Changes in Contingent Consideration. The Company incurred charges of $0.8 million for increases to contingent consideration for the fifty-two week period ended December 30, 2017.  The increase can be principally attributed to the PCI acquisition.  Since the PCI acquisition was for stock in Canada the increase in purchase price is not tax deductible and is treated as a permanent difference. There was no change to contingent consideration for the comparable prior year period.

Goodwill Impairment. For the fifty-two week period ended December 30, 2017, the Company determined that it incurred an impairment of goodwill of $3.5 million in its Information Technology segment. There was no charge for goodwill impairment for the comparable prior year period.

Other Expense, Net.  Other expense, net consists of interest expense, unused line fees and amortized loan costs on the Company's loan agreement, net of interest income and gains and losses on foreign currency transactions.  There were no material changes to other expense, net for the fifty-two week period ended December 30, 2017 as compared to the prior comparable period. 

Fiscal Year Ended December 30, 2017 Compared to Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2016 (Continued)

Income Tax Expense.  The Company recognized $2.4 million of income tax benefit for the fifty-two week period ended December 30, 2017 and $1.5 million of income tax expense for the comparable prior year period.  In the current and prior year periods, the relative income or loss generated in each jurisdiction can materially impact the overall effective income tax rate of the Company, particularly the ratio of Canadian pretax income versus U.S. pretax income.  The consolidated effective income tax rate for the current period was 920.4% as compared to 46.8% for the comparable prior year period. Because of several unusual and large components, especially relative to the Company's small consolidated pretax loss in dollars, the Company does not consider its current year effective tax rate of 920.4% to be meaningful in and of itself. In order to provide context for the consolidated effective income tax rate for fiscal 2017, the material components of the fiscal 2017 tax provision must be considered. For fiscal 2017, the Company experienced the following material and unusual impacts to its tax provision: 1) state and Puerto Rico income tax benefit of $248; 2) a USA 179D and Canadian research and development tax credits of $603; 3) several permanent differences generating income tax expense of $458; 4) a worthless stock deduction for a subsidiary purchased in fiscal 1996 that was closed in fiscal 2017 which generated an income tax benefit of $2.9 million; 5) foreign tax benefit, primarily from Canada, of $369; and 5) as a result of the federal tax rate change in fiscal 2018 to 21%, an increase to income tax expense of $1.0 million from a reduction in deferred tax assets, net of deferred tax liabilities and $0.2 million related to transition repatriation taxes.  The Company's fiscal 2016 effective tax rate of 46.8% was unusually high due to the following reasons: 1) a small pretax loss in the Company's Canadian operations; and 2) normal permanent differences and fixed tax rates in Puerto Rico as both items were spread over a low base of pretax income in the United States.

Segment Discussion

Engineering

Engineering revenues of $82.7 million for the fifty-two week period ended December 30, 2017 increased 12.1%, or $8.9 million, as compared to the comparable prior year period.  The increase was primarily due to increases in revenues of $5.1 million from the Company's Energy Services Group, $3.2 million from the Company's Canadian Power Systems Engineering Group and $0.6 million from the Company's Aerospace Engineering Group.  Gross profit increased 13.9%, or $2.7 million, as compared to the comparable prior year period. Gross profit increased due to the increase in revenues and an increase in gross margin to 27.1% for the current period as compared to 26.6% for the comparable prior year period. The gross margin increase was primarily due to more favorable utilization of billable consultants on fixed price contracts as the Company naturally experiences variability in utilization from quarter to quarter. The Engineering segment operating income was $4.3 million for the fifty-two week period ended December 30, 2017 as compared to $3.1 million for the comparable prior year period. The improvement in operating income was primarily driven by the increase in gross profit and was offset by an increase in SGA expense of $0.9 million and an increase in contingent consideration of $0.5 million. The increase in SGA expense was primarily due to a higher allocation of corporate-generated SGA expense and also increased investment in selling costs.

Fiscal Year Ended December 30, 2017 Compared to Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2016 (Continued)

Segment Discussion (See Note 14 to the Consolidated Financial Statements)

Specialty Health Care

Specialty Health Care revenues of $71.3 million for the fifty-two week period ended December 30, 2017 increased 19.3%, or $11.5 million, as compared to the comparable prior year period.  The primary drivers of the increase in the revenues for the Specialty Health Care segment were increases of $5.7 million from the New York City Office, $3.1 million from the Honolulu office, $1.9 million from the Chicago office, $0.9 million from the HIM group and $0.5 million from the travel nursing staffing group and, partially offset by a decrease in revenue of $0.6 million from the permanent placement groups.  The primary reason for revenue increases in New York City and Hawaii were incremental additions of paraprofessionals billed on school contracts.  The Specialty Health Care segment's gross profit increased by 11.6%, or $1.8 million, to $17.5 million for the fifty-two week period ended December 30, 2017 as compared to $15.7 million for the prior year period. The increase in gross profit was primarily driven by the increase in revenues, offset by lower gross profit margin. The Specialty Health Care segment's gross profit margin for the fifty-two week period ended December 30, 2017 decreased to 24.6% as compared to 26.2% for the comparable prior year period. The decrease in gross profit margin was primarily driven by the decrease in high gross profit margin permanent placement revenues and decreases in gross profit margin from the travel nursing staffing group, generally due to market factors including increased competition and constrained labor.  Specialty Health Care experienced operating income of $1.3 million for the fifty-two week period ended December 30, 2017 as compared to $1.5 million for the comparable prior year period. The primary reason for the decrease in operating income was an increase in SGA expense, partially offset by the increase in gross profit.  SGA expense increased by $1.9 million, primarily due to the need to increase SGA infrastructure expense in order to support the increased activity levels associated with higher revenues in the current period and anticipated, continued increased activity for the Company's fiscal 2018 and a higher allocation of corporate-generated SGA expense.

Information Technology

Information Technology revenues of $32.7 million for the fifty-two week period ended December 30, 2017 decreased 23.7%, or $10.1 million, as compared to $42.8 million for the comparable prior year period.  The decrease was primarily from reductions in project revenues from several large clients that were not replaced.  Gross profit of $8.5 million for the fifty-two week period ended December 30, 2017 decreased 27.3%, or $3.2 million, as compared to $11.7 million for the comparable prior year period. The decrease in gross profit was primarily due to the decrease in revenues and a decrease in gross profit margin. The Information Technology gross profit margin for the fifty-two week period ended December 30, 2017 was 26.0% as compared to 27.3% for the comparable prior year period.  Gross profit margin decreased because large project high-value, high-margin revenues decreased and thereby increased the portion of lower gross profit margin staffing-oriented revenues.   The Information Technology segment experienced an operating loss of $3.7 million for the fifty-two week period ended December 30, 2017 as compared to operating income of $0.5 million for the comparable prior year period.  The decrease in operating income was primarily due to the goodwill impairment expense of $3.5 million and also a decrease in gross profit, partially offset by a decrease in SGA expense.  SGA expense of $8.5 million for the fifty-two week period ended December 30, 2017 decreased $2.4 million as compared to $10.9 million in the comparable prior year period. The decrease in SGA expense was primarily due to lower selling costs associated with lower gross profit, a focus on reducing SGA expense and also a lower allocation of corporate SGA expense.

The Company has an office in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Due largely to the impact of Hurricane Maria, the Company estimates that it lost revenues of approximately $0.3 million from September through December 2017. The lost revenues in Puerto Rico did not have a material impact to consolidated operating income for the fifty-two weeks ended December 30, 2017. The Company believes that, for at least the next several quarters, San Juan revenues will be continue to be impacted. In order to retain key consulting resources, the Company may need to pay full-time compensation to certain individuals who will not be billable to clients on a full-time basis (i.e. "bench time"). This bench time may materially impact the contribution operating income of the Information Technology segment.

Fiscal Year Ended December 30, 2017 Compared to Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2016 (Continued)

Supplemental Operating Results on a Non-GAAP Basis

The following non-GAAP measures, which adjust for the categories of expenses described below, primarily changes in contingent consideration as a result of re-measurement in the amount of contingent consideration we expect to pay with respect to past acquisitions, are non-GAAP financial measures.  Our management believes that these non-GAAP financial measures ("EBITDA", "Adjusted EBITDA", "Adjusted Net Income" and "Diluted EPS") are useful information for investors, shareholders and other stakeholders of our company in gauging our results of operations on an ongoing basis and to enhance investors' overall understanding of our current financial performance and period-to-period comparisons.  We believe that EBITDA is a performance measure and not a liquidity measure, and therefore a reconciliation between net income and EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA has been provided.  EBITDA should not be considered as an alternative to net income as an indicator of performance.  In addition, EBITDA does not take into account changes in certain assets and liabilities as well as interest and income taxes that can affect cash flows.  We do not intend the presentation of these non-GAAP measures to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for results prepared in accordance with GAAP.  These non-GAAP measures should be read only in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP.

The following unaudited table presents the Company's GAAP Net Income measure and the corresponding adjustments used to calculate "EBITDA" and "Adjusted EBITDA" for the fifty-two weeks ended December 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016. 

  

Liquidity and Capital Resources

The following table summarizes the major captions from the Company's Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

($ in thousands):

Operating Activities

Operating activities provided $5.1 million of cash for the fifty-two week period ended December 30, 2017 as compared to $11.6 million in the comparable prior year period.  The major components of cash provided by or used in operating activities in the fifty-two week period ended December 30, 2017 and the comparable prior year period are as follows: net income and changes in accounts receivable, the net of transit accounts payable and transit accounts receivable, prepaid expenses and other current assets, accounts payable and accrued expenses and accrued payroll and related costs.

Net income for the fifty-two week period ended December 30, 2017 was $2.0 million as compared to $1.8 million for the comparable prior year period.  An increase in accounts receivables in the fifty-two week period ended December 30, 2017 used $0.5 million of cash as compared to providing $5.4 million in the comparable prior year period. The Company primarily attributes the increase in accounts receivables for the fifty-two week period ended December 30, 2017 to increased revenues in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017 compared to the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016, offset by improved collections, across all three of the Company's business segments. 

The Company's transit accounts payable generally exceeds the Company's transit accounts receivable, but absolute amounts and differences fluctuate significantly from quarter to quarter in the normal course of business.  The net of transit accounts payable and transit accounts receivable was a net liability of $1.7 million and $2.5 million as of December 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively, so the cash impact during the fifty-two week period ended December 30, 2017 used $0.8 million in cash.  The net of transit accounts payable and transit accounts receivable was a net liability of $2.5 million and $1.5 million as of December 31, 2016 as of January 2, 2016, respectively, so the cash impact during the fifty-two week period ended December 31, 2016 provided $1.0 million in cash. 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets used $0.3 million in cash for the fifty-two week period ended December 30, 2017 as compared to providing $1.2 million in the comparable prior year period.  The Company attributes these changes to general timing of payments in the normal course of business.

Accounts payable and accrued expenses used $0.3 million of cash for both the fifty-two week period ended December 30, 2017 and the comparable prior year period.  The Company attributes these changes to general timing of payments to vendors in the normal course of business. 

Liquidity and Capital Resources (Continued)

Operating Activities (Continued)

An increase in accrued payroll and related costs for the fifty-two week period ended December 30, 2017 provided $0.5 million in cash as compared to using $1.5 million for the comparable prior year period.  There are three primary factors that impact accrued payroll and related costs: 1) there is a general correlation to operating expenses as payroll and related costs is the Company's largest expense group, so as operating costs increase or decrease, absent all other factors, so will the accrued payroll and related costs; 2) the Company pays the majority of its employees every two weeks and normally has thirteen weeks in a fiscal quarter, which means that the Company normally has a major payroll on the last business day of every other quarter; and 3) most of the Company's senior management participate in annual incentive plans and while progress advances are often made during the fiscal year these accrued bonus balances to the extent they are projected to be achieved generally accumulate throughout the year.  The Company's last major payroll for the fifty-two week period ended December 30, 2017 was paid on December 22, 2017.  The Company primarily attributes the increase in accrued payroll and related costs as of December 30, 2017 as compared to December 31, 2016 to fewer advanced payments made to senior managers under incentive compensation plans during fiscal 2017 as compared to fiscal 2016.

Investing Activities

Investing activities used cash of $1.8 million for the fifty-two week period ended December 30, 2017 as compared to $0.8 million for the comparable prior year period.  The primary difference in the two periods presented is from the PSR acquisition which used $1.0 million in cash at closing.

Financing Activities

Financing activities used $0.8 million of cash for the fifty-two week period ended December 30, 2017 as compared to $11.6 million in the comparable prior year period.  The Company made net borrowings under its line of credit of $13.0 million during the fifty-two week period ended December 30, 2017 as compared to net repayments of $6.7 million in the comparable prior year period.  The primary reason for borrowing during fiscal 2017 was to pay a special dividend totaling $12.2 million. The Company also used $0.4 million and $4.3 million to repurchase common stock during the fifty-two week period ended December 30, 2017 and comparable prior year period, respectively.  The reason for the large difference is that Company believes that issuing a special dividend was a better use of capital in the current fiscal year than repurchasing stock. The Company also used $1.7 million and $1.0 million to pay contingent consideration for the current and prior year periods, respectively.  The Company generated cash of $0.4 million from sales of shares from its equity plans for the current and prior year periods.

The Company and its subsidiaries are party to a loan agreement with Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania which provides for a $35 million revolving credit facility and includes a sub-limit of $5 million for letters of credit (the "Revolving Credit Facility") and expires December 11, 2019.  The Revolving Credit Facility has been amended several times, most recently pursuant to the Ninth Amendment entered into on December 8, 2017 when the Company was granted waivers that expressly allows a cash dividend of up to $12.4 million and waives certain expenses from the Company's loan covenant calculations, including $1.3 million of certain expenses related legal costs, office closures and other expenses in fiscal 2017, up to $1.0 million consulting expenses for analyzing tax credits for research and development costs and 179D energy savings tax credits on a rolling four quarter basis and up to $4.6 million for goodwill impairment.  Borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility bear interest at one of two alternative rates, as selected by the Company at each incremental borrowing.  These alternatives are: (i) LIBOR (London Interbank Offered Rate), plus applicable margin, typically borrowed in fixed 30-day increments or (ii) the agent bank's prime rate generally borrowed over shorter durations.  The Company also pays unused line fees based on the amount of the Revolving Credit Facility that is not drawn.  Unused line fees are recorded as interest expense.  The effective interest rate, including unused line fees, for the fiscal year ended December 30, 2017 was 2.7%.

Liquidity and Capital Resources (Continued)

Financing Activities (Continued)

All borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility are collateralized by all of the assets of the Company and its subsidiaries and a pledge of the stock of its subsidiaries.  The Revolving Credit Facility also contains various financial and non-financial covenants, such as a covenant that restricts the Company's ability to borrow in order to pay dividends unless expressly permitted.  The Company did get permission from Citizens Bank to pay its dividend in 2017.  As of December 30, 2017, the Company was in compliance with all covenants contained in its Revolving Credit Facility.

Borrowings under the line of credit as of December 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 were $27.3 million and $14.3 million, respectively.  At December 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, there were letters of credit outstanding for $0.8 million.  At December 30, 2017, the Company had availability for additional borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility of $6.9 million.

Dividends

On December 28, 2017, the Company paid to stockholders of record on December 22, 2017 a special cash dividend of $1.00 per share of common stock.  The Company also accrued $1.00 per share on 87,034 unvested restricted share units.  All restricted share units contain a dividend equivalent provision entitling holders to dividends paid between the restricted stock unit grant date and ultimate share distribution date.  Total accrued dividends as of December 30, 2017 were $87,034 to be paid from fiscal 2018 to fiscal 2020.  Dividends on any forfeited restricted share units will be forfeited.

While the Company, at this time, has no plans to issue any future dividends, any future payment of dividends will depend upon, among other things, the Company's earnings, financial condition, capital requirements, level of indebtedness, contractual restrictions, and other factors that the Board of Directors deems relevant.  The Revolving Credit Facility (as discussed in Item 7 hereof) prohibits the payment of any dividends or distributions on account of the Company's capital stock without the prior consent of the majority of the Company's lenders.  Such consent was received prior to the fiscal 2017 distribution.

Commitments and Contingencies

The Company anticipates that its primary uses of capital in future periods will be for working capital purposes.  Funding for any long-term and short-term capital requirements as well as future acquisitions will be derived from one or more of the Revolving Credit Facility (or a replacement thereof), funds generated through operations or future financing transactions.  The Company is subject to legal proceedings and claims that arise from time to time in the ordinary course of its business, which may or may not be covered by insurance.  Were an unfavorable final outcome to occur, there exists the possibility of a material adverse impact on our financial position, liquidity, and the results of operations.

The Company's business strategy is to achieve growth both internally through operations and externally through strategic acquisitions.  The Company from time to time engages in discussions with potential acquisition candidates. The Company has acquired numerous companies throughout its history and those acquisitions have generally included significant future contingent consideration.  As the size of the Company and its financial resources increase however, acquisition opportunities requiring significant commitments of capital may arise.  In order to pursue such opportunities, the Company may be required to incur debt or issue potentially dilutive securities in the future.  No assurance can be given as to the Company's future acquisition and expansion opportunities or how such opportunities will be financed.

Liquidity and Capital Resources (Continued)

Commitments and Contingencies (Continued)

The Company has a dispute with a customer that is a major utility in the United States. Essentially, the customer has not paid the balance of accounts receivable the Company believes are owed to the Company. The Company recently compelled arbitration with this customer. The total amount due from this customer is $6.9 million, subject to an upward adjustment following disclosures by the customer in the arbitration.  Additionally, as part of the arbitration process, the customer has asserted counter claims of $9.3 million. The Company also believes these counter claims were retaliatory in nature.  Prior to the arbitration, the customer had not asserted any claims.  The Company believes these asserted claims have no merit and were merely asserted as a strategy to reduce the Company's claims in any arbitration award or potential settlement agreement. The Company believes that its accounts receivable balance, subject to reserves, is collectible. Furthermore, the Company believes that this arbitration will conclude sometime in fiscal year 2018.  While the Company believes the customer's counter claims to be frivolous and without merit, it can give no assurances that it will ultimately not have to pay all or a portion of such claims.

The Company utilizes SAP software for its financial reporting and accounting system which was implemented in 1999 and has not undergone significant upgrades since its initial implementation.  The Company believes that it will become necessary to upgrade or replace its SAP financial reporting and accounting system.  The Company has not determined when this contemplated replacement may be necessary, but may undertake a comprehensive review of the system during fiscal 2018.  The Company estimates this upgrade or replacement of their financial reporting and accounting system will cost between $1.0 million and $2.0 million.  These estimates are subject to material change.

The Company's current commitments consist primarily of lease obligations for office space.  The Company believes that its capital resources are sufficient to meet its present obligations and those to be incurred in the normal course of business for at least the next 12 months.

The Company leases office facilities and various equipment under non-cancelable leases expiring at various dates through November 2022.  Certain leases are subject to escalation clauses based upon changes in various factors.  The minimum future annual operating lease commitments for leases with non-cancelable terms, exclusive of unknown operating escalation charges, are as follows (in thousands):

Liquidity and Capital Resources (Continued)

Future Contingent Payments

As of December 30, 2017, the Company had six active acquisition agreements whereby additional contingent consideration may be earned by the former shareholders: 1) effective July 1, 2012 the Company acquired certain assets of BGA, LLC ("BGA"); 2) effective August 1, 2014 the Company acquired all of the stock of Point Comm, Inc. ("PCI"); 3) effective July 5, 2015, the Company acquired certain assets of Substation Design Services, LLC ("SDS"); 4) effective December 31, 2016, the Company acquired certain assets of Allied Health Professionals, LLC ("AHP"); 5) effective April 16, 2017 the Company acquired certain assets of R.A.F. Services, Inc. ("RAF") and 6) effective October 1, 2017, the Company acquired all of the stock of PSR Engineering Solutions d.o.o. Beograd (Voždovac) ("PSR"). The Company estimates future contingent payments at December 30, 2017 as follows:

Estimates of future contingent payments are subject to significant judgment and actual payments may materially differ from estimates.  Potential future contingent payments to be made to all active acquisitions are capped at cumulative maximum of $4.1.  The Company estimates future contingent consideration in payments based on forecasted performance and recorded at the net present value of those expected payments as of December 30, 2017.  The measurement is based on significant inputs that are not observable in the market, which "Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures" (ASU Topic 820-10-35) refers to as Level 3 inputs.

Significant employment agreements are as follows:

The Company is a party to Executive Severance Agreements (the "Executive Severance Agreements") with Rocco Campanelli, the Company's President and Chief Executive Officer as of February 28, 2014, and Kevin Miller, the Company's Chief Financial Officer, which set forth the terms and conditions of certain payments to be made by the Company to each executive in the event, while employed by the Company, such executive experiences (a) a termination of employment unrelated to a "Change in Control" (as defined therein) or (b) there occurs a Change in Control and either (i) the executive's employment is terminated for a reason related to the Change in Control or (ii) the executive remains continuously employed with the Company for a specified period of time following the Change in Control (i.e., twelve months for Mr. Campanelli and three months for Mr. Miller).

Under the terms of the Executive Severance Agreements, if either (a) the executive is involuntarily terminated by the Company for any reason other than "Cause" (as defined therein), "Disability" (as defined therein) or death, or (b) the executive resigns for "Good Reason" (as defined therein), and, in each case, the termination is not a "Termination Related to a Change in Control" (as defined below), the executive will receive the following severance payments: (i) an amount equal to 1.5 times the sum of (a) the executive's annual base salary as in effect immediately prior to the termination date (before taking into account any reduction that constitutes Good Reason) ("Annual Base Salary") and (b) the highest annual bonus paid to the executive in any of the three fiscal years immediately preceding the executive's termination date ("Bonus"), to be paid in installments over the twelve month period following the executive's termination date; and (ii) for a period of eighteen months following the executive's termination date, a monthly payment equal to the monthly COBRA premium that the executive is required to pay to continue medical, vision, and dental coverage, for himself and, where applicable, his spouse and eligible dependents.

Liquidity and Capital Resources (Continued)

Future Contingent Payments (Continued)

Notwithstanding the above, if the executive has a termination as described above and can reasonably demonstrate that such termination would constitute a Termination Related to a Change in Control, and a Change in Control occurs within 120 days following the executive's termination date, the executive will be entitled to receive the payments set forth below for a Termination Related to a Change in Control, less any amounts already paid to the executive, upon consummation of the Change in Control.

Under the terms of the Executive Severance Agreements, if a Change in Control occurs and (a) the executive experiences a Termination Related to a Change in Control on account of (i) an involuntary termination by the Company for any reason other than Cause, death, or Disability, (ii) an involuntary termination by the Company within a specified period of time following a Change in Control (i.e., twelve months for Mr. Campanelli and three months for Mr. Miller) on account of Disability or death, or (iii) a resignation by the executive with Good Reason; or (b) a resignation by the executive, with or without Good Reason, which results in a termination date that is the last day of the specified period (i.e., twelve months for Mr. Campanelli and three months for Mr. Miller) following a Change in Control, then the executive will receive the following severance payments: (1) a lump sum payment equal to two times the sum of the executive's (a) Annual Base Salary and (b) Bonus; and (2) a lump sum payment equal to twenty-four multiplied by the monthly COBRA premium cost, as in effect immediately prior to the executive's termination date, for the executive to continue medical, dental and vision coverage, as applicable, in such Company plans for himself and, if applicable, his spouse and eligible dependents.  Upon the occurrence of a Change in Control, the Company shall establish an irrevocable rabbi trust and contribute to the rabbi trust the applicable amounts due under the Executive Severance Agreements.

The Executive Severance Agreements provide that if the executive remains continuously employed for a specified period of time following a Change in Control (i.e., twelve months for Mr. Campanelli and three months for Mr. Miller) and is employed by the Company on the last day of such specified period, the executive will receive a lump sum payment equal to two times the sum of the executive's (a) Annual Base Salary and (b) Bonus (the "Change in Control Payment").  If the executive receives the Change in Control Payment, the executive will not be eligible to receive any severance payments under his Executive Severance Agreement.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

None.

Impact of Inflation

Consulting, staffing, and project services are generally priced based on mark-ups on prevailing rates of pay, and as a result are able to generally maintain their relationship to direct labor costs.  Permanent placement services are priced as a function of salary levels of the job candidates.

The Company's business is labor intensive; therefore, the Company has a high exposure to increasing health care benefit costs.  The Company attempts to compensate for these escalating costs in its business cost models and customer pricing by passing along some of these increased health care benefit costs to its customers and employees, however, the Company has not been able to pass on all increases.  The Company is continuing to review its options to further control these costs, which the Company does not believe are representative of general inflationary trends.  Otherwise, inflation has not been a meaningful factor in the Company's operations.

New Accounting Standards

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") No. 2014-09, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers," to clarify the principles used to recognize revenue for all entities. In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-08, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Principal versus Agent Considerations," which further clarifies the implementation guidance on principal versus agent considerations," and in April 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-10, "Revenue from contracts with customers (Topic 606): Identifying performance obligations and licensing," an update on identifying performance obligations and accounting for licenses of intellectual property. Additionally, in May 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-12, "Revenue from contracts with customers (Topic 606): Narrow-scope improvements and practical expedients," which includes amendments for enhanced clarification of the guidance.  In December 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-20, "Technical Corrections and Improvements to Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers," which continues the FASB's ongoing project to issue technical corrections and improvements to clarify the codification or correct unintended application of guidance. From the results of the preliminary review, the Company believes the impact of adopting the updated standard will not have a material impact on the Company.  Over 90% of the Company's revenues are generated through time and material invoicing.  The clients are invoiced after the hours have been worked and/or the material has been delivered and accepted.  The remaining revenue relates to long term projects.  The Company recognizes revenue on these projects using the percentage of completion method.  The Company reviewed the five-step process for revenue recognition and believes its timing and amount of recognizing revenue on these long term projects would not materially change upon adoption due to the value provided to the customer during the project.  However, the Company will include additional disclosure under the new guidance.

The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2017 including interim periods within those fiscal years and early adoption is permitted. We are continuing to evaluate the effect the adoption will have on our consolidated financial statements.  The Company expects to adopt this update in its fiscal 2018 first quarter using the modified retrospective approach.

In February 2016 the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), which amended guidance for lease arrangements in order to increase transparency and comparability by providing additional information to users of financial statements regarding an entity's leasing activities. The revised guidance seeks to achieve this objective by requiring reporting entities to recognize lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet for substantially all lease arrangements. The guidance, which is required to be adopted in the first quarter of 2019, will be applied on a modified retrospective basis beginning with the earliest period presented. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is evaluating the impact of adopting this guidance on its consolidated financial statements.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvement to Employee Share-based Payment Accounting.  ASU 2016-09 simplifies 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.  Additionally, In May 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-09, Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718).  ASU 2017-09 clarifies which changes to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award require an entity to apply modification accounting under ASC 718. The Company adopted ASU 2016-09 in its fiscal 2017 first quarter.  It did not have a material impact.  ASU 2017-09 is effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017.  Early adoption is permitted.  The Company will adopt ASU 2017-10 in its consolidated financial statements in the first quarter of fiscal 2018.  It is not expected to have a material impact.

New Accounting Standards (Continued)

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326). The new standard amends guidance on reporting credit losses for assets held at amortized cost basis and available-for-sale debt securities. This ASU is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company is currently evaluating this guidance to determine the impact it may have on its consolidated financial statements.

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments. ASU 2016-15 clarifies how certain cash receipts and payments should be presented in the statement of cash flows. The new guidance is effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. Early adoption is permitted, provided that all of the amendments are adopted in the same period.  The guidance requires application using a retrospective transition method.   The Company will adopt ASU 2016-15 in its consolidated financial statements in the first quarter of fiscal 2018.  It is not expected to have a material impact.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-01, "Business Combinations" (Topic 805) to clarify the definition of a business to assist entities with evaluating whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions (or disposals) of assets or businesses.  The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017 including interim periods within those fiscal years.  Early adoption is permitted under certain circumstances.   The Company will adopt ASU 2017-01 in its consolidated financial statements in the first quarter of fiscal 2018.  It is not expected to have a material impact. 

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-04, "Intangibles – Goodwill and Other" (Topic 350). The objective of Phase 1 of the project, which resulted in this Update, is to simplify the testing of goodwill for impairment by eliminating Step 2 from the goodwill impairment test.  The guidance is effective for annual or interim goodwill impairment tests in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019 including interim periods within those fiscal years.  Early adoption is permitted.   The Company adopted this standard effective December 30, 2017. 

On December 22, 2017, the SEC issued guidance under Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118, Income Tax Accounting Implications of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act ("SAB 118") directing taxpayers to consider the impact of the Tax Act as "provisional" when it does not have the necessary information available, prepared or analyzed (including computations) in reasonable detail to complete its accounting for the change in tax law. The changes in the Tax Act are broad and complex. The final impacts of the Tax Act may differ from the Company's estimates due to, among other things, changes in interpretations of the Tax Act, further legislation related to the Tax Act, changes in accounting standards for income taxes or related interpretations in response to the Tax Act, or any updates to estimates the Company has utilized to calculate the impacts of the Tax Act. The SEC has issued rules that would allow for a measurement period of up to one year after the enactment date of the Tax Act to finalize the related tax impacts. The Company currently anticipates finalizing any resulting adjustments by the end of our next fiscal year ending December 29, 2018.  The Company, based on current knowledge, did estimate the impact of SAB 118 on its income tax provision for the fifty-two week period ended December 30, 2017.  The total impact was an increase to its current year tax expense of $1.2 million, including $1.0 million for a reduction in deferred tax benefit and $0.2 million related to transition repatriation taxes.

The Company's exposure to market risk for changes in interest rates relates primarily to the Company's investment portfolio and debt instruments, which primarily consist of its Revolving Credit Facility. The Company does not have any derivative financial instruments in its portfolio.  The Company places its investments in instruments that meet high credit quality standards.  The Company is averse to principal loss and ensures the safety and preservation of its invested funds by limiting default risk, market risk and reinvestment risk.  As of December 30, 2017, the Company's investments consisted of cash and money market funds.  The Company does not use interest rate derivative instruments to manage its exposure to interest rate changes.  Based on the Company's variable-rate line of credit balances during the fiscal year ended December 30, 2017, if the interest rate on the Company's variable-rate line of credit (using an incremental borrowing rate) during the period had been 1.0% higher, the Company's interest expense on an annualized basis would have increased by $0.2 million.  The Company does not expect any material loss with respect to its investment portfolio.

The financial statements, together with the report of the Company's Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, begins on page F-1.

None.

The Company's management, under the supervision and with the participation of the Company's Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) as of the end of the period covered by this report.  Based upon that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that those disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report were effective to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC's rules and forms and is accumulated and communicated to the Company's management, including its principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

A controls system, no matter how well designed and operated, cannot provide absolute assurance that the objectives of the controls system are met, and no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within a company have been detected.

Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting for the company. 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. Our system of internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (ii) 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 (iii) 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.

Management performed an assessment of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 30, 2017 based upon criteria in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued and updated in fiscal 2013 by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission ("COSO"). Based on this assessment, management determined that the company's internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 30, 2017, based on the criteria in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by COSO.

There have been no changes in the Company's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the Company's most recent fiscal quarter and that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company's internal control over financial reporting.

None.

The information required by Item 10 shall be included in the 2018 Proxy Statement and is incorporated herein by reference.

The information required by Item 11 shall be included in the 2018 Proxy Statement and is incorporated herein by reference.

Except as set forth below, the information required by Item 12 shall be included in the 2018 Proxy Statement and is incorporated herein by reference.

The table below presents certain information concerning securities issuable in connection with equity compensation plans that have been approved by the Company's shareholders and that have not been approved by the Company's shareholders.

⁽¹⁾  Includes time-based stock units of 87,034 and performance based restricted stock units of 400,000, none of which have an exercise price.

The information required by Item 13 shall be included in the 2018 Proxy Statement and is incorporated herein by reference.

The information required by Item 14 shall be included in the 2018 Proxy Statement and is incorporated herein by reference.

None.

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 and on the dates indicated.

 

 

Description of Business and Basis of Presentation

RCM Technologies, Inc. (the "Company" or "RCM") is a premier provider of business and technology solutions designed to enhance and maximize the operational performance of its customers through the adaptation and deployment of advanced engineering and information technology services.  Additionally, the Company provides specialty health care staffing services through its Specialty Health Care Services group.  RCM's offices are primarily located in major metropolitan centers throughout North America.

The consolidated financial statements are comprised of the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries.  All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Reclassification

Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified for consistency with the current year presentation.  These reclassifications had no effect on the reported results or operations.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company considers its holdings of highly liquid money-market instruments and certificates of deposits to be cash equivalents if the securities mature within 90 days from the date of acquisition.  These investments are carried at cost, which approximates fair value.  The Company's cash balances are maintained in accounts held by major banks and financial institutions.  The majority of these balances may exceed federally insured amounts.  The Company held $0.1 million of cash and cash equivalents in Canadian banks as of December 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, which was held principally in Canadian dollars. 

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The Company's carrying value of financial instruments, consisting primarily of accounts receivable, transit accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued expenses, and transit accounts payable and borrowings under line of credit approximates fair value due to their liquidity or their short-term nature.  The Company does not have derivative products in place to manage risks related to foreign currency fluctuations for its foreign operations or for interest rate changes.

Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

The Company's accounts receivable are primarily due from trade customers.  Credit is extended based on evaluation of customers' financial condition and, generally, collateral is not required.  Accounts receivable payment terms vary and are stated in the financial statements at amounts due from customers net of an allowance for doubtful accounts.  Accounts outstanding longer than the payment terms are considered past due.  The Company determines its allowance by considering a number of factors, including the length of time trade accounts receivable are past due, the Company's previous loss history, the customer's current ability to pay its obligation to the Company, and the condition of the general economy and the industry as a whole.  The Company writes off accounts receivable when they become uncollectible, and payments subsequently received on such receivables previously written off are credited to bad debt expense.

Accrued and Unbilled Accounts Receivable and Work-in-Process

Unbilled receivables primarily represent revenues earned whereby those services are ready to be billed as of the balance sheet ending date.  Work-in-process primarily represents revenues earned under contracts which the Company is contractually precluded from invoicing until future dates as project milestones are realized.  See Note 4 for further details.

Transit Receivables and Transit Payables

From time to time, the Company's Engineering segment enters into agreements to provide, among other things, construction management and engineering services.  In certain circumstances, the Company may acquire equipment as a purchasing agent for the client for a fee.  Pursuant to these agreements, the Company: a) may engage subcontractors to provide construction or other services or contracts with manufacturers on behalf of the Company's clients to procure equipment or fixtures; b) typically earns a fixed percentage of the total project value or a negotiated mark-up on subcontractor or procurement charges as a fee; and c) assumes no ownership or risks of inventory.  In such situations, the Company acts as an agent under the provisions of "Overall Considerations of Reporting Revenue Gross as a Principal versus Net as an Agent" and therefore recognizing revenue on a "net-basis."  The Company records revenue on a "net" basis on relevant engineering and construction management projects, which require subcontractor/procurement costs or transit costs. In those situations, the Company charges the client a negotiated fee, which is reported as net revenue when earned. 

Under the terms of the agreements, the Company is typically not required to pay the subcontractor until after the corresponding payment from the Company's end-client is received.  Upon invoicing the end-client on behalf of the subcontractor or staffing agency the Company records this amount simultaneously as both a "transit account receivable" and "transit account payable" as the amount when paid to the Company is due to and generally paid to the subcontractor within a few days.  The Company typically does not pay a given transit account payable until the related transit account receivable is collected.  The Company's transit accounts payable generally exceeds the Company's transit accounts receivable but absolute amounts and spreads fluctuate significantly from quarter to quarter in the normal course of business. 

The transit accounts receivable was $3.0 million and related transit accounts payable was $4.7 million, for a net liability of $1.7 million, as of December 30, 2017.  The transit accounts receivable was $4.3 million and related transit accounts payable was $6.8 million, for a net liability of $2.5 million, as of December 31, 2016.

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment are stated at cost net of accumulated depreciation and amortization and are depreciated or amortized on the straight-line method at rates calculated to provide for retirement of assets at the end of their estimated useful lives.  Most hardware and software as well as furniture and office equipment is depreciated or amortized over five years.  Leasehold improvements are depreciated over the shorter of the estimated life of the asset or the lease term.

Intangible Assets

The Company's intangible assets have been generated through acquisitions.  The Company maintains responsibility for valuing and determining the useful life of intangible assets.  As a general rule, the Company amortizes restricted covenants over four years and customer relationships over six years.  However, circumstances may dictate other amortization terms as determined by the Company and assisted by their third party advisors.

Canadian Sales Tax

The Company is required to charge and collect sales tax for all Canadian clients and remits invoiced sales tax monthly to the Canadian taxing authorities whether collected or not.  The Company does not collect the sales tax from its clients until they have paid their respective invoices.  The Company includes uncollected Canadian sales tax invoiced to clients in its prepaid and other current assets.

Goodwill

Goodwill is not amortized but is subject to periodic testing for impairment in accordance with ASC Topic 350 "Intangibles - Goodwill and Other - Testing Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets for Impairment" ("ASC Topic 350"). The Company tests goodwill for impairment on an annual basis as of the last day of the Company's fiscal December each year or more frequently if events occur or circumstances change indicating that the fair value of the goodwill may be below its carrying amount. The Company has three reporting units.  The Company uses a market-based approach to determine the fair value of the reporting units.  This approach uses earnings/revenue multiples of similar companies recently completing acquisitions and the ability of our reporting units to generate cash flows as measures of fair value of our reporting units. The Company adopted Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2017-04, "Intangibles - Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment" effective December 30, 2017 which has eliminated Step 2 from the goodwill impairment test. Under this update, an entity should perform its goodwill impairment test by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount.

As of December 30, 2017, the carrying amount of our Information Technology reporting unit exceeded its fair value; therefore, the Company recorded a goodwill impairment charge of $3.5 million in the fiscal year ended December 30, 2017.  This charge is recognized as "Goodwill Impairment" on our Consolidated Statements of Income. The remaining goodwill balance as of December 30, 2017 in the Information Technology segment was approximately $2.0 million. The continued future decline of our revenue, cash flows and/or stock price may give rise to a triggering event that may require the Company to record additional impairment charges on goodwill in the future.  The Company did not record a goodwill impairment charge in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016.

During all periods presented, the Company determined that the existing qualitative factors did not suggest that an impairment of goodwill exists for both its Engineering and Specialty Healthcare Segments.  There can be no assurance that future indicators of impairment and tests of goodwill impairment will not result in impairment charges for both its Engineering and Specialty Healthcare segments.

Long-Lived and Intangible Assets

The Company evaluates long-lived assets and intangible assets with definite lives for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable.  When it is probable that undiscounted future cash flows will not be sufficient to recover an asset's carrying amount, the asset is written down to its fair value.  Assets to be disposed of by sale, if any, are reported at the lower of the carrying amount or fair value less cost to sell.

Software

In accordance with "Accounting for Costs of Computer Software Developed or Obtained for Internal Use," certain costs related to the development or purchase of internal-use software are capitalized and amortized over the estimated useful life of the software.  During the fiscal years ended December 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the Company capitalized approximately $594 and $434, respectively, for software costs.  The net balance after accumulated depreciation for all software costs capitalized as of December 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 was $1,841 and $2,018, respectively.

Income Taxes

The Company makes judgments and interpretations based on enacted tax laws, published tax guidance, as well as estimates of future earnings.  These judgments and interpretations affect the provision for income taxes, deferred tax assets and liabilities and the valuation allowance.  The Company evaluated the deferred tax assets and determined on the basis of objective factors that the net assets will be realized through future years' taxable income.  In the event that actual results differ from these estimates and assessments, additional valuation allowances may be required.  The Company did not have any valuation allowance as of December 30, 2017 or December 31, 2016.

The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with "Accounting for Income Taxes" which requires an asset and liability approach of accounting for income taxes.  "Accounting for Income Taxes" requires assessment of the likelihood of realizing benefits associated with deferred tax assets for purposes of determining whether a valuation allowance is needed for such deferred tax assets.  Deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on differences between the financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities and are measured using the enacted tax rates and laws that are expected to be in effect when the differences are expected to reverse. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in the period that such tax rate changes are enacted. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which was enacted in December 2017, includes a number of changes to existing U.S. tax laws, most notably the reduction of the U.S. corporate income tax rate from up to 35% to 21%, beginning in 2018. The Company measures its deferred tax assets and liabilities using the tax rates that the Company believes will apply in the years in which the temporary differences are expected to be recovered or paid. As a result, the Company remeasured its deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities to reflect the reduction in the U.S. corporate income tax rate, resulting in a $1.0 million decrease in the Company's income tax benefit (or increase in income tax expense) for the fiscal year ended December 30, 2017. The Company and its wholly owned U.S. subsidiaries file a consolidated federal income tax return.  The Company also files tax returns in Canada and Serbia.

The Company also follows the provisions of "Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes" which prescribes a model for the recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return, and provides guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, disclosure and transition.  The Company's policy is to record interest and penalty, if any, as interest expense.

Revenue Recognition

The Company derives its revenues from several sources.  The Company's Engineering Services and Information Technology Services segments perform consulting and project solutions services.  All of the Company's segments perform staff augmentation services and derive revenue from permanent placement fees.  The majority of the Company's revenues are invoiced on a time and materials basis.

The Company recognizes revenues in accordance with current revenue recognition standards under Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 605, Revenue Recognition, which clarifies application of U.S. generally accepted accounting principles to revenue transactions.  Project services are generally provided on a cost-plus, fixed-fee or time-and-material basis.  Typically, a customer will outsource a discrete project or activity and the Company assumes responsibility for the performance of such project or activity.  The Company recognizes revenues and associated costs on a gross basis as services are provided to the customer and costs are incurred using its employees.  The Company, from time to time, enters into contracts requiring the completion of specific deliverables.  The Company may recognize revenues on these deliverables at the time the client accepts and approves the deliverables.  In instances where project services are provided on a fixed-price basis and the contract will extend beyond a 12-month period, revenue is recorded in accordance with the terms of each contract.  In some instances, revenue is billed at the time certain milestones are reached, as defined in the contract.  Revenues under these arrangements are recognized as the costs on these contracts are incurred.  Amounts invoiced in excess of revenues recognized are recorded as deferred revenue, included in accounts payable and accrued expenses on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.  In other instances, revenue is billed and recorded based upon contractual rates per hour (i.e., percentage of completion). In addition, some contracts contain "Performance Fees" (bonuses) for completing a contract under budget.  Performance Fees, if any, are recorded when earned.  Some contracts also limit revenues and billings to specified maximum amounts.  Provision for contract losses, if any, are made in the period such losses are determined.  For contracts where there is a deliverable, the work is not complete on a specific deliverable and the revenue is not recognized, the costs are deferred.  The associated costs are expensed when the related revenue is recognized.

See description of revenue recognition policy for construction management and engineering services below in "transit receivables and transit payables."

Revenues derived from consulting and staffing services are recorded on a gross basis as services are performed and associated costs have been incurred using employees of the Company.  These services are typically billed on a time and material basis. 

In certain cases, the Company may utilize other companies and their employees to fulfill customer requirements. In these cases, the Company receives an administrative fee for arranging for, billing for, and collecting the billings related to these companies.  The customer is typically responsible for assessing the work of these companies who have responsibility for acceptability of their personnel to the customer.  Under these circumstances, the Company's reported revenues are net of associated costs (effectively recognizing the net administrative fee only).

Revenue Recognition (Continued)

From time to time, the Company's Engineering segment enters into agreements to provide, among other things, construction management and engineering services.  In certain circumstances, the Company may acquire equipment as a purchasing agent for the client for a fee.  Pursuant to these agreements, the Company: a) may engage subcontractors to provide construction or other services or contracts with manufacturers on behalf of the Company's clients to procure equipment or fixtures; b) typically earns a fixed percentage of the total project value or a negotiated mark-up on subcontractor or procurement charges as a fee; and c) assumes no ownership or risks of inventory.  In such situations, the Company acts as an agent under the provisions of "Overall Considerations of Reporting Revenue Gross as a Principal versus Net as an Agent" and therefore recognizing revenue on a "net-basis."  The Company records revenue on a "net" basis on relevant engineering and construction management projects, which require subcontractor/procurement costs or transit costs. In those situations, the Company charges the client a negotiated fee, which is reported as net revenue when earned.  During the fifty-two week period ended December 30, 2017, total gross billings, including both transit cost billings and the Company's earned fees, was $38.9 million, for which the Company recognized $26.1 million of its net fee as revenue.  During the fifty-two week period ended December 31, 2016, total gross billings, including both transit cost billings and the Company's earned fees, was $49.7 million, for which the Company recognized $27.3 million of its net fee as revenue.  The net fee revenue from these agreements represented 14.0% of the Company's total revenues for the fifty-two week period ended December 30, 2017 as compared to 15.5% for the comparable prior year period.

Under the terms of the agreements, the Company is typically not required to pay the subcontractor until after the corresponding payment from the Company's end-client is received.  Upon invoicing the end-client on behalf of the subcontractor or staffing agency the Company records this amount simultaneously as both a "transit account receivable" and "transit account payable" as the amount when paid to the Company is due to and generally paid to the subcontractor within a few days.  The Company typically does not pay a given transit account payable until the related transit account receivable is collected.  The Company's transit accounts payable generally exceeds the Company's transit accounts receivable but absolute amounts and spreads fluctuate significantly from quarter to quarter in the normal course of business.  The transit accounts receivable was $3.0 million and related transit accounts payable was $4.7 million, a net payable of $1.7 million, as of December 30, 2017.  The transit accounts receivable was $4.3 million and related transit accounts payable was $6.8 million, a net payable of $2.5 million, as of December 31, 2016.

The Company earns permanent placement fees from providing permanent placement services.  Fees for placements are recognized at the time the candidate commences employment.  The Company guarantees its permanent placements on a prorated basis for 90 days.  In the event a candidate is not retained for the 90-day period, the Company will provide a suitable replacement candidate.  In the event a replacement candidate cannot be located, the Company will provide a prorated refund to the client.  An allowance for refunds, based upon the Company's historical experience, is recorded in the financial statements.  Permanent placement revenues were $2.6 million and $3.6 million for the fiscal years ended December 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively.

Concentration

During the fiscal year ended December 30, 2017, Sikorsky Aircraft represented 10.4% of the Company's revenues.  No other client accounted for 10% or more of total revenues during the year.  As of December 30, 2017 the following clients represented more than 10.0% of the Company's accounts receivable, net: New York City Board of Education was 14.9% and New York Power Authority was 11.9%.  As of December 30, 2017, New York Power Authority total accounts receivable balance (including transit accounts receivable) was 14.0% of the total of accounts receivable, net and transit accounts receivable.  No other customer accounted for 10% or more of the Company's accounts receivable, net or total accounts receivable balance (including transit accounts receivable). The Company's five, ten and twenty largest customers accounted for approximately 37.9%, 51.4% and 65.2%, respectively, of the Company's revenues for the fiscal year ended December 30, 2017.

During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016, no client accounted for more than 10.0% of total revenues. As of December 31, 2016 the following clients represented more than 10.0% of the Company's accounts receivable, net: New York Power Authority was 17.6%.  As of December 31, 2016, New York Power Authority total accounts receivable balance (including transit accounts receivable of $0.5 million) was $8.4 million or 17.0% of the total of accounts receivable, net and transit accounts receivable.  No other customer accounted for 10% or more of the Company's accounts receivable, net or total accounts receivable balance (including transit accounts receivable). The Company's five, ten and twenty largest customers accounted for approximately 31.8%, 47.7% and 60.8%, respectively, of the Company's revenues for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016.

Foreign Currency Translation

The functional currency of the Company's Canadian and Serbian subsidiaries is the local currency.  Assets and liabilities are translated at period-end exchange rates.  Income and expense items are translated at weighted average rates of exchange prevailing during the year.  Any translation adjustments are included in the accumulated other comprehensive income account in stockholders' equity.  Transactions executed in different currencies resulting in exchange adjustments are translated at spot rates and resulting foreign exchange transaction gains and losses are included in the results of operations.

Comprehensive Income

Comprehensive income consists of net income and foreign currency translation adjustments.

Per Share Data

Basic net income per share is calculated using the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period.  Diluted net income per share is calculated using the weighted-average number of common shares plus dilutive potential common shares outstanding during the period.  Potential dilutive common shares consist of stock options and other stock-based awards under the Company's stock compensation plans, when their impact is dilutive.  Because of the Company's capital structure, all reported earnings pertain to common shareholders and no other adjustments are necessary.

Share - Based Compensation

The Company recognizes share-based compensation over the vesting period of an award based on fair value at the grant date determined using the Black-Scholes option pricing model.  Certain assumptions are used to determine the fair value of stock-based payment awards on the date of grant and require subjective judgment.  Because employee stock options have characteristics significantly different from those of traded options, and because changes in the input assumptions can materially affect the fair value estimate, the existing models may not provide a reliable single measure of the fair value of the employee stock options.  Management assesses the assumptions and methodologies used to calculate estimated fair value of stock-based compensation when share-based awards are granted.  Circumstances may change and additional data may become available over time, which could result in changes to these assumptions and methodologies and thereby materially impact our fair value determination.  See Note 11 for additional share-based compensation information.

Restricted share units are recognized at their fair value.  The amount of compensation cost is measured on the grant date fair value of the equity instrument issued.  The compensation cost of the restricted share units is recognized over the vesting period of the restricted share units on a straight-line basis.  Restricted share units typically include dividend accrual equivalents, which means that any dividends paid by the Company during the vesting period become due and payable after the vesting period assuming the grantee's restricted stock unit fully vests.  Dividends for these grants are accrued on the dividend payment dates and included in accounts payable and accrued expenses on the accompanying consolidated balance sheet.  Dividends for restricted share units that ultimately do not vest are forfeited.

Advertising Costs

Advertising costs are expensed as incurred.  Total advertising expense was $700 and $643 for the fiscal years ended December 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively.

2.	FISCAL YEAR

The Company follows a 52/53 week fiscal reporting calendar ending on the Saturday closest to December 31.  Both of the fiscal years ended December 30, 2017 (fiscal 2017) and December 31, 2016 (fiscal 2016) were 52-week reporting years.

3.	USE OF ESTIMATES AND UNCERTAINTIES

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, revenues and expenses and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities.  Actual results could differ from those estimates.

The Company uses estimates to calculate an allowance for doubtful accounts on its accounts receivables, adequacy of reserves, goodwill impairment, if any, equity compensation, the tax rate applied and the valuation of certain assets and liability accounts.  These estimates can be significant to the operating results and financial position of the Company.

The Company has risk participation arrangements with respect to workers compensation and health care insurance.  The amounts included in the Company's costs related to this risk participation are estimated and can vary based on changes in assumptions, the Company's claims experience or the providers included in the associated insurance programs.

The Company can be affected by a variety of factors including uncertainty relating to the performance of the general economy, competition, demand for the Company's services, adverse litigation and claims and the hiring, training and retention of key employees.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The Company's carrying value of financial instruments, consisting primarily of accounts receivable, transit accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued expenses, and transit accounts payable and borrowings under line of credit approximates fair value due to their liquidity or their short-term nature.  The Company does not have derivative products in place to manage risks related to foreign currency fluctuations for its foreign operations or for interest rate changes.

4.	ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE, TRANSIT ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE AND TRANSIT ACCOUNTS PAYABLE

The Company's accounts receivable are comprised as follows:

Unbilled receivables primarily represent revenues earned whereby those services are ready to be billed as of the balance sheet ending date.  Work-in-progress primarily represents revenues earned under contracts which the Company contractually invoices at future dates.

4.	ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE, TRANSIT ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE AND TRANSIT ACCOUNTS PAYABLE (CONTINUED)

The Company has a dispute with a customer that is a major utility in the United States. Essentially, the customer has not paid the balance of accounts receivable the Company believes are owed to the Company. The Company recently compelled arbitration with this customer. The total amount due from this customer is $6.9 million, subject to an upward adjustment following disclosures by the customer in the arbitration.  Additionally, as part of the arbitration process, the customer has asserted counter claims of $9.3 million. The Company also believes these counter claims were retaliatory in nature.  Prior to the arbitration, the customer had not asserted any claims.  The Company believes these asserted claims have no merit and were merely asserted as a strategy to reduce the Company's claims in any arbitration award or potential settlement agreement. The Company believes that its accounts receivable balance, subject to reserves, is collectible. Furthermore, the Company believes that this arbitration will conclude sometime in fiscal year 2018.  While the Company believes the customer's counter claims to be frivolous and without merit, it can give no assurances that it will ultimately not have to pay all or a portion of such claims.

Property and equipment are stated at cost and are depreciated on the straight-line method at rates calculated to provide for retirement of assets at the end of their estimated useful lives.  The annual rates are 20% for computer hardware and software as well as furniture and office equipment.  Leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of the estimated life of the asset or the lease term. 

Property and equipment are comprised of the following:

The Company periodically writes off fully depreciated and amortized assets.  In the fiscal years ended December 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, write-offs were $458 and $2,705, respectively.  For the fiscal years ended December 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, depreciation and amortization expense for property and equipment was $1,691 and $1,489, respectively.

The purchase method of accounting in accordance with ASC 805, Business Combination, was applied for all acquisitions.  This requires the cost of an acquisition to be allocated to the tangible and identifiable intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on their respective fair values at the date of acquisition with the excess cost accounted for as goodwill.  Goodwill arising from the acquisitions is attributable to expected sales synergies from combining the operations of the acquired business with those of the Company.

As of December 30, 2017, the Company had six active acquisition agreements whereby additional contingent consideration may be earned by the former shareholders: 1) effective July 1, 2012 the Company acquired certain assets of BGA, LLC ("BGA"); 2) effective August 1, 2014 the Company acquired all of the stock of Point Comm, Inc. ("PCI"); 3) effective July 5, 2015, the Company acquired certain assets of Substation Design Services, LLC ("SDS"); 4) effective December 31, 2016, the Company acquired certain assets of Allied Health Professionals, LLC ("AHP"); 5) effective April 16, 2017 the Company acquired certain assets of R.A.F. Services, Inc. ("RAF") and 6) effective October 1, 2017, the Company acquired all of the stock of PSR Engineering Solutions d.o.o. Beograd (Voždovac) ("PSR"). The Company estimates future contingent payments at December 30, 2017 as follows:

 

Estimates of future contingent payments are subject to significant judgment and actual payments may materially differ from estimates.  Potential future contingent payments to be made to all active acquisitions are capped at cumulative maximum of $4.1.  The Company estimates future contingent consideration in payments based on forecasted performance and recorded at the net present value of those expected payments as of December 30, 2017.  The measurement is based on significant inputs that are not observable in the market, which "Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures" (ASU Topic 820-10-35) refers to as Level 3 inputs.

The Company paid $1.7 million and $1.0 million in contingent consideration for the fifty-two week periods ended December 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively. 

The changes in the liability for contingent consideration from acquisitions for the fifty-two week periods ended December 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 are as follows:

Effective December 31, 2016, the Company acquired the business operations of AHP. AHP was a Chicago area healthcare staffing company providing physical therapists, occupational therapists and speech language pathologists to hospitals, rehabilitation centers, schools and outpatient programs. The Company expects the AHP acquisition to complement its Chicago area operations which formerly provided primarily nurses to the Chicago Public School system. AHP will add new clients and expand the Company's service offerings in the Chicago area.  The purchase price for AHP was $695, all of which was allocated to goodwill, payable as follows: 1) cash of $275 paid in January 2017; 2) an unsecured note payable of $280 to be paid in quarterly installments through October 2018; and 3) maximum contingent consideration of $140 tied to certain gross profit targets and, if earned, payable in 2018.

RAF
Effective April 16, 2017, the Company acquired the business operations of RAF. RAF has been in business since 1991 as a multi-disciplined engineering and consulting and design company headquartered on Long Island. The firm has been providing Engineering, Design, Permitting, Inspection and Construction Management services to the utility, industrial, commercial, and property management industries. RAF specializes in turnkey above ground tank inspection, repair and cleaning services, as well as concrete, steel, masonry, and roofing routine maintenance inspection and design. The purchase price for RAF was $133, all of which was allocated to goodwill as follows: 1) assumed liabilities of $123; and 2) estimated contingent consideration of $10 was paid in fiscal 2017.

Effective October 1, 2017 the Company acquired all of the stock of PSR. PSR was established in Serbia in 2006 and specializes in the design and engineering associated with high voltage substations, design engineering for electrical equipment in power plants, 3D modeling, commissioning, site supervision and other engineering services for clients in Europe, North America, South America and the Middle East. At the time of acquisition, PSR had a highly trained staff of approximately 30 engineers. PSR has acted as a subcontractor to the Company for over three years. The total purchase price of $3,248 included cash at closing of $1,000, estimated contingent consideration of $1,763 and $485 due to seller upon realization of net working capital recorded at closing.  As part of the working capital recorded at closing, the Company received cash of $237. The Company allocated $58 to fixed assets and the balance to goodwill.

Goodwill represents the premium paid over the fair value of the net tangible and intangible assets acquired in business combinations.  The Company is required to assess the carrying value of its reporting units that contain goodwill at least on an annual basis.  The Company has the option to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is necessary to perform a two-step impairment test.  If the Company believes, as a result of the qualitative assessment, that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than the carrying value, the quantitative impairment test is required.  The Company formally assesses these qualitative factors, and if necessary, conducts its annual goodwill impairment test as of the last day of the Company's fiscal December each year or if indicators of impairment exist. 

As more fully described in Footnote 1 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, the Company determined that its Information Technology segment incurred an impairment of goodwill of $3.5 million during fiscal 2017.

The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill for the fifty-two week periods ended December 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 are as follows:

The Company evaluates long-lived assets and intangible assets with definite lives for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable.  When the Company determines that it is probable that undiscounted future cash flows will not be sufficient to recover an asset's carrying amount, the asset is written down to its fair value.  Assets to be disposed of by sale, if any, are reported at the lower of the carrying amount or fair value less cost to sell.  The Company's intangible assets consist of customer relationships and non-compete agreements.  During all periods presented, the Company determined that no impairment of intangible assets exists. 

All of the Company's intangible assets are associated with its Engineering segment.  Amortization expense for the fifty-two week periods ended December 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 was $66 and $80, respectively.

Schedule of Intangible Assets by class at December 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016: