(5) Business Combinations

(a) Software Luxembourg Holdings S.A. (“Predecessor (SLH)” or “Skillsoft Legacy”)

On June 11, 2021, Software Luxembourg Holding S.A. merged with and into Churchill Capital Corp II (Churchill) which subsequently changed its name to Skillsoft Corp.

The Skillsoft Merger was considered a business combination under ASC  805, Business Combinations and will be accounted for using the acquisition method of accounting, whereby Churchill was determined to be the accounting acquirer based on their rights to nominate six members of the initial Board of Directors, the size of their voting interest and their

rights to appoint the Chief Executive Officer of Skillsoft Corp. and other members of management of the combined company prior to closing.

Under the acquisition method, the acquisition date fair value of the consideration paid by the Company was allocated to the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed based on their estimated fair values.

The following summarizes the purchase consideration (in thousands):

The Company preliminarily recorded the fair value of the purchase price to tangible and identifiable intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed as follows (in thousands):

The preliminary values allocated to identifiable intangible assets and their estimated useful lives are as follows: (in thousands):

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Values and useful lives assigned to intangible assets were based on estimated value and use of these assets by a market participant. The customer relationships and backlog were valued using the income approach. The trade names were valued using the relief from royalty method. The content and software were valued using the replacement cost approach.

Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the net identifiable tangible and intangible assets acquired. The Company determined that the acquisition of the Predecessor (SLH) resulted in the recognition of goodwill primarily because the acquisition is expected to help the Company to meet its long-term operating profitability objectives through achievement of synergies. The majority of goodwill is not deductible for tax purposes.

The acquired intangible assets and goodwill are subject to review for impairment if indicators of impairment develop and, in the case of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets, at least annually.

The Company incurred $9.8 million in acquisition-related expenses, which primarily consisted of transaction fees and legal, accounting and other professional services that are included in “Recapitalization and transaction-related costs” in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations. Approximately $4.3 million was reported in the period from February 1, 2021 to June 11, 2021 (Predecessor (SLH)) and $5.5 million was reported in the period from June 12, 2021 to January 31, 2022 (Successor).

(b) Albert DE Holdings, Inc. (“GK”)

On June 11, 2021, GK and its subsidiaries were acquired by Skillsoft, in conjunction with, and just subsequent to, its merger with Churchill Capital Corp II (then becoming merged Company).

The acquisition was accounted for as a business combination under ASC805, Business Combinations, utilizing the acquisition method. Under the acquisition method, the acquisition date fair value of the consideration paid by the Company was allocated to the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed based on their estimated fair values.

The following summarized the purchase consideration (in thousands):

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The Company preliminarily recorded the fair value of the purchase price to tangible and identifiable intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed as follows (in thousands):

The preliminary values allocated to identifiable intangible assets and their estimated useful lives are as follows: (in thousands):

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Values and useful lives assigned to intangible assets were based on estimated value and use of these assets by a market participant. The customer relationships and vendor relationships were valued using the income approach. The trade name was valued using the relief from royalty method. The courseware and proprietary delivery software were valued using the replacement cost approach.

Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the net identifiable tangible and intangible assets acquired. The Company determined that the acquisition of GK resulted in the recognition of goodwill primarily because the acquisition is expected to help the Company to meet its long-term operating profitability objectives through achievement of synergies. The majority of goodwill is not deductible for tax purposes.

The acquired intangible assets and goodwill are subject to review for impairment if indicators of impairment develop and otherwise at least annually.

The Company incurred $1.0 million in acquisition-related expenses, which primarily consisted of transaction fees and legal, accounting and other professional services that are included in “Acquisition related expenses” in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations. Approximately $1.0 million was reported in the period from June 12, 2021 to January 31, 2021 (Successor).

Unaudited Pro Forma Financial Information

The following unaudited pro forma financial information summarizes the results of continuing operations for the Company as though the acquisition of Skillsoft and Global Knowledge had occurred on February 1, 2020 (in thousands):

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The unaudited pro forma financial information does not assume any impacts from revenue, cost or other operating synergies that could be generated as a result of the acquisition. The unaudited pro forma financial information is for informational purposes only and is not necessarily indicative of the results of operations that would have been achieved had the acquisition been consummated on February 1, 2020.

The Successor and Predecessor periods have been combined in the pro forma for the three and nine months ended October 31, 2021 and include adjustments to reflect intangible asset amortization based on the economic values derived from definite-lived intangible assets and interest expense on the new debt financing.

Other pro forma adjustments include the following:

Other Acquisitions

On June 30, 2021, the Company acquired Pluma, Inc. The acquisition enhances the Company’s leadership development offerings, adds a new modality to its blended learning model, and allows the Company to now offer a premium individualized coaching experience. Cash paid for Pluma in the Successor period was lower than the agreed upon purchase price of Pluma for $22 million due to a contractual holdback and working capital adjustment. The fair value of the net assets acquired included $17.8 million of goodwill and $8.7 million of identified intangible assets, which had a weighted average life of 7.4 years. The goodwill is not deductible for tax purposes. The business is reported as part of the Company’s Skillsoft reportable segment. Pro forma information and acquisition expenses have not been presented because such information is not material to the financial statements.

Measurement Period

The preliminary purchase price allocations for the acquisitions described above are based on initial estimates and provisional amounts. In accordance with ASC 805-10-25-13, if the initial accounting for a business combination is incomplete by the end of the reporting period in which the combination occurs, the acquirer shall report in its financial statements provisional amounts for the items for which the accounting is incomplete. During the measurement period, acquirer shall adjust the provisional amounts recognized at the acquisition date to reflect new information obtained about facts and circumstances that existed as of the acquisition date that, if known, would have affected the measurement of the amounts recognized as of that date. With three acquisitions during the period ended January 31, 2022, the Company continues to refine its inputs and estimates inherent in (i)  deferred income taxes, and (ii) the accuracy and completeness of contingent and other liabilities.