NOTE 2. ACQUISITIONS To further the Companys strategic direction to transform into a more business services-driven platform offering technology products and solutions, expand its distribution network, and strengthen its core business operations, the Company acquired five businesses during year-to-date 2018. Four of these acquisitions consist of small independent regional office supply businesses that provide the Company with greater access to small and mid-market business customers in selected U.S. geographic markets across a diverse assortment of product lines, including cleaning and breakroom, technology and printing, furniture and office supplies . These four acquisitions were completed in the first quarter and third quarter of 2018. In addition, the Companys acquisition of an enterprise information Technology Solutions Integrator and Managed Services Provider in the first quarter of 2018 provides the Company with a platform for selling or providing Internet of Things (IoT) related hardware and projects to the education market . IoT refers to the connection of intelligent systems and devices to allow them to automatically share information so that systems and devices work intelligently together to develop and enhance solutions and reduce human intervention. In 2017, the Company acquired CompuCom, which is described below, three small independent regional office supply businesses with similar market and product characteristics to the four acquisitions described in the preceding paragraph, and one small independent business focused on cleaning and breakroom supplies. The aggregate total purchase consideration, including contingent consideration, for the acquisitions completed in year-to-date 2018 was approximately $82 million, subject to certain customary post-closing adjustments. The aggregate purchase price was primarily funded with cash on hand, with the remainder consisting of contingent consideration, estimated to be $15 million, to be paid in 2019. The acquisitions were treated as purchases in accordance with ASC 805, Business Combinations (ASC 805) which requires allocation of the purchase price to the estimated fair values of assets and liabilities acquired in the transaction, and include certain amortizing intangible assets and goodwill. The Company has performed a preliminary purchase price allocations of the $82 million aggregate purchase price to the estimated fair values of assets and liabilities acquired in the transactions, including $12 million of customer relationship intangible assets and $55 million of goodwill. The remaining aggregate purchase price was primarily allocated to working capital accounts. These assets and liabilities are included in the balance sheet as of September 29, 2018. As additional information is obtained about these assets and liabilities within the measurement period (not to exceed one year from the date of acquisition), the Company will refine its estimates of fair value to allocate the purchase price. Changes in fair value of the contingent consideration may result in additional acquisition related expenses. The operating results of the office supply businesses are combined with the Companys operating results subsequent to their purchase dates, and are included in the Business Solutions Division. The operating results of the technology business is combined with the Companys operating results subsequent to its purchase date and is included in the CompuCom Division. Certain disclosures set forth under ASC 805, including supplemental pro forma financial information, are not disclosed because the operating results of the acquired businesses, individually and in the aggregate, are not material to the Company. On November 8, 2017, the Company completed the acquisition of CompuCom by acquiring all of the capital stock of CompuCom for approximately $937 million, funded with a $750 million, 5-year term loan facility, approximately 44 million shares of Office Depot common stock with an approximate market value of $135 million, and approximately $52 million of cash on hand. CompuCom sells information technology (IT) outsourcing services and products to enterprise organizations in the United States and Canada, and offers a broad range of solutions including end user computing support, managed IT services, data center monitoring and management, service desk, network infrastructure, IT workforce solutions, mobile device management and cloud services. The Company has performed the preliminary purchase price allocation as of the acquisition date. The preliminary purchase price allocation will be finalized during the measurement period which will not exceed one year from the acquisition date. Refer to Note 2 in the Companys 2017 Form 10-K for further information about the preliminary allocation of total purchase consideration for CompuCom. Based on new information received, the preliminary purchase price allocations of the companies acquired in 2018 and 2017 have been adjusted during the respective measurement periods. These adjustments were insignificant individually and in the aggregate to the Companys Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. With the exception of CompuCom, the measurement periods for acquisitions completed in 2017 closed within the third quarter of 2018. Under the guidance on accounting for business combinations, merger and integration costs are not included as components of consideration transferred, instead, they are accounted for as expenses in the period in which the costs are incurred. Transaction-related expenses are included in the Merger and restructuring expense, net line in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations. Refer to Note 3 for additional information about the merger and restructuring expenses incurred during the third quarter and year-to-date 2018. As part of the purchase of CompuCom, the Company acquired a redeemable noncontrolling equity interest in Clearpath Holdings, LLC, a consolidated subsidiary of CompuCom. In April 2018, the Company acquired the remaining ownership interest in this subsidiary of CompuCom for cash consideration of $18 million. Clearpath Holdings, LLC controlled the redemption of the remaining ownership as it had the right to put or require CompuCom to purchase the remaining ownership interest. As part of its strategic direction to strengthen its core business operations, in October 2018 the Company acquired a small independent regional office supply business in the U.S.