XML 21 R9.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.22.1
Significant Accounting Policies
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2022
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Significant Accounting Policies
2. Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and footnotes have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”) as contained in the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) for interim financial information. In the opinion of management, the interim financial information includes all adjustments of a normal recurring nature necessary for a fair presentation of the results of operations, financial position, changes in stockholders’ equity, and cash flows. The results of operations for the current period are not necessarily indicative of the results for the full year or the results for any future periods. These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related footnotes included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on February 17, 2022.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of our condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the amounts reported in these condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Although we believe the estimates we use are reasonable, due to the inherent uncertainty involved in making these estimates, actual results reported in future periods could differ from those estimates.

Significant estimates embedded in the condensed consolidated financial statements include revenue recognition, income taxes and the related valuation allowance, the valuation of goodwill and intangible assets, leases, costs to obtain a contract with a customer, the valuation of financial instruments, and stock-based compensation.

The ongoing outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease (“COVID-19”) resulted in the declaration of a global pandemic and introduced a level of disruption and uncertainty into the financial markets and global economy. While the pandemic has been moving toward a controlled stage in the United States, we continue to monitor the developments surrounding the pandemic as of the date of issuance of these financial statements. We are not aware of any specific events or circumstances that would require us to update our estimates, assumptions, and judgments or revise the carrying value of our assets or liabilities. We cannot estimate the impacts COVID-19 may have on our business going forward as such impacts will be largely dependent upon a number of factors outside of our control including the extent and duration of the outbreak as well as any mitigating actions which may be undertaken by global governments and the general public.

Principles of Consolidation

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Appian and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
Revenue Recognition

Refer to Note 3 for a detailed discussion on specific revenue recognition principles related to our major revenue streams.

Cost of Revenue

Subscriptions

Cost of subscriptions revenue consists primarily of fees paid to our third-party managed hosting providers and other third-party service providers, personnel costs such as payroll and benefits for our technology operations and customer support teams, and allocated facility costs and overhead.

Professional Services

Cost of professional services revenue includes all direct and indirect costs to deliver our professional services and training, including employee compensation for our global professional services and training personnel, third-party contractor costs, allocated facility costs and overhead, and the costs of billable expenses such as travel and lodging. The unpredictability of the timing of entering into significant professional services agreements sold on a standalone basis may cause significant fluctuations in our quarterly financial results and allocated facility costs and overhead.

Concentration of Credit and Customer Risk

Our financial instruments exposed to concentration of credit and customer risk consist primarily of cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, accounts receivable, and our short- and long-term investments. Deposits held with banks may exceed the amount of insurance provided on such deposits; however, we believe the financial institutions holding our cash deposits are financially sound and, accordingly, minimal credit risk exists with respect to these balances.

With regard to our customers, credit evaluation and account monitoring procedures are used to minimize the risk of loss. We believe no additional credit risk beyond amounts provided for collection loss are inherent in accounts receivable. Revenue generated from government agencies represented 18.1% and 20.9% of our revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively, of which the top three U.S. federal government agencies generated 4.6% and 6.9% of our revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. Additionally, 33.5% and 32.2% of our revenue during the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively, was generated from foreign customers.

Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash

We consider all highly liquid investments with an original or remaining maturity of three months or less at the date of purchase, as well as overnight repurchase agreements, to be cash equivalents. Restricted cash consists of cash designated to settle an escrow liability stemming from a holdback agreement enacted pursuant to our acquisition of Lana Labs GmbH (“Lana Labs”). The restriction on 25% of the balance will lapse on the later of either two months following the establishment of Lana Labs' annual financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2021 or October 31, 2022. The restrictions on the remaining 75% of the balance will lapse on August 11, 2023.

The following table presents a reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash as presented in the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows (in thousands):

As of March 31,
20222021
Cash and cash equivalents$106,795 $114,752 
Restricted cash, current776 — 
Restricted cash, net of current portion2,328 — 
Total cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash$109,899 $114,752 
Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

Accounts receivable are stated at realizable value, net of an allowance for doubtful accounts. The allowance for doubtful accounts is based on our assessment of the collectability of accounts and incorporates an estimation of expected lifetime credit losses on our receivables. We regularly review the composition of the accounts receivable aging, historical bad debts, changes in payment patterns, customer creditworthiness, and current economic trends. If the financial condition of our customers were to deteriorate, resulting in their inability to make required payments, additional provisions for doubtful accounts would be required and would increase bad debt expense. There was an immaterial increase in the allowance for doubtful accounts from December 31, 2021 to March 31, 2022.

Assets Recognized from the Costs to Obtain a Contract with a Customer

We capitalize costs of obtaining a contract with a customer, including sales commissions paid to our direct sales team, that are incremental costs to obtaining customer contracts. These costs are recorded as deferred commissions in the condensed consolidated balance sheets. Costs to obtain a contract for a new customer or upsell are amortized over an estimated economic life of five years as sales commissions on initial sales are not commensurate with sales commissions on contract renewals. We determine the estimated economic life based on both qualitative and quantitative factors such as expected renewals, product life cycles, contractual terms, and customer attrition. We periodically review the carrying amount of deferred contract acquisition costs to determine whether events or changes in circumstances have occurred that could impact the estimated economic life. Commissions paid relating to contract renewals are deferred and amortized over the related renewal period. We also capitalize the incremental fringe benefits associated with commission expenses paid to our direct sales team. Costs to obtain a contract for professional services arrangements are expensed as incurred as the contractual period of our professional services arrangements are one year or less.

Amortization associated with deferred commission is recorded to sales and marketing costs in our condensed consolidated statements of operations. Commission expense was $8.2 million and $6.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets. Significant additions or improvements extending the useful life of an asset are capitalized, while repairs and maintenance costs which do not significantly improve the related assets or extend their useful lives are charged to expense as incurred.

The following table outlines the useful lives of our major asset categories:

Asset CategoryUseful Life (in years)
Computer software3
Computer hardware3
Equipment5
Office furniture and fixtures10
Leasehold improvements
(a)
(a) Leasehold improvements have an estimated useful life of the shorter of the useful life of the assets or the lease term.

Business Combinations

We account for business combinations using the acquisition method of accounting as of the business combination date. Under this method, we allocate the fair value of purchase consideration to identifiable tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed at their estimated fair values on the acquisition date. The excess of the consideration transferred over the fair value of the identifiable net assets acquired is recorded as goodwill and represents the future economic benefits expected to arise from other intangible assets acquired that do not qualify for separate recognition, including assembled workforce, non-contractual relationships, and expected future synergies. Determining the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed
requires us to use significant judgments and estimates, including the selection of valuation methodologies, estimates of future revenue, costs, and cash flows, and discount rates.

During the measurement period, which can be up to one year from the acquisition date, these estimates may be refined, as necessary, and we may record adjustments to the fair value of tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed, with the corresponding offset to goodwill. Upon the conclusion of the measurement period or the final determination of the fair value of assets acquired or liabilities assumed, whichever comes first, any subsequent adjustments are recorded to our condensed consolidated statements of operations. Acquisition related expenses and post-acquisition integration costs are recognized separately from the business combination and are expensed as incurred.

Impairment of Goodwill and Long-Lived Assets

Long-lived assets and certain intangible assets are reviewed for impairment at least annually or more frequently whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable through undiscounted cash flows from the use of the assets. If such assets are considered to be impaired, the assets are written down to their estimated fair value.

With respect to goodwill, we have the option to qualitatively assess whether it is more likely than not the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying value. If we elect to perform a qualitative assessment and conclude it is more likely than not the fair value of the reporting unit is equal to or greater than its carrying value, no further assessment of that reporting unit’s goodwill is necessary; otherwise, goodwill must be tested for impairment. Absent a specifically identified triggering event, we historically perform our annual assessment on the first day of the fourth quarter.

Because we operate under one reporting unit, the fair value of our reporting unit is based on our enterprise value. No indicators of impairment were identified for the three months ended March 31, 2022 or 2021.

Investments and Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Refer to Note 16 for a detailed discussion on our policies specific to investments and determining fair value.

Stock-Based Compensation

We account for stock-based compensation expense related to stock-based awards based on the estimated fair value of the award on the grant date. We calculate the fair value of stock options containing only a service condition using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The fair value of restricted stock units (“RSUs”) is based on the closing market price of our common stock on the Nasdaq Global Market on the date of grant. For service-based awards such as RSUs, stock-based compensation expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period. For performance-based awards, stock-based compensation expense is recognized using the accelerated attribution method based on the probability of satisfying the performance condition. For awards that contain market conditions, compensation expense is measured using a Monte Carlo simulation and recognized using the accelerated attribution method over the derived service period based on the expected market performance as of the grant date. We account for forfeitures as they occur rather than estimating expected forfeitures.

Leases

Refer to Note 4 for a detailed discussion on our policies specific to leasing arrangements.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Adopted

In October 2021, the FASB issued Accounting Standard Update (“ASU”) 2021-08, Business Combinations (Topic 805): Accounting for Contract Assets and Contract Liabilities from Contracts with Customers, which aims to improve the accounting for acquired revenue contracts with customers in a business combination. The ASU requires an entity (acquirer) to recognize and measure contract assets and contract liabilities acquired in a business combination in accordance with Topic 606. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022 and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early
adoption is permitted including in interim periods. The adoption of the new guidance did not have a material impact on our condensed consolidated financial statements.