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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2024
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Basis of Accounting
(a)    Basis of Presentation and Use of Estimates
The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Significant estimates include, among other estimates, assumptions used in the allocation of the transaction price to separate performance obligations, estimates towards the measure of progress of completion on fixed-price service contracts, the determination of fair values and useful lives of long-lived assets as well as intangible assets, goodwill, allowance for credit losses for accounts receivable, recoverability of deferred tax assets, recognition of deferred revenue, valuation of interest rate swaps, determination of fair value of equity-based awards and assumptions used in testing for impairment of long-lived assets. Actual results could differ from those estimates, and such differences may be material to the consolidated financial statements.
Use of Estimates
(a)    Basis of Presentation and Use of Estimates
The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Significant estimates include, among other estimates, assumptions used in the allocation of the transaction price to separate performance obligations, estimates towards the measure of progress of completion on fixed-price service contracts, the determination of fair values and useful lives of long-lived assets as well as intangible assets, goodwill, allowance for credit losses for accounts receivable, recoverability of deferred tax assets, recognition of deferred revenue, valuation of interest rate swaps, determination of fair value of equity-based awards and assumptions used in testing for impairment of long-lived assets. Actual results could differ from those estimates, and such differences may be material to the consolidated financial statements.
Recently Adopted or issued Accounting standards
(b)    Recently Adopted or Issued Accounting Standards
In November 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") ASU 2023-07, “Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures.” The ASU requires an enhanced disclosure of significant segment expenses on an annual and interim basis. This ASU will be effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. Early adoption is permitted. Upon adoption, the guidance should be applied retrospectively to all prior periods presented in the financial statements. As of December 31, 2024, the Company has adopted the ASU on the disclosures within its consolidated financial statements.
In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, “Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures". The ASU requires disclosure of specific categories in the rate reconciliation and provide additional information for reconciling items that meet a quantitative threshold and further disaggregation of income taxes paid for individually significant jurisdictions. The ASU will be effective for public business
entities for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the ASU on the disclosures within our consolidated financial statements.
In November 2024, the FASB issued ASU 2024-03, Disaggregation of Income Statement Expenses. This ASU seeks to improve of the disclosures about the types of expenses, including employee compensation, depreciation, and amortization, and costs incurred related to inventory and manufacturing activities. ASU 2024-03 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2026, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2027. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the ASU on the disclosures within its consolidated financial statements.
Principles of Consolidation
(c)    Principles of Consolidation
The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
Fair Value Measurements
(d)    Fair Value Measurements
The Company follows FASB ASC 820-10, “Fair Value Measurements” (“ASC 820-10”), which defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in U.S. GAAP, and requires certain disclosures about fair value measurements.
ASC 820-10 defines fair value as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction. Fair value measurement is based on a hierarchy of observable or unobservable inputs. The standard describes three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value.
Level 1 — Inputs to the valuation methodology are quoted prices available in active markets for identical securities as of the reporting date;
Level 2 — Inputs to the valuation methodology are other significant observable inputs, including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, credit risk etc. as of the reporting date, and the fair value can be determined through the use of models or other valuation methodologies; and
Level 3 — Inputs to the valuation methodology are unobservable inputs in situations where there is little, or no market activity of the securities and the reporting entity makes estimates and assumptions relating to the pricing of the securities including assumptions regarding risk.
If the inputs used to measure fair value fall in different levels of the fair value hierarchy, the hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. For the acquisitions noted in Note 5, the fair value measurement methods used to estimate the fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the acquisition dates utilized a number of significant unobservable inputs of Level 3 assumptions. These assumptions included, among other things, projections of future operating results, implied fair value of assets using an income approach by preparing a discounted cash flow analysis, and other subjective assumptions.
Interest rate swaps are valued in the market using discounted cash flows techniques. These techniques incorporate Level 1 and Level 2 inputs. The market inputs are utilized in the discounted cash flows’ calculation considering the instrument’s term, notional amount, discount rate and credit risk. Significant inputs to the derivative instrument valuation model for interest rate swaps are observable in active markets and are classified as Level 2 in the hierarchy.
Contingent liabilities related to acquisitions are measured at fair value using Level 3 unobservable inputs. The Company's estimates of fair value are based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable but which are
uncertain and involve significant judgments by management. Any changes in the fair value of these contingent liabilities are included in the earnings in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss).
The Company utilizes Monte Carlo or a series of Black-Scholes-Merton options models to estimate the fair value of the contingent consideration liabilities of business acquisitions. Significant inputs used in the fair value measurement of contingent consideration include: expected eligible revenue for the acquired businesses over the relevant measurement periods, the risk profile of the expected eligible revenue for the acquired businesses, the uncertainty regarding the expected eligible revenue for the acquired businesses, the risk-free rate of return, the expected timing at which settlement of the contingent liabilities may occur, and the credit-adjusted discount rate associated with the risk of the Company’s future liability payments. At the acquisition date, the fair value of the contingent consideration liabilities related with eligible revenues was $19,813, $790, $4,380, and $5,357 for the acquisitions of Vyasa Analytics, LLC (“Vyasa”), Drug Interaction Solutions, University of Washington (“DIDB”), Formedix Limited ("Formedix") , and Applied BioMath, LLC (“ABM”), respectively.
The following table sets forth the assets and liabilities that were measured at fair value on a recurring and non-recurring basis by their levels in the fair value hierarchy at December 31, 2024:
LEVEL 1LEVEL 2LEVEL 3TOTAL
(In thousands)
Assets
Money market funds$79,167 $— $— $79,167 
Interest rate swap assets— 2,213 — 2,213 
Total assets$79,167 $2,213 $— $81,380 
Liabilities
Contingent liabilities$— $— $43,939 $43,939 
Total liabilities$— $— $43,939 $43,939 
The following table sets forth the assets that were measured at fair value on a recurring and non-recurring basis by their levels in the fair value hierarchy at December 31, 2023:
LEVEL 1LEVEL 2LEVEL 3TOTAL
(In thousands)
Assets
Money market funds$147,478 $— $— $147,478 
Interest rate swap assets— 5,624 — 5,624 
Total assets$147,478 $5,624 $— $153,102 
Liabilities
Contingent liabilities$— $— $54,457 $54,457 
Total liabilities$— $— $54,457 $54,457 
Cash and Cash Equivalents
(e)    Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash equivalents include highly-liquid investments with maturities of three months or less from the date purchased. At times, cash balances held at financial institutions were in excess of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation’s (“FDIC”) insured limits; however, the Company primarily places its temporary cash with high-credit quality financial institutions. The Company has never experienced losses related to these balances and believes it is not exposed to any significant credit risk on cash.
As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, the carrying values reflected in the consolidated balance sheets reasonably approximate the fair values of cash and cash equivalents due to the short-term maturity of these items.
The following table provides a reconciliation of cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash reported within the consolidated balance sheets to the amounts presented in the consolidated statements of cash flows:
DECEMBER 31,
20242023
(In thousands)
Cash and cash equivalents$179,183 $234,951 
Accounts Receivable
(f)    Accounts Receivable
Accounts receivable includes current outstanding invoices billed to customers. Invoices are typically issued with net 30-days to net 90-days terms upon delivery of product or upon achievement of billable events for service-based contracts. Unbilled receivables relate to the Company’s rights to consideration for performance obligations satisfied but not billed at the reporting date on contracts. Unbilled receivables are billed and transferred to customer accounts receivable when the rights become unconditional. The carrying amount of accounts receivable is reduced by a valuation allowance.
The Company estimates the expected credit losses for accounts receivables using historical loss data adjusted for current economic conditions, including reasonable and supportable forecasts to estimate the relative size of credit losses to be expected. The Company generally writes off a receivable or records a specific allowance for credit losses if the Company determines that the receivable is not collectible. Allowances for credit losses of $2,164 and $1,312, respectively, were provided in the accompanying consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
DECEMBER 31,
20242023
(In thousands)
Trade receivables$90,609 $75,410 
Unbilled receivables13,454 10,405 
Other receivables290 354 
Allowance for credit losses(2,164)(1,312)
Accounts receivable, net$102,189 $84,857 
The following is a summary of the changes to the allowance for credit losses as of December 31, 2024 and 2023.
DECEMBER 31,
20242023
(In thousands)
Beginning balance $1,312 $1,250 
Provision for credit losses1,464 684 
Charge-offs, net of recoveries(612)(622)
Ending balance $2,164 $1,312 
Property and Equipment
(g)    Property and Equipment
Property and equipment are stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation and amortization.
Depreciation and amortization is provided using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, which range from three to ten years for computer and office equipment, the shorter of the useful lives of the improvement or the life of the related lease term for leasehold improvements, and one to three years for purchased software. The Company seeks to match the book useful life of assets to the expected productive lives. Assets deemed to be impaired or no longer productive are written down to their net realizable value. The Company reviews long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the asset may not be recoverable. If such events or changes in circumstances are present, an impairment loss would be recognized if the sum of the expected future net cash flows is less than the carrying amount of the asset. An impairment loss would be recorded for the excess of the carrying value of the asset over the estimated fair value. There was no impairment of property and equipment for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022.
Leases
(h)    Leases
The Company determines if a contract contains a lease at contract inception and whether its classification as either an operating or finance lease at lease commencement. The Company’s current portfolio includes operating leases of real estate and capital leases of equipment. The Company records a lease liability, as of the lease commencement date, in an amount equal to the present value of future fixed payments over the lease term. Options to extend or terminate a lease are considered in the lease term to the extent that the option is reasonably certain of exercise. A right-of-use (“ROU”) asset is recorded in an amount equal to the corresponding lease liability adjusted for prepayments, initial directs costs and lease incentives, if applicable. The Company has elected not to recognize ROU assets and lease liabilities for short-term leases of real estate with a lease term of 12 months or less.
The Company generally uses its incremental borrowing rate in determining the present value of future payments as the rate implicit in the lease is unknown. The incremental borrowing rate represents the rate of interest that
the Company would expect to pay on a collateralized basis to borrow an amount equal to the lease payments under similar terms.
Fixed lease payments on operating leases are recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term, while variable payments are recognized in the period incurred. Variable lease payments include real estate taxes and charges for other non-lease services due to lessors that are not dependent on an index or rate. The Company’s real estate contracts may include fixed consideration attributable to both lease and non-lease components, including non-lease services provided by the lessor, which are accounted for as a single fixed minimum payment. ROU assets under finance leases are depreciated in a manner similar to other property and equipment.
Lessee's ROU assets under ASC 842 are subject to the FASB ASC Subtopic 360-10 impairment guidance applicable to long-lived assets. For the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company recorded lease abandonment expenses of $1,219 and $1,602, respectively, and reduced the lease ROU assets for the same amount in each year in connection with the evaluation of the Company's office space footprint. The expense is included within the general and administrative expenses in the Company's consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss).
Software Development Costs
(i)    Software Development Costs
Software development costs are accounted for in accordance with FASB ASC Subtopic 985-20 if the software is to be sold, leased or otherwise marketed, or by FASB ASC Subtopic 350-40 if the software is for internal use. After the technological feasibility of the software has been established (for software to be marketed), or at the beginning of application development (for internal-use software), software development costs, which include primarily salaries and related payroll costs and costs of independent contractors incurred during development, are capitalized. Research and development (“R&D”) costs incurred prior to the establishment of technological feasibility (for software to be marketed), or prior to application development (for internal-use software), are expensed as incurred. Software development costs are amortized on a product-by-product basis commencing on the date of general release of the products (for software to be marketed) or the date placed in service (for internal-use software). During the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, costs of $19,446, $13,566, and $11,119, respectively, were capitalized related to software development activities. Software development costs for software to be marketed are amortized using the straight-line method over its estimated useful life, which is typically three years. The Company reviews capitalized software for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the asset may not be recoverable. If such events or changes in circumstances are present, an impairment loss would be recognized if the sum of the expected future net cash flows is less than the carrying amount of the asset. An impairment loss would be recorded for the excess of the carrying value of the asset over the estimated fair value. There was no impairment of software development costs for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022.
Debt Issuance Costs
(j)    Debt Issuance Costs
Debt issuance costs are capitalized and amortized over the term of the related debt using the effective interest rate method. Amortization of debt issuance costs is included in interest expense within the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss). The unamortized amount is included as an offset against long-term debt on the consolidated balance sheets. Debt issuance costs related to line-of-credit arrangements are capitalized and are included in other long-term assets on the consolidated balance sheets. The capitalized costs are amortized ratably over the term of the line-of-credit arrangement. The amortization costs are included in interest expense within the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss), regardless of whether there are any outstanding borrowings on the line-of-credit arrangement.
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets
(k)    Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets
During 2024, the Company reorganized its Certara Drug Development Solutions reporting unit (“CDDS”), Software reporting unit (“Software”), and SimCyp reporting unit (“SimCyp”) for goodwill allocation and impairment testing purposes. As of December 31, 2024, the Company had three reporting units – Certara Data Science Software (“CDS”), the Certara Predictive Technologies reporting unit (“CPT”), and the Certara Drug Development Services reporting unit (“CDDS”), which are within a single operating segment of the Company. Goodwill is tested for impairment at the reporting unit level, which is one level below or the same as an operating segment. When testing goodwill for impairment, the Company performs a qualitative assessment to determine whether events or circumstances lead to a determination that it is more-likely-than-not that the fair values of the reporting units are less than their carrying amounts. If the Company determines that it is not more-likely-than-not that the fair values of the reporting units are less than their carrying values, no further assessment is performed. If the Company determines that it is more-likely-than-not that the fair values of the reporting units are less than carrying value, the Company proceeds to perform a quantitative goodwill impairment test. If the result of the quantitative test shows that the carrying amount of reporting units exceeds its fair values, an impairment loss is recognized in an amount equal to that excess, limited to the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit.
The goodwill impairment test is performed at least annually at the reporting unit level. An interim test is performed when events or circumstances occur that may indicate that it is more likely than not that the fair value of any reporting unit may be less than its carrying value. During the third quarter of 2023, the Company performed interim goodwill impairment tests for the prior regulatory writing reporting unit, which was integrated into the CDDS at the end of third quarter 2023. The fair value of the regulatory writing reporting unit was determined to be less than its carrying value, resulting in a goodwill impairment charge of $46,984 for the reporting unit. The fair value of that reporting unit was estimated using a combination of the discounted cash flow method and the guideline public company method. The decline in the fair value of the regulatory writing reporting unit was driven by revised revenue growth and profitability forecasts resulting from certain reductions in our financial planning assumptions.
For the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022, the Company performed annual quantitative assessments of goodwill, with the most recent assessment was performed on October 1, 2024. The annual quantitative assessments resulted in no impairment as the estimated fair value of each reporting unit exceeded its carrying value. The Company recorded a goodwill impairment charge of $46,984 for the year ended December 31, 2023. There was no goodwill impairment recorded for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2022.
Other identifiable intangible assets with finite lives, such as software products acquired in acquisitions, non-compete agreements, trade names, customer relationship assets, and patents, are amortized over their estimated useful lives using either a straight-line method or a method based on pattern of expected economic benefit of the asset as follows: acquired software — 3 to 15 years; non-compete agreements — 2 to 5 years; customer relationships — 11 to 16 years; trade names — 10 to 20 years: patents — 5 years. The fair value of the intangible assets acquired were valued at acquisition date using forms of the income approach including the relief from royalty method and multi-period excess earnings method or the cost approach. Key inputs used in the income approaches included estimations of the future cash flows attributable to certain intangible assets, considering their economic lives, and then applying appropriate discount rates. Key inputs used in the cost approaches include the cost of re-creation and appropriate returns on those re-creation efforts. The Company evaluates finite intangible assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the asset might not be recoverable. An impairment loss is recognized when estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to result from the use of the asset are less than its carrying amount.
There were no impairment charges related to intangible assets for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022.
Foreign Currency Translation
(l)    Foreign Currency Translation
Generally, the functional currency of the Company’s international subsidiaries is the local currency of the country in which they operate. The Company translates the assets and liabilities of its non-U.S. dollar functional currency subsidiaries into U.S. dollars using exchange rates in effect at the end of each reporting period. Revenue and expenses for these subsidiaries are translated using average exchange rates prevailing during the period. Gains and losses from these translations are recognized as a cumulative translation adjustment and included as a separate component in accumulated other comprehensive loss within the consolidated statement of stockholders’ equity.
For transactions that are not denominated in the local functional currency, the Company remeasures monetary assets and liabilities at exchange rates in effect at the end of each reporting period. Foreign currency transaction gains and losses are included net within comprehensive gain or loss in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss) and resulted in foreign currency losses of $(2,344), $(638), and $(3,166) for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022, respectively.
Derivative Instruments
(m)    Derivative Instruments
In the normal course of business, the Company is subject to risk from adverse fluctuations in interest rates. The Company has chosen to manage this risk through the use of derivative financial instruments that consist of interest rate swap contracts. Counterparties to these contracts are major financial institutions. The Company is exposed to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by these counterparties. The Company does not use derivative instruments for trading or speculative purposes. The objective in managing exposure to market risk is to limit the impact on cash flows. To qualify for hedge accounting, the interest rate swaps must effectively reduce the risk exposure that they are designed to hedge. In addition, at inception of a qualifying cash flow hedging relationship, the underlying transaction or transactions must be, and be expected to remain, probable of occurring in accordance with the related assertions.
FASB ASC 815, “Derivatives and Hedging,” requires the Company to recognize all derivatives on the balance sheet at fair value. The Company may enter into derivative contracts such as interest rate swap contracts that effectively convert portions of the Company’s floating rate debt to a fixed rate, which serves to mitigate interest rate risk. The Company’s objectives in using interest rate swaps are to add stability to interest expense and to manage its exposure to interest rate movements. Interest rate swaps designated as cash flow hedges involve the receipt of variable-rate amounts from a counterparty in exchange for the Company making fixed-rate payments over the life of the agreements without exchange of the underlying notional amount.
The Company entered into an interest rate swap agreement in May 2022 that pays fixed, receives variable to modify the interest rate characteristics of term loan debt from variable to fixed in order to reduce the impact of changes in future cash flows due to market interest rate changes. The swap agreement has a notional amount of $230,000, a fixed rate of 2.8% and a termination date of August 31, 2025. During the quarter ended September 30, 2023, the Company and the counterparty amended the floating rate of the swap agreement from term LIBOR to term SOFR due to the cessation of LIBOR. At December 31, 2024 and 2023, the interest rate swap had a fair value of $2,213 and $5,624, respectively. The gross fair value recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income was $2,213 and $5,624 at December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Interest expense (income) on derivative instruments recognized in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss) were $(5,751), $(5,295), and $25 for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022, respectively.
The Company uses derivatives to manage certain interest exposures and designated all the derivatives as cash flow hedges. The Company records derivatives at fair value on its consolidated balance sheets. Changes in the fair value of derivatives designated as cash flow hedges are recorded as a component of accumulated other
comprehensive income (loss). Those amounts are reclassified into interest expenses in the same period during which the hedged transactions impact earnings.
The notional amounts and fair values, locations of derivative instruments in the consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2024 were as follows:
Interest rate swap derivative designated as cash flow hedging instruments:20242023
(In thousands)
Notional amounts $230,000 $230,000 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets$2,213 $4,473 
Other long-term assets$— $1,151 
The net amount of deferred gains related to derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges that is expected to be reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive gains into earnings over the next twelve months is $2,213.
Warranty
(n)    Warranty
The Company includes an assurance commitment warranting the application software products will perform in accordance with written user documentation and the agreements negotiated with customers. Since the Company does not customize its applications software, warranty costs are insignificant and expensed as incurred.
Earnings per Share
(o)    Earnings per Share
Basic earnings per common share is computed by dividing the net earnings by the weighted-average number of shares outstanding during the reporting period, without consideration for potentially dilutive securities. Diluted earnings per share is computed by dividing the net earnings attributable to stockholders by the weighted-average number of shares and dilutive securities outstanding during the period.
Income Taxes
(p)    Income Taxes
The Company accounts for income taxes under the asset and liability method. Under this method, the amount of taxes currently payable or refundable is accrued, and deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the estimated future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial reporting and tax basis of existing assets and liabilities. Deferred tax assets also include realizable tax losses and tax credit carryforwards.
The deferred tax assets may be reduced by a valuation allowance, which is established when it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. In addition, management is required to evaluate all available evidence, both positive and negative, when making its judgment to determine whether to record a valuation allowance for a portion, or all, of its deferred tax assets. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted income tax rates in effect for the year in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in income tax rate is recognized in the period that includes the enactment date.
Uncertainty in Income Taxes
Uncertainty in Income Taxes
The Company accounts for uncertainty in income taxes using a two-step approach. The first step requires the Company to conclude that a tax position, based solely on its technical merits, is more likely than not to be sustained upon examination by a tax authority. The second step requires the Company to measure the largest amount of benefit, determined on a cumulative probability basis, that is more likely than not to be realized upon ultimate settlement with tax authority. The Company recognizes the effect of income tax positions only if those
positions are more likely than not of being sustained. Changes in recognition or measurement are reflected in the period in which the change in judgment occurs. Further, the benefit to be recorded in the consolidated financial statements is the amount most likely to be realized assuming a review by the tax authorities having all relevant information and applying current conventions. The Company's policy is to recognize interest and penalties related to income tax positions taken as a component of the provision for income taxes.
The Company assessed its uncertain tax positions and determined that a liability of $7,411 and $2,708 was required to be recorded for uncertain tax positions as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Uncertain tax positions relate primarily to federal and state R&D credits and certain net operating losses. The Company's policy is to recognize interest and penalties as a component of the provision for income taxes. For December 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company recognized interest of $0.1 million and $0.1 million, respectively, and no penalties. The Company does not anticipate any significant changes to its uncertain tax positions during the next twelve months. U.S. federal income tax returns are generally subject to examination for a period of three years after the filing of the return. However, the Internal Revenue Service can audit the NOLs generated in respective years in the years that the NOLs are utilized. State income tax returns are generally subject to examination for a period of three to six years after the filing of the respective tax return. The state impact of any federal changes remains subject to examination by various states for a period of up to one year after formal notification to the states. Foreign income tax returns are generally subject to examination based on the tax laws of the respective jurisdictions.
Revenue Recognition
(q)    Revenue Recognition
In accordance with ASC Topic 606, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers”, the Company determines revenue recognition through the following steps:
i.Identification of the contract, or contracts, with a customer
ii.Identification of the performance obligations in the contract
iii.Determination of the transaction price
iv.Allocation of the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract
v.Recognition of revenue when, or as, the Company satisfies a performance obligation
The Company’s revenue consists of fees for perpetual and term licenses for its software products, post- contract customer support (referred to as maintenance), software as a service (“SaaS”), and professional services including training and other revenue. Revenue is recognized upon transfer of control of promised products or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the Company expects to be entitled in exchange for promised goods or services.
The following describes the nature of the Company’s primary types of revenues and the revenue recognition policies as they pertain to the types of transactions the Company enters into with its customers.
Consulting Service Revenues
The Company’s primary professional services offering includes consulting services, which may be either strategic consulting services, reporting and analysis services, regulatory writing services, or any combination of the three. The Company’s professional services contracts are either time-and-materials or fixed fee. Services revenues are generally recognized over time as the services are performed. Generally, these services are delivered to customers electronically.
Revenue from time-and-material contracts is recognized on an output basis as labor hours are delivered and/or direct expenses are incurred. Revenues for fixed price services are generally recognized over time applying input methods to estimate progress to completion. Accordingly, the number of resources being paid for and varying lengths of time they are being paid for, determine the measure of progress.
Software Licenses
Software license revenue consists primarily of sales of software licenses downloaded and installed by our customers on their own hardware. The license period is generally one year or less and includes an insignificant amount of customer support to assist the customer with the software. Software license performance obligations are generally recognized upfront at the point in time when the software license has been delivered.
Software as a Service (SaaS) Revenue
SaaS revenue consists of subscription fees for access to, and related support for, the Company’s cloud-based solutions. The Company typically invoices subscription fees in advance in annual installments. The invoice is initially deferred and revenue is recognized ratably over the life of the contract. The Company’s software contracts do not typically include variable consideration or options for future purchases that would not be similar to the original goods.
Software Services
Maintenance services agreements on perpetual software consist of fees for providing software updates and for providing technical support for software products for a specified term. Revenue allocated to maintenance services is recognized ratably over the contract term beginning on the delivery date of each offering. Maintenance contracts generally have a term of one year. While transfer of control of the software training and implementation performance obligations are over time, the services are typically started and completed within a few days. Due to the quick nature of the performance obligation from start to finish and the insignificant amounts, the Company recognizes any software training or implementation revenue at the completion of the service. Any unrecognized portion of amounts paid in advance for licenses and services is recorded as deferred revenue.
Arrangements with Multiple Performance Obligations
For contracts with multiple performance obligations, such as a software license plus software training, implementation, and/or maintenance/support, or in contracts where there are multiple software licenses, the Company determines if the products or services are distinct and allocates the consideration to each distinct performance obligation on a relative SSP basis. The delivery of a particular type of software and each of the user licenses would be one performance obligation. Additionally, any training, implementation, or support and maintenance promises as part of the software license agreement would be considered separate performance obligations, as those promises are distinct and separately identifiable from the software licenses. The payment terms in these arrangements are less than one year such that there is no significant financing component to the transaction.
Contract Balances
The timing of revenue recognition, billings and cash collections results in billed accounts receivable, unbilled receivables (contract assets), and customer advances and deposits (deferred revenue, contract liabilities) on the consolidated balance sheets. Amounts are billed as work progresses in accordance with agreed-upon contractual terms, either at periodic intervals (e.g., quarterly or monthly) or upon achievement of contractual milestones.
Contract assets relate to the Company’s rights to consideration for performance obligations satisfied but not billed at the reporting date on contracts (i.e., unbilled revenue, a component of accounts receivable in the Consolidated Balance Sheets). Contract assets are billed and transferred to customer accounts receivable when the rights become unconditional. The Company typically invoices customers for term licenses, subscriptions, maintenance and support fees in advance with payment due before the start of the subscription term, ranging from one to three years. The Company records the amounts collected in advance of the satisfaction of performance obligations, usually over time, as a contract liability or deferred revenue. Invoiced amounts for non-cancelable services starting in future periods are included in contract assets and deferred revenue. The portion of deferred revenue that will be recognized within 12 months is recorded as current deferred revenue, and the remaining portion is recorded as deferred revenue in the consolidated balance sheets.
Contract balances at December 31, 2024 and 2023 were as follows:
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
202420232022
(In thousands)
Contract assets$13,454 $10,405 $11,309 
Contract liabilities$78,878 $61,748 $55,024 
During 2024, the Company recognized revenue of $60,678 related to contract liabilities at December 31, 2023.
The unsatisfied performance obligation as of December 31, 2024 was approximately $135,103. We expect to recognize approximately $114,239 or 84.6% of this revenue over the next 12 months and the remainder thereafter.
Deferred Contract Acquisition Costs
Under ASC Topic 606, sales commissions paid to the sales force and the related employer payroll taxes, collectively deferred contract acquisition costs, are considered incremental and recoverable costs of obtaining a contract with a customer.
The Company recognizes an asset for the incremental costs of obtaining a contract with a customer if the Company expects the benefit of those costs to be longer than one year. The Company has determined that certain sales incentive programs meet the requirements to be capitalized. The costs capitalized are primarily sales commissions for our sales force personnel. Capitalized costs to obtain a contract are amortized on a straight-line basis over the expected period of benefit. Amortization of capitalized costs are included in sales and marketing expense in our consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss). Capitalized contract acquisition costs were $873 and $655 as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and were included in prepaid expenses and other current assets in the consolidated balance sheets.
Grant Revenue
The Company receives grant funding for certain specific projects from time to time. These grants specify the funds provided are to be used exclusively to satisfy the deliverables outlined in the grant agreements. In these agreements, both involved parties receive and sacrifice approximately commensurate value so these are accounted for as exchange transactions and revenue is recognized according to ASC Topic 606. The grant funding is generally provided near contract inception so a contract liability is initially recorded and revenue is recognized as the performance obligations are satisfied over time.
Sources and Timing of Revenue
The Company’s performance obligations are satisfied either over time or at a point in time. The following table presents the Company’s revenue by timing of revenue recognition to understand the risks of timing of transfer of control and cash flows:
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
202420232022
(In thousands)
Software licenses transferred at a point in time$54,773 $49,754 $46,139 
Software licenses transferred over time100,923 81,923 69,327 
Service revenues earned over time229,452 222,660 220,178 
Total$385,148 $354,337 $335,644 
Equity -Based Compensation
(r)    Equity-Based Compensation
The Company measures equity-based compensation at fair value and recognizes the expense over the vesting period. Forfeitures are recognized as they occur for all awards. The fair value of restricted stock, restricted stock units, and performance stock units are primarily determined by the market price of our common stock on the date of grant. For a specific group of performance stock units, a Monte Carlo simulation model was used to estimate the fair value. Compensation costs for our restricted stock and restricted stock units are recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period. Performance stock units with a graded vesting schedule are recognized using graded vesting attribution approach. A performance stock unit represents a right to receive a certain number of shares of common stock based on the achievement of corporate performance goals and continued employment during the vesting period. At each reporting period, we reassess the probability of the achievement of such corporate performance goals and any increase or decrease in equity-based compensation expense resulting from an adjustment in the estimated shares to be released is treated as a cumulative catch-up in the period of adjustment.
Compensation costs for our legacy Class B Profits Interest Unit (the “Class B Units”), issued by former parent company, that vested based on continued service requirements and the restricted stock into which they were exchanged are recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period. Compensation costs for our restricted stock exchanged for our legacy Class B Units with performance vesting conditions are recognized using the accelerated attribution approach. Compensation costs for our restricted stock units are recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period.
Comprehensive Income (Loss)
(s)    Comprehensive Income (Loss)
FASB ASC 220, “Comprehensive Income,” (“ASC Topic 220”) establishes standards for reporting of comprehensive income and its components (revenue, gains, and losses) in a full set of general-purpose financial statements. ASC Topic 220 requires that all components of comprehensive income, including net income, be reported in a financial statement that is displayed with the same prominence as other financial statements. Comprehensive income (loss) is defined as the change in equity during a period from transactions and other events and circumstances from non-owner sources. Net income (loss) and other comprehensive income (loss), including foreign currency translation adjustments, and changes in fair value of derivative instruments (interest rate swap agreements) designated as cash flow hedges, shall be reported to arrive at comprehensive income (loss). Comprehensive income (loss) is displayed in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss).
The components of other comprehensive income (loss) consisted of the net of tax foreign currency translation adjustments totaling $(3,247), $2,696 and $(10,490), respectively, and the changes in fair value of interest rate swap, totaling $(2,584), $(2,059), and $6,186 for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022, respectively.
Reclassification
(t)    Reclassification
Certain previously reported amounts in the consolidated financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation.