Certara, Inc. (CERT) FY 2023 MD&A
This page reproduces the company's own Item 7 MD&A text from the linked SEC filing. It is filer text, not grepcent analysis, scoring, or investment advice.
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
For purposes of this Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations section, we use the terms "Certara Inc.", "Company", “we”, “us”, and “our” to refer to Certara, Inc.
You should read the following discussion of our financial condition and results of operations in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements and the related notes and other financial information included elsewhere in this Annual Report and our audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto.
As discussed in the section titled “Special Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements,” the following discussion and analysis, in addition to historical financial information, contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including those set forth in the section titled “Risk Factors” under Part I, Item 1A above.
We intend the discussion of our financial condition and results of operations that follows to provide information that will assist the reader in understanding our consolidated financial statements, the changes in certain key items in those financial statements from year to year, and the primary factors that accounted for those changes, as well as how certain accounting principles, policies and estimates affect our Consolidated Financial Statements.
Executive Overview
We are a leading provider of biosimulation technology and solutions for using MIDD in the global biopharmaceutical industry. Biosimulation and MIDD can increase the probability of success in bringing a new drug to market and decrease the costs of drug development. In addition, MIDD strategies are increasingly utilized to help predict commercial success, a critical part of the drug development process as new products must be both approved by regulators and adopted by the market. Our goal is to enable the life science industry to use data, modeling, and analytics to make better decisions during drug development and commercialization to increase productivity rates and vastly reduce development costs.
Drug development is necessarily a highly regulated process involving the collection of vast amounts of laboratory, clinical and evidence data, and there are many failures at every step along the way which add to total cost. The pharmaceutical industry spends more than $260 billion annually on R&D. Generally, companies spend an average of $6.2 billion per FDA-approved drug. Our software and scientists incorporate modern advances in scientific understanding, drug development experience, data analysis, and AI resulting in significant opportunities to decrease the cost and increase the odds of new drug approval and commercial success.
Our proprietary biosimulation platforms are built on biology, chemistry, and pharmacology principles with proprietary mathematical algorithms that model how medicines and diseases behave in the body. For over two decades, our scientists have developed and validated our biosimulation technology using data from scientific literature, laboratory research, preclinical and clinical studies. To do this, we have developed solutions for the collection, standardization, validation, storage, and analysis of the preclinical and clinical data needed for MIDD. These data solutions are used internally and by global life sciences companies.
The scientific principles underlying our work with customers in biosimulation and MIDD must be transparent and fully explainable during the regulatory process, so we have become experts at incorporating data and results into regulatory documents. Our software and regulatory services streamline the creation of regulatory filings and speed regulatory data flow to maximize the chances of successful commercialization.
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AI and machine learning technologies are being incorporated across our software and services portfolios providing opportunities to expand the number of data sources utilized, better predict outcomes, and streamline reporting. For example, we are using machine learning to automate and speed the process of biosimulation, and we have created an AI application to aid creating regulatory documents from scientific analyses and clinical data. We believe that AI predictive models will continue to enhance the accuracy and usefulness of biosimulation models and be utilized broadly across drug development.
We deliver software and technology-enabled services. Our strategy is to create and apply validated software applications that can be used broadly in the life science industry. We offer services, leveraging our technology, delivered by scientists with extensive drug development experience to aid our clients in applying biosimulation and MIDD to their specific projects.
Since 2014, customers who leverage our solutions have received more than 90% of all new drug approvals by FDA. We have worked with nearly 2,400 life sciences companies and academic institutions and have collaborated on more than 8,000 customer projects in the last decade across a wide variety of therapeutic areas ranging from cancer and hematology to diabetes and hundreds of rare diseases. Our software products are licensed by more than 57,000 users and are also used by 23 global drug regulatory agencies, including the U.S. FDA, Japanese PMDA, and Chinese cFDA.
With continued innovation in and adoption of our biosimulation software, technology, and services, we believe more life science companies worldwide will leverage more of our end-to-end platform to reduce cost, accelerate speed to market, and ensure safety and efficacy of medicines for all patients.
Public Offerings and Other Key Shareholders Transactions
On March 29, 2021, we completed an underwritten secondary public offering in which certain selling stockholders, including EQT, sold 11,500,000 shares of our common stock, which included 1,500,000 shares of common stock pursuant to the full exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares. We did not offer any common stock in that transaction and did not receive any proceeds from the sale of the shares of common stock by the selling stockholders. We incurred cost of $1.1 million in relation to the secondary public offering.
On September 13, 2021, we completed another public offering, at a public offering price of $31.00 per share, pursuant to which we sold 4,500,000 shares of our common stock, and certain selling stockholders sold 18,500,000 shares of our common stock, which included 3,000,000 shares of common stock pursuant to the full exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares. We received net proceeds of $134.1 million, after deducting underwriters' discounts and commissions. In addition, $0.7 million of legal, accounting and other offering costs incurred in connection with the sale of our common stock in the public offering, were capitalized and offset against the proceeds received.
On November 22, 2021, we completed another secondary public offering in which certain selling stockholders, including EQT, sold 10,000,000 shares of our common stock. We did not offer any common stock in this transaction and did not receive any proceeds from the sale of the shares of common stock by the selling stockholders. We incurred costs of $0.6 million, recorded in general and administrative expenses, in relation to the secondary public offering.
On August 11, 2022, the Company completed another secondary public offering in which certain selling stockholders, including EQT, sold 7,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock. The Company did not offer any common stock in this transaction and did not receive any proceeds from the sale of the shares of common stock by the selling stockholders. The Company incurred costs of $0.6 million, recorded in general and administrative expenses, in relation to the secondary public offering.
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On December 8, 2022, Arsenal acquired an aggregate of 29,954,521 shares of our common stock from EQT at a price of $15.00 per share. In connection with this transaction, we entered into a letter agreement, effective December 8, 2022, with Arsenal providing that, subject to certain exceptions, Arsenal is prohibited from transferring the acquired shares until December 8, 2024. Also, in connection with the transaction, we entered into a stockholders agreement with Arsenal, effective December 8, 2022, which, among other things, grants certain conditional rights to Arsenal to nominate up to two directors to our Board.
Key Factors Affecting Our Performance
We believe that the growth of and future success of our business depends on many factors. While each of these factors presents significant opportunities for our business, they also pose important challenges that we must successfully address to sustain our growth and improve results of operations.
Customer Retention and Expansion
Our future operating results depend, in part, on our ability to successfully enter new markets, increase our customer base, and retain and expand our relationships with existing customers. We monitor two key performance indicators to evaluate retention and expansion: new bookings and renewal rates.
•Bookings: Our new bookings represent the estimated contract value of a signed contract or purchase order where there is sufficient or reasonable certainty about the customer’s ability and intent to fund and commence the software and/or services. Bookings vary from period to period depending on numerous factors, including the overall health of the biopharmaceutical industry, regulatory developments, industry consolidation, and sales performance. Bookings have varied and will continue to vary significantly from quarter to quarter and from year to year. See “Risk Factors — Risks Related to Our Business — Our bookings might not accurately predict our future revenue, and we might not realize all or any part of the anticipated revenue reflected in our backlog.”
•Renewal Rates: Our renewal rates measure the percentage of software customers who renew their licenses or subscriptions at the end of the license or subscription periods. The renewal rate is based on revenues and excludes the effect of price increases or expansions.
The table below summarizes our quarterly bookings and renewal rate trends:
| 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (In Millions) | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | FULL YEAR | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | FULL YEAR | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | FULL YEAR | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bookings | $ | 81.9 | $ | 75.1 | $ | 72.3 | $ | 112.4 | $ | 341.7 | $ | 108.5 | $ | 100.3 | $ | 79.8 | $ | 120.4 | $ | 409.0 | $ | 112.7 | $ | 85.9 | $ | 84.8 | $ | 118.9 | $ | 402.3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Renewal Rate | 92 | % | 90 | % | 87 | % | 96 | % | 92 | % | 92 | % | 92 | % | 93 | % | 88 | % | 91 | % | 90 | % | 93 | % | 86 | % | 85 | % | 88 | % |
Investments in Growth
We have invested and intend to continue to invest in expanding the breadth and depth of our solutions, including through acquisitions and international expansion. We expect to continue to invest (i) in scientific talent to expand our ability to deliver solutions across the drug development spectrum; (ii) in sales and marketing to promote our solutions to new and existing customers and in existing and expanded geographies; (iii) in research and development to support existing solutions and innovate new technology; (iv) in other operational and administrative functions to support our expected growth; and (v) in complementary business.
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We expect that our headcount will increase over time and also expect our total operating expenses will continue to increase over time.
Our Operating Environment
The acceptance of model-informed biopharmaceutical discovery and development by regulatory authorities affects the demand for our products and services. Support for the use of biosimulation in discovery and development from regulatory bodies, such as the FDA and EMA, has been critical to its rapid adoption by the biopharmaceutical industry. There has been a steady increase in the recognition by regulatory and academic institutions of the role that modeling and simulation can play in the biopharmaceutical development and approval process, as demonstrated by new regulations and guidance documents describing and encouraging the use of modeling and simulation in the biopharmaceutical discovery, development, testing, and approval process, which has directly led to an increase in the demand for our services. Changes in government or regulatory policy, or a reversal in the trend toward increasing the acceptance of and reliance upon in silico data in the drug approval process, could decrease the demand for our products and services or lead regulatory authorities to cease use of, or recommend against the use of, our products and services.
Governmental agencies throughout the world, but particularly in the United States where the majority of our customers are based, strictly regulate the biopharmaceutical development process. Our business involves helping biopharmaceutical companies strategically and tactically navigate the regulatory approval process. New or amended regulations are expected to result in higher regulatory standards and often additional revenues for companies that service these industries. However, some changes in regulations, such as a relaxation in regulatory requirements or the introduction of streamlined or expedited approval procedures, or an increase in regulatory requirements that we have difficulty satisfying or that make our regulatory strategy services less competitive, could eliminate or substantially reduce the demand for our regulatory services.
Competition
The market for our biosimulation products and related services for the biopharmaceutical industry is competitive and highly fragmented. In our view, the principal competitive factors in our market are the functionality and quality of models, the breadth of molecular types, therapeutic areas, and modalities supported, regulator acceptance of our solutions, ease of use and functionality of applications, depth of experience in drug development, brand awareness and reputation, total cost, and the ability to securely integrate with other enterprise applications and the overall drug development process in the customer. For additional information, see “Business — Competition”.
Impact of COVID-19
The continued spread of COVID-19 may adversely impact our business, financial condition or results of operations. As of December 31, 2023, we believe there have been and will be short-term impacts on our business due to new variants of COVID-19. The presence of these new variants has caused a slowdown in closing out clinical trials and delays in regulatory services projects. We believe that these are transitory impacts that we are well-equipped to manage going forward.
non-GAAP measures
Management uses various financial metrics, including total revenues, income from operations, net income, and certain metrics that are not required by, or presented in accordance with, GAAP, such as adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income, and adjusted diluted earnings per share, to measure and assess the performance of our business, to evaluate the effectiveness of our business strategies, to make budgeting decisions, to make certain compensation decisions, and to compare our performance against that of other peer companies using similar measures. We believe that presentation of the GAAP and the non-GAAP metrics in this filing will aid investors in understanding our business.
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Management measures operating performance based on adjusted EBITDA defined for a particular period as net income (loss) excluding interest expense, provision (benefit) for income taxes, depreciation and amortization expense, intangible asset amortization, equity-based compensation expense, goodwill impairment expense, acquisition and integration expense, and other items not indicative of our ongoing operating performance. Management also measures operating performance based on adjusted net income defined for a particular period as net income (loss) excluding, equity-based compensation expense, amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets, acquisition and integration expense, and other items not indicative of our ongoing operating performance. Further, management measures operating performance based on adjusted diluted earnings per share defined for a particular period as adjusted net income divided by the weighted-average diluted common shares outstanding.
We believe adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income, and adjusted diluted earnings per share are helpful to investors, analysts, and other interested parties because they can assist in providing a more consistent and comparable overview of our operations across our historical periods. In addition, these measures are frequently used by analysts, investors, and other interested parties to evaluate and assess performance.
Adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income, and adjusted diluted earnings per share are non-GAAP measures and are presented for supplemental purposes only and should not be considered as an alternative or substitute to financial information presented in accordance with GAAP. Adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income and adjusted diluted earnings per share have certain limitations in that they do not include the impact of certain expenses that are reflected in our consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss) that are necessary to run our business. Other companies, including other companies in our industry, may not use these measures and may calculate both differently than as presented, limiting the usefulness as a comparative measure.
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The following table reconciles net income (loss) to adjusted EBITDA :
| YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||
| (in thousands) | ||||||||||
| Net income (loss)(a) | $ | (55,357) | $ | 14,731 | $ | (13,266) | ||||
| Interest expense(a) | 22,916 | 17,773 | 16,837 | |||||||
| Interest income(a) | (9,317) | (1,294) | (271) | |||||||
| Provision for income taxes(a) | 214 | 4,024 | 9,891 | |||||||
| Depreciation and amortization expense(a) | 1,552 | 1,731 | 2,135 | |||||||
| Intangible asset amortization(a) | 54,519 | 50,739 | 42,980 | |||||||
| Currency (gain) loss(a) | 638 | (3,166) | (175) | |||||||
| Equity-based compensation expense(b) | 28,300 | 30,345 | 29,483 | |||||||
| Change in fair value of contingent consideration(d) | 24,118 | — | — | |||||||
| Goodwill impairment expense(e) | 46,984 | — | — | |||||||
| Acquisition-related expenses(f) | 6,064 | 2,233 | 11,241 | |||||||
| Integration expense(g) | 121 | — | 31 | |||||||
| Transaction-related expenses(h) | — | 1,136 | 2,754 | |||||||
| Severance expenses(i) | — | 653 | 60 | |||||||
| Reorganization expense(j) | 1,660 | — | — | |||||||
| Loss on disposal of fixed assets(k) | 65 | 169 | 351 | |||||||
| Executive recruiting expense(l) | 631 | 139 | 733 | |||||||
| First-year Sarbanes-Oxley implementation costs(m) | — | 961 | 929 | |||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA | $ | 123,108 | $ | 120,174 | $ | 103,713 |
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The following table reconciles net income (loss) to adjusted net income:
| YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||
| (in thousands) | ||||||||||
| Net income (loss) (a) | $ | (55,357) | $ | 14,731 | $ | (13,266) | ||||
| Currency (gain) loss(a) | 638 | (3,166) | (175) | |||||||
| Equity-based compensation expense(b) | 28,300 | 30,345 | 29,483 | |||||||
| Amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets(c) | 45,838 | 43,822 | 36,413 | |||||||
| Change in fair value of contingent consideration(d) | 24,118 | — | — | |||||||
| Goodwill impairment expense(e) | 46,984 | — | — | |||||||
| Acquisition-related expenses(f) | 6,064 | 2,233 | 11,241 | |||||||
| Integration expense(g) | 121 | — | 31 | |||||||
| Transaction-related expenses(h) | — | 1,136 | 2,754 | |||||||
| Severance expenses(i) | — | 653 | 60 | |||||||
| Reorganization expense(j) | 1,660 | — | — | |||||||
| Loss on disposal of fixed assets(k) | 65 | 169 | 351 | |||||||
| Executive recruiting expense(l) | 631 | 139 | 733 | |||||||
| First-year Sarbanes-Oxley implementation costs(m) | — | 961 | 929 | |||||||
| Income tax expense impact of adjustments(n) | (30,041) | (17,633) | (15,344) | |||||||
| Adjusted net income | $ | 69,021 | $ | 73,390 | $ | 53,210 |
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The following table reconciles diluted earnings per share to adjusted diluted earnings per share:
| YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||
| Diluted earnings per share(a) | $ | (0.35) | $ | 0.09 | $ | (0.09) | ||||
| Currency (gain) loss(a) | — | (0.02) | — | |||||||
| Equity-based compensation expense(b) | 0.18 | 0.19 | 0.19 | |||||||
| Amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets(c) | 0.29 | 0.28 | 0.24 | |||||||
| Change in fair value of contingent consideration(d) | 0.15 | — | — | |||||||
| Goodwill impairment expense(e) | 0.30 | — | — | |||||||
| Acquisition-related expenses(f) | 0.04 | 0.01 | 0.07 | |||||||
| Integration expense(g) | — | — | — | |||||||
| Transaction-related expenses(h) | — | 0.01 | 0.02 | |||||||
| Severance expenses(i) | — | — | — | |||||||
| Reorganization expense(j) | 0.01 | — | — | |||||||
| Loss on disposal of fixed assets(k) | — | — | — | |||||||
| Executive recruiting expense(l) | — | — | — | |||||||
| First-year Sarbanes-Oxley implementation costs(m) | — | 0.01 | 0.01 | |||||||
| Income tax expense impact of adjustments(n) | (0.19) | (0.11) | (0.10) | |||||||
| Adjusted diluted earnings per share | $ | 0.43 | $ | 0.46 | $ | 0.34 | ||||
| Basic weighted average common shares outstanding | 158,936,251 | 156,876,942 | 149,842,668 | |||||||
| Effect of potentially dilutive shares outstanding (o) | 943,886 | 2,477,452 | 4,401,021 | |||||||
| Adjusted diluted weighted average common shares outstanding | 159,880,137 | $ | 159,354,394 | 154,243,689 |
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(a)Represents amounts as determined under GAAP.
(b)Represents expense related to equity-based compensation. Equity-based compensation has been, and will continue to be for the foreseeable future, a recurring expense in our business and an important part of our compensation strategy.
(c)Represents amortization costs associated with acquired intangible assets in connection with business acquisitions.
(d)Represents expense associated with remeasuring fair value of contingent consideration of business acquisition.
(e)Represents expense associated with goodwill impairment charge.
(f)Represents costs associated with mergers and acquisitions and any retention bonuses pursuant to the acquisitions.
(g)Represents integration costs related to post - acquisition integration activities.
(h)Represents costs associated with our public offerings that are not capitalized.
(i)Represents charges for severance provided to former executives.
(j)Represents expense related to reorganization, including legal entity reorganization and lease abandonment cost associated with the evaluation of our office space footprint.
(k)Represents the gain/loss related to disposal of fixed assets.
(l)Represents recruiting and relocation expenses related to hiring senior executives.
(m)Represents the first-year Sarbanes-Oxley costs for accounting and consulting fees related to the Company's preparation to comply with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, as well as implementation cost of adopting ASC 842.
(n)Represents the income tax effect of the non-GAAP adjustments calculated using the applicable statutory rate by jurisdiction.
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(o)Represents dilutive shares or potentially dilutive shares that were excluded from the Company's GAAP diluted weighted average common shares outstanding because the Company had a reported net loss and therefore including these shares would have been anti-dilutive.
Components of Results of Operations
Revenues
Our business generates revenue from the sales of software products and delivery of consulting services.
•Software. Our software business generates revenues from software licenses, software subscriptions and software maintenance as follows:
•Software licenses: We recognize revenue for software license fees upfront, upon delivery of the software license.
•Software subscription: Subscription revenue consists of subscription fees to provide our customers access to and related support for our cloud-based solutions. We recognize subscription fees ratably over the term of the subscription, usually one to three years. Any subscription revenue paid upfront that is not recognized in the current period is included in deferred revenue in our consolidated balance sheet until earned.
•Software maintenance: Software maintenance revenue includes fees for providing updates and technical support for software offerings. Software maintenance revenue is recognized ratably over the contract term, usually one year.
•Services. Our services business generates revenues primarily from technology-driven services and professional services, which include software implementation services. Our service arrangements are time and materials, fixed fee, or prepaid. Revenues are recognized over the time services are performed for time and materials, and over time by estimating progress to completion for fixed fee and prepaid services.
Cost of Revenues
Cost of revenues consists primarily of employee related expenses, equity-based compensation, the costs of third-party subcontractors, travel costs, distributor fees, amortization of capitalized software and allocated overhead. We may add or expand computing infrastructure service providers, make additional investments in the availability and security of our solutions, or add resources to support our growth.
Operating Expenses
•Sales and Marketing. Sales and marketing expense consists primarily of employee-related expenses, equity-based compensation, sales commissions, brand development, advertising, travel-related expenses and industry conferences and events. We plan to continue to invest in sales and marketing to increase penetration of our existing client base and expand to new clients.
•Research and Development. Research and development expense consist primarily of employee-related expenses, equity-based compensation, third-party consulting, allocated software costs and tax credits. We plan to continue to invest in our R&D efforts to enhance and scale our software product offerings by development of new features and increased functionality.
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•General and Administrative. General and administrative expense consists of personnel-related expenses associated with our executive, legal, finance, human resources, information technology, and other administrative functions, including salaries, benefits, bonuses, and equity-based compensation. General and administrative expense also includes professional fees for external legal, accounting and other consulting services, allocated overhead costs, and other general operating expenses.
•Intangible Asset Amortization. Intangible asset amortization consists primarily of amortization expense related to intangible assets recorded in connection with acquisitions and amortization of capitalized software development costs.
•Depreciation and Amortization Expense. Depreciation and amortization expense consists of depreciation of property and equipment and amortization of leasehold improvements.
Other Expenses
•Interest Expense. Interest expense consists primarily of interest expense associated with the Credit Agreement, including amortization of debt issuance costs and discounts.
•Net Other Income (Expense). Net other income (expense) consists of miscellaneous non-operating expenses primarily comprised of foreign exchange transaction gains and losses.
•Provision for (Benefit from) Income Taxes. Provision for (benefit from) income taxes consists of U.S. federal and state income taxes and income taxes in certain foreign jurisdictions in which we conduct business. We expect income tax expense to increase over time as the Company continues to grow more profitable.
Acquisitions
Author! B.V.
On March 2, 2021, we completed a transaction that qualified as a business combination for a total consideration of $2.7 million. The business combination was not significant to our consolidated financial statements. Based on our purchase price allocation, approximately $1.2 million, $0.1 million and $1.2 million of the purchase price was assigned to customer relationships, non-compete agreements and goodwill, respectively.
Insight Medical Writing Limited
On June 7, 2021, we completed a transaction that qualified as a business combination for a total consideration of $15.2 million. The business combination was not significant to our consolidated financial statements. Based on our purchase price allocation, approximately $7.4 million and $4.7 million of the purchase price was assigned to customer relationships and goodwill, respectively.
Pinnacle 21, LLC (“Pinnacle”)
On October 1, 2021, we completed the acquisition of 100% of the equity of Pinnacle for a total consideration of $339.1 million, consisting of cash of $266.3 million ($246.9 million net with cash acquired from the acquisition) and 2,239,717 shares of our restricted common stock. Based on our purchase price allocation, approximately $15.8 million, $103.0 million, $24.6 million and $180.9 million of the purchase price was assigned to trademark, acquired software, customer relationships, and goodwill, respectively.
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Integrated Nonclinical Development Solutions, Inc.
On January 3, 2022, we completed an acquisition for a total consideration of $8.0 million. The business combination was not significant to our consolidated financial statements. Based on the purchase price allocation, approximately $2.4 million, $1.0 million, $0.1 million, and $2.9 million of the purchase price was assigned to customer relationships, developed technology, non-compete agreements, and goodwill, respectively.
Vyasa Analytics, LLC (“Vyasa”)
On December 28, 2022, we completed the acquisition of Vyasa, a company that provides an AI powered, scalable deep learning software and analytics platform for organizations within healthcare and life sciences, higher education and state and local governments for total consideration of $29.3 million. The business combination was not significant to the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
Based on the Company’s purchase price allocation, approximately $11.4 million, $1.5 million, $0.1 million, $0.1 million and $16.6 million of the purchase price was assigned to developed technology, customer relationships, trademarks, non-compete agreements and goodwill, respectively.
The total estimated consideration includes a portion of contingent consideration that is payable over the next three years in a combination of 70% cash and 30% in shares of our common stock. Future payments of contingent consideration are based on achieving certain eligible revenue thresholds for each of the twelve-month periods ended December 31, 2023, 2024, and 2025, respectively. In December 2023, we modified the acquisition agreement and revised thresholds for eligible revenues. The potential payments range from $0 to $60 million over the three years period. The fair value of the contingent consideration was estimated to be $19.8 million as of the acquisition date. At December 31, 2023, the contingent consideration was remeasured to $45.2 million, resulting in a fair value adjustment of $25.4 million for the year ended at December 31, 2023 and recorded in general and administrative (“G&A”) on the accompanying consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income (loss).
Drug Interaction Solutions, University of Washington ("DIDB")
On June 20, 2023, we entered into an asset purchase agreement with the University of Washington and completed the acquisition of DIDB, including the Drug Interaction Database and related products, from The University of Washington for a total estimated consideration of $8.3 million. The business combination was not significant to the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
Based on our purchase price allocation, approximately $0.3 million, $5.6 million, $0.4 million, and $2.3 million of the purchase price was assigned to trademarks, database content/technology, customer relationships and goodwill, respectively. The total estimated consideration included a portion of contingent consideration that is payable over the next two years in cash, not to exceed $2.0 million. The fair value of the contingent consideration was estimated to be $0.8 million as of the acquisition date. At December 31, 2023, the contingent consideration was remeasured to $0.1 million, resulting in a negative fair value adjustment of $0.7 million and recorded in G&A on the accompanying consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income (loss).
Formedix Limited ("Formedix")
On October 10, 2023, we completed the acquisition of Formedix for a total estimated consideration of $41.4 million. The business combination was not material to our consolidated financial statements.
The total estimated consideration included a portion of contingent consideration that is payable over two years in cash, not to exceed $9.0 million. The fair value of the contingent consideration related to revenue threshold was estimated to be $4.4 million as of the acquisition date. Future payments of contingent consideration are
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based on achieving certain eligible revenue targets for each of the twelve-month periods ended December 31, 2023 and 2024, respectively. Additional, another portion of the contingent consideration is based on the resolution of certain tax contingencies. In total, the fair value of the contingent consideration was estimated to be $5.2 million as of the acquisition date. At December 31 2023, the contingent consideration related to revenues was remeasured to $3.7 million, resulting in a negative fair value adjustment of $0.7 million and recorded in G&A on the accompanying consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income (loss).
Based on our purchase price allocation, approximately $11.7 million, $3.1 million, and $25.1 million of the purchase price were assigned to developed technology, customer relationships and goodwill, respectively.
Applied BioMath, LLC ("ABM")
On December 12, 2023, we completed the acquisition of ABM, an industry-leader in providing model-informed drug discovery and development support to help accelerate and de-risk therapeutic research and development, for total estimated consideration of $36.6 million. The business combination was not material to our consolidated financial statements.
Based on our preliminary purchase price allocation, approximately $4.6 million, $0.8 million, $13.7 million and $15.9 million of the purchase price was assigned to developed technology, non-compete agreements, customer relationships and goodwill, respectively.
The total estimated consideration includes a portion of contingent consideration that is payable over two years in cash, not to exceed $17.6 million. Future payments of contingent consideration are based on achieving certain eligible revenue targets for each of the twelve-month periods ended December 31, 2023 and 2024, respectively. The fair value of the contingent consideration was estimated to be $5.4 million as of the acquisition date. At December 31, 2023, the contingent consideration was remeasured to $5.4 million, resulting in fair value adjustment of $23 thousand and recorded in G&A on the accompanying consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income (loss).
The contingent considerations for all acquisitions were classified as a liability and included in accrued expense and other long term liabilities on our consolidated balance sheet. The contingent consideration related with revenue threshold are remeasured on a recurring basis at fair value for each reporting period. 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 current purchase price allocations for acquisitions of Formedix and ABM are preliminary. The primary areas of the preliminary purchase price allocations that are not yet finalized that relate to the fair value of certain tangible assets and liabilities assumed and residual goodwill. We continue to gather information supporting the acquired assets and liabilities, including but not limited to the estimation of the fair value of the identifiable intangible assets, measurement of deferred revenue and corresponding impact on goodwill, during the measurement period. Any adjustments to the preliminary purchase price allocation identified during the measurement period, which will not exceed one year from the acquisition date, will be accounted for prospectively.
For more information about our acquisitions, see Note 5. “Business Combinations” in the notes to the consolidated financial statements.
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Results of Operations
| YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||
| (dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||
| Statement of operations data: | ||||||||||
| Revenues | $ | 354,337 | $ | 335,644 | $ | 286,104 | ||||
| Cost of revenues | 141,022 | 132,577 | 111,616 | |||||||
| Operating expenses: | ||||||||||
| Sales and marketing | 32,022 | 27,408 | 20,141 | |||||||
| Research and development | 34,173 | 28,205 | 20,379 | |||||||
| General and administrative | 95,385 | 71,773 | 79,539 | |||||||
| Intangible asset amortization | 43,973 | 41,429 | 38,715 | |||||||
| Depreciation and amortization expense | 1,552 | 1,731 | 2,135 | |||||||
| Goodwill impairment expense | 46,984 | — | — | |||||||
| Total operating expenses | 254,089 | 170,546 | 160,909 | |||||||
| Income (loss) from operations | (40,774) | 32,521 | 13,579 | |||||||
| Other expenses: | ||||||||||
| Interest expense | (22,916) | (17,773) | (16,837) | |||||||
| Net other income (expense) | 8,547 | 4,007 | (117) | |||||||
| Total other expenses | (14,369) | (13,766) | (16,954) | |||||||
| Income (loss) before income taxes | (55,143) | 18,755 | (3,375) | |||||||
| Provision for income taxes | 214 | 4,024 | 9,891 | |||||||
| Net income (loss) | $ | (55,357) | $ | 14,731 | $ | (13,266) |
Comparison of the Years Ended December 31, 2023 and 2022
Revenues
| YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, | CHANGE | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2022 | $ | % | |||||||||||
| (in thousands) | ||||||||||||||
| Software | $ | 131,677 | $ | 115,466 | $ | 16,211 | 14 | % | ||||||
| Services | 222,660 | 220,178 | 2,482 | 1 | % | |||||||||
| Total revenues | $ | 354,337 | $ | 335,644 | $ | 18,693 | 6 | % |
Revenue increased by $18.7 million, or 6%, to $354.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, as compared to the same period in 2022. The overall increase in revenues was primarily due to growth in our software product offerings and technology-driven service from continued demand from existing customers, new product introductions, and client expansions.
Software revenue increased by $16.2 million, or 14%, to $131.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, as compared to the same period in 2022. The increase is primarily due to growth in our biosimulation technology-driven software portfolio from continued demand from existing customers,and new product introductions.
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Services revenue increased by $2.5 million, or 1%, to $222.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, as compared to the same period in 2022. The growth in overall services revenue is primarily attributable to continued growth in biosimulation, partially offset by decrease in regulatory services.
Cost of Revenues
| YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, | CHANGE | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2022 | $ | % | |||||||||||
| (in thousands) | ||||||||||||||
| Cost of revenues | $ | 141,022 | $ | 132,577 | $ | 8,445 | 6 | % |
Cost of revenues increased by $8.4 million, or 6%, to $141.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, as compared to the same period in 2022. The increase was primarily due to a $4.4 million increase in employee-related costs resulting primarily from billable head count growth, a $4.1 million increase in equity-based compensation cost, a $1.2 million increase in intangible assets amortization, a $0.5 million increase in travel expenses, partially offset by a $0.7 million decrease in consulting and professional services cost, a $0.4 million increase in capitalized software cost, a $0.4 million decrease in miscellaneous expense, and a $0.2 million decrease in cost of licenses.
Sales and Marketing Expense
| YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, | CHANGE | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2022 | $ | % | |||||||||||
| (in thousands) | ||||||||||||||
| Sales and marketing | $ | 32,022 | $ | 27,408 | $ | 4,614 | 17 | % | ||||||
| % of total revenues | 9 | % | 8 | % |
Sales and marketing expenses increased by $4.6 million, or 17%, to $32.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, as compared to the same period in 2022. Sales and marketing expenses increased primarily due to a $3.8 million increase in employee-related costs resulting primarily from head count growth, a $0.7 million increase in travel related expenses, a $0.4 million increase in marketing costs, partially offset by a $0.3 million decrease in equity-based compensation cost.
Research and Development Expense
| YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, | CHANGE | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2022 | $ | % | |||||||||||
| (in thousands) | ||||||||||||||
| Research and development | $ | 34,173 | $ | 28,205 | $ | 5,968 | 21 | % | ||||||
| % of total revenues | 10 | % | 8 | % |
R&D expenses increased by $6.0 million, or 21%, to $34.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, as compared to the same period in 2022. The increase in R&D expenses was primarily due to a $7.2 million increase in employee-related costs resulting primarily from head count growth, a $0.5 million increase in travel related expenses, a $0.5 million increase in equity-based compensation cost, and $0.3 million increase in cost of licenses, partially offset by a $2.1 million increase in capitalized cost in R&D, and a $0.4 million decrease in consulting and professional services cost.
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General and Administrative Expense
| YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, | CHANGE | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2022 | $ | % | |||||||||||
| (in thousands) | ||||||||||||||
| General and administrative | $ | 95,385 | $ | 71,773 | $ | 23,612 | 33 | % | ||||||
| % of total revenues | 27 | % | 21 | % |
General and administrative expenses increased by $23.6 million, or 33%, to $95.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, as compared to the same period in 2022. The increase in general and administrative expenses was primarily due to a $24.1 million increase related to a change in the fair value of contingent considerations, a $2.4 million increase in business acquisition-related costs, a $2.3 million increase in equipment and software related expenses, a $1.6 million increase in lease abandonment expense, a $1.3 million increase in employee-related costs resulting primarily from head count growth, a $1.2 million increase in professional and consulting costs, and a $0.5 million increase in executive recruiting expense, partially offset by a $6.3 million decrease in equity-based compensation cost, a $1.1 million decrease in insurance costs, a $1.1 million decrease in transaction costs related to public offerings, a $1.0 million decrease related to first-year Sarbanes-Oxley implementation costs, and a $0.5 million decrease in facility lease related expenses.
Intangible Asset Amortization Expense
| YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, | CHANGE | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2022 | $ | % | |||||||||||
| (in thousands) | ||||||||||||||
| Intangible asset amortization | $ | 43,973 | $ | 41,429 | $ | 2,544 | 6 | % | ||||||
| % of total revenues | 12 | % | 12 | % |
Intangible asset amortization expense increased by $2.5 million, or 6%, to $44.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, as compared to the same period in 2022. The increase in intangible asset amortization was primarily due to a $1.8 million increase in amortization expense from capitalized software and an $0.8 million increase in amortization expense from acquired intangible assets.
Depreciation and Amortization Expense
| YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, | CHANGE | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2022 | $ | % | |||||||||||
| (in thousands) | ||||||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | $ | 1,552 | $ | 1,731 | $ | (179) | (10) | % | ||||||
| % of total revenues | — | % | 1 | % |
Depreciation and amortization expense decreased by $0.2 million or (10)%, to $1.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, as compared to the same period in 2022. The decrease was primarily due to decrease in depreciation from finance lease and furniture, partially offset by increase in depreciation expense from computer equipment.
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Goodwill Impairment Expense
| YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, | CHANGE | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2022 | $ | % | ||||||||||
| (in thousands) | |||||||||||||
| Goodwill impairment expense | $ | 46,984 | $ | — | $ | 46,984 | nm |
Goodwill impairment expense was $47.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2023 as compared to no goodwill impairment expense for the same period in 2022. The increase in goodwill impairment expense was primarily due to recognizing a goodwill impairment for legacy regulatory and writing reporting unit as the carrying value exceeded its fair value.
Interest Expense
| YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, | CHANGE | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2022 | $ | % | |||||||||||
| (in thousands) | ||||||||||||||
| Interest expense | $ | 22,916 | $ | 17,773 | $ | 5,143 | 29 | % | ||||||
| % of total revenues | 6 | % | 5 | % |
Interest expense increased by $5.1 million, or 29%, to $22.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, as compared to the same period in 2022. The increase was primarily due to a $10.4 million increase in interest expense on our term loan floating rate debt due to increase in market interest rates, partially offset by a $5.3 million gain from interest swap hedge activities.
Net Other Income (Expense)
| YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, | CHANGE | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2022 | $ | % | |||||||||||
| (in thousands) | ||||||||||||||
| Net other income (expense) | $ | 8,547 | $ | 4,007 | $ | 4,540 | 113 | % | ||||||
| % of total revenues | 2 | % | 1 | % |
Net other income (expense) increased by $4.5 million to $8.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2023 as compared to the same period in 2022. The increase in net other income (expense) was primarily due to an $8.0 million increase in interest income, and a $0.2 million decrease in other expenses, partially offset by $3.8 million remeasurement losses related to the fluctuation of foreign currency exchange rates.
Provision for Income Taxes
| YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, | CHANGE | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2022 | $ | % | |||||||||||
| (in thousands) | ||||||||||||||
| Provision for income taxes | $ | 214 | $ | 4,024 | $ | (3,810) | (95) | % | ||||||
| Effective tax rate | (0.4) | % | 21.5 | % |
Our income tax expense was $0.2 million, resulting in an effective income tax rate of (0.4)%, for the year ended December 31, 2023, as compared to an income tax expense of $4.0 million, or an effective income tax rate of 21.5%, in 2022. Our income tax expense for the year ended December 31, 2023 was primarily due to the impact
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of non-deductible items, the impact of valuation allowances recorded against certain tax attributes, and the relative mix of domestic and international earnings.
Net Income (Loss)
| YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, | CHANGE | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2022 | $ | % | |||||||||||
| (in thousands) | ||||||||||||||
| Net income (loss) | $ | (55,357) | $ | 14,731 | $ | (70,088) | (476) | % |
Net loss was $55.4 million, representing a $70.1 million decrease in net income for the year ended December 31, 2023, as compared to the same period in 2022. The decrease was primarily due to a $47.0 million goodwill impairment charge, a $24.1 million increase in expense related to change in the fair value of contingent considerations, a $12.4 million increase in expense from other components of operating expense, a $8.4 million increase in cost of revenues, a $5.1 million increase in interest expense, and a $3.8 million increase in remeasurement losses related to the fluctuation of foreign currency exchange rates, partially offset by a $18.7 million increase in total revenue, a $8.0 million increase in interest income, and a $3.8 million decrease in tax expense.
Comparison of the Years Ended December 31, 2022 and 2021
Revenues
| YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, | CHANGE | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2021 | $ | % | |||||||||||
| (in thousands) | ||||||||||||||
| Software | $ | 115,466 | $ | 86,825 | $ | 28,641 | 33 | % | ||||||
| Services | 220,178 | 199,279 | 20,899 | 10 | % | |||||||||
| Total revenues | $ | 335,644 | $ | 286,104 | $ | 49,540 | 17 | % |
Revenue increased by $49.5 million, or 17%, to $335.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, as compared to the same period in 2021. The overall increase in revenue was primarily due to business acquisitions, growth in our technology-driven services and software product offerings from strong renewal rates, client expansion, and new customers. The increase was partially offset by the negative impact on our revenues from fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates and a decline in regulatory and access revenue.
Software revenue increased by $28.6 million, or 33%, to $115.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, as compared to the same period in 2021. The overall growth is primarily attributable to maintaining high net revenue retention rates and renewal rates for our core software products, growth from acquisitions, and new customers. The increase was partially offset by the negative impact on our revenue from fluctuation of the foreign currency exchange rates.
Services revenue increased by $20.9 million, or 10%, to $220.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, as compared to the same period in 2021. The growth in overall services revenue is primarily attributable to continued growth in biosimulation. The increase was partially offset by the negative impact on our revenue from fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates and a decline in regulatory and access revenue.
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Cost of Revenues
| YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, | CHANGE | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2021 | $ | % | |||||||||||
| (in thousands) | ||||||||||||||
| Cost of revenues | $ | 132,577 | $ | 111,616 | $ | 20,961 | 19 | % |
Cost of revenues increased by $21.0 million, or 19%, to $132.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, as compared to 2021. The increase was primarily due to a $12.8 million increase in employee-related costs resulting from billable head count growth, a $5.0 million increase in intangible assets amortization, a $2.3 million increase in equity-based compensation cost, a $1.5 million increase related to cost of licenses, a $1.2 million increase in travel, equipment, and facility related expenses, partially offset by a $2.6 million decrease in consulting and professional services cost.
Sales and Marketing Expense
| YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, | CHANGE | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2021 | $ | % | |||||||||||
| (in thousands) | ||||||||||||||
| Sales and marketing | $ | 27,408 | $ | 20,141 | $ | 7,267 | 36 | % | ||||||
| % of total revenues | 8 | % | 7 | % |
Sales and marketing expenses increased by $7.3 million, or 36%, to $27.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, as compared to 2021. Sales and marketing expenses increased primarily due to a $5.2 million increase in employee-related costs resulting from head count growth, a $0.9 million increase in marketing costs, a $0.5 million increase in travel related expenses, and a $0.3 million increase in professional and consulting costs.
Research and Development Expense
| YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, | CHANGE | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2021 | $ | % | |||||||||||
| (in thousands) | ||||||||||||||
| Research and development | $ | 28,205 | $ | 20,379 | $ | 7,826 | 38 | % | ||||||
| % of total revenues | 8 | % | 7 | % |
Research and development expenses increased by $7.8 million, or 38%, to $28.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, as compared to 2021. The increase in R&D expenses was primarily due to a $8.1 million increase in employee-related costs resulting from head count growth and a $3.0 million increase in equity-based compensation cost, partially offset by a $3.3 million increase in capitalized cost in R&D.
General and Administrative Expense
| YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, | CHANGE | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2021 | $ | % | |||||||||||
| (in thousands) | ||||||||||||||
| General and administrative | $ | 71,773 | $ | 79,539 | $ | (7,766) | (10) | % | ||||||
| % of total revenues | 21 | % | 28 | % |
General and administrative expenses decreased by $7.8 million, or 10 %, to $71.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, as compared to 2021. The decrease in general and administrative expenses was primarily
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due to a $9.7 million decrease in acquisition-related costs, a $4.3 million decrease in equity-based compensation cost, a $1.6 million decrease in transaction costs related to public offerings, and a $1.0 million decrease in facility and lease related expenses, partially offset by a $5.1 million increase in employee-related costs resulting from head count growth, a $2.4 million increase in professional and consulting costs, and a $1.0 million increase in travel and equipment related expenses.
Intangible Asset Amortization Expense
| YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, | CHANGE | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2021 | $ | % | |||||||||||
| (in thousands) | ||||||||||||||
| Intangible asset amortization | $ | 41,429 | $ | 38,715 | $ | 2,714 | 7 | % | ||||||
| % of total revenues | 12 | % | 14 | % |
Intangible asset amortization expense increased by $2.7 million, or 7%, to $41.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, as compared to 2021. The increase in intangible asset amortization was primarily the result of increased amortization in acquired intangible assets.
Depreciation and Amortization Expense
| YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, | CHANGE | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2021 | $ | % | |||||||||||
| (in thousands) | ||||||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | $ | 1,731 | $ | 2,135 | $ | (404) | (19) | % | ||||||
| % of total revenues | 1 | % | 1 | % |
Depreciation and amortization expense decreased by $0.4 million, or 19 %, to $1.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, as compared to 2021. The decrease was primarily due to a decrease in depreciation from computer equipment and furniture for the year ended December 31, 2022 as compared to the same period in 2021.
Interest Expense
| YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, | CHANGE | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2021 | $ | % | |||||||||||
| (in thousands) | ||||||||||||||
| Interest expense | $ | 17,773 | $ | 16,837 | $ | 936 | 6 | % | ||||||
| % of total revenues | 5 | % | 6 | % |
Interest expense increased by $0.9 million, or 6%, to $17.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, as compared to 2021. The increase in interest expense was primarily due to market interest rates increase reflected on our term loan floating rate debt. The increase in interest expense was partially offset by $3.3 million of interest expense reclassified from other comprehensive income due to hedge ineffectiveness in 2021 and the decrease of interest on interest swap.
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Net other income (expense)
| YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, | CHANGE | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2021 | $ | % | ||||||||||
| (in thousands) | |||||||||||||
| Net other income (expense) | $ | 4,007 | $ | (117) | $ | 4,124 | nm | ||||||
| % of total revenues | 1 | % | (0)% |
Net other income (expense) increased by $4.1 million to $4.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, as compared to 2021. The increase in net other income (expense) was primarily due to a $3.0 million increase in remeasurement gains related to the fluctuation of foreign currency exchange rates and a $1.0 million increase in interest income.
Provision for Income Taxes
| YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, | CHANGE | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2021 | $ | % | |||||||||||
| (in thousands) | ||||||||||||||
| Provision for income taxes | $ | 4,024 | $ | 9,891 | $ | (5,867) | (59) | % | ||||||
| Effective tax rate | 21.5 | % | (293.1) | % |
Our income tax expense was $4.0 million, resulting in an effective income tax rate of 21.5%, for the year ended December 31, 2022, as compared to an income tax expense of $9.9 million, or an effective income tax rate of (293.1)% in 2021. Our income tax expense for the year ended December 31, 2022 was primarily due to the impact of rate changes in certain jurisdictions, the impact of non-deductible items, and the relative mix of domestic and international earnings.
Net Income (Loss)
| YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, | CHANGE | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2021 | $ | % | |||||||||||
| (in thousands) | ||||||||||||||
| Net income (loss) | $ | 14,731 | $ | (13,266) | $ | 27,997 | (211) | % |
Net income increased by $28.0 million, or 211%, to $14.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, as compared to the same period in 2021. The increase was primarily due to a $49.5 million increase in revenues, a $5.9 million decrease in tax expense, and a $4.1 million increase in net other income mainly related to increase in remeasurement gain and interest income, partially offset by a $21.0 million increase in cost of revenue, a $9.6 million increase in operating expense, and a $0.9 million increase in interest expense.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
We have consistently generated positive cash flow from operations, providing $82.8 million, $92.5 million, and $60.4 million as a source of funds each year for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, respectively. Our additional sources of liquidity have included: maintaining adequate balances of cash and cash equivalents, sale of common stock, and accessing our credit facilities and the revolving line of credit. The following table provides a summary of the major sources of liquidity for periods ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021. and as of December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021.
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| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (in thousands) | ||||||||||
| Net cash provided by operating activities | $ | 82,755 | $ | 92,543 | $ | 60,388 | ||||
| Cash and cash equivalents(1) | $ | 234,951 | $ | 236,586 | $ | 185,797 | ||||
| Proceeds from sales of common stock | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 133,351 | ||||
| Term loan credit facilities | $ | 294,450 | $ | 297,470 | $ | 300,490 | ||||
| Available revolving line of credit | $ | 100,000 | $ | 100,000 | $ | 100,000 |
__________________________________
(1)Cash balance as of December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021 included $47.3 million, $56.4 million, and $39.8 million, respectively, of cash and cash equivalents held outside of the United States.
Our material cash requirements from known contractual obligations as of December 31, 2023 are as follows:
| TOTAL | LESS THAN 1 YEAR | 1 TO 3 YEARS | 4 TO 5 YEARS | MORE THAN 5 YEARS | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Operating leases | $ | 11,563 | $ | 4,250 | $ | 5,763 | $ | 1,550 | $ | — | ||||||||
| Principal payments of long-term debt | 294,450 | 3,020 | 291,430 | — | — | |||||||||||||
| Interest on long-term debt(1) | 71,911 | 27,284 | 44,627 | — | — | |||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 377,924 | $ | 34,554 | $ | 341,820 | $ | 1,550 | $ | — |
__________________________________
(1)Represents the expected cash payments for interest on our long-term debt based on the amounts outstanding as of the end of each period and the interest rates applicable on such debt as of December 31, 2023.
We believe our existing sources of liquidity will be sufficient to meet our working capital, capital expenditures, and contractual obligations for the foreseeable future. We believe we will meet longer-term expected future cash requirements and obligations through a combination of cash flows from operating activities, available cash balances, and potential future equity or debt transactions.
Our future capital requirements, however, will depend on many factors, including funding needed for potential acquisitions, investments, and other growth and strategic opportunities, which could increase our cash requirements. While we believe we have, and will be able to generate, sufficient liquidity to fund our operations for the foreseeable future, our sources of liquidity could be affected by factors described under “Risk Factors” elsewhere in this report.
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Cash Flows
The following table presents a summary of our cash flows for the periods shown:
| YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||
| (in thousands) | ||||||||||
| Net cash provided by operating activities | $ | 82,755 | $ | 92,543 | $ | 60,388 | ||||
| Net cash used in investing activities | (79,550) | (27,837) | (269,922) | |||||||
| Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities | (9,447) | (7,363) | 123,391 | |||||||
| Effect due to foreign exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash | 1,505 | (4,279) | (524) | |||||||
| Net(decrease) increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash | $ | (4,737) | $ | 53,064 | $ | (86,667) | ||||
| Cash paid for interest | 19,089 | 17,268 | 14,169 | |||||||
| Cash paid for income taxes | 19,320 | 10,141 | 8,595 |
Operating Activities
Our cash flows from operating activities primarily include net income (loss) adjusted for (i) non-cash items included in net income (loss), such as provisions for credit losses, depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation, deferred taxes and other non-cash items and (ii) changes in the balances of operating assets and liabilities. Net cash provided by operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2023 was $82.8 million, compared to $92.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. The $9.8 million decrease in cash provided from operating activities was primarily due to decrease in cash inflow from deferred revenues, increase of cash used to pay for liabilities and taxes, partially offset by higher cash collected from accounts receivables, higher revenue converted to cash for the period, and decreased spending on prepared and other assets.
During the year ended December 31, 2022, operating activities provided cash of approximately $92.5 million, compared to $60.4 million for the same period of 2021. The $32.2 million increase in cash from operating activities was primarily due to cash collected from higher revenues and more cash inflow from deferred revenues, partially offset by a decrease in cash used to pay for liabilities and increase in accounts receivables.
During the year ended December 31, 2021, operating activities provided cash of approximately $60.4 million. The $15.6 million increase in cash from operating activities compared to the same period of 2020 was primarily due to a decrease in cash paid in interest and taxes, partially offset by cash paid for accounts payable and accrued expense.
Investing Activities
Net cash used in investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2023 was approximately $79.6 million, an increase of $51.7 million, compared to $27.8 million in 2022. The change in investing activities was primarily due to a $48.9 million increase in cash payments in connection with business acquisitions, and a $2.4 million increase in cash utilized in capitalized development costs.
During the year ended December 31, 2022, investing activities used cash approximately $27.8 million, a decrease of $242.1 million, compared to $269.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2021. The change in investing activities was primarily due to a $245.7 million decrease on cash used for business acquisitions, partially offset by cash utilized in capitalized development costs and capital expenditures to support our growth.
During the year ended December 31, 2021, investing activities used approximately $269.9 million of cash, an increase of $261.3 million, compared to $8.6 million in 2020. Cash used in investing activities was primarily for
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investing in business acquisitions, capitalized software development, and capital expenditures to support our growth.
Financing Activities
During the year ended December 31, 2023, financing activities used cash of approximately $9.4 million, compared to $7.4 million in the same period of 2022. The $2.1 million increase in cash used from financing activities was primarily due to a $3.4 million increase in cash payments in connection with share awards vested and withheld for payroll tax, partially offset by a $1.1 million decrease in cash payments on the financing component of the interest rate swap.
During the year ended December 31, 2022, financing activities used cash of approximately $7.4 million, compared to $123.4 million cash provided by financing activities in the same period of 2021. The $130.8 million decrease in cash provided from financing activities was primarily due to $133.4 million in proceeds received from stock offerings in 2021, partially offset by the increase on tax payment related to shares withheld for employee taxes in 2022.
During the year ended December 31, 2021, financing activities provided approximately $123.4 million, compared to $208.2 million in the same period of 2020. The $84.8 million decrease in cash from financing activities was primarily due to $183.0 million less proceeds from stock offerings in 2021 compared to 2020. The decrease was partially offset by $100.4 million decrease in payments on long-term debt in 2021.
Indebtedness
Credit Facilities
We have been a party to a Credit Agreement since August 2017 that provided for a senior secured term loan and commitments under a revolving credit facility. We and our lenders most recently modified the Credit Agreement on June 17, 2021. The maturity date of the term loans under the Credit Agreement is August 2026; the termination date of the revolving credit commitments is August 2025, As of December 31, 2023, we had $294.5 million of outstanding borrowings on the term loan, and $100.0 million of availability under the revolving credit facility under the Credit Agreement.
Borrowings under the Credit Agreement bear interest at a rate per annum equal to either (i) the Eurocurrency rate, with a floor of 0.00%, as adjusted for the reserve percentage required under regulations issued by the Federal Reserve Board for determining maximum reserve requirements with respect to Eurocurrency funding, plus an applicable margin rate of 3.50% for the term loan and between 4.00% and 3.50% for revolving credit loans, depending on the applicable first lien leverage ratio, or (ii) an alternative base rate (“ABR”), with a floor of 1.00%, plus an applicable margin rate of 2.50% for the term loan or between 3.00% and 2.50% for revolving credit loans, depending on the applicable first lien leverage ratio (with the ABR determined as the greatest of (a) the prime rate, (b) the federal funds effective rate, plus 0.50%), and (c) the Eurocurrency rate plus 1.00%. Additionally, we are obligated to pay commitment fees and other customary fees under the revolving credit facility.
In response to the discontinuation of LIBOR, we executed a LIBOR transition amendment in June 2023, formalizing the replacement of LIBOR with the Secured Overnight Funding Rate (“SOFR”). As part of this modification, a Credit Spread Adjustment (“CSA”) was introduced to aligning SOFR with LIBOR in terms of the overall interest rate earned by lenders under the Credit Agreement. The CSA varied depending on the selected interest period.
All obligations under the Credit Agreement are unconditionally guaranteed by our wholly owned direct and indirect subsidiaries, subject to certain exceptions. All obligations under the Credit Agreement, and the
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guarantees of those obligations, are secured on a first lien basis, subject to certain exceptions, by substantially all of our assets and the assets of the other guarantors.
As of December 31, 2023, we were in compliance with the covenants of the Credit Agreement.
Income Taxes
We recorded income tax expense of $0.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2023 and income tax expense of $4.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2022.
As of December 31, 2023, we had federal and state NOLs of approximately $1.6 million and $0.04 million, respectively, which are available to reduce future taxable income and expire between 2035 and 2036 and 2029 and 2040, respectively. We had federal and state R&D tax credit carryforwards of approximately $0.3 million and $0 million, respectively, to offset future income taxes, which expire between 2027 and 2028. We also had foreign tax credits of approximately $13.8 million, which will start to expire in 2027. These carryforwards that may be utilized in a future period may be subject to limitations based upon changes in the ownership of our stock in a future period. Additionally, we carried forward foreign NOLs of approximately $81.6 million which will start to expire in 2024, foreign research and development credits of $0.3 million which expire in 2029, and Canadian investment tax credits of approximately $3.8 million which expire between 2031 and 2041. Our carryforwards are subject to review and possible adjustment by the appropriate taxing authorities.
As required by Accounting Standards Codification (‘‘ASC’’) Topic 740, Income Taxes, our management has evaluated the positive and negative evidence bearing upon the realizability of our deferred tax assets, which are composed principally of NOL carryforwards, Section 174 carryforwards, investment tax credit carryforward, and foreign tax credit carryforwards. Management has determined that it is more likely than not that we will not realize the benefits of foreign tax credit carryforwards. At the foreign subsidiaries, management has determined that it is more likely than not that we will not realize the benefits of certain NOL carryforwards. As a result, a valuation allowance of $31.5 million is recorded at December 31, 2023.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
During the periods presented, we did not have, and currently we do not have, any significant off-balance sheet arrangements, as defined under the rules and regulations of the SEC.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
Our management’s discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based on our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with GAAP. The preparation of these consolidated financial statements requires us to make judgments and estimates that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues, and expenses and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities in our consolidated financial statements. We base our estimates on historical experience, known trends and events, and various other factors that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. On an ongoing basis, we evaluate our judgments and estimates in light of changes in circumstances, facts, and experience. The effects of material revisions in estimates, if any, are reflected in the consolidated financial statements prospectively from the date of change in estimates.
While our significant accounting policies are described in more detail in the notes to our consolidated financial statements appearing elsewhere in this annual report, we believe the following accounting policies used in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements require the most significant judgments and estimates.
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Revenue Recognition
Application of GAAP related to the measurement and recognition of revenue requires us to make judgments and estimates. Specifically, complex arrangements with nonstandard terms and conditions may require significant contract interpretation to determine the appropriate accounting, including whether promised goods and services specified in an arrangement are distinct performance obligations. Revenue recognition is also impacted by our ability to determine when a contract is probable of collection and to estimate variable consideration. We consider various factors when making these judgments.
Our revenue is primarily derived from the sale of software products and delivery of consulting services. We recognize revenue when control of the promised good or service is transferred to the customer in an amount that reflects the consideration for which we are expected to be entitled in exchange for those services.
Consulting Service Revenues
Our 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. Our 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) Revenues
SaaS revenues consists of subscription fees for access to, and related support for, our cloud-based solutions. We typically invoice subscription fees in advance in annual installments. The invoice is initially deferred and revenue is recognized ratably over the life of the contract. Our 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 licenses 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, we recognize 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.
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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, we determine if the products or services are distinct and allocates the consideration to each distinct performance obligation on a relative standalone selling price basis (“SSP”). 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.
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets
We assess goodwill for impairment at least annually, during the fourth quarter based on balances as of October 1st, and more frequently on an interim basis if we believe indicators of impairment exist. Goodwill is tested for impairment at the reporting unit level, which is one level below or the same as an operating segment. The application of an interim or the annual goodwill impairment test begins with the identification of reporting units, which requires judgment. We determined that we have three reporting units as of October 1, 2023 and December 31, 2023: the software reporting unit (“Software”), the SimCyp reporting unit (“SimCyp”), and the Drug Development Solutions reporting unit (“CDDS”), which are within a single operating segment of the Company. The process of evaluating the potential impairment of goodwill is highly subjective and requires significant judgment. Our review of impairment starts with performing a qualitative assessment to determine whether events or circumstances lead to a determination that it is more-likely-than-not that the fair value of the reporting units are less than their carrying amounts.
Our qualitative assessment of the recoverability of goodwill considers various macroeconomic, industry-specific and company-specific factors. These factors include: (1) the nature of the business and the history of the Company and its reporting units from their inception; (2) the economic outlook in general and the condition and outlook of the industry in which the Company and its reporting units operate; (3) the financial condition of the Company and its reporting units; (4) the earnings capacity of the Company and its reporting units; (5) the dividend-paying capacity of the Company and its reporting units; (6) whether goodwill or other intangible value exists within the Company and/or its reporting units; (7) previous sales of the Company’s and/or reporting units’ stock and the size of the block of stock to be valued; and (8) the market prices of stocks of corporations engaged in the same or a similar line of business having their stocks actively traded in a free and open market, either on an exchange or over-the-counter. After assessing the totality of events and circumstances, if we determine that it is not more-likely-than-not that the fair values of our reporting units are less than their net book values, no further assessment is performed. If we determine that it is more-likely-than-not that the fair values of our reporting units are less than carrying value or if we elect to bypass the qualitative assessment, we proceed to a quantitative assessment or test of goodwill.
If a quantitative assessment of goodwill is required, the determination of the fair value of a reporting unit will involve the use of significant estimates and assumptions. Our quantitative goodwill impairment test uses both the income approach and the market approach to estimate fair value. The income approach is based on the discounted cash flow method that discounts forecasted future cash flows expected to be generated which are based on the Company's estimates of financial performance including revenues, adjusted EBITDA, taxes, and working capital and capital asset requirements. When performing our market approach, we rely specifically on the guideline public company method. Our guideline public company method incorporates revenues and EBITDA multiples from publicly traded companies with operations and other characteristics similar to our entity. If the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value, an impairment loss is recognized in an amount equal to that excess, limited to the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit.
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We performed the annual goodwill impairment analysis during the fourth quarter. The quantitative assessments resulted in no impairment as the estimated fair value of each reporting unit exceeded its carrying value. During the third quarter of 2023, we performed an interim goodwill impairment test for regulatory writing reporting unit, which was integrated into the CDDS reporting unit at the end of third quarter 2023. The fair value of regulatory writing reporting unit was determined to be less than its carrying value, resulting in a goodwill impairment charge of $47.0 million 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.
Our other intangible assets primarily consist of customer relationship assets, software products acquired in acquisitions, trade names, software development costs, and non-compete agreements. 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 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; and patents — 5 years. 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.
Software Development Costs
Software development costs are accounted for in accordance with ASC Subtopic 985-20 if the software is to be sold, leased or otherwise marketed, or by 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 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).
Income Taxes
We are subject to the income tax laws and regulations of the many jurisdictions in which we operate. These tax laws and regulations are complex and involve uncertainties in the application to our facts and circumstances that may be open to interpretation. We account 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 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. We recognize benefits for these uncertain tax positions in the period during which, based on all available evidence, we believe it is more likely than not (a likelihood of more than 50%) that the position will be sustained upon examination. This process is inherently subjective since it requires our assessment of the probability of future outcomes. We evaluate these uncertain tax positions on a quarterly basis, including consideration of changes in facts and circumstances.
On a quarterly basis, we also assess the likelihood that we will be able to recover our deferred tax assets against future sources of taxable income and reduce the carrying amounts of deferred tax assets by recording a valuation allowance if, based on the available evidence, it is more likely than not (a likelihood of more than 50%) that all or a portion of such assets will not be realized.
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Business Acquisitions
When we acquire businesses, we allocate the purchase price to tangible assets and liabilities and identifiable intangible assets acquired at their acquisition date fair values. Any residual purchase price is recorded as goodwill.
We also estimate the fair value of any contingent consideration using Level 3 unobservable inputs. Our estimates of fair value are based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable but which are uncertain and involve significant judgments by management. We classified our contingent considerations as liabilities and remeasure the fair value of contingent liabilities related to revenue thresholds quarterly until the contingency are resolved. The changes in fair value will be recognized in earnings in our consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss).
Recently Adopted and Issued Accounting Standards
We have reviewed all recently issued standards and have determined that, other than as disclosed in Note 2 to our consolidated financial statements appearing elsewhere in this annual report, such standards will not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements or do not otherwise apply to our operations.