ICF International Inc

(dollar amounts in tables in thousands, except share and per share data)

NOTE 1 - BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND NATURE OF OPERATIONS

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of ICF International, Inc. (“ICFI”) and its principal subsidiary, ICF Consulting Group, Inc. (“Consulting,” and together with ICFI, the “Company”), and have been prepared in accordance with United States (“U.S.”) generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”). Consulting is a wholly owned subsidiary of ICFI. ICFI is a holding company with no operations or assets other than its investment in the common stock of Consulting. All other subsidiaries of the Company are wholly owned by Consulting. Intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated.

Nature of Operations

The Company provides professional services and technology-based solutions, including management, technology, and policy consulting and implementation services, in the areas of energy, environment, infrastructure, and disaster recovery; health and social programs; security and other civilian & commercial. The Company offers a full range of services to clients throughout the entire life cycle of a policy, program, project, or initiative, from research and analysis, assessment and advice, to design and implementation of programs and technology-based solutions, and the provision of engagement services and programs.

The Company’s major customers are U.S. federal government departments and agencies. The Company also serves U.S. state (including territories) and local government departments and agencies, international governments, and commercial clients worldwide. Commercial clients primarily include airlines, airports, electric and gas utilities, health care companies, banks and other financial services companies. The terms “federal” or “federal government” refer to the U.S. federal government, and “state and local” or “state and local government” refer to U.S. state (including territories) and local governments, unless otherwise indicated.

The Company, incorporated in Delaware, is headquartered in Reston, Virginia. It maintains additional offices throughout the world, including 55 offices in the U.S. and U.S. territories and 15 offices in key markets outside the U.S., including offices in the United Kingdom (“U.K.”), Belgium, India, and Canada.

NOTE 2 - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Use of Estimates

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting periods. Areas of the consolidated financial statements where estimates may have the most significant effect include contractual and regulatory reserves, valuation and lives of tangible and intangible assets, contingent consideration related to business acquisitions and divestitures, impairment of goodwill and long-lived assets, accrued liabilities, revenue recognition (including estimates of variable considerations in determining the total contract price and allocation of performance obligations), the remaining costs to complete fixed-price contracts, bonus and other incentive compensation, stock-based compensation, reserves for tax benefits and valuation allowances on deferred tax assets, provisions for income taxes, collectability of receivables, and loss accruals for litigation. Actual results experienced by the Company may differ from management’s estimates.

Revenue Recognition

The Company primarily provides services and technology-based solutions for clients that operate in a variety of markets and the solutions may span the entire program life cycle, from initial research and analysis to the design and implementation of solutions. The Company enters into agreements with clients that create enforceable rights and obligations and for which it is probable that the Company will collect the consideration to which it will be entitled as services and solutions are transferred to the client. Except in certain narrowly defined situations, the Company’s agreements with its clients are written and revenue is generally not recognized on oral or implied arrangements. The Company recognizes revenue based on the consideration specified in the applicable agreement and excludes from revenue amounts collected on behalf of third parties. Accordingly, sales and similar taxes which are collected on behalf of third parties are excluded from the transaction price.

The Company evaluates whether two or more agreements should be accounted for as one single contract and whether combined or single agreements should be accounted for as more than one performance obligation. For most contracts, the client requires the Company to perform a number of tasks in providing an integrated output for which the client has contracted, and, hence, contracts of this type are tracked as having only one performance obligation since a substantial part of the Company’s promise is to ensure the individual tasks are incorporated into a combined output in accordance with contract requirements. When contracts have multiple performance obligations, the Company allocates the total transaction price to each performance obligation based on the estimated relative standalone selling prices of the promised services underlying each performance obligation. The Company generally provides customized solutions in which the pricing is based on specific negotiations with each client, and, in these cases, the Company uses a cost-plus margin approach to estimate the standalone selling price of each performance obligation. Certain contracts contain award fees, incentive fees or other provisions that can either increase or decrease the transaction price. These variable amounts are generally awarded at the completion of a contractually stipulated performance assessment period based on the achievement of performance metrics, program milestones or cost targets, and the amount awarded may be subject to client discretion. Variable consideration is estimated based on the most likely amount. Once the Company selects a method to estimate variable consideration, it applies that method consistently. Estimates of variable consideration will be constrained only to the extent that it is probable that a significant reversal in the amount of cumulative revenue recognized will not occur.

The Company evaluates contractual arrangements to determine whether revenue should be recognized on a gross versus net basis. The Company’s assessment is based on the nature of the contractual obligation to the client. In most cases, the Company itself agrees to provide specified services to the client as a principal and revenue is recognized on a gross basis. In certain instances, the Company acts as an agent and merely arranges for another party to provide services to the client and revenue is recognized on a net basis in reflection of the fact that the Company does not control the goods or services provided to the client by the other party.

Long-term contracts typically contain billing terms that provide for invoicing monthly or upon completion of milestones, and payment on a net 30-day basis. Therefore, the timing of billings and cash receipts may differ from the timing of revenue recognition resulting in either contract assets or contract liabilities. Exceptions to monthly billing terms are to ensure that the Company performs satisfactorily rather than representing a significant financing component. For cost-based contracts, the Company’s performance is evaluated during a contractually-stipulated performance period and, while contract costs may be billed on a monthly basis, the Company is generally permitted to bill for incentive or award fees only after the completion of the performance assessment period, which may occur quarterly, semi-annually or annually, and after the client completes the performance assessment. Fixed-price contracts may provide for milestone billings based on the attainment of specific project objectives rather than for billing on a monthly basis. Moreover, contracts may require retention or hold backs that are paid at the end of the contract to ensure that the Company performs in accordance with requirements. The Company does not assess whether a contract contains a significant financing component if the Company expects, at contract inception, that the period between payment by the client and the transfer of promised services to the client will be one year or less.

The Company generally recognizes revenue over time as control is transferred to a client, based on the extent of progress towards satisfaction of the performance obligation. The selection of the method used to measure progress requires judgment and is dependent, among other factors, on the contract type and the nature of the services provided.

For time-and-materials contracts, the Company uses the right-to-invoice practical expedient to recognize revenue earned based on hours worked in contract performance at negotiated billing rates. Fixed-price level-of-effort contracts are substantially similar to time-and-materials contracts except that the Company is required to deliver a specified level of effort over a stated period of time. For these contracts, the Company determines the revenue earned using contract hours worked at negotiated bill rates as the Company delivers the contractually required workforce.

For cost-based contracts, the Company uses the right-to-invoice practical expedient to recognize revenue based on the amount to which the Company has a contractual right to invoice. For series-services performance obligations, the Company measures progress using either a cost input measure, a time-elapsed output measure, or the right to invoice practical expedient. Award or incentive fees are allocated to the distinct periods in which they relate to and recognized in that period.

For certain fixed-price contracts, the Company uses the percentage-of-completion method to estimate the amount of revenue, based on the ratio of actual costs incurred to total estimated costs, provided that costs incurred (an input method) represents a reasonable measure of progress towards the satisfaction of a performance obligation and transfer of control to the customer. This method provides a faithful depiction of the transfer of value to the client when the Company is satisfying a performance obligation that entails integration of tasks for a combined output, which requires the Company to coordinate the work of employees, subcontractors and delivery of other contract costs. Contract costs that are not reflective of the Company’s progress toward satisfying a performance obligation are not included in the calculation of the measure of progress. When this method is used, the changes in estimated costs to complete the obligations result in adjustments to revenue on a cumulative catch-up basis, which causes the effect of revised estimates for prior periods to be recognized in the current period. Changes in these estimates may routinely occur over contract performance for a variety of reasons, which include: changes in contract scope; changes in contract cost estimates due to unanticipated cost growth or reassessments of risks impacting costs; changes in estimated incentive or award fees; or performing better or worse than previously estimated. For fixed-price contracts in which the estimated cost to perform exceeds the consideration to be received, the Company accrues for the entire estimated loss during the period in which the loss is determined by recording additional direct costs.

In some fixed-price service contracts, the Company performs services of a recurring nature, such as maintenance and other services of a “stand ready” nature. For these contracts, the Company has the right to consideration in an amount that corresponds directly with the value that the client has received. Therefore, the Company records revenue on a time-elapsed basis to reflect the transfer of control to the client throughout the contract.

Contracts may be modified to reflect changes in contract specifications and requirements, and these changes may create new enforceable rights and obligations. Modifications that are for services that are not distinct from the existing agreement due to the significant integration service that the Company provides are accounted for as part of an existing performance obligation. The effect of these modifications on the transaction price and the Company’s measure of progress in fulfilling the performance obligation to which they relate is recognized as an adjustment to revenue on a cumulative catch-up basis. Revenue from modifications that create new, distinct performance obligations is recognized based on the Company’s progress in fulfilling the requirements of the new obligations.

For performance obligations that are satisfied over time, the Company recognizes the cost to fulfill contracts when incurred, unless the costs are within the scope of another topic in which case the guidance of that topic is applied. The Company evaluates incremental costs of obtaining a contract and, if they are recoverable from the client and relate to a specific future contract, they are deferred and recognized over contract performance or the estimated life of the customer relationship if renewals are expected. The Company expenses these costs when incurred if the amortization period is one year or less.

Unfulfilled performance obligations represent amounts expected to be earned on non-cancellable contracts or those that the are cancellable but the Company has determined to have substantive termination penalties, and do not include the value of negotiated, unexercised contract options, which are classified as marketing offers. Indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity and similar arrangements provide a framework for the client to issue specific tasks, delivery or purchase orders in the future and these arrangements are considered marketing offers until a specific order is executed.

Some of the Company’s contracts include variable consideration, which requires the Company to estimate and, as necessary, revise the most likely amounts that will be earned over the respective performance assessment periods. For these obligations, changes in estimates result in cumulative catch-up adjustments and may have a significant impact on earnings during a given period.

The Company’s operating cycle for long-term contracts may be greater than one year and is measured by the average time between the inception and completion of those contracts. Contract-related assets and liabilities are classified as current assets and current liabilities.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company considers cash on deposit and any highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less when purchased to be cash and cash equivalents.

Restricted Cash

The Company has restricted cash representing amounts held in escrow accounts and/or not readily available due to contractual restrictions.

Contract receivables, net

Contract receivables represent amounts billed and due from clients in accordance with respective contractual terms. The amounts due are stated at their net realizable value. The Company estimates an allowance for estimated credit loss to reflect the amount of receivables that will not be collected. The Company considers a number of factors in estimating the amount of the allowance, including knowledge of a client’s financial condition, its historical collection experience, and other factors relevant to assessing the collectability of the receivables. The Company writes off specific contract receivables when such amounts are determined to be uncollectible.

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment are carried at cost and are depreciated using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives, which range fromtwo toseven years. Leasehold improvements are amortized on a straight-line basis over the shorter of the economic life of the improvement or the related lease term.

Goodwill and Indefinite-Lived Assets

Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase consideration over the fair value of net assets of businesses acquired. Goodwill and any intangible assets acquired in a business combination that are deemed to have an indefinite useful life are not amortized, but instead are reviewed for impairment annually, or more frequently if impairment indicators arise. Intangible assets with estimable useful lives are amortized over such lives and reviewed for impairment if impairment indicators arise.

The Company performs its annual goodwill impairment test as of October 1 of each year. As its business is highly integrated and all of its components have similar economic characteristics, the Company has concluded it hasone aggregated reporting unit at the consolidated entity level which it perform the assessment at. The Company have the option to perform a qualitative assessment that determines if it is more likely than not that the estimated fair value of goodwill is greater than its carrying value and, if so, the Company may conclude thatno impairment exists. If the Company concludes that an impairment exist, a quantitative test is performed by comparing the reporting unit’s fair value to the carrying amount and recognizing the difference as an impairment loss.

Long-Lived Assets

The Company reviews its long-lived assets, including property and equipment, operating lease right-of-use (“ROU”) assets, and definite-lived intangible assets, for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amounts of the long-lived asset group may not be fully recoverable. If the total of the expected undiscounted future net cash flows is less than the carrying amount of the long-lived asset group being evaluated, a loss is recognized for any excess of the carrying amount over the fair value of the asset group.

During the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, the Company recognized impairment losses of $6.8 million, $8.4 million, and $7.9 million, respectively, related to operating facility lease right-of-use assets and leasehold improvements. During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company recognized an impairment loss of $0.9 million related to an amortizable customer-related intangible asset from a prior acquisition. The impairment losses were included in indirect and selling expenses on the Company's consolidated statements of comprehensive income.

Leases

The Company leases facilities and property and equipment. The Company determines if an arrangement is a lease at its inception and recognizes a right-of-use asset and lease obligation for all leases greater than twelve months based on the present value of the future minimum lease payments as of the commencement date, excluding any lease incentives and initial costs incurred to obtain the lease. Since most lease agreements do not provide an implicit rate, the Company uses its incremental borrowing rate as of the commencement date, based on publicly available yields adjusted for company-specific considerations and terms, in estimating the present value of future payments.

Lease terms, for the purpose of determining each lease’s present value, include options to extend or terminate the lease if it is reasonably certain and economically reasonable that the Company will exercise that option. Lease costs from minimum lease payments are recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term.

The leases may contain both lease and non-lease components, which are generally accounted for separately. For office equipment leases (primarily copier leases), the Company elected to account for the lease and non-lease components as a single lease component and not recognize right-of-use assets and lease liabilities for leases with a term less than twelve months.

Operating leases are included in operating lease right-of-use assets and operating lease liabilities (current and non-current) and finance leases are included in property and equipment, net and finance lease liabilities (current and non-current) on the consolidated balance sheets.

Capitalized Software

The Company capitalizes certain costs to develop enhancements and upgrades to internal-use software that are incurred subsequent to the preliminary project stage. Amortization expense is recorded on a straight-line basis over the expected economic life of the software, typically lasting three tofive years. As of December 31,2023, and 2022, capitalized software, net of accumulated amortization, totaled$12.8 million and$19.0 million, respectively, and is included as part of “other assets” on the consolidated balance sheets.

Stock-based Compensation

The Company recognizes stock-based compensation expense to employees and non-employee directors, including grants of stock options, restricted stock awards, restricted stock units (“RSUs”), and cash-settled restricted stock units (“CSRSUs”) on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period, which is generally the vesting period. The Company recognizes expense for performance-based share awards (“PSAs”), which have both performance and service conditions, on a straight-line basis over the three-year performance period. Non-employee director awards are granted annually for Board-related services and therefore expensed over the service period.

Stock-based compensation expense is based on the estimated fair value of the instruments on the grant date and the estimated number of shares the Company ultimately expects will vest. The Company estimates the rate of future forfeitures based on factors which include the historical forfeiture experience for each applicable employee class. In addition, the estimation of PSAs that will ultimately vest requires judgment based on the performance and market conditions that will be achieved over the performance period. Changes to these estimates are recorded as a cumulative adjustment in the period estimates are revised.

The fair value of stock options, restricted stock awards, RSUs, PSAs, and non-employee director awards is estimated based on the fair value of a share of common stock at the grant date. The fair value of PSAs is estimated using a Monte Carlo simulation model.

CSRSUs are settled only in cash payments. The cash payment is based on the fair value of the Company’s stock price at the vesting date, calculated by multiplying the number of CSRSUs vested by the Company’s closing stock price on the vesting date, subject to a maximum payment cap and a minimum payment floor. The Company treats these awards as liability-classified awards, and, therefore, accounts for them at fair value estimated based on the closing price of the Company’s stock at the reporting date.

Derivative Instruments

Derivative instruments include interest rate swaps, foreign currency hedges, and forward contracts. Derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges are recorded on the consolidated balance sheets at fair value as of the reporting date and reclassified to earnings in the period that the hedged instruments affect earnings, and the effective portion of the hedge is recorded in other comprehensive income (loss) (“AOCI”), net of tax, on the consolidated statements of comprehensive income. Management reviews the effectiveness of the hedges on a quarterly basis.

Income Taxes

The Company recognizes deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The Company evaluates its ability to benefit from all deferred tax assets and establishes valuation allowances for amounts it believes will more likely than not be unrealizable. For uncertain tax positions, the Company uses a more-likely-than-not recognition threshold based on the technical merits of the income tax position taken. Income tax positions that meet the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold are measured in order to determine the tax benefit recognized in the financial statements. Penalties, if probable and reasonably estimable, and interest expense related to uncertain tax positions are not recognized as a component of income tax expense but recorded separately in indirect expenses and interest expense, respectively.

Treasury Shares

Treasury shares are accounted for under the cost method.

Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

Other comprehensive income (loss) includes foreign currency translation adjustments due to fluctuation in foreign currency exchange rates, the gain on the sale of an interest rate hedge agreement designated as a cash flow hedge, and the changes in fair value of interest rate agreements designated as cash flow hedges, net of taxes. The financial positions and results of operations of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries are based on the local currency as the functional currency and are translated to U.S. dollars for financial reporting purposes. Assets and liabilities of the subsidiaries are translated at the exchange rate in effect at each balance sheet date. Income statement accounts are translated at the average rate of exchange prevailing during the period. Translation adjustments are reported in accumulated other comprehensive loss included in stockholders’ equity in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.

Acquisition-Related Costs

Costs related to acquisitions include professional fees for legal, financial, and other advisory services and are expensed in the period that they are incurred.

Segment, Customer, and Geographic Information

The Company operates inone segment based on the consolidated information used by its chief operating decision-maker, currently the Chief Executive Officer, in evaluating the financial performance of its business and allocating resources. This single segment represents the Company’s core business, which is providing professional services. Although the Company disaggregates its revenue by client markets and client types, the Company does not manage its business or allocate resources based on client market or type.

No customer accounted for 10% or more of the Company’s revenue during the years ended 2023, 2022, and 2021.

The Company provides services to U.S. and international clients, and revenue is attributed to a particular geographic area based on the administrative location of the client that awarded the contract. The Company’s revenue generated from international clients as a percentage of total revenue was approximately 7%,8%, and 11% for the years 2023, 2022, and 2021, respectively.

At December 31, 2023 and 2022, long-lived assets held internationally were 6% and 7% of total long-lived assets, respectively.

Foreign currency expense, net of impact of hedges, was $1.2 million, $0.2 million, and $0.6 million, for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

Fair Value

The Company measures and reports certain financial assets and liabilities at fair value in accordance with ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures. Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. Generally, fair value is based on observable quoted market prices or derived from observable market data when such market prices or data are available. ASC 820 establishes a three-level hierarchy used to estimate fair value by which each level is categorized based on the priority of the inputs used to measure fair value:

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Level 1: Quoted prices that are available in active markets for identical assets or liabilities;

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Level 2: Quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active; inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability (e.g. interest rates and yield curves that are observable at commonly quoted intervals, and implied volatilities); and inputs derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means; and

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Level 3: Uses inputs that are unobservable and require the Company to make certain assumptions and require significant estimation and judgment from management to use in pricing the fair value of the assets and liabilities.

Certain financial instruments, including cash and cash equivalents, contract receivables, and accounts payable are carried at cost, which, due to their short maturities, approximates their fair values. The carrying value of the Company's long-term debt approximates the estimated fair value for debt with similar terms, interest rates, and remaining maturities currently available to companies with similar credit ratings (Level 2).

Risks and Uncertainties

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist principally of cash and cash equivalents, derivative financial instruments, and contract receivables.

The Company’s domestic bank accounts are insured up to $250,000 by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. As of December 31, 2023, the Company had$0.3 million in its accounts that exceeded the insured limit. The majority of the Company’s cash transactions are processed through one U.S. commercial bank. Cash held domestically in excess of daily requirements is primarily used to reduce any amounts outstanding under the Company’s Credit Facility.

As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company held approximately$8.5 million and$8.4 million, respectively, of cash and restricted cash in foreign bank accounts.

The Company enters into derivative financial instruments with financial institutions that meet certain credit guidelines and limits its risks by continuously monitoring the credit rating of the institutions.

The Company’s receivables consist principally of amounts due from agencies and departments of the federal government, state and local governments, and international governments, as well as from commercial organizations. The credit risk, with respect to federal and other government clients, is limited due to the creditworthiness of the respective governmental entity. Amounts due for work performed as a subcontractor also represent limited credit risk when the client is performing as the prime contractor on a government contract due to the ultimate creditworthiness of the end client. Receivables from commercial clients generally pose a greater credit risk, and, as a result, are subject to ongoing monitoring. The Company extends credit in the normal course of operations and does not require collateral from its clients.

The Company’s contracts with the federal government are subject to audit by agencies and departments of the federal government. Such audits determine, among other things, whether adjustments to invoices previously rendered are required under regulations as well as the underlying terms of each respective contract.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Accounting Pronouncements Adopted

Reference Rate Reform

In March 2020, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2020-04, Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting. The standard is intended to provide temporary optional expedients and exceptions to the U.S. GAAP guidance on contract modifications and hedge accounting to ease accounting and financial reporting burdens related to the expected market transition from the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) and other interbank offered rates to alternative reference rates. The provisions of this ASU are elective and apply to all entities, subject to meeting certain criteria, that have debt or hedging contracts, among other contracts, that reference LIBOR or another reference rate expected to be discontinued because of reference rate reform. Entities can elect to not apply certain modification accounting requirements to contracts affected by reference rate reform if certain criteria are met. Also, entities can elect various optional expedients that would allow them to continue to apply hedge accounting for hedging relationships affected by reference rate reform if certain criteria are met. This guidance was effective beginning on March 12, 2020 and entities may elect to apply the amendments prospectively through December 31, 2022, the sunset date. In December 2022, the FASB issued ASU 2022-06 Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Deferral of the Sunset Date of Topic 848 which extended the sunset date from December 31, 2022 to December 31, 2024.

The Company completed its adoption of the provisions of ASU 2020-04 during the second quarter of 2023 upon amendment of its last interest rate swap from LIBOR-based to SOFR-based pricing. The adoption did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted

Segment Reporting

In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-07: Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures, that required additional segment disclosures for public entities currently required under the Segment Reporting (Topic 280) of the Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”). ASU 2023-07 enhances the current segment reporting disclosures of Topic 280 by requiring significant segment expenses that are regularly provided to the Chief Operating Decision Maker (the “CODM”), the amount and description of other segment items, and interim disclosures of reportable segment's profit or loss and assets. ASU 2023-07 also requires public entities that have a single reportable segment to provide all the disclosures required in Topic 280, as amended. The ASU is effective for the Company for the 2024 fiscal year and interim periods within the 2025 fiscal year on a retrospective basis, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of ASU 2023-07 but does not expect the adoption to have a material impact, if any, on the consolidated financial statements.

Income Taxes

In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, Income Taxes: Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures, that require greater disaggregation of income tax rate and amounts paid by entities. ASU 2023-09 specifically requires all entities to disclose, on an annual basis, disaggregated domestic and foreign pre-tax income or loss from continuing operations and the disaggregated income tax expense or benefit by federal, state, and foreign components, and a tabular rate reconciliation, using both percentages and reporting currency amounts, of eight specific categories as well as any individual reconciling items that are equal to or greater than 5% of a threshold computed by multiplying pretax income or loss from continuing operations by the applicable federal rate. Additionally, the amendments also require disclosure of income taxes paid disaggregated by federal, state, and foreign jurisdictions as well as any individual jurisdictions over 5% of the total income taxes paid. ASU 2023-09 is effective for the Company for the 2025 fiscal year, with early adoption permitted. The amendments may be adopted on a prospective or retrospective basis. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of ASU 2023-09 but does not expect the adoption to have a material impact, if any, on the consolidated financial statements.

NOTE 3 - RESTRICTED CASH

The following table provides a reconciliation of cash and cash equivalents, and restricted cash reported within the consolidated balance sheets at December 31,2023 and 2022 to the total cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash shown in the consolidated statements of cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021:

(1)Under a contract with a customer that commenced in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2020, the Company received advance payments to be used to pay providers of services to the customer, a separate third party. The advanced payments are treated as restricted cash - current as the Company is required under the contract to distribute the advanced funds to the third-party providers of services or return the advanced funds to the customer. Because the Company receives the advance payments from the customer, which must be refunded to the customer or remitted to a third party, the cash receipts are treated as liabilities rather than receipts for the provision of goods or services. Therefore, these cash receipts are presented in the consolidated statements of cash flows as financing cash inflows, “Receipt of restricted contract funds,” with the subsequent payments classified as financing cash outflows, “Payment of restricted contract funds.”

NOTE 4 - CONTRACT RECEIVABLES, NET

Contract receivables, net consisted of the following as of December 31:

On December 23, 2022, the Company entered into a Master Receivables Purchase Agreement (the “MRPA”) with MUFG Bank, Ltd. (“MUFG”) for the sale from time to time of certain eligible billed receivables. The receivables are sold without recourse and the Company does not retain any ongoing financial interest in the transferred receivables other than providing servicing activities. The Company accounts for the transfers as sales under ASC 860, Transfers and Servicing, derecognizes the receivables from its consolidated balance sheets at the date of the sale, and includes the cash received from MUFG as part of cash flows from operating activities on its consolidated statement of cash flows.

During the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company received$309.4 million and$10.0 million under the MRPA, of which$28.7 million and$6.2 million, respectively, was collected but not remitted to MUFG. For the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, the discount on the sale of receivables under the MRPA totaled$1.1 million and less than $0.1 million, respectively, and is included as part of “indirect and selling expenses” on the consolidated statements of comprehensive income.

NOTE 5 - PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT

Property and equipment consisted of the following at December 31:

Depreciation and amortization expense for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021 totaled$25.3 million,$21.5 million, and$19.5 million, respectively.

NOTE 6 - GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS

Goodwill

The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill for the fiscal years ended December 31 were as follows:

See “Note 16 – Acquisitions and Divestitures” for the details of the business combination and divestiture resulting in the changes in goodwill.

Other Intangible Assets

Intangible assets with definite lives are primarily amortized over periods ranging from approximately 1 to 9 years. The weighted-average period of amortization for all intangible assets, calculated as of December 31, 2023, is 5.7 years. The customer-related intangible assets, which consist of customer contracts, backlog, and non-contractual customer relationships, are being amortized based on estimated cash flows and respective estimated economic benefit of the assets. The weighted-average period of amortization of the customer-related intangibles calculated as of December 31, 2023 is 5.7 years. Intangible assets related to developed technology are being amortized on an accelerated basis over a weighted-average period, calculated as of December 31, 2023, of 9.6 years. Intangible assets with an indefinite life consist of a domain name.

Other intangibles consisted of the following at December 31:

Aggregate amortization expense for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, was approximately$35.5 million,$28.4 million, and$12.5 million, respectively. The estimated future amortization expense relating to intangible assets is as follows:

NOTE 7 – LEASES

The Company has operating and finance leases for facilities and equipment which have remaining terms ranging from 1 to 15 years. The leases may include options toextend the lease periods for up to 5 years at rates approximating market rates and/oroptions toterminate the leases within 1 year. The leases may include aresidual value guarantee or a responsibility to return the property to its original state of use. A limited number of leases contain provisions that provide for rental increases based on consumer price indices. The change in lease cost resulting from changes in these indices was included within variable lease cost.

The Company’s lease cost is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term and is primarily included within indirect and selling expenses on the consolidated statements of comprehensive income. Lease cost consisted of the following:

Future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating and finance leases as of December 31,2023 were as follows:

Other information related to operating and finance leases is as follows:

The change in operating lease right-of-use assets and lease liabilities are presented within cash flows from operating activities on the consolidated statements of cash flows.

During the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company ceased use of office facilities and recorded impairment of $6.8 million and $8.4 million, respectively, related to operating lease right-of-use asset and leasehold improvement, and accrued other future lease-related expenses of $3.2 million and $4.9 million, respectively. The amounts are included as part of indirect and selling expenses on the Company's consolidated statements of comprehensive income.

NOTE 8 - ACCRUED SALARIES AND BENEFITS

Accrued salaries and benefits consisted of the following at December 31:

NOTE 9 - ACCRUED EXPENSES AND OTHER CURRENT LIABILITIES

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities consisted of the following at December 31:

NOTE 10 - LONG-TERM DEBT

On May 6, 2022, the Company entered into the Restated Credit Agreement with a group of lenders with (a) PNC Bank, National Association as the Administrative Agent and (b) PNC Capital Markets LLC, BOFA Securities, Inc., TD Securities (USA) LLC, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC and Citizens Bank, N.A., as joint lead arrangers. The various facilities under the Restated Credit Agreement are referred to as the “Credit Facility”. The Restated Credit Agreement amended and restated the Company’s prior credit agreement (the “Existing Credit Agreement”) to, among other things: (a) maintain the existing $600 million revolving credit facility (together and inclusive of a $75 million swing line sublimit and $100 million sublimit for letters of credit); (b) increase the existing term loan facility from $200 million to $300 million; (c) provide for a new delayed draw term loan facility of $400 million; (d) maintain the existing incremental credit facility to make, subject to approval of the lenders making such loans, incremental term or revolving credit loan(s) in the aggregate principal amount of not more than $300 million; (e) increase the maximum Consolidated Leverage Ratio (as such term is defined in the Restated Credit Agreement) from 4.00 to 1.00 to 4.50 to 1.00 (with temporary increases to 5.00 to 1.00 for the three fiscal quarters following a “Material Permitted Acquisition”, as such term is defined in the Restated Credit Agreement); (f) maintain the minimum Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio (as such term is defined in the Restated Credit Agreement) of 3.00 to 1.00; (g) increase the foreign currency debt limit in Euro and Sterling Pounds from $30 million equivalent to $200 million equivalent; (h) modify LIBOR based interest pricing conventions with SOFR based interest pricing conventions; (i) extend the maturity date of the Credit Facility until May 6, 2027; (j) incorporate various provisions and conventions encouraged by the Loan Syndication and Trade Association; and (k) modify certain definitions and certain covenants.

Under the Restated Credit Agreement, the Company may, at its discretion, borrow funds under the Credit Facility at interest rates based on both term SOFR (i.e., 1, 3, or 6-month rates) and the Base Rate (as defined herein), plus their applicable margins. The Base Rate is a fluctuating rate of interest equal to the highest of (a) the Overnight Bank Funding Rate (as defined in the Restated Credit Agreement), plus 0.5%, (b) the Prime Rate (as defined in the Restated Credit Agreement) and (c) the Daily Simple SOFR Rate (as defined in the Restated Credit Agreement) plus 1%, all as then adjusted to include the Applicable Margin (as defined in the Restated Credit Agreement) as then in effect (and as determined pursuant to the then-current Consolidated Leverage Ratio). For the years ended December 31,2023 and 2022, the average interest rate on borrowings under the Credit Facility was 6.7% and 3.3%, respectively. Inclusive of the impact of floating-to-fixed interest rate swaps (see “Note 12– Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities”), the average interest rate was 5.6% and 3.7% for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

The Credit Facility is collateralized by substantially all the assets of the Company and its material domestic subsidiaries and requires that the Company remain in compliance with certain financial and non-financial covenants including, but not limited to the Consolidated Leverage Ratio and the Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio. As of December 31, 2023, the Company was in compliance with its covenants. The Credit Facility also includes other terms and conditions, covenants, and other provisions of the Restated Credit Agreement that are materially consistent with the Existing Credit Agreement.

As of December 31, 2023, the Company had$430.4 million (net of unamortized debt issuance costs) of long-term debt outstanding from the Credit Facility, unused delayed draw term loan facility of $180.0 million (available through January 5, 2024), and unused borrowing capacity of$591.9 million from the available $600.0 million revolving line of credit under the Credit Facility. The unused borrowing capacity is inclusive offive outstanding letters of credit totaling$1.8 million. Considering the financial, performance-based limitations, available borrowing capacity was$575.5 million as of December 31, 2023.

As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, long-term debt consisted of the following:

Future scheduled repayments of debt principal are as follows:

Debt Issuance Cost

The Company’s debt issuance costs are amortized over the term of indebtedness. The balance of net debt issuance costs at December 31, 2023 and 2022 were$3.7 million and$5.0 million, respectively. Amortization of debt issuance costs totaling$2.0 million,$1.3 million, and$0.6 million was recorded for each of the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, respectively, and was included as part of interest expense.

NOTE 11 – REVENUE RECOGNITION

Disaggregation of Revenue

The Company disaggregates revenue from clients into categories that depict how the nature, amount, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows are affected by economic and business factors. Those categories are client market, client type, and contract mix.

Client markets provide insight into the breadth of the Company’s expertise. In classifying revenue by client market, the Company attributes revenue from a client to the market that the Company believes is the client’s primary market. The Company also classifies revenue by the type of client for which it does business, which is an indicator of the diversity of its client base. The Company attributes revenue generated as a subcontractor to the market or type of the ultimate client. Disaggregation by contract mix provides insight in terms of the degree of performance risk that the Company has assumed. Fixed-price contracts are considered to provide the highest amount of performance risk as the Company is required to deliver a scope of work or level of effort for a negotiated fixed price. Time-and-materials contracts require the Company to provide skilled employees for negotiated fixed hourly rates. Since the Company is not required to deliver a scope of work, but merely skilled employees, it considers these contracts to be less risky than a fixed-price agreement. Cost-based contracts are considered to provide the lowest amount of performance risk since the Company is generally reimbursed for all contract costs incurred in performance of contract deliverables with only the amount of incentive or award fees (if applicable) dependent on the achievement of negotiated performance requirements.

The Company's revenue by client markets, type, and contract mix are in the following tables. Certain immaterial revenue amounts in the prior years have been reclassified due to minor adjustments and reclassification.

Contract Assets and Liabilities:

Contract assets consist of unbilled receivables on contracts where revenue recognized exceeds the amount billed. Contract liabilities result from advance payments received on a contract or from billings in excess of revenue recognized on long-term contracts.

The following table summarizes the contract balances as of December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022:

The net contract assets (liabilities) as of December 31, 2023 increased by$36.5 million as compared to December 31, 2022, primarily due to the timing difference between the performance of services and billings to and payments from customers. There were no material changes to contract balances due to impairments or credit losses during the period. During the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company recognized$17.8 million and$27.4 million in revenue related to the contract liabilities balance at December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

Unfulfilled Performance Obligations:

The Company had$1.4 billion in remaining unfulfilled performance obligations (“UPO”) as of December 31, 2023. The Company expects to recognize the remaining UPO as revenue of approximately 57% by December 31, 2024,77% by December 31, 2025, and the remaining thereafter.

NOTE 12 - DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES

The Company uses interest rate swap agreements (the “Swaps”) to manage its variable interest rate risk associated with its borrowings under the Credit Facility. The Company does not use such instruments for speculative or trading purposes.

At December 31, 2023, the Company had floating-to-fixed interest rate swaps for an aggregate notional amount of $275.0 million, of which $100.0 million will mature on February 28, 2025, $75.0 million will mature on February 28, 2028, and $100.0 million will mature on June 27, 2028. The Company has designated the Swaps as cash flow hedges.

For the years ended December 31,2023 and 2022, the effect of the Swaps on the Company’s financial statements are as follows:

As of December 31, 2023, the net amount of realized losses from the hedge agreements expected to be reclassified from AOCI into earnings within the next twelve months is$4.8 million.

NOTE 13 - INCOME TAXES

The domestic and foreign components of income before provision for income taxes are as follows for the years ended December 31:

Income tax expense consisted of the following for the years ended December 31:

Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and income tax purposes.

Deferred tax assets (liabilities) consisted of the following at December 31:

The Company measures certain deferred tax assets and liabilities based on the rates at which they are expected to reverse in the future, which is 27.0%.

On December 20, 2017, the U.S. Congress passed the Tax Cuts and Job Act of 2017 (the “TCJA”) which was signed into law on December 22, 2017, and was generally effective beginning January 1, 2018. The TCJA changed the provision for deduction of allowable research and development costs under the Internal Revenue Code (the “IRC”). Effective for tax years beginning after January 1, 2022, research and development costs are required to be capitalized and amortized over a period offive years for domestic andfifteen years for foreign research and development for income tax purposes. As a result of the capitalization, the Company recognized an increase of $28.1 million in deferred tax asset for the year ended December 31,2023.

As of December 31, 2023, the cumulative foreign tax credit carryforward balance increased by approximately $0.8 million and the valuation allowance required increased by approximately $0.8 million. No additional income taxes have been provided for on any remaining undistributed foreign earnings not subject to the transition tax. No additional deferred income taxes have been provided for the $4.9 million of additional unfavorable outside basis differences inherent in these foreign entities as of December 31,2023 because these amounts continue to be permanently reinvested in foreign operations.

As of December 31, 2023, the Company has net operating loss (“NOL”) carryforwards for state income tax purposes of approximately $6.5 million, which expire in 2034. The Company acquired these NOLs as a result of its purchase of a business in November 2014. IRC Section 382 imposes an annual limitation on the use of a corporation’s NOLs, tax credits and other carryovers after an “ownership change” occurs. Section 382 imposes an annual limitation on the amount of post-ownership change taxable income a corporation may offset with pre-ownership change NOLs and credits. In general, the annual limitation is determined by multiplying the value of the corporation’s stock immediately before the ownership change (subject to certain adjustments) by the applicable long-term tax-exempt rate. Any unused portion of the annual limitation is available for use in future years until such NOLs are scheduled to expire (in general, NOLs may be carried forward 15 to 20 years). The Company established a valuation allowance of approximately $0.5 million against the portion of the deferred tax asset which it is more-likely-than-not that it will not be recoverable (e.g. expiration of the statute of limitations, etc.)

As of December 31, 2023, the Company had gross federal and state income tax credit carryforwards of approximately $0.7 million, which expire between 2024 and 2034. A deferred tax asset of approximately$0.7 million, net of federal benefit, has been established related to these state income tax credit carryforwards as of December 31, 2023.

The need to establish valuation allowances for deferred assets is based on a more-likely-than-not threshold that the benefit of such assets will be realized in future periods. Appropriate consideration has been given to all available evidence, including historical operating results, projections of taxable income, and tax planning alternatives. The Company concluded that a valuation allowance of$0.5 million was required for tax attributes related to specified state jurisdictions and an additional $8.0 million valuation allowance is required against our U.S. foreign tax credit carryforwards.

The total amount of unrecognized tax benefits as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 was $24.1 million and $0.1 million, respectively, which includes $9.0 million and $0.1 million, respectively, of tax positions that, if recognized, would impact the effective rate. The unrecognized tax benefits and the related accrued interest are part of other long-term liabilities on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.

The components of unrecognized tax benefits, excluding penalty and interest, are as follows at December 31:

The unrecognized tax benefit reconciliation, excluding penalty and interest, is as follows:

The Company’s 2020 through 2022 tax years remain subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service for federal tax purposes. Certain significant state and foreign tax jurisdictions are also either currently under examination or remain open under the statutes of limitation and subject to examination for the tax years from 2019 to 2022.

Although the Company believes it has adequately provided for all uncertain tax positions, amounts asserted by taxing authorities could be greater than the Company’s accrued position. Accordingly, additional provisions on federal, state, and foreign income tax related matters could be recorded in the future as revised estimates are made or the underlying matters are effectively settled or otherwise resolved. Conversely, the Company could settle positions with the tax authorities for amounts lower than have been accrued. The Company believes it is reasonably possible that, during the next 12 months, the Company’s liability for uncertain tax positions may not change.

The Company’s provision for income taxes differs from the federal statutory rate. The differences between the statutory rate and the Company’s provision are as follows for the years ended December 31:

During 2023, the Company restructured the ownership of its Canadian entities for tax purposes resulting in a 3.8% decrease in the Company’s effective income tax rate for the year ended December 31, 2023.

During 2023, the Company liquidated one of its U.K. subsidiaries as part of the wind-down of its commercial marketing business resulting in a reduction in the Company’s effective income tax rate of 5.1% for the year ended December 31, 2023.

During 2023, the Company completed its annual true-up of the prior year income tax provision in connection with the filing of its U.S. federal & state income tax returns. As a result of that process, the Company recorded a change in the estimate of certain tax credits it is eligible to claim with its income tax return filings that resulted in a 7.0% decrease in the Company’s effective income tax rate for the year ended December 31, 2023.

NOTE 14 - ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS) INCOME

Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income included the following:

(1)

Represents the fair value of an interest rate hedge agreement, designated as a cash flow hedge, which was sold on December 1, 2016. The fair value of the interest rate hedge agreement was recorded in other comprehensive income, net of tax, and will be reclassified to earnings when earnings are impacted by the hedged items, as interest payments are made on the Credit Facility from January 31, 2018 to January 31, 2023.

(2)

Represents the change in fair value of interest rate hedge agreements designated as a cash flow hedges. The fair value of the interest rate hedge agreements was recorded in other comprehensive income, net of tax, and will be reclassified to earnings when earnings are impacted by the hedged items, as interest payments are made on the Credit Facility from through June 27, 2028. See additional details of the hedge agreements in Note 12 - Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities.

(3)

The Company’s effective tax rate for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021 was 14.4%,23.5%, and 28.9%, respectively.

(4)

The Company expects to reclassify$4.8 million in unrealized gains related to the Change in Fair Value of Interest Rate Hedge Agreement from accumulated other comprehensive loss into earnings during the next 12 months.

(5)

The fair value of the interest rate hedge agreements is included in other current and other long-term assets and liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets. See “Note 19 - Fair Value” for additional details.

NOTE 15 - ACCOUNTING FOR STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

Stock Incentive Plans

On April 4, 2018, the Board approved the 2018 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “2018 Omnibus Plan”), which was subsequently approved by the stockholders and became effective on May 31, 2018 (the “Effective Date”). The 2018 Omnibus Plan replaced the previous 2010 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “Prior Plan”). The 2018 Omnibus Plan was amended on May 28, 2020 to increase the number of shares available for issuance.

On June 1, 2023, the Company’s stockholders approved an amendment and restatement of the 2018 Omnibus Plan (the “2018 A&R Omnibus Plan”) which further increased the number of shares available for issuance, incorporated compensation recovery provisions consistent with new SEC and NASDAQ requirements and made certain other clarifying changes.

The A&R 2018 Omnibus Plan, as amended, allows the Company to grant up to 2,050,000 shares using stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, RSUs, performance units and PSAs, cash-based awards, and other stock-based awards to all key officers, key employees, and non-employee directors of the Company. Outstanding shares granted under the Prior Plan, totaling 2,631, as of December 31, 2023, remain subject to its terms and conditions, and additional awards from the Prior Plan are prohibited after the Effective Date. As of December 31, 2023, the Company had approximately 1,119,446 shares available for grant under the A&R 2018 Omnibus Plan. CSRSUs have no impact on the shares available for grant under the A&R 2018 Omnibus Plan, nor on the calculated shares used in earnings per share (“EPS”) calculations.

Stock-based compensation expense is included as part of direct costs and indirect and selling expenses on the consolidated statements of comprehensive income. The total stock-based compensation expense for the years ended December 31,2023, 2022, and 2021, the unrecognized compensation expense at December 31, 2023, and the weighted-average period to recognize the remaining unrecognized shares are as follows:

The assumptions of employment termination forfeiture rates used in the determination of fair value of stock awards during the 2023 calendar year were based on the Company’s historical average of actual forfeitures from the previous 10 years preceding the reporting period. The expected annualized forfeiture rates used during the 2023 calendar year varied from 0% to 21.59%.

Stock Options

Stock options are granted with an exercise price equal to the market value of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. There wereno stock options granted during 2023, 2022, and 2021.

The following table summarizes the changes in outstanding stock options:

The aggregate intrinsic value is based on the Company’s closing stock price of$134.09 as of December 31, 2023. The total intrinsic value of options exercised was$0.9 million,$1.9 million, and$0.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, respectively. All options have vested as of December 31, 2023, and the weighted-average remaining contractual term for options vested and exercisable was 0.2 years.

Information regarding stock options outstanding as of December 31, 2023 is summarized below:

Restricted Stock Units

RSUs generally have a vesting term ofthree years. On vesting the employee is issued one share of stock for each RSU awarded. The fair value of shares vested was$7.3 million,$10.8 million, and$7.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, respectively.

A summary of the Company’s RSUs is presented below.

Cash-Settled Restricted Stock Units

CSRSUs generally have a vesting term ofthree years. The fair value of CSRSUs vested and settled in cash for the years ended December 31,2023, 2022, and 2021 was$7.9 million,$6.6 million and$8.7 million, respectively. A summary of the Company’s CSRSUs is presented below.

Non-Employee Director Awards

The Company grants awards of registered shares to its non-employee directors on an annual basis under the A&R Omnibus Plan. A summary of the non-employee director awards is presented below:

Performance Share Awards

In 2015, the Board approved a performance-based share program (the “Program”) that provides for the issuance of PSAs to its senior management. Under the Program, the number of PSAs that the participant will receive depends on the Company’s achievement of two performance goals duringtwo performance periods. The performance goals under the Program are based on (i) the Company’s compounded annual growth rate in EPS (adjusted to exclude certain items specified in the award's Agreement) during a two-year performance period (the “Initial Period”) and (ii) the Company’s cumulative total shareholder return relative to its peer group (“rTSR”) during a performance period from the first day of the performance period (typically January 1 of the year awarded) to the last day of the third year of the performance period (typically December 31). The PSAs will only be eligible to vest following the expiration of the three-year performance period. The actual shares vested will be subject to both continued employment by the Company (barring certain exceptions allowing for partial performance periods) and actual financial measures achieved. The final number of shares of common stock that will be issued to each participant at the end of the applicable performance period will be determined by multiplying the award by the product oftwo percentages: the first based on the Company’s EPS performance and the second based on the Company’s rTSR performance, subject to a minimum and maximum performance level. As of December 31, 2023, shares granted during 2021, 2022, and 2023 are within year three, two, andone of the performance periods, respectively, and therefore have not fully vested. A total of 45,141 shares granted in 2020 vested during 2023 after meeting the performance goals. As of December 31, 2023, a total of 69,650 shares granted in 2021 and 2022 are expected to vest in the future based on estimated financial measures achieved in the Initial Period and rTSR performance.

A summary of the Company’s PSAs is presented below.

The fair value of the awards is estimated on the grant date using a Monte Carlo simulation model due to the market condition for the rTSR component. The fair value assumptions using the Monte Carlo simulation model for awards granted in 2023, 2022, and 2021 were:

NOTE 16 – ACQUISITIONS AND DIVESTITURES

Acquisitions

CMY Solutions, LLC

On May 1, 2023, the Company acquired CMY Solutions, LLC (“CMY”), a privately-held company that provides engineering and automation solutions to utilities and organizations, for $32.6 million in cash. The acquisition enhances the Company’s offerings in the field of power and energy advisory services.

As part of the allocation of purchase consideration, the Company recorded $10.3 million of intangible assets, $1.2 million in net working capital, and $21.1 million of goodwill. The goodwill is deductible for income tax purposes. Intangible assets consist of $10.2 million related to existing customer relationships and $0.1 million related to trade names and trademarks. The pro-forma impact of the acquisition is not material to the Company’s results of operations.

Blanton & Associates

On September 1, 2022, the Company completed the acquisition of Blanton & Associates (“Blanton”), an environmental consulting, planning, and project management firm headquartered in Austin, Texas, for $22.9 million. Blanton brings domain expertise in environmental regulatory compliance and permitting for the transportation, renewable energy, water, and resource management sectors and adds technically specialized staff in all aspects of environmental services to the Company.

As part of the allocation of the purchase consideration, the Company recorded net working capital of $4.6 million, property and equipment of$0.2 million, deferred income tax liabilities of $3.0 million,$11.4 million to intangible assets, and$9.7 million to goodwill. The goodwill is not deductible for income tax purposes. Intangible assets consisted of$10.9 million related to existing customer relationships,$0.5 million related to contract backlog, and$0.1 million related to trade names and trademarks. The pro-forma impact of the acquisition is not material to the Company’s results of operations.

SemanticBits, LLC

On July 13, 2022, the Company completed the acquisition of SemanticBits, LLC (“SemanticBits”), a 450-person Virginia limited liability company. SemanticBits is a partner to U.S. federal health agencies for mission-critical digital modernization solutions and provides a suite of scalable digital modernization services using open-source frameworks, including end-to-end agile scale development capabilities, cloud-native solutions, data analytics and human-centered designs. The acquisition provides synergies and scalabilities to support federal agencies with advanced IT solutions, digital modernization, and health expertise to solve complex customer challenges.

The purchase price was $216.0 million in cash and was funded by the existing Credit Facility. The final purchase price allocation is summarized as follows:

Goodwill is reflective of the existing workforce of SemanticBits and the expected synergies created with the Company as part of the acquisition. The useful lives associated with the customer-related intangible asset and trade names and trademarks are 4.0 years and 0.7 years, respectively. The goodwill and intangible assets are not deductible for income tax purposes.

Acquisition-related costs and integration costs totaled $4.3 million and are included as part of indirect and selling expenses in the Company’s consolidated statements of comprehensive income.

For the year ended December 31, 2022, SemanticBits contributed revenues of $64.3 million and gross profit of $26.7 million. Computation of an earnings measure other than gross profit is impracticable due to SemanticBits’ operations and financial systems being integrated with those of the Company.

The following unaudited condensed pro forma information presents combined financial information as if the acquisition of SemanticBits had been effective at January 1, 2021, the beginning of the 2021 fiscal year. As a result, fiscal year 2022 represents the pro forma results for year two of the acquisition. The pro forma information includes alignment of SemanticBits’ revenue recognition policy, corrections of employee-related expenses, and adjustments reflecting changes in the amortization of intangibles, acquisition-related costs, interest expense, and records income tax effects as if SemanticBits had been included in the Company’s results of operations. The pro forma information is not intended to reflect the actual combined results of operations that would have occurred if the acquisition was completed on January 1, 2021, nor is it indicative of future operating results after the acquisition date of July 13, 2022.

Creative Systems and Consulting

On December 31, 2021, the Company acquired Creative Systems, a provider of IT modernization and digital transformation solutions to federal agencies, for cash purchase price of $156.6 million. The Company recognized fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed, and allocated $128.1 million and $28.9 million of the purchase price to intangible assets and goodwill. The goodwill is deductible for income tax purposes. Intangible assets consisted of $24.5 million in customer relationships, $3.7 million related to developed technology, $0.6 million related to trade names and trademarks, and $0.1 million related to non-compete agreements. The customer-related and technology-related intangibles are being amortized on a straight-line basis over 4 years and 10 years, respectively, while trade names and trademarks and non-compete agreements will be amortized in less thanone year from the acquisition date. Goodwill is reflective of the existing workforce at Creative Systems and the expected synergies created with the Company as a result of the acquisition. The pro-forma impact of the acquisition is not material to the Company’s results of operations.

ESAC

On November 1, 2021, the Company completed the acquisition of ESAC, which specializes in providing advanced health analytics, research data management and bioinformatics solutions to U.S. federal health agencies, for a cash purchase price of $17.3 million. In addition to working capital acquired of $2.6 million, the Company recognized fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed and allocated $11.3 million to goodwill and $3.4 million to intangible assets. The goodwill is deductible for income tax purposes. Intangible assets included $3.1 million related to customer relationships and $0.3 million related to technology and other intangibles, which are amortized over 3 years and less than 1 year, respectively. The pro-forma impact of the acquisition is not material to the Company’s results of operations.

Divestitures

Commercial Marketing

On July 21, 2023, the Company entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement to sell its U.S. commercial marketing business, including certain assets of the business, for initial cash considerations of $49.5 million before final net working capital adjustments. On September 12, 2023, the Company completed the divesture and received $47.1 million in cash, net of working capital adjustments and certain amounts held in escrow. The disposal of the commercial marketing business was not a major strategic shift that was, or will be, significant to the Company’s operations and financial results. In connection with the sale, the Company recorded a gross gain of $4.4 million and transactions fees of $1.9 million, for a total pre-tax gain of $2.5 million, that is included as part of other income on the Company’s consolidated statements of comprehensive income.

Mobile and SMS Messaging Aggregator Business

On July 24, 2023, the Company entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement to sell its mobile and Short Message Service (“SMS”) messaging aggregator business, including certain assets of the business, for the equivalent of $5.4 million in cash. The sale was completed on November 1, 2023. The disposal of the mobile aggregation and SMS messaging aggregator business was not a major strategic shift that was, or will be, significant to the Company’s operations and financial results. In connection with the sale, the Company recorded a pre-tax gain of $3.2 million that is included as part of other income on the Company’s consolidated statements of comprehensive income.

NOTE 17 - EARNINGS PER SHARE

The Company’s EPS is computed by dividing reported net income by the weighted-average number of shares outstanding. Diluted EPS considers the potential dilution that could occur if common stock equivalents of stock options, RSUs, and PSAs were exercised or converted into stock. PSAs are included in the computation of diluted shares only to the extent that the underlying performance conditions: (i) are satisfied as of the end of the reporting period or (ii) would be considered satisfied if the end of the reporting period were the end of the related performance period and the result would be dilutive under the treasury stock method.

As of December 31, 2023, the PSAs granted during the year ended December 31, 2021 and 2022 met the related performance conditions for the initial performance period and were included in the calculation of diluted EPS; however, the PSAs granted during the year ended December 31, 2023 have not yet completed their initialtwo-year performance period and therefore were excluded in the calculation of diluted EPS.

The dilutive effect of stock options, RSUs, and performance shares for each period reported is summarized below:

NOTE 18 - SHARE REPURCHASE PROGRAM

In September 2017, the Board approved a share repurchase program that allows for share repurchases in the aggregate up to $100.0 million under approved share repurchase plans pursuant to Rules 10b5-1 and 10b-18 under the Exchange Act. In November 2021, the Board amended and increased the previously authorized aggregate repurchase limit from $100.0 million to $200.0 million. The Credit Facility (see Note 10 – Long-Term Debt) permits annual share repurchases of at least $25.0 million provided that the Company is not in default of its covenants, and higher amounts provided that the Company’s Consolidated Leverage Ratio, prior to and after giving effect to such repurchases, is 0.50 to 1.00 less than the then-applicable maximum Consolidated Leverage Ratio and subject to the Company having net liquidity of at least $100.0 million after giving effect to such repurchases.

Purchases under this program may be made from time to time at prevailing market prices in open market purchases or in privately negotiated transactions pursuant to Rule 10b-18 under the Exchange Act and in accordance with applicable insider trading and other securities laws and regulations. The purchases are funded from existing cash balances and/or borrowings, and the repurchased shares are held in treasury. The timing and extent to which the Company repurchases its shares will depend on market conditions and other corporate considerations in the Company’s sole discretion.

For the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company used$18.1 million to repurchase 180,000 shares at an average price of$100.70 per share and$17.0 million to repurchase 176,375 shares at an average price of$96.18 per share, respectively, under this program. As of December 31, 2023, approximately$93.7 million of authority remained available under the share repurchase plan.

NOTE 19 - FAIR VALUE

Financial instruments measured at fair value on a recurring basis and their location within the accompanying consolidated financial statements are as follows:

NOTE 20 - COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Letters of Credit and Guarantees

At December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company had open standby letters of credit totaling$1.8 million and$2.0 million, respectively, and guarantees of$7.9 million and$9.2 million issued by its banks. The letters of credit and guarantees were primarily for the Company’s facility leases and contract performance obligations. The open standby letters of credit reduce the Company’s unused borrowing capacity under its Credit Facility.

Litigation and Claims

The Company is involved in various legal matters and proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business. While these matters and proceedings cause it to incur costs, including, but not limited to, attorneys’ fees, the Company currently believes it is not reasonably possible that any ultimate liability arising out of these matters and proceedings will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.

NOTE 21 - EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

Defined Contribution Plan

Effective June 30, 1999, the Company established the ICF Consulting Group Retirement Savings Plan (the “Retirement Savings Plan”). The Retirement Savings Plan is a defined contribution profit sharing plan with a cash or deferred arrangement under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code. Participants are able to elect to defer up to 70% of their compensation, subject to statutory limitations, and are entitled to receive 100% employer matching contributions for the first 3% and 50% for the next 2% of their compensation. Contribution expense for the years ended December 31,2023, 2022, and 2021 was$25.4 million,$22.9 million, and$19.0 million, respectively.

Deferred Compensation Plan

Certain key employees of the Company are eligible to defer a specified percentage of their cash compensation by having it contributed to a nonqualified deferred compensation plan. Eligible employees may elect to defer up to 80% of their base salary and up to 100% of performance bonuses, reduced by any amounts withheld for the payment of taxes or other deductions required by law. Participants are at all times 100% vested in their account balances. The Company funds its deferred compensation liabilities by making cash contributions to a Rabbi Trust at the time the salary or bonus being deferred would otherwise be payable to the employee. The liability to plan participants is materially funded at all times and the plan does not have a material net impact on the Company’s results of operations.

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

The Company has a Employee Stock Purchase Plan (“ESPP”) under whichone million shares have been authorized for issuance. The ESPP allows eligible employees to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock through payroll deductions up to $25,000 per calendar year over six-month offering periods at a discount not to exceed 5% of the market value on the date of each purchase period, and therefore the Company does not recognize compensation expense related to the ESPP. For the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, employees purchased a total of 36,140 and 34,844 shares at an average purchase price of$121.96 and$91.84, respectively. At December 31, 2023 and 2022, there were 548,832 and 584,972 shares remaining available for future issuance under this plan.

NOTE 22 - EXIT ACTIVITIES

During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company incurred charges related to: (i) the reduction and wind-down of certain non-core commercial marketing businesses, and (ii) the reduction of facilities utilized by the remaining elements of the commercial marketing group. Specifically, these charges included the impairment of certain right-of-use operating leases and related assets associated with exited facilities of$8.2 million, $4.8 million in other facility costs recorded within indirect and selling expenses, and retention and severance of$2.3 million primarily recorded within direct costs. Of the $2.3 million in retention and severance, $1.3 million was paid during the 2022 fiscal year and the remaining liability was paid during the 2023 fiscal year.

During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company incurred and paid $2.5 million in retention and severance related to the wind-down of its non-core commercial marketing and communication businesses in the U.K. and Belgium. The exit activity was completed as of December 31, 2023.

During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company completed the divestitures of its non-core U.S. commercial marketing and Canadian mobile and SMS messaging aggregator businesses. As a result of the divestitures, the Company incurred retention and severance of $1.9 million and $1.7 million for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, which was primarily recorded within direct costs. As part of the sale of the businesses, the Company incurred $0.6 million in related compensation expense which was recorded within indirect and selling expenses. The retention and severance and compensation expenses were paid during the 2023 fiscal year.

As a result of these wind-down and divestitures that were completed during the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company recognized impairment losses of $0.9 million related to a prior acquisition, $3.0 million related to right-of-use operating leases, and $2.4 million in other facility costs.

NOTE 23 - SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

Share Buyback Program

On November 14, 2023, the Board of directors authorized and approved a plan to repurchase up to 191,000 shares of the Company’s common stock pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 (the “Plan”) of the current repurchase program. The Plan is effective January 2, 2024 through June 30, 2024. As of February 23, 2024, the Company repurchased 159,681 shares at a total cost of $21.9 million, or $136.94 per share under the plan.

NOTE 24 - SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

Valuation and Qualifying Accounts

Allowance for Credit Losses

Income Tax Valuation Allowance