Public Policy Holding Company, Inc.

For a more complete understanding of our accounting estimates and policies, the unaudited consolidated financial statements and the related Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, readers are encouraged to consider this information together with our discussion of our critical accounting policies under the heading, "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in our 2025 Form 10-K.

Business Acquisitions and Valuation of Contingent Consideration and Post-Combination Liabilities

The Company accounts for business acquisitions using the acquisition method. Under ASC 805 -Business Combinations, a business combination occurs when an entity obtains control of a “business.” The Company determines whether or not the gross assets acquired meet the definition of a business. If they meet this criteria, the Company accounts for the transaction as a business acquisition. If they do not meet this criteria the transaction is accounted for as an asset acquisition. The consideration transferred in the acquisition is generally measured at fair value, as are the identifiable net assets acquired. Any goodwill that arises is tested annually for impairment. Any gain on a bargain purchase is recognized in profit or loss immediately. Transaction costs are expensed as incurred, except if related to the issuance of debt or equity securities.

Contingent consideration is measured at fair value at the date of acquisition and is based on expected cash flow of the acquisition target discounted over time using an observable market discount rate. The Company generally utilizes outside valuation experts to determine the amount of contingent consideration. We estimate and record the acquisition date fair value of contingent consideration as part of purchase price consideration for business acquisitions. Additionally, each reporting period, we estimate changes in the fair value of contingent consideration and recognize any change in fair value in our consolidated statements of operations and other comprehensive loss. The fair value of the contingent consideration is generally measured using Monte Carlo simulations to estimate the achievement and amount of certain future operating results. The Monte Carlo simulations utilize subjective assumptions and estimates including expected volatility of future operating results, discount rates applicable to future results, and expected growth rates. Future revisions to these assumptions could materially change the estimate of the fair value of contingent consideration and, therefore, materially affect our future financial results. The contingent consideration liability is to be settled through a combination of cash and shares of common stock based on each respective purchase agreement and the amount ultimately paid is dependent on the achievement of certain future operating results. During the three months ended March 31, 2026 and 2025, the Company recorded a loss from the change of fair value of contingent consideration of $6.3 million and $1.0 million, respectively, which are included in operating expenses on the accompanying consolidated statement of operations.

Furthermore, the contractual purchase price of business acquisitions may include future payments to the seller that are not accounted for under ASC 805 -Business Combinations due the existence of contractual vesting periods or claw-backs. Such future payments are generally recorded as liabilities of the Company. When a component of the contractual purchase price of an acquired business is determined not to be consideration transferred in exchange for the business, and should therefore be accounted for as a separate transaction (such as compensation costs), the Company may, on occasion, recognize a gain on bargain purchase price because the accounting purchase price is not inclusive of such a separate component of the contractual purchase price when being compared to the fair value of the identifiable net assets of the acquired business which, in some cases, may result in the fair value of the identifiable net assets being in excess of the fair value of the purchase price consideration.

The Company records post-combination business expense over the vesting or claw-back period applicable for these future payments on a straight-line basis with the amount accrued recorded as other liability. The future earnout payments that have vesting or claw-back rights tied to employment will reduce the amount of the other liability when paid. The fair value of other liabilities is measured using the same Monte Carlo simulation with the same assumptions and inputs as outlined above for contingent consideration liabilities. The fair value of post-combination compensation obligations is remeasured at each reporting date, any changes in fair value are reflected as a cumulative catch up to post-combination compensation expense in the period in which the remeasurement occurred.

Goodwill and Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets

Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price in a business combination over the fair value of the net tangible and intangible assets acquired and the indefinite-lived intangible assets which consists of trademarks. In accordance with ASC 350 -Intangibles - Goodwill and Other, goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets are not amortized but tested for impairment annually and whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of an asset may not be recoverable. We test our goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment annually on October 1st using the qualitative assessment. The process of evaluating the potential impairment is highly subjective and requires the application of significant judgment. We first assess whether there are qualitative factors which would indicate that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying value. We consider events and circumstances such as, but not limited to, macroeconomic conditions, industry and market conditions, our overall financial performance, and other relevant entity-specific events. If the qualitative assessment indicates that the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, a quantitative assessment is performed.

Other Intangible Assets

Our definite-lived intangible assets consist of customer relationships, developed technology and non-compete agreements that have been acquired through various acquisitions. Our indefinite lived assets consist of trademarks that have been acquired through various acquisitions. The Company generally utilizes third-party specialists to determine the fair value of acquired intangible assets. The valuation of these assets involves significant judgment and the use of valuation techniques such as the multi-period excess earnings method and the with-and-without method. These models require management to make assumptions about future revenue growth, customer attrition, operating margins, contributory asset charges, and discount rates. Changes in these assumptions could materially affect the fair value assigned to the intangible assets and the related amortization expense.

We amortize these assets over their estimated useful lives. Long-lived assets subject to amortization are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If the carrying amount of an asset exceeds its estimated future cash flows, an impairment charge is recognized for an amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds the fair value of the asset.

Long-term incentive program charges

The fair value of awards issued under the Company’s long-term incentive program are estimated using a Black-Scholes option-pricing model on the grant date which requires subjective inputs. The inputs of the option-pricing model include the fair market value of our common stock based on the closing price as reported on the date of the grant on the AIM, estimated dividend yield, expected stock price volatility and risk-free interest rate. The amortization of the fair value of share-based awards is recorded as an expense in the statement of operations either within salaries and other personnel costs within cost of services or to general and administrative costs.