1. Business Overview and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Business Overview

CPI Card Group Inc. (which, together with its subsidiary companies, is referred to herein as “CPI” or the “Company”) is a payments technology company providing a comprehensive range of payment cards and related digital solutions. CPI is a leader in several areas of the U.S. payment card solutions market, including debit and credit card production, personalization, and Software-as-a-Service-based (“SaaS-based”) instant issuance services. CPI is also a market leader in the production of “Prepaid Debit Cards,” defined as debit cards issued on the networks of the “Payment Card Brands” (Visa, Mastercard^®, American Express^® and Discover^®) but not linked to a traditional bank account, and related secure packaging solutions.

CPI’s revenues are primarily generated from the production of and services related to secure debit and credit cards that are issued on the networks of the Payment Card Brands, including Prepaid Debit Cards. The Company’s business consists of the following reportable segments:

Basis of Presentation

Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) have been condensed or omitted pursuant to Form 10-Q and Article 8 of Regulation S-X. In the opinion of management, these financial statements reflect all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) considered necessary for the fair statement of the results of the interim periods presented. The condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2024 is derived from the audited financial statements as of that date. The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024.

Use of Estimates

Management uses estimates and assumptions relating to the reporting of assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements, the reported revenues and expenses recognized during the reporting period, and certain financial statement disclosures in the preparation of the condensed consolidated financial statements. Significant items subject to such estimates and assumptions include the carrying amount of property and equipment, goodwill and intangible assets, leases, valuation allowances for inventories and deferred taxes, revenue recognized for work performed but not completed, recognition of amounts and timing of contract costs, and uncertain tax positions. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

​

Business Combinations

The Company accounts for business combinations using the acquisition method of accounting, which requires that most assets (both tangible and intangible) and liabilities are recognized at fair value at the date of acquisition. The excess of the purchase price over the fair value of net assets is recognized as goodwill. Certain adjustments to the assessed fair values of the assets and liabilities made subsequent to the acquisition date, but within the measurement period, which is one year or less, are recorded as adjustments to goodwill. Results of operations of the acquired company are included in the Company’s results from the date of the acquisition. Acquisition-related costs are expensed as incurred and included in “Selling, general, and administrative expenses” in the Company’s condensed consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income.

Revenue Recognition

​

During the second quarter of 2025, the Company reassessed certain aspects of its revenue recognition practices under ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, and the legal enforceability of certain contract terms based on evolving business practices where the Company and a customer deviate from contract terms after an order is placed but before it is shipped. This assessment highlights the Company’s approach relating to goods that are in production but have not yet shipped, reflecting its emphasis on maintaining long-term customer relationships.

​

Such deviations may impact the legal enforceability of payment terms for goods that are in the process of being produced but have not shipped. As a result, the Company concluded that certain contracts no longer meet the criteria for over-time revenue recognition under ASC 606. Effective prospectively beginning in the second quarter of 2025, the Company began recognizing revenue for these contracts at a point in time, typically upon shipment or customer acceptance. Additionally, in connection with the acquisition and integration of Arroweye Solutions, Inc. ("Arroweye") during the second quarter of 2025, the Company assessed Arroweye’s customer contracts and determined that Arroweye revenue should also be recognized at point-in-time.

​

Customer Contracts

The Company often enters into Master Services Agreements (“MSAs”) with its customers. Generally, enforceable rights and obligations for goods and services occur only when a customer places a purchase order or statement of work to obtain goods or services under an MSA. The contract term as defined by ASC 606 is the length of time it takes to deliver the goods or services promised under the purchase order or statement of work. As such, the Company's contracts are generally short term in nature.

​

Costs to Obtain a Contract with a Customer

Costs to obtain a contract (“contract costs”) include only costs that the Company would not have incurred if the contract had not been obtained. For contracts in which the term is greater than one year, these costs are recorded as an asset and amortized consistent with the timing of the related revenue over the life of the contract. The current portion of the asset is included in “Prepaid expenses and other current assets” and the noncurrent portion is included in “Other assets” on the Company's condensed consolidated balance sheets. Contract costs incurred but unpaid are included in “Accrued expenses” on the Company's condensed consolidated balance sheets. Contract costs are expensed as incurred when the amortization period is one year or less.

​

​

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

​

In September 2025, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued ASU 2025-06, Intangibles—Goodwill and Other—Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40), to clarify and modernize the accounting for costs related to internal-use software. Although adoption of this accounting standard would have been effective for the Company for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2027, the Company elected to early adopt the standard in the third quarter of 2025. The application of ASU 2025-06 does not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position and results of operations.

​

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

​

In December 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued ASU 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures, which will require a disaggregated rate reconciliation disclosure as well as additional information regarding taxes paid on an annual basis. Adoption of this accounting standard is effective for the Company for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. The Company has elected not to early adopt this accounting standard. The adoption of this standard will result in additional income tax disclosures for the year ended December 31, 2025; however, the Company does not anticipate that it will have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position and results of operations.

In November 2024, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued ASU 2024-03, Income Statement - Reporting Comprehensive Income - Expense Disaggregation Disclosures (Subtopic 220-40): Disaggregation of Income Statement Expenses, which will require disclosure of disaggregated information about certain expense captions presented in the income statement. Adoption of this accounting standard is effective for the Company for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2026, and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2027. The requirements should be applied on a prospective basis while retrospective application is permitted. The Company is evaluating the impact of adoption of this standard and does not anticipate that it will have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position and results of operations.