Note 5. Fair Value Measurements:

The Company’s financial instruments include cash and cash equivalents, available for sale investments, derivative instruments, accounts receivable, accounts payable, contingent consideration obligations, and long-term debt.

Fair value is defined as the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants as of the measurement date. This standard also establishes a hierarchy for inputs used in measuring fair value. This standard maximizes the use of observable inputs and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs by requiring that the most observable inputs be used when available. Observable inputs are inputs market participants would use in valuing the asset or liability based on market data obtained from independent sources. Unobservable inputs are inputs that reflect our assumptions about the factors market participants would use in valuing the asset or liability based upon the best information available in the circumstances.

The categorization of financial assets and liabilities within the valuation hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The hierarchy is broken down into three levels. Level 1 inputs are quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. Level 2 inputs include 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, and inputs (other than quoted prices) that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. Level 3 inputs are unobservable for the asset or liability and their fair values are determined using pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies or similar techniques and at least one significant model assumption or input is unobservable. Level 3 may also include certain investment securities for which there is limited market activity or a decrease in the observability of market pricing for the investments, such that the determination of fair value requires significant judgment or estimation.

The following tables provide information by level for financial assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis (in thousands):

Fair value measurements of available for sale securities

Our available for sale securities are measured at fair value using quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets and are therefore classified as Level 1 assets. The Company's warrant to purchase additional shares at a specified future price was valued using a Black-Scholes model with observable inputs in active markets and therefore was classified as a Level 2 asset. 

Fair value measurements of derivative instruments,

In  October 2018, the Company entered into forward starting swaps designated as cash flow hedges on outstanding debt. The forward starting swaps reduce the variability of cash flow payments for the Company by converting the variable interest rate on the Company’s long-term debt described in Note 6 to that of a fixed interest rate. Accordingly, as part of the forward starting swaps, the Company exchanges, at specified intervals, the difference between floating and fixed interest amounts based on an initial $380 million of notional principal amount. The notional amount decreased by $100 million in  October 2020 and further decreased by $80 million in  October 2021 and $200 million in  October 2022. In  June 2020, the Company de-designated $80 million of the notional amount set to expire in  October 2020. The net loss associated with the  June 2020 de-designated portion of the derivative instrument was not reclassified into earnings based on the amount of probable variable interest payments to occur within a two month time period of the forecasted hedged transaction. In  December 2020, the Company de-designated an additional $80 million of notional amount set to expire in  October 2021. During fiscal year 2021, the Company recorded a loss in other non-operating income related to variable interest debt payments in certain months on a portion of the de-designated derivative that is not expected to occur. The remaining variable interest payments for the portion of the de-designated derivative are considered probable of occurring and therefore remain in accumulated other comprehensive income as of September 30, 2021. The fair value of the portion of the de-designated derivative was $0.2 million and $0.8 million as of September 30, 2021 and June 30, 2021, respectively, which is recorded within short-term liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheet. The fair value of the designated derivative instrument is $6.2 million and $7.6 million as of September 30, 2021 and June 30, 2021, respectively, and is recorded within other long-term liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheet. 

In  May 2021, the Company entered into a new forward starting swap designated as a cash flow hedge on forecasted debt. The forward starting swap reduces the variability of cash flow payments for the Company by converting the variable interest rate on the Company’s forecasted variable interest long-term debt to that of a fixed interest rate. Accordingly, as part of the forward starting swap, the Company exchanges, at specified intervals, the difference between floating and fixed interest amounts based on $200 million of notional principal amount. The effective date of the swap is  November 2022 with the full swap maturing in  November 2025. The fair value of the derivative instrument was $0.5 million and $0.3 million as of September 30, 2021 and June 30, 2021, respectively, which is recorded within other long-term assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheet.

Changes in the fair value of the designated hedged instrument are reported as a component of other comprehensive income and reclassified into interest expense over the corresponding term of the cash flow hedge. The Company reclassified $2.1 million to interest expense and related tax benefits of $0.5 million during the three months ended  September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively. The instruments were valued using observable market inputs in active markets and therefore are classified as Level 2 liabilities.

Fair value measurements of contingent consideration

The Company has $22.6 million in contingent consideration recorded as of September 30, 2021, which is the fair value of contingent consideration related to the Asuragen and B-MoGen Biotechnologies Inc ("B-MoGen") acquisitions. The Company is required to make contingent consideration payments of up to $105.0 million and $38.0 million, respectively, as part of these acquisition agreements. The contingent agreement with Asuragen is based on achieving certain revenue thresholds. The preliminary fair value of the liabilities for the Asuragen acquisition is $18.3 million as discussed in Note 4. The contingent agreement with B-MoGen is based on meeting certain product development milestones and revenue thresholds. The preliminary fair value of the revenue milestone payments was determined using a Monte Carlo simulation-based model discounted to present value. Assumptions used in these calculations are units sold, expected revenue, expected expenses, discount rate, and various probability factors.

The ultimate settlement of contingent consideration liabilities for the Asuragen and B-Mogen acquisitions could deviate from current estimates based on the actual results of the financial measures described above. This liability is considered to be a Level 3 financial liability that is re-measured each reporting period. The change in fair value of contingent consideration for these acquisitions is included in general and administrative expense.

During the first quarter of fiscal 2022, the Company made a $4.0 million payment on the QT Holdings Corporation contingent consideration agreement relating to certain product development milestones. The cash paid was consistent with the related accrual as of June 30, 2021. 

The following table presents a reconciliation of the liability measured at fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) (in thousands):

The use of different assumptions, applying different judgment to matters that inherently are subjective and changes in future market conditions could result in different estimates of fair value of our securities or contingent consideration, currently and in the future. If market conditions deteriorate, we may incur impairment charges for securities in our investment portfolio. We may also incur changes to our contingent consideration liability as discussed below.

Fair value measurements of other financial instruments – The following methods and assumptions were used to estimate the fair value of each class of financial instrument for which it is practicable to estimate fair value.

Cash and cash equivalents, certificates of deposit, accounts receivable, and accounts payable – The carrying amounts reported in the consolidated balance sheets approximate fair value because of the short-term nature of these items.

Long-term debt – The carrying amounts reported in the consolidated balance sheets for the amount drawn on our line-of-credit facility and long-term debt approximates fair value because our interest rate is variable and reflects current market rates.