Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Description of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

v3.23.2
Description of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
12 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2023
Notes to Financial Statements  
Description of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Note 1. Description of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies:

Description of business: Bio-Techne and its subsidiaries, collectively doing business as Bio-Techne Corporation (the Company), develop, manufacture and sell life science reagents, instruments and services for the research and clinical diagnostic markets worldwide. With our deep product portfolio and application expertise, we sell integral components of scientific investigations into biological processes and molecular diagnostics, revealing the nature, diagnosis, etiology and progression of specific diseases. Our products aid in drug discovery efforts and provide the means for accurate clinical tests and diagnoses.

At the 2022 annual meeting of shareholders of the Company held on October 27, 2022, the shareholders approved an amendment and restatement of the Company’s articles of incorporation to increase the number of authorized shares of the Company’s common stock from 100,000,000 to 400,000,000. On November 1, 2022, the Company’s board of directors approved and declared a four-for-one split of the Company’s common stock in the form of a stock dividend. Each stockholder of record on November 14, 2022 received three additional shares of common stock for each then-held share, which were distributed after close of trading on November 29, 2022. All share and per share amounts presented herein have been retroactively adjusted to reflect the impact of the stock split.

Use of estimates: The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. These estimates include the valuation of accounts receivable, available-for-sale investments, inventory, intangible assets, contingent consideration, stock-based compensation and income taxes. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

Principles of consolidation: The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. As Eminence met the criteria for consolidation, the transaction was accounted for in accordance with ASC 805, Business Combinations. In applying ASC 805 to the transaction, the Company has elected to include Eminence in our consolidated financial statements on a one month lag. As noted below, Eminence was sold during the first fiscal quarter of 2023.

Translation of foreign financial statements: Assets and liabilities of the Company’s foreign operations are translated at year-end rates of exchange and the resulting gains and losses arising from the translation of net assets located outside the U.S. are recorded as other comprehensive income (loss) on the consolidated statements of earnings and comprehensive income. The cumulative translation adjustment is a component of accumulated other comprehensive loss on the consolidated balance sheets. Foreign statements of earnings are translated at the average rate of exchange for the year. Foreign currency transaction gains and losses are included in other non-operating expense in the consolidated statements of earnings and comprehensive income.

Revenue recognition: ASC 606 provides revenue recognition guidance for any entity that enters into contracts with customers to transfer goods or services or enters into contracts for the transfer of non-financial assets, unless those contracts are within the scope of other accounting standards. The core principle of ASC 606 is that revenue should be recognized to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. Refer to Note 2 for additional information regarding our revenue recognition policy under ASC 606.

Research and development: Research and development expenditures are expensed as incurred. Development activities generally relate to creating new products, improving or creating variations of existing products, or modifying existing products to meet new applications.

Advertising costs: Advertising expenses were $4.8 million, $4.6 million, and $4.7 million for fiscal 2023, 2022, and 2021 respectively. The Company expenses advertising expenses as incurred.

Income taxes: The Company uses the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized to record the income tax effect of temporary differences between the tax basis and financial reporting basis of assets and liabilities. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. Tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return are recognized in the financial statements when it is more likely than not that the position would be sustained upon examination by tax authorities. A recognized tax position is then measured at the largest amount of benefit that is greater than fifty percent likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement. The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense. Refer to Note 12 for additional information regarding income taxes.

Comprehensive income: Comprehensive income includes charges and credits to shareholders’ equity that are not the result of transactions with shareholders. Our total comprehensive income consists of net income, unrealized gains and losses on cash flow hedges, and foreign currency translation adjustments. The items of comprehensive income, with the exception of net income, are included in accumulated other comprehensive loss in the consolidated balance sheets and statements of shareholders’ equity.

Cash and cash equivalents: Cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand and highly-liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less.

Available-for-sale investments: Available-for-sale investments consist of debt instruments with original maturities of generally three months to six months and equity securities. Available-for-sale investments are recorded based on trade-date. The Company considers all of its marketable securities available-for-sale and reports them at fair value. Unrealized gains and losses on our available-for-sale securities are included within other income (expense).

Trade accounts receivable and allowances: Trade accounts receivable are initially recorded at the invoiced amount upon the sale of goods or services to customers, and they do not bear interest. They are stated net of allowances for doubtful accounts, which represent estimated losses resulting from the inability of customers to make the required payments. When determining the allowances for doubtful accounts, we take several factors into consideration, including the overall composition of accounts receivable aging, our prior history of accounts receivable write-offs, the type of customer and our day-to-day knowledge of specific customers. Changes in the allowances for doubtful accounts are included in selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expense in our consolidated statements of earnings and comprehensive income. The point at which uncollected accounts are written off varies by type of customer. The Company does not have material long-term customer receivables. 

Inventories: Inventories are stated at the lower of cost (first-in, first-out method) or net realizable value. The Company regularly reviews inventory on hand for slow-moving and obsolete inventory, inventory not meeting quality control standards and inventory subject to expiration.

For certain proteins, antibodies, and chemically based manufactured products, the Company produces larger batches of established products than current sales requirements due to economies of scale through a highly controlled manufacturing process. Accordingly, the manufacturing process for these products has and will continue to produce quantities in excess of forecasted usage. The Company forecasts usage for its products based on several factors including historical demand, current market dynamics, and technological advances. The Company forecasts product usage on an individual product level for a period that is consistent with our ability to reasonably forecast inventory usage for that product. There have been no material changes to the Company’s estimates of the net realizable value for excess and obsolete inventory or other types of inventory reserves and inventory cost adjustments in the fiscal years presented. Additionally, current and historical reserves recorded to reduce the cost of inventory to its net realizable value become part of the new cost basis for the inventory item in accordance with ASC 330 - Inventory.

Property and equipment: Property and equipment are recorded at cost. Equipment is depreciated using the straight-line method over an estimated useful life of 3 to 5 years. Buildings, building improvements and leasehold improvements are amortized over estimated useful lives of 5 to 40 years.

Contingent Consideration: Contingent Consideration relates to the potential payment for an acquisition that is contingent upon the achievement of the acquired business meeting certain product development milestones and/or certain financial performance milestones. The Company records contingent consideration at fair value at the date of acquisition based on the consideration expected to be transferred. For potential payments related to financial performance milestones, we use a real option model in calculating the fair value of the contingent consideration liabilities. The assumptions utilized in the calculation based on financial performance milestones include projected revenue and/or EBITDA amounts, volatility and discount rates. For potential payments related to product development milestones, we estimated the fair value based on the probability of achievement of such milestones. The assumptions utilized in the calculation of the acquisition date fair value include probability of success and the discount rates. Contingent consideration involves certain assumptions requiring significant judgment and actual results may differ from assumed and estimated amounts. Contingent consideration is remeasured each reporting period, and subsequent changes in fair value, including accretion for the passage of time, are recognized within selling, general and administrative in the consolidated statement of earnings and comprehensive income.

Intangible assets: Intangible assets are stated at historical cost less accumulated amortization. Amortization expense is generally determined on the straight-line basis over periods ranging from 1 year to 20 years. Each reporting period, we evaluate the remaining useful lives of our amortizable intangibles to determine whether events or circumstances warrant a revision to the remaining period of amortization. If our estimate of an asset’s remaining useful life is revised, the remaining carrying amount of the asset is amortized prospectively over the revised remaining useful life.

Given the anticipated liquidation process to dispose of the Eminence assets, the Company identified a triggering event in the second quarter of fiscal 2022 and performed impairment testing. The impairment testing resulted in a full impairment of the Eminence intangible assets. Refer to the Impairment of Goodwill section as part of Note 1 for further details related to the triggering event and related impairment recorded.

In conjunction with the Asuragen acquisition that occurred in fiscal year 2021, the Company reassessed the useful life of a tradename from a previous acquisition due to the planned integration and cobranding strategy developed with the most recent transaction. As a result, the Company accelerated the amortization of the trade name to be consistent with the life used for the Asuragen trade name. The accelerated amortization resulted in a $1.4 million impact in fiscal 2021, a $5.7 million impact in fiscal years 2022 through 2025, and a $4.3 million impact in fiscal year 2026.

Impairment of long-lived assets and amortizable intangibles: We evaluate the recoverability of property, plant, equipment and amortizable intangibles whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that an asset’s carrying amount may not be recoverable. Such circumstances could include, but are not limited to, (1) a significant decrease in the market value of an asset, (2) a significant adverse change in the extent or manner in which an asset is used or in its physical condition, or (3) an accumulation of costs significantly in excess of the amount originally expected for the acquisition or construction of an asset. We compare the carrying amount of the asset to the estimated undiscounted future cash flows associated with it. If the sum of the expected future net cash flows is less than the carrying value of the asset being evaluated, an impairment loss would be recognized. The impairment loss would be calculated as the amount by which the carrying value of the asset exceeds the fair value of the asset. As quoted market prices are not available for the majority of our assets, the estimate of fair value is based on various valuation techniques, including the discounted value of estimated future cash flows.

The evaluation of asset impairment requires us to make assumptions about future cash flows over the life of the asset being evaluated. These assumptions require significant judgment and actual results may differ from assumed and estimated amounts. No other triggering events were identified and no other impairments were recorded for property, plant, and equipment or amortizable intangibles during fiscal years 2023, 2022, and 2021.

Impairment of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets: We evaluate the carrying value of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets during the fourth quarter each year and between annual evaluations if events occur or circumstances change that would indicate a possible impairment. Such circumstances could include, but are not limited to, (1) a significant adverse change in legal factors or in business climate, (2) unanticipated competition, (3) an adverse action or assessment by a regulator, or (4) an adverse change in market conditions that are indicative of a decline in the fair value of the assets.

To analyze goodwill, we must assign our goodwill to individual reporting units. Identification of reporting units includes an analysis of the components that comprise each of our operating segments, which considers, among other things, the manner in which we operate our business and the availability of discrete financial information. Components of an operating segment are aggregated to form one reporting unit if the components have similar economic characteristics. We periodically review our reporting units to ensure that they continue to reflect the manner in which we operate our business. The Company had five reporting units for our 2023, 2022, and 2021 goodwill impairment assessment performed on April 1 of each of the respective fiscal years, the date of our annual goodwill impairment assessment.

The Company tests goodwill for impairment by either performing a qualitative evaluation or a quantitative test. The qualitative evaluation for goodwill is an assessment of factors including reporting unit specific operating results as well as industry and market conditions, overall financial performance, and other relevant events and factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair values of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, including goodwill. The Company may elect to bypass the qualitative assessment for its reporting units and perform a quantitative test.

The quantitative impairment test requires us to estimate the fair value of our reporting units based the income approach. The income approach is a valuation technique under which we estimate future cash flows using the reporting unit’s financial forecast from the perspective of an unrelated market participant. Using historical trending and internal forecasting techniques, we project revenue and apply our fixed and variable cost experience rate to the projected revenue to arrive at the future cash flows. A terminal value is then applied to the projected cash flow stream. Future estimated cash flows are discounted to their present value to calculate the estimated fair value. The discount rate used is the value-weighted average of our estimated cost of capital derived using both known and estimated customary market metrics. In determining the estimated fair value of a reporting unit, we are required to estimate a number of factors, including projected operating results, terminal growth rates, economic conditions, anticipated future cash flows, the discount rate and the allocation of shared or corporate items.

For fiscal 2023, we elected to perform a qualitative analysis for all five reporting units. The Company determined, after performing the qualitative analysis, there was no evidence that it is more likely than not that the fair value was less than the carrying amounts, therefore, it was not necessary to perform a quantitative impairment test in fiscal 2023. The Company did not identify any triggering events after our annual goodwill impairment analysis through June 30, 2023, the date of our consolidated balance sheet, that would require an additional goodwill impairment assessment to be performed.

For fiscal 2023, the Company also performed a qualitative assessment of the acquired in-process research and development assets to determine whether changes in events, circumstances, or the probability of successful development and commercialization of the assets indicated that it is more likely than not that the fair value of the acquired assets are less than its carrying amount.  Based on the analysis, the Company determined there was no indication of impairment of the indefinite-lived intangible assets.

On September 1, 2022, the Company completed the sale of its equity shares of Eminence for approximately $17.8 million to a third party. Eminence was considered a variable-interest entity that was fully consolidated in our financial statements. Prior to the sale, Eminence had revenue of $2.0 million for the first fiscal quarter of 2023 within our Protein Sciences segment. Fiscal 2022 revenues were $4.6 million. As a result of the sale of the business, the Company recorded a gain of $11.7 million within the Other income (expense) line in the Consolidated Statement of Earnings. Prior to the sale of Eminence, a triggering event was identified in the second quarter of fiscal 2022 and impairment testing was performed as Eminence was forecasted to not have sufficient cash to execute on their growth plan combined with their inability to secure additional financing. Our impairment testing resulted in a full impairment of the Eminence goodwill and intangibles assets for charges of $8.3 million and $8.6 million, respectively, for the year ended June 30, 2022. The Company also recognized inventory and fixed asset impairment charges of $0.9 million and $0.9 million, respectively. These impairment charges were recorded within the General and Administrative line in the Consolidated Statement of Earnings for fiscal 2022. In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022, Eminence was able to secure cash deposits on future orders to provide funding for their operations. This delay in liquidation allowed time for securing of additional investor financing which coincided with the sale of the Company's investment.

In the first quarter of fiscal 2022, the Company combined the management of the Exosome Diagnostics and Asuragen reporting units, both of which are included in the Diagnostics and Genomics operating segment. In conjunction with the

combination of the reporting units, a qualitative goodwill impairment assessment was performed. The qualitative assessment identified no indicators of impairment.

In our fiscal 2022 annual goodwill impairment analysis, we elected to perform a quantitative assessment for all five of our reporting units. The result of our quantitative assessment indicated that all of the reporting units had a substantial amount of headroom as of April 1, 2022. The Company did not identify any triggering events after our annual goodwill impairment through June 30, 2022, the date of our consolidated balance sheet, that would require an additional goodwill impairment assessment to be performed.

In fiscal 2021, because our 2021 quantitative analyses included all of our reporting units, the summation of our reporting units’ fair values, as indicated by our discounted cash flow calculations, were compared to our consolidated fair value, as indicated by our market capitalization, to evaluate the reasonableness of our calculations. This impairment assessment is sensitive to changes in forecasted cash flows, as well as our selected discount rate. Changes in the reporting unit’s results, forecast assumptions and estimates could materially affect the estimation of the fair value of the reporting units. The quantitative assessment completed as of April 1, 2021 indicated that all of the reporting units had a substantial amount of headroom. Accordingly, the Company determined there was no indication of impairment of goodwill in our annual goodwill impairment analysis. Further, no triggering events were identified in the year ended June 30, 2021 that would require an additional goodwill impairment assessment beyond our required annual goodwill impairment assessment.

Investments: In December 2021, the Company paid $25 million to enter into a two-part forward contract which requires the Company to make an initial ownership investment followed by purchase of full equity interest in Wilson Wolf if certain annual revenue or annual EBITDA thresholds are met. Wilson Wolf is a leading manufacturer of cell culture devices, including the G-Rex product line.

The first part of the forward contract is triggered upon Wilson Wolf achieving approximately $92 million in annual revenue or $55 million in EBITDA at any point prior to December 31, 2027. During the quarter ended March 31, 2023, the Company determined that Wilson Wolf had met the EBITDA target. On March 31, 2023, the Company paid an additional $232 million to acquire 19.9% of Wilson Wolf.

Since the first part of the forward contract has been triggered, the second part of the forward contract will automatically trigger, and requires the Company to acquire the remaining equity interest in Wilson Wolf on December 31, 2027 based on a revenue multiple of approximately 4.4 times trailing twelve month revenue. The second part of the contract would be accelerated in advance of December 31, 2027, if Wilson Wolf meets its second milestone of approximately $226 million in annual revenue or $136 million in annual EBITDA. If the second milestone is achieved, the forward contract requires the Company to pay approximately $1 billion plus potential consideration for revenue in excess of the revenue milestone.

The investment in Wilson Wolf is accounted for as an equity method investment under ASC 323 and included within our consolidated financials on a one month lag. The Company initially records its equity method investments at the amount of the Company’s investment and adjusts each period for the Company’s share of the investee’s income or loss and dividends paid. For the year ended June 30, 2023, there was $1.1 million of loss recorded on the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Earnings and Comprehensive Income related to the investment. The Company’s total investment of $256 million as of June 30, 2023 is included within Other assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheet.

Restructuring actions: Restructuring actions generally include significant actions involving employee-related severance charges, contract termination costs, and impairments and disposals of assets associated with such actions. Employee-related severance charges are based upon distributed employment policies and substantive severance plans. These charges are reflected in the quarter when the actions are probable and the amounts are estimable, which typically is when management approves the associated actions. Asset impairment and disposal charges include right of use assets, leasehold improvements, and other asset write-downs associated with combining operations and disposal of assets.

Fiscal Year 2023 Restructuring Actions:

QT Holdings Corporation (Quad)

In August 2022, the Company informed employees of our decision to close our Quad facility as part of a realignment of activities within our Reagent Solutions division. The closure of the site was completed in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023. As a result of the restructuring activities, an estimated pre-tax charge of $2.2 million was recorded within our Protein Sciences segment for the year ended June 30, 2023. The related restructuring charges for the year ended June 30, 2023 were recorded in the income statement as follows (in thousands):

Employee

Asset

    

severance

    

impairment and other

    

Total

Selling, general and administrative

$

1,328

$

842

$

2,170

Employee

Asset

    

severance

    

impairment and other

    

Total

Expense incurred in the first quarter of 2023

$

1,328

$

842

$

2,170

Cash payments

(1,233)

(772)

(2,005)

Adjustments

(95)

(70)

(165)

Accrued restructuring actions balances as of June 30, 2023

$

$

$

Protein Sciences realignment

In December 2022, the Company informed employees it would undertake certain actions to strategically reallocate operations resources to high growth areas of the business. Additional actions were taken in June 2023 primarily related to the sales organization. The actions impacted a limited number of employees and are expected to be completed in the first quarter of fiscal 2024. As a result of the realignment, a pre-tax charge of $1.7 million related to employee severance was recorded in the Selling, general and administrative line of operating income within our Protein Sciences segment during the year ended June 30, 2023. Restructuring actions, including cash and non-cash impacts, are as follows (in thousands):

Employee

severance

Expense incurred in the second quarter of 2023

$

780

Expense incurred in the fourth quarter of 2023

897

Cash payments

(762)

Adjustments

(18)

Accrued restructuring actions balances as of June 30, 2023

$

897

Fiscal Year 2022 Restructuring Actions:

In September 2021, the Company informed employees of our decision to close our Exosome Diagnostics Germany facility, discontinuing lab and research occurring at the site, as part of a realignment of activities within our Exosome Diagnostics business. The restructuring activities were complete as of June 30, 2022. As a result of the restructuring activities, a pre-tax charge of $1.4 million was recorded within our Diagnostics and Genomics segment during the year ended June 30, 2022. Total restructuring charges for the closure of the Exosome Diagnostics Germany facility for the year ended June 30, 2022 were recorded within operating income on the income statement as follows (in thousands):

Employee

Asset

    

Severance

    

Impairment and other

    

Total

Selling, general and administrative

$

649

$

750

$

1,399

Employee

Asset

    

Severance

    

Impairment and other

    

Total

Expense incurred in the first quarter of 2022

$

639

$

546

$

1,185

Incremental expense incurred during fiscal 2022

242

242

Cash payments

(589)

(554)

(1,143)

Adjustments(1)

(50)

(234)

(284)

Accrued restructuring actions balances as of June 30, 2022

$

(1) Adjustments include refinements to our estimated close down costs as well as the impacts from foreign currency exchange.

During the second quarter of fiscal 2022, the Company also incurred a restructuring charge of $0.2 million related to employee severance for the relocation of a US plant. This was completed during fiscal 2023 and there are no remaining liabilities related to this relocation as of June 30, 2023. This charge was recorded within Other current liabilities as of June 30, 2022. Fiscal 2023 cash payments did not materially differ from the charge recorded in fiscal 2022.

Other Significant Accounting Policies

The following table includes a reference to additional significant accounting policies that are described in other notes to the financial statements, including the note number:

Policy

    

Note

 

Fair value measurements

 

 

5

 

Leases

7

Earnings per share

 

 

9

 

Share-based compensation

 

 

10

 

Operating segments

 

 

13

 

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326), Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. The amendment in this update replaced the previous incurred loss impairment methodology with a methodology that reflects expected credit losses on financial instruments within its scope, including trade and loan receivables and available-for-sale debt securities. This update is intended to provide financial statement users with more decision-useful information about the expected credit losses. The Company adopted this standard on July 1, 2020 using a modified retrospective transition approach with a cumulative impact of $0.3 million to retained earnings. The adoption of this ASU did not have a material impact on the Company's financial statements as the Company's primary financial instruments impacted by the ASU were trade accounts receivable, where we have high historical and expected future collections due to the length of receivables and the credit quality of our customers.

In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU No. 2020-04, Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting and in January 2021 issued ASU No. 2021-01, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Scope. These ASUs provide expedients and exceptions to existing guidance on contract modifications and hedge accounting that is optional to facilitate the market transition from a reference rate, including LIBOR which was phased out in 2021, to a new reference rate. The provisions of the ASUs impact contract modifications and other changes that occur while LIBOR is phased out. The Company adopted the optional relief guidance provided within these ASUs in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2021. The Company’s current debt and derivative instruments utilize SOFR as the reference rate. The adoption of the standard did not impact our financial results for fiscal 2022 or fiscal 2023.