Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Fair Value Measurements

v3.21.2
Fair Value Measurements
12 Months Ended
Sep. 25, 2021
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]  
Fair Value Measurements Fair Value Measurements
Generally accepted accounting principles require financial assets and liabilities to be categorized based on the inputs used to calculate their fair values as follows:
Level 1 – Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
Level 2 – Inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly.
Level 3 – Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability, which reflect the Company’s own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability (including assumptions about risk).
The Company’s financial instruments include cash and equivalents, restricted cash and equivalents, short term investments, accounts receivable and payable, derivative instruments, short-term borrowings, and accrued liabilities. The carrying amount of these instruments approximates fair value because of their short-term nature.
Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis
The following table presents the Company’s financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis based upon the level within the fair value hierarchy in which the fair value measurements fall, as of September 25, 2021:
Level 1     Level 2     Level 3     Total    
(in thousands)
Liabilities:
Liability for contingent consideration (a) $ —  $ —  $ 1,606  $ 1,606 
Total liabilities $ —  $ —  $ 1,606  $ 1,606 
The following table presents our financial assets and liabilities at fair value on a recurring basis based upon the level within the fair value hierarchy in which the fair value measurements fall, as of September 26, 2020:
Level 1     Level 2     Level 3     Total    
(in thousands)
Liabilities:
Liability for contingent consideration (a) $ —  $ —  $ 1,369  $ 1,369 
Total liabilities $ —  $ —  $ 1,369  $ 1,369 

(a)The fair values of the Company's contingent consideration liabilities from previous business acquisitions are considered "Level 3" measurements because the Company uses various estimates in the valuation models to project timing and amount of future contingent payments. The liability for contingent consideration relates to an earn-out for B2E, acquired in December 2012, future performance-based contingent payments for Hydro-Organics Wholesale, Inc., acquired in October 2015 and future performance-based contingent payments for Segrest, Inc., acquired in October 2016. In December 2019, performance-based criteria associated with the $6 million contingent consideration liability related to Segrest, Inc. were met and accordingly, the entire amount was released out of an independent escrow account to the former owners as of December 28, 2019. The performance period related to B2E ended on December 31, 2020. The performance period related to Hydro-Organics Wholesale extends through fiscal year 2025. The fair value of the estimated contingent consideration arrangement is determined based on the Company’s evaluation as to the probability and amount of any earn-out that will be achieved based on expected future performance by the acquired entity. This is presented as part of long-term liabilities in the Company's consolidated balance sheets.
The following table provides a summary of changes in fair value of the Company's Level 3 financial instruments for the years ended September 25, 2021 and September 26, 2020:
  Amount
(in thousands)
Balance as of September 26, 2020 $ 1,369 
Estimated contingent performance-based consideration established at the time of acquisition — 
Changes in the fair value of contingent performance-based payments 610 
Performance-based payments made (373)
Balance as of September 25, 2021 $ 1,606 
Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Non-Recurring Basis
The Company measures certain non-financial assets and liabilities, including long-lived assets, goodwill and intangible assets, at fair value on a non-recurring basis. Fair value measurements of non-financial assets and non-financial liabilities are used primarily in the impairment analyses of long-lived assets, goodwill and other intangible assets. As a result of one of our retail customers exiting the live fish business, factors indicating the carrying value of certain amortizable intangible assets may not be recoverable were present during the quarter ended March 30, 2019. The Company performed impairment testing on these assets, found the carrying value was not recoverable, and accordingly, recorded an impairment charge in its Pet segment of approximately $2.5 million as part of selling, general and administrative expenses in the consolidated statements of operations for the fiscal year ended September 28, 2019. There were no impairment losses recorded in fiscal 2020 or fiscal 2021.
In February 2019, the Company purchased the remaining 55% interest in Arden Companies, a manufacturer of outdoor cushions and pillows, for $13.4 million. Accordingly, the Company remeasured its previously held investment at its acquisition-date fair value and recorded a gain of approximately $3.2 million as part of selling, general and administrative expenses in the Company's consolidated statements of operations.
Fair Value of Other Financial Instruments
In April 2021, the Company issued $400 million aggregate principal amount of 4.125% senior notes due April 2031 (the "2031 Notes"). The estimated fair value of the Company's 2031 Notes as of September 25, 2021 was $408.5 million compared to a carrying value of $394.2 million.
In October 2020, the Company issued $500 million aggregate principal amount of 4.125% senior notes due October 2030 (the "2030 Notes"). The estimated fair value of the Company's 2030 Notes as of September 25, 2021 was $517.2 million, compared to a carrying value of $492.8 million.
In December 2017, the Company issued $300 million aggregate principal amount of 5.125% senior notes due February 2028 (the "2028 Notes"). The estimated fair value of the Company's 2028 Notes as of September 25, 2021 and September 26, 2020 was $318.6 million and $316.0 million, respectively, compared to a carrying value of $297.0 million and $296.6 million, respectively.
In November 2020, the Company redeemed $400 million aggregate principal amount of 6.125% senior notes due November 2023 (the “2023 Notes”) at a price of 101.531%.
The estimated fair value is based on quoted market prices for these notes, which are Level 1 inputs within the fair value hierarchy.