Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Liquidity Matters

The Company has incurred net losses since its inception and anticipates net losses and negative operating cash flows for the near future. The Company had a net loss of $136.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and an accumulated deficit of $2.1 billion as of March 31, 2023. As of March 31, 2023, the Company had $403.2 million in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash, $408.9 million in marketable securities, $80.4 million outstanding balance on its Credit Line (as defined in Note 10, Debt) including accrued interest and $287.5 million of outstanding principal on its 2.25% Convertible Senior Notes (the “Convertible Notes”). As of March 31, 2023, the Company had $70.0 million remaining and available on its Credit Line.

While the Company has introduced multiple products that are generating revenues, these revenues have not been sufficient to fund all operations. Accordingly, the Company has funded the portion of operating costs that exceeds revenues through a combination of equity issuances, debt issuances, and other financings.

The Company continues to develop and commercialize future products and invest in the growth of its business and, consequently, will need to generate additional revenues to achieve future profitability and will need to raise additional equity or debt financing. If the Company raises additional funds by issuing equity securities, its stockholders will experience dilution. Additional debt financing, if available, may involve covenants restricting its operations or its ability to incur additional debt. Any additional debt financing or additional equity that the Company raises may contain terms that are not favorable to it or its stockholders and requires significant debt service payments, which diverts resources from other activities. Additional financing may not be available at all, or in amounts or on terms acceptable to the Company. If the Company is unable to obtain additional financing, it may be required to delay the development and commercialization of its products and significantly scale back its business and operations.

On September 10, 2021, the Company entered into an agreement with a third party for an asset acquisition where the acquired asset was in-process research and development primarily in exchange for an equity consideration payment. In addition, pursuant to the agreement, certain employees of the third party became employees of the Company. The third party was a biotechnology company focused on oncology. The total upfront acquisition consideration amounts to $35.6 million composed of the issuance of 276,346 shares of the Company's common stock with a fair value of $30.9 million, approximately $3.9 million of cash consideration, assumed net liabilities of $0.2 million, as well as $0.6 million of acquisition related legal and accounting costs directly attributable to the acquisition of the asset. The Company accounted for the transaction as an asset acquisition as substantially all of the estimated fair value of the gross assets acquired was concentrated in a single identified in-process research and development asset (“IPR&D”) thus satisfying the requirements of the screen test in ASU 2017-01. The estimated fair value of the acquired workforce was not significant. The Company concluded the acquired IPR&D has no alternative-future use and accordingly expensed approximately $35.6 million, on the day the transaction closed as research and development expense, which is reflected in its consolidated statement of operations.

Further, additional consideration aggregating up to approximately $35.0 million was estimated to be paid via issuance of an estimated 269,547 additional Natera common shares, consistent with the registration statement filed with the SEC on September 10, 2021, upon achievement of defined milestones relating to product development, commercial launch and continued employment of certain selling shareholders, each of which will be revalued at each reporting date and amount of compensation expense will be adjusted accordingly. In November 2022, the terms of the payment for any remaining consideration were modified, resulting in $10.0 million of consideration paid in December 2022 and $15.0 million consideration paid in March 2023, with such consideration primarily consisting of Natera common stock.

In November 2022, the Company completed an underwritten equity offering and sold 13,144,500 shares of its common stock at a price of $35 per share to the public. Before estimated offering expenses of $0.5 million, the Company received proceeds of approximately $433.2 million net of the underwriting discount.

Based on the Company’s current business plan, the Company believes that its existing cash and marketable securities will be sufficient to meet its anticipated cash requirements for at least 12 months after May 9, 2023.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions about future events that affect the amounts of assets and liabilities reported, disclosures about contingent assets and liabilities, and reported amounts of revenues and expenses. Significant items subject to such estimates include the allowance for doubtful accounts, average selling price expected to be received from insurance payors, the operating right-of-use assets and the associated lease liabilities, the average useful life for property and equipment, deferred revenues associated with unsatisfied performance obligations, accrued liability for potential refund requests, stock-based compensation, the fair value of options, income tax uncertainties, and the expected consideration to be received from contracts with customers. These estimates and assumptions are based on management's best estimates and judgment. Management regularly evaluates its estimates and assumptions using historical experience and other factors, including contractual terms and statutory limits; however, actual results could differ from these estimates and could have an adverse effect on the Company's financial statements.

Revenue

The total consideration which the Company expects to be entitled to receive from patients and insurance carriers in exchange for the Company's products is a significant estimate determined by calculating the average selling price based on the contractual pricing agreed to with each insurance carrier for each test (CPT code) performed adjusted for variable consideration related to historical percent of cases allowed, historical percent of patient responsibility collected, and historical percent of contract price collected from insurance carriers. The Company uses the expected-value approach of estimating variable consideration. The Company also considers recent trends, past events not expected to recur, and future known changes such as anticipated contractual pricing changes or changes to insurance coverage. For insurance carriers with similar reimbursement characteristics, the Company uses a portfolio approach to estimate the effects of variable consideration. The Company also applies a constraint to the estimated variable consideration when it assesses it is probable that a significant reversal in the amount of cumulative revenue may occur in future periods.

When assessing the total consideration for insurance carriers and patients, a certain percentage of revenues is further constrained for estimated refunds.

Allowance for doubtful accounts

The allowance for doubtful accounts for trade accounts receivable and other receivables is based on the Company’s assessment of the collectability of customer accounts. The Company regularly reviews the allowance by considering factors such as historical experience, credit quality, the age of the accounts receivable balances, and current economic conditions that may affect a customer’s ability to pay.

Appropriate provision has been made for lifetime expected credit losses in accordance with ASC Topic 326-20, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses (“Topic 326”), for trade receivables and available-for-sale debt securities. The Company’s estimate of expected credit losses includes consideration of past events, current conditions and forecasts of future economic conditions.

Inventory

Inventory is recorded at the lower of cost or net realizable value, determined on a first-in, first-out basis. The Company uses judgment to analyze and determine if the composition of its inventory is obsolete, slow-moving or unsalable and frequently reviews such determinations. A write down of specifically identified unusable, obsolete, slow-moving or known unsalable inventory in the period is first recognized by using a number of factors including product expiration dates and scrapped inventory. Any write-down of inventory to net realizable value establishes a new cost basis and will be maintained even if certain circumstances suggest the inventory is recoverable in subsequent periods. Costs associated with the write-down of inventory are recorded to cost of revenue on our consolidated statements of operations. The Company makes assumptions about future demand, market conditions and the release of new products that may supersede older products. However, if actual market conditions are less favorable than anticipated, additional inventory write-downs may be required.

Investments and financial instruments

The Company classifies its investments as Level 1 or 2 within the fair value hierarchy. Fair values determined by Level 1 inputs utilize quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets that the Company has the ability to access. Fair values determined by Level 2 inputs utilize data points that are observable such as quoted prices, interest rates and yield curves. The Company holds Level 2 securities which are initially valued at the transaction price and subsequently valued by a third-party service provider using inputs other than quoted prices that are observable either directly or indirectly, such as yield curve, volatility factors, credit spreads, default rates, loss severity, current market and contractual prices for the underlying instruments or debt, broker and dealer quotes, as well as other relevant economic measures. The Company performs certain procedures to corroborate the fair value of these holdings.

Other accrued liabilities

The Company's uses estimates, judgments, and assumptions in several areas including, but not limited to, estimates of progress to date for certain contracts with vendors, liabilities related to clinical trials, payroll and related expenses, marketing liabilities, reserves associated with insurance and general overpayments, tax-related liabilities, and other operating expenses. Estimates consist of historical trends, analytical procedures, review of supporting documentation, inquiries with supply partners and vendors, and other relevant assumptions. Although the Company believes its estimates, assumptions, and judgment are reasonable, it is based upon information presently available and are subject to change.

Investments

Investments consist primarily of debt securities such as U.S. Treasuries, U.S. agency and municipal bonds. Management determines the appropriate classification of securities at the time of purchase and re-evaluates such determination at each balance sheet date. The Company generally classifies its entire investment portfolio as available-for-sale. The Company views its available-for-sale portfolio as available for use in current operations. Accordingly, the Company classifies all investments as short-term, irrespective of maturity date. Available-for-sale securities are carried at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses reported in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), which is a separate component of stockholders’ equity.

Fair Value

The Company discloses the fair value of financial instruments for financial assets and liabilities for which the value is practicable to estimate. Fair value is defined as the price that would be received upon the sale of an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date (exit price).

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

Comprehensive loss and its components encompass all changes in equity other than those with stockholders, and include net loss, unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale marketable securities and foreign currency translation adjustments.


	Three months ended
	March 31,
	2023		2022

	(in thousands)
Beginning balance	$	(16,362)	$	(2,287)
Net unrealized gain (loss) on available-for-sale securities, net of tax and foreign currency translation adjustment		4,564		(11,617)
Ending balance	$	(11,798)	$	(13,904)

The change in net unrealized loss on available-for-sale securities is due to increased market volatility. The Company has assessed the unrealized loss position for available-for-sale securities and determined that an allowance for an other than temporary impairment was not necessary.