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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)
12 Months Ended
Jan. 29, 2022
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Description of Business and Basis of Presentation

Description of Business and Basis of Presentation

Petco Health and Wellness Company, Inc. (together with its consolidated subsidiaries, the “Company”) is a category-defining health and wellness company focused on improving the lives of pets, pet parents, and its own partners with 1,433 pet care centers in 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico as of January 29, 2022. The Company also offers an expanded range of consumables, supplies and services through its www.petco.com, www.petcoach.co, www.petinsurancequotes.com, and www.pupbox.com websites.

The Company was formed as a Delaware limited liability company under the name PET Acquisition LLC on November 19, 2015 as an acquisition entity controlled by Scooby LP, which was indirectly owned by funds affiliated with CVC Capital Partners, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, a Canadian company (together with CVC Capital Partners, the “Sponsors”), and certain co-investors. On January 26, 2016, the Company completed a merger (the “Acquisition”) whereby Petco Holdings, Inc. converted from a Delaware corporation to a Delaware limited liability company and became a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company. Under this ownership structure, the Company had four classes of membership units: (i) Common Series A Units; (ii) Common Series B Units; (iii) Common Series C Units; and (iv) Voting Common Units.

Corporate Conversion and Public Offering

Corporate Conversion and Public Offerings

In January 2021, all of the Company’s Common Series A Units, Common Series B Units, and Common Series C Units were contributed from Scooby LP to a newly formed and wholly owned subsidiary, Scooby Aggregator, LP. The Company then converted to a Delaware corporation pursuant to a statutory conversion and changed its name to Petco Health and Wellness Company, Inc.

In connection with the conversion and immediately prior to the Company’s initial public offering, all outstanding membership units were converted into 171.2 million shares of newly-issued Class A common stock, 37.8 million shares of newly-issued Class B-1 common stock, and 37.8 million shares of newly-issued Class B-2 common stock. The existing balances of members’ interest and accumulated deficit prior to the conversion were reclassified to additional paid-in capital in the consolidated balance sheets. This reclassification had no effect on the Company’s results of operations.

The rights of the holders of Class A common stock and Class B-1 common stock are identical in all respects, except that Class B-1 common stock does not vote on the election or removal of the Company’s directors. The rights of the holders of Class B-2 common stock differ from the rights of the holders of Class A common stock and Class B-1 common stock in that holders of Class B-2 common stock only possess the right to vote on the election or removal of the Company’s directors.

On January 19, 2021, the Company completed its initial public offering of 55.2 million newly-issued shares of its Class A common stock. The price was $18.00 per share. The Company received net cash proceeds of approximately $936.0 million from the initial public offering after deducting underwriting discounts, commissions, and offering expenses through January 30, 2021, with $3.8 million of accrued offering expenses reflected in accrued expenses and other liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets. The net proceeds from the initial public offering were used to pay a portion of the principal amount and accrued interest on the Company’s debt obligations. Refer to Note 8 and Note 9 for further discussion on the Company’s use of proceeds from the initial public offering.

In June 2021, Scooby Aggregator, LP, the Company’s principal stockholder, completed the sale of 25.3  million existing shares of Class A common stock in connection with a secondary offering. The offering price was $24.00 per share. The Company received no proceeds from the secondary offering. Expenses incurred by the Company related to the secondary offering were not material.

Principles of Consolidation

Principles of Consolidation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Petco Health and Wellness Company, Inc., its wholly owned subsidiaries, and a variable interest entity for which it is the primary beneficiary. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Use of Estimates

Use of Estimates

The preparation of these 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, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. These estimates are based on information that is currently available and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results could vary from those estimates under different assumptions or conditions.  

Fiscal Year

Fiscal Year

The Company’s fiscal year ends on the Saturday closest to January 31, resulting in years of either 52 or 53 weeks. All references to a fiscal year refer to the fiscal year ending on the Saturday closest to January 31 of the following year. For example, references to fiscal 2021 refer to the fiscal year beginning on January 31, 2021 and ending on January 29, 2022. Fiscal 2021, 2020 and 2019 included 52 weeks.

Segment Reporting

Segment Reporting

Operating segments are components of an enterprise about which separate financial information is available and is evaluated regularly by the chief operating decision maker (“CODM”) in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance. The CEO serves as the Company’s CODM. The Company manages its business as one reportable operating segment which is designed to sell pet food, supplies and companion animals, and services to pet parents across pet care center and online channels.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash equivalents represent all liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less and include money market mutual funds. The Company maintains cash and cash equivalent balances with financial institutions that exceed federally insured limits. The Company has not experienced any losses related to these balances. Included in the Company’s cash and cash equivalents are credit and debit card receivables from banks, which typically settle within five business days, of $35.9 million and $34.6 million at January 29, 2022 and January 30, 2021, respectively. The following table provides a reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash reported in the consolidated balance sheets to the total amounts reported in the consolidated statements of cash flows. Restricted cash is held in a trust used for certain employee benefit costs.

 

 

 

January 29,

2022

 

 

January 30,

2021

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

211,602

 

 

$

111,402

 

Restricted cash included in other current assets

 

 

10,288

 

 

 

8,138

 

Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash in

   the statement of cash flows

 

$

221,890

 

 

$

119,540

 

 

Outstanding checks in excess of funds on deposit (book overdrafts) totaled $61.5 million and $52.5 million at January 29, 2022 and January 30, 2021, respectively, and are reflected in accounts payable and book overdrafts in the consolidated balance sheets.

Vendor Rebates and Allowances

Vendor Rebates and Allowances

Most of the Company’s receivables are due from vendors. Receivables are stated net of an allowance for estimated credit losses, which is determined by continually evaluating individual receivables, the vendor’s financial condition and current and expected economic conditions. The additions and deductions to the allowance for estimated credit losses were not material for all periods presented.

The Company receives vendor allowances, primarily in the form of cooperative advertising reimbursements, rebate incentives, prompt purchase discounts, and vendor compliance charges pursuant to agreements with certain vendors. Substantially all vendor allowances are initially deferred as a reduction of the cost of inventory purchased and recorded as a reduction to cost of sales in the consolidated statements of operations as the inventory is sold. Vendor rebates and allowances that are identified as specific, incremental and identifiable costs incurred by the Company in selling the vendors’ products are classified as a reduction of selling, general and administrative expenses in the consolidated statements of operations as the costs are incurred, as the related costs are also classified as selling, general and administrative expenses.

Merchandise Inventories

Merchandise Inventories

Merchandise inventories represent finished goods and are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Cost is determined by the average-cost method and includes inbound freight charges. Physical inventories are performed on a regular basis at pet care center locations and cycle counts are performed for inventory at distribution centers. During the period between counts at pet care center locations, the Company accrues for estimated losses related to inventory shrinkage based on historical inventory shrinkage results and current trends in the business. Inventory shrinkage may occur due to theft, loss, or the deterioration of goods, among other reasons. The Company assesses its inventory for estimated obsolescence or unmarketable inventory and writes down the difference between the cost of inventory and the estimated market value based upon historical mark-downs, supply on-hand and assumptions about future sales.

Fixed Assets

Fixed Assets

Fixed assets are stated at cost or fair value as of the date of the Acquisition less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Pet care center facilities and equipment under finance leases are recorded at the present value of lease payments at the inception of the lease. Maintenance and minor repairs are expensed as incurred.

Buildings, equipment, furniture and fixtures are depreciated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful life of the asset. Leasehold and building improvements are amortized using the straight-line method over the term of the lease or the estimated useful life of the improvement, whichever is shorter. Land is not depreciated. Amortization of fixed assets financed through finance leases is included in depreciation and amortization expense.

The Company’s fixed assets are generally depreciated or amortized using the following estimated useful lives:

 

Buildings

 

30 years

Equipment

 

3 to 7 years

Furniture and fixtures

 

4 to 7 years

Leasehold and building improvements

 

5 to 10 years

 

Costs incurred to develop internal-use software during the application development stage, which include costs to design the software configuration and interfaces, coding, installation and testing, are capitalized and reported at cost, less accumulated amortization. Costs of significant upgrades and enhancements that result in additional functionality are also capitalized, whereas costs incurred for maintenance and minor upgrades and enhancements are expensed as incurred. Software and capitalized development costs are included in the Company’s equipment fixed asset category and are amortized using the straight-line method over the estimated useful life of the asset.

The Company assesses its fixed assets, including internal-use software, for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. The review of recoverability is based on estimates of the undiscounted future cash flows expected to be generated by an asset (or group of assets) at a pet care center level. If impairment exists due to the inability to recover the asset’s carrying value, impairment losses are measured as the amount by which the asset’s carrying value exceeds its fair value using the income approach and are recorded as a reduction of the related asset and charged to the consolidated statements of operations.

Goodwill

Goodwill

Goodwill represents the excess of the cost of acquired businesses over the fair value of the tangible and identifiable intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed. Goodwill is not amortized. The Company performs its annual impairment test during the fourth quarter of each fiscal year, or more frequently when warranted by events or changes in circumstances. The Company has the option to first perform a qualitative assessment of its goodwill to determine whether it is necessary to perform a quantitative impairment test. If the Company concludes it is more likely than not that its goodwill is impaired, management evaluates the recoverability of goodwill by comparing the carrying value of the Company’s reporting unit to the fair value. An impairment charge is recorded for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value, with the loss recognized not exceeding the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit.

The Company has one reporting unit. In cases where the quantitative test is performed, the fair value of the Company’s reporting unit is estimated by a third party valuation firm. Fair value estimates used in the quantitative impairment test include calculations using a discounted cash flow analysis and a public company analysis. The discounted cash flow analysis measures the value of an asset by the present value of its future estimated cash flows. The public company analysis analyzes transactional and financial data of publicly traded companies to develop valuation multiples. These multiples are then applied to the Company to develop an indication of fair value. Significant assumptions inherent in the valuation methodologies for goodwill are employed and include, but are not limited to, prospective financial information, growth rates, discount rates and comparable multiples from publicly traded companies in similar industries.

Trade Name

Trade Name

The Company’s trade name has an indefinite life. The Company performs its annual impairment test during the fourth quarter of each fiscal year, or more frequently when warranted by events or changes in circumstances. The Company also has the option to first perform a qualitative assessment of its trade name to determine whether it is necessary to perform a quantitative impairment test. In cases where the quantitative test is performed, the fair value of the Company’s trade name is estimated by a third party valuation firm using the relief from royalty valuation method. Significant assumptions inherent in the valuation methodologies for the trade name are employed and include, but are not limited to, prospective financial information, royalty rates and discount rates. An impairment charge is recorded for the amount by which the carrying amount of the trade name exceeds its fair value.

Joint Ventures, Equity Method Investments, and Variable Interest Entities

Joint Ventures, Equity Method Investments, and Variable Interest Entities

Investments for which the Company exercises significant influence but does not have control are accounted for under the equity method. Equity method investment activity is primarily related to a 50% joint venture with Grupo Gigante, S.A.B. de C.V. (the “Mexico joint venture”) to establish Petco locations in Mexico. The Company’s share of the investee’s results is presented as either income or loss from equity method investees in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.

The equity method of accounting is applicable for the Mexico joint venture as the Company does not own more than 50% of voting power, but has significant influence over the operation and financial policies of the investee. The joint venture is not material to the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

The Mexico joint venture purchases certain inventory items and pet care center assets from the Company. The Company also receives royalties from the Mexico joint venture for the use of its trademarks. Revenues generated from these transactions were not material in fiscal 2021, 2020, and 2019. The cumulative unrealized foreign currency adjustment on the translation of the Company’s investment in the joint venture and the foreign currency translation impact of the royalty receivable are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”), net of tax.

The Company consolidates variable interest entities (“VIEs”) where it has been determined that the Company is the primary beneficiary of those entities’ operations. The Company holds a 50% investment in a joint venture with a domestic partner to build and operate veterinary clinics in Petco locations, which was previously accounted for under the equity method. In March 2019, the Company entered into an amended agreement governing the joint venture’s operations and determined that the Company had the power to direct the activities most important to the VIE. As a result, the joint venture is a VIE for which the Company is now the primary beneficiary. Accordingly, the assets, liabilities, and noncontrolling interest of the VIE, which were not material, were measured at fair value as of the date the Company became the primary beneficiary in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 805 – Business Combinations. The results of operations and statements of financial position of the VIE are included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements beginning in March 2019. Under the amended agreement, the domestic partner provides certain management and support services to the joint venture. These services include administrative, financial reporting, compliance, and technology support services in connection with the operation and growth of the joint venture. As compensation for these services, the joint venture pays the domestic partner a quarterly joint venture management fee equal to a portion of clinic revenues, subject to a minimum fixed fee. The Company incurred and recorded $2.5 million, $2.0 million, and $1.4 million of joint venture management fees under this agreement in fiscal 2021, 2020, and 2019, respectively, which are included in selling, general and administrative expenses in the consolidated statements of operations. In March 2022, the

Company entered into an agreement to purchase the remaining 50% of the issued and outstanding membership interests of the joint venture. The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of fiscal 2022.

Fair Value Measurements

Fair Value Measurements

Fair value represents the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. When determining fair value, the Company considers the principal or most advantageous market in which the Company would conduct a transaction, in addition to the assumptions that market participants would use when pricing the related assets or liabilities, including non-performance risk.

A three-level hierarchy prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to measurements involving significant unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements).

The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are as follows:

 

Level 1 —

Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Company has the ability to access at the measurement date.

 

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.

The carrying amounts of the Company’s cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, trade accounts payable, and accrued expenses and other current liabilities approximate fair value based on the short-term maturities of these instruments.

Refer to Notes 8, 9, 10 and 11 for fair value disclosures for the senior secured term credit facilities, senior notes, derivatives, and other types of assets and liabilities measured at fair value, respectively.

Self Insurance Reserves

Self-Insurance Reserves

The Company is self-insured for workers’ compensation, general, auto liability and employee-related health care benefits, a portion of which is paid by the Company’s employees. Additionally, the Company has insurance coverage to limit its exposure above a per occurrence retention limit. These insurance policies have stated maximum coverage limits after which the Company bears the risk of loss. The Company determines the related liabilities using a number of factors including historical experience and trends related to claims and payments, information provided by the Company’s insurance brokers and actuaries, an estimate of incurred but not reported claims and industry experience and trends. Estimates of future claim costs for workers’ compensation, general, auto liability and employee-related health care benefits are recorded on an undiscounted basis. All estimates of ultimate loss and loss adjustment expense and resulting reserves are subject to inherent variability caused by the nature of the insurance process. The potentially long period of time between the reporting of an occurrence of an incident and the final resolution of a claim and the possible effects of changes in the legal, social and economic environments contribute to this variability. The Company reports self-insurance liabilities gross of insurance recoveries. As of January 29, 2022, insurance recoveries of $5.7 million and $15.9 million were recorded in other current assets and other long-term assets, respectively. As of January 30, 2021, insurance recoveries of $5.8 million and $17.2 million were recorded in other current assets and other long-term assets, respectively.

Self-insurance reserves are reflected in the consolidated balance sheets as follows (in thousands):

 

 

 

January 29,

2022

 

 

January 30,

2021

 

 

Current:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Workers’ compensation and employee-related

   health care benefits

 

$

23,699

 

 

$

21,834

 

 

General and auto liability reserves

 

 

4,733

 

 

 

4,737

 

 

 

 

$

28,432

 

 

$

26,571

 

 

Non-current:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Workers’ compensation reserve

 

$

44,706

 

 

$

45,794

 

 

General and auto liability reserves

 

 

11,780

 

 

 

12,131

 

 

 

 

$

56,486

 

 

$

57,925

 

 

 

The current portion and non-current portion of self-insurance reserves for workers’ compensation and employee-related health care benefits are included in accrued salaries and employee benefits and other long-term liabilities, respectively, in the consolidated balance sheets. The current portion and non-current portion of self-insurance reserves for general and auto liability costs are included in accrued expenses and other liabilities and other long-term liabilities, respectively, in the consolidated balance sheets.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue Recognition

The Company recognizes revenue when control of promised goods or services is transferred to customers, in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the Company expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services.

See Note 2 for further discussion on revenue recognition.

Cost of Sales

Cost of Sales

Cost of sales includes the following types of expenses:

 

Direct costs (net of vendor rebates, allowances and discounts for products sold) including inbound freight charges;

 

Shipping and handling costs associated with sales to customers;

 

Freight costs associated with moving merchandise inventories;

 

Inventory shrinkage costs and write-downs;

 

Payroll costs of pet groomers, trainers, veterinarians and other direct costs of services; and

 

Costs associated with operating the Company’s distribution centers including payroll, occupancy costs and depreciation

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

Selling, general and administrative expenses include the following types of expenses:

 

Payroll and benefit costs of pet care center and corporate employees;

 

Occupancy and operating costs of pet care center and corporate facilities;

 

Depreciation and amortization related to pet care center and corporate assets;

 

Credit card fees;

 

Store pre-opening and remodeling costs;

 

Advertising costs; and

 

Other selling and administrative costs

 

Advertising Expenses

Advertising Expenses

The Company records advertising expense as incurred and classifies advertising costs within selling, general and administrative expenses in the consolidated statements of operations. The Company’s advertising expenses, net of cooperative advertising reimbursements, were $227.9 million, $168.4 million, and $97.7 million for fiscal 2021, 2020, and 2019, respectively. Vendor cooperative advertising reimbursements reduced total advertising expense by $32.5 million, $25.7 million, and $18.4 million for fiscal 2021, 2020, and 2019, respectively.

Leases

Leases

The majority of the Company’s lease liabilities are real estate operating leases from which pet care center, corporate support, and distribution operations are conducted. The Company also leases equipment, vehicles, and certain pet care center locations under finance leases. Lease terms generally do not include options to terminate the lease and only include options to extend the lease, if it is reasonably certain that the option will be exercised. For any lease with an initial term in excess of 12 months, the related lease assets and liabilities are recognized on the consolidated balance sheet as an operating or finance lease at the commencement of the lease agreement. Leases with an initial term of 12 months or less are not recorded on the consolidated balance sheet. The Company recognizes lease expense for these short-term leases on a straight-line basis over the lease term.

Operating lease assets represent the right to use an underlying asset for the lease term, and operating lease liabilities represent the obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. These assets and liabilities are recognized based on the present value of future payments over the lease term at the commencement date. The Company uses a collateralized incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at the commencement date to determine the present value of future payments. Operating leases typically require payment of certain non-lease costs, such as real estate taxes, common area maintenance and insurance. These components comprise the majority of the Company’s variable lease costs and are excluded from the present value of lease liabilities unless an event occurs that results in the payments becoming fixed for the remaining term. The remaining lease and non-lease components are accounted for together as a single lease component for all underlying classes of assets. Operating lease assets are adjusted for lease incentives, initial direct costs, impairments, and exit or disposal costs.

Operating lease costs are recognized on a straight-line basis from the commencement date to the end of the lease term. Operating lease costs relating to distribution centers are included in cost of sales, and operating lease costs relating to pet care center and corporate support locations are included in selling, general and administrative expenses in the consolidated statements of operations. Amortization on finance lease right-of-use assets relating to distribution centers are included in cost of sales, and amortization on finance lease right-of-use assets relating to pet care center and corporate support locations are included in selling, general and administrative expenses in the consolidated statements of operations. Interest on finance lease right-of-use assets is included in interest expense in the consolidated statements of operations. The Company’s lease agreements do not contain any material residual value guarantees or material restrictive covenants.

The Company’s sublease portfolio consists mainly of operating leases with a domestic partner to operate dog boarding and daycare facilities, which are not material.

The Company records contractual obligations associated with the retirement of long-lived assets at their fair value at the time the obligations are incurred. These obligations arise from certain leases and primarily relate to the cost of removing leasehold improvements and certain fixtures from such lease sites and restoring the sites to their original condition. Upon initial recognition of the liability, that cost is capitalized as part of the related long-lived asset and depreciated on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful life of the asset. Activity related to these obligations in fiscal 2021, 2020, and 2019 was not material. The Company’s asset retirement obligation was $6.9 million and $5.8 million at January 29, 2022 and January 30, 2021, respectively, and is included in other long-term liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets.

Income Taxes

Income Taxes

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. 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 the consolidated statements of operations in the period that includes the enactment date. Valuation allowances, if any, are recorded against net deferred tax assets when it is considered more likely than not that some portion or all of a deferred tax asset may not be recoverable. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recorded as either net non-current assets or net non-current liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets. Refer to Note 14 for further disclosures of the Company’s income taxes.

Management regularly evaluates the likelihood of recognizing the benefit for income tax positions it has taken in various federal and state filings by considering relevant facts, circumstances and information available. The authoritative guidance clarifies the accounting for income taxes by prescribing a minimum probability threshold that a tax position must meet before a financial statement benefit is recognized. The minimum threshold for recognizing benefit of a tax position is that such position is more likely than not to be sustained upon examination by the taxing authority, including resolution of any related appeals or litigation processes, and is based on the technical merits of the position.

Equity-Based Compensation

Equity-Based Compensation

Equity-based compensation cost is measured at the grant date, based on the estimated fair value of the award, and is recognized as expense over the vesting period of the award, which is also the requisite service period, based upon the corresponding vesting method and probability of vesting (Note 13). The Company recognizes the effect of pre-vesting forfeitures as they occur.

Equity Valuation

Equity Valuation

The per unit fair value of equity underlying the partnership unit awards prior to the Company’s initial public offering was determined by the Company’s board of directors based on enterprise valuations performed by management with the assistance of a third-party valuation firm, taking into consideration any recent market transactions involving the Company’s equity. The valuation of the equity of any private company involves various estimates and assumptions that may differ from actual values.

In fiscal 2019 and for a portion of fiscal 2020, the Company’s equity value was determined using a combination of two valuation approaches:

Income Approach – estimates the fair value based on the present value of the Company’s future estimated cash flows and the residual value of the Company beyond the forecast period. These future cash flows, including the cash flows beyond the forecast period for the residual value, are discounted to their present values using an appropriate discount rate, to reflect the risks inherent in the Company achieving these estimated cash flows.

Market Approach (specifically, the guideline public company method) – estimates fair value based upon the observed valuation multiples of comparable public companies, the equity of which is freely-traded by investors in the public securities markets.

Beginning in the third quarter of fiscal 2020 and prior to its initial public offering, the Company determined its equity value using the probability weighted expected return method (“PWERM”), or the hybrid method. Under the hybrid method, multiple valuation approaches are used and then combined into a single probability weighted valuation using a PWERM, which considers the probability of an initial public offering scenario.

The results of the valuation approaches were weighted based on a variety of factors including: current macroeconomic environment, current industry conditions and length of time since arms-length market transaction events. Additionally, a discount for lack of marketability was applied to account for the lack of access to an active public market. The resulting value was then allocated to outstanding equity using an option-pricing model.

Pre-Opening Costs

Pre-Opening Costs

Costs incurred in connection with opening new pet care centers and hospitals are expensed as incurred and are included in selling, general and administrative expenses in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations. Such costs include advertising, payroll, initial supplies and utilities.

Derivative Instruments

Derivative Instruments

In March 2016, the Company entered into a series of five interest rate cap agreements with four counterparties totaling $1,950.0 million to limit the maximum interest rate on a portion of the Company’s variable-rate debt and limit its exposure to interest rate variability when three-month LIBOR exceeds 2.25%. The interest rate caps are accounted for as cash flow hedges, and changes in the fair value of the interest rate caps are reported as a component of AOCI. The interest rate caps were settled in accordance with their contractual terms on January 29, 2021.

Refer to Note 10 for further disclosures of the Company’s derivative instruments and hedging activities.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In March 2020, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2020-04 – Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting, which provides optional expedients and exceptions for applying GAAP to contract modifications, hedging relationships, and other transactions affected by the anticipated transition from LIBOR. As a result of the reference rate reform initiative, certain widely used reference rates such as LIBOR are expected to be discontinued. The guidance is designed to simplify how entities account for contracts, such as receivables, debt, leases, derivative instruments and hedging, that are modified to replace LIBOR or other benchmark interest rates with new rates. The guidance is effective upon issuance and may be applied through December 31, 2022. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this accounting standard, but does not expect a material impact on the consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.