Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2018

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Nature of Business

(a) Nature of Business - Meridian is a fully-integrated life science company whose principal businesses are: (i) the development, manufacture and distribution of clinical diagnostic test kits primarily for certain gastrointestinal and respiratory infectious diseases, and elevated blood lead levels; and (ii) the manufacture and distribution of bulk antigens, antibodies, PCR/qPCR reagents, nucleotides, competent cells, and bioresearch reagents used by other diagnostic manufacturers and researchers.

Principles of Consolidation

(b) Principles of Consolidation - The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Meridian Bioscience, Inc. and its subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Unless the context requires otherwise, references to “Meridian,” “we,” “us,” “our” or “our company” refer to Meridian Bioscience, Inc. and its subsidiaries.

Use of Estimates

(c) Use of Estimates - The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles 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 financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Foreign Currency Translation

(d) Foreign Currency Translation - Assets and liabilities of foreign operations are translated using year-end exchange rates with gains or losses resulting from translation included as a separate component of accumulated other comprehensive income or loss. Revenues and expenses are translated using exchange rates prevailing during the year. We also recognize foreign currency transaction gains and losses on certain assets and liabilities that are denominated in the Australian dollar, British pound, Chinese yuan and Euro currencies. These gains and losses are included in other income and expense in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Cash, Cash Equivalents and Investments

(e) Cash, Cash Equivalents and Investments - The primary objectives of our investment activities are to preserve capital and provide sufficient liquidity to meet operating requirements and fund strategic initiatives such as acquisitions. We maintain a written investment policy that governs the management of our investments in fixed income securities. This policy, among other things, provides that we may purchase only high credit-quality securities that have short-term ratings of at least A-2, P-2 and F-2, and long-term ratings of at least A, Baa1 and A, by Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s and Fitch, respectively, at the time of purchase. We consider short-term investments with original maturities of 90 days or less to be cash equivalents, including institutional money market funds. At times our investments of cash and equivalents with various high credit quality financial institutions may be in excess of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) insurance limit.

Our investment portfolio includes the following components:

	September 30, 2018				September 30, 2017
	Cash and Equivalents		Other		Cash and Equivalents		Other
Institutional money market funds	$	20,421	$	—	$	20,104	$	—
Cash on hand –
Restricted		—		1,000		—		1,000
Unrestricted		39,342		—		36,968		—
Total	$	59,763	$	1,000	$	57,072	$	1,000

Inventories

(f) Inventories - Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market. Cost is determined on a first-in, first-out (FIFO) basis. Alethia instruments are carried in inventory until customer placement, at which time they are transferred to deferred instrument costs, unless sold outright. Similarly, blood lead testing instruments are carried in inventory until they are sold outright or placed with a customer under the customer reagent rental program, at which time they are transferred to property, plant and equipment.

We establish reserves against cost for excess and obsolete materials, finished goods whose shelf life may expire before sale to customers, and other identified exposures. Such reserves were $1,971 and $2,059 at September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively. We estimate these reserves based on assumptions about future demand and market conditions. If actual demand and market conditions were to be less favorable than such estimates, additional inventory write-downs would be required and recorded in the period known. Such adjustments would negatively affect gross profit margin and overall results of operations.

Property, Plant and Equipment

(g) Property, Plant and Equipment - Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost. Upon retirement or other disposition, the cost and related accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts and the resulting gain or loss is reflected in earnings. Maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred. Depreciation is computed on the straight-line method in amounts sufficient to write-off the cost over the estimated useful lives, generally as follows:

Buildings and improvements - 18 to 40 years

Leasehold improvements - life of the lease

Machinery, equipment and furniture - 3 to 10 years

Computer equipment and software - 3 to 5 years

Instruments under customer reagent rental arrangements - 5 years

Intangible Assets

(h) Intangible Assets - Goodwill is subject to an annual impairment review (or more frequently if impairment indicators arise) at the reporting unit level, which we perform annually as of June 30, the end of our third fiscal quarter. A reporting unit is generally an operating segment or one level below an operating segment that constitutes a business for which discrete financial information is available and regularly reviewed by segment management. Following the fiscal 2018 restructuring and consolidation of separately-run businesses into two integrated global business units (see Note 2), at September 30, 2018, we had two reporting units (Diagnostics and Life Science), both of which contained goodwill. We review our reporting unit structure annually, or more frequently if facts and circumstances warrant. Goodwill is considered impaired if the carrying value of the reporting unit exceeds its fair value. We have no intangible assets with indefinite lives other than goodwill.

During fiscal 2018, we performed quantitative assessments as of June 30, 2018 for each of our Diagnostics and Life Science reporting units. As part of this assessment, fair value, as determined through a valuation performed by a third party, was calculated via both market (comparable company) and income (discounted cash flows) approaches. Based upon these approaches, the fair value of each reporting unit exceeded its carrying value; therefore, each of the Diagnostics and Life Science reporting units satisfied the quantitative assessment for fiscal 2018.

Similarly, during fiscal 2017, we performed quantitative assessments as of June 30, 2017 for each of our Americas Diagnostics, Bioline and Life Science-U.S. reporting units that existed at that time, noting the separate Magellan discussion below. As part of this assessment, fair value, as determined through a valuation performed by a third party, was calculated via both market (comparable company) and income (discounted cash flows) approaches. Based upon these approaches, the fair value of each reporting unit exceeded its carrying value; therefore, each of the Americas Diagnostics, Bioline and Life Science-U.S. reporting units satisfied the quantitative assessment for fiscal 2017.

During the quarter ended June 30, 2017, the events described below occurred, indicating that impairment of the goodwill recorded as part of the Magellan acquisition had occurred.

On May 17, 2017, the FDA issued a field safety notice advising customers to discontinue use of Magellan’s lead testing systems with venous blood samples. This field safety notice was followed by product recall notices on May 25^th and June 5^th. Subsequent to the issuances of these field safety and product recall notices, the FDA completed an inspection of Magellan’s quality system, and issued its Form 483, Inspectional Observations, on June 29, 2017, which was expectedly followed by a Warning Letter issued on October 23, 2017. The Warning Letter requires periodic reporting on our remediation progress.

In light of these factors and their impacts, during the third quarter of fiscal 2017, it was determined that a potential impairment of goodwill recorded in connection with the acquisition of Magellan had occurred (i.e., a “triggering event”). With the assistance of an independent valuation firm, Magellan’s fair value was calculated via both market (comparable company) and income (discounted cash flows) approaches. Based upon these approaches, it was determined that the carrying value of the Magellan reporting unit did, in fact, exceed its fair value. As a result, an impairment charge of $6,628, on both a pre-tax and after-tax basis, was recorded during the third quarter and is reflected as a separate operating expense line item within the accompanying Consolidated Statement of Operations for the year ended September 30, 2017. This quantitative assessment as of May 31, 2017 was supplemented by a qualitative assessment of Magellan’s goodwill as of June 30, 2017, with such assessment indicating that no additional impairment existed.

No impairments were indicated or recorded from the analyses performed for fiscal 2018 or 2016.

During fiscal 2018, goodwill decreased $289, resulting solely from currency translation adjustments on the goodwill of the Life Science reporting unit. The decrease of $7,056 in fiscal 2017 reflects: (i) a $767 acquisition measurement period adjustment downward related to Magellan (Diagnostics segment; see Note 3); (ii) the $6,628 impairment charge related to Magellan; and (iii) a $339 increase from the currency translation adjustment on the goodwill of the Life Science segment.

A summary of Meridian’s acquired intangible assets subject to amortization, as of September 30, 2018 and 2017 is as follows.

	2018				2017
As of September 30,	Gross Carrying Value		Accum. Amort.		Gross Carrying Value		Accum. Amort.
Manufacturing technologies, core products and cell lines	$	22,297	$	13,974	$	22,332	$	12,807
Tradenames, licenses and patents		8,647		5,267		8,689		4,398
Customer lists, customer relationships and supply agreements		24,461		13,051		24,562		11,854
Non-compete agreements		720		720		720		540
	$	56,125	$	33,012	$	56,303	$	29,599

The actual aggregate amortization expense for these intangible assets for fiscal 2018, 2017 and 2016 was $3,433, $3,776 and $2,690, respectively. The estimated aggregate amortization expense for these intangible assets for each of the five succeeding fiscal years is as follows: fiscal 2019 - $3,328, fiscal 2020 - $3,165, fiscal 2021 - $2,560, fiscal 2022 - $2,182 and fiscal 2023 - $2,170.

Long-lived assets, excluding goodwill, are reviewed for impairment when events or circumstances indicate that such assets may not be recoverable at their carrying value. Whether an event or circumstance triggers an impairment is determined by comparing an estimate of the asset’s future undiscounted cash flows to its carrying value. If impairment has occurred, it is measured by a fair-value based calculation.

Our ability to recover the carrying value of our intangible assets, both identifiable intangibles and goodwill, is dependent upon the future cash flows of the related acquired businesses and assets. We make judgments and assumptions regarding future cash flows, including sales levels, gross profit margins, operating expense levels, working capital levels, and capital expenditures. With respect to identifiable intangibles and fixed assets, we also make judgments and assumptions regarding useful lives.

We consider the following factors in evaluating events and circumstances for possible impairment: (i) significant under-performance relative to historical or projected operating results; (ii) negative industry trends; (iii) sales levels of specific groups of products (related to specific identifiable intangibles); (iv) changes in overall business strategies; and (v) other factors.

If actual cash flows are less favorable than projections, this could trigger impairment of intangible assets and other long-lived assets. If impairment were to occur, this would negatively affect overall results of operations. Aside from the Magellan matter noted above, no triggering events have been identified by the Company for fiscal 2018, 2017 or 2016.

Revenue Recognition and Accounts Receivable

(i) Revenue Recognition and Accounts Receivable - Revenue is generally recognized from sales when product is shipped and title has passed to the customer. Revenue is reduced in the period of sale for fees paid to distributors, which are inseparable from the distributor’s purchase of our product and for which we receive no goods or services in return. Such fees totaled $1,453, $787, and $339 in fiscal 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Revenue for the Diagnostics segment is reduced at the date of sale for product price adjustments due to certain distributors under local contracts. Management estimates accruals for distributor price adjustments based on local contract terms, sales data provided by distributors, historical statistics, current trends, and other factors. Changes to the accruals are recorded in the period that they become known. Such accruals were $4,303 at September 30, 2018 and $4,190 at September 30, 2017, and have been netted against accounts receivable.

Revenue for our Diagnostics segment includes revenue for our Alethia molecular test system. This system includes an instrument, instrument accessories and test kits. In markets where the test system is sold via multiple deliverable arrangements, the cost of the instrument and instrument accessories is deferred upon placement at a customer and amortized on a straight-line basis into cost of sales over the expected utilization period, generally three years.

We evaluate whether each deliverable in the arrangement is a separate unit of accounting. The significant deliverables are an instrument, instrument accessories (e.g., printer) and test kits. An instrument and instrument accessories are delivered to the customer prior to the start of the customer utilization period in order to accommodate customer set-up and installation. There is de minimis consideration received from the customer at the time of instrument placement. We have determined that the instrument and instrument accessories are not a separate unit of accounting because such equipment can only be used to process and read the results from our Alethia diagnostic tests (i.e., our instrument and test kits function together to deliver a diagnostic test result), and therefore the instrument and instrument accessories do not have standalone value to the customer. Consequently, there is no revenue allocated to the placement of the instrument and instrument accessories. Test kits are delivered to the customer over the utilization period of the instrument, which we estimate has a useful life of three years. Our average customer contract period, including estimated renewals, is at least equal to the estimated three-year utilization period. Revenue for the sale of test kits is recognized upon shipment and transfer of title to the customers.

In markets where the test system is not sold via multiple deliverable arrangements, the cost of the instrument and instrument accessories is charged to cost of sales at the time of shipment and transfer of title to the customer. Revenue for the sales of instruments, instrument accessories and test kits is recognized upon shipment and transfer of title to the customers. In these markets, our Alethia molecular test system is sold to independent distributors who inventory the instruments, instrument accessories and test kits for resale to end-users.

Our products are generally not subject to a customer right of return except for product recall events under the rules and regulations of the Food and Drug Administration or equivalent agencies outside the United States. In this circumstance, the costs to replace affected products would be accrued at the time a loss was probable and estimable.

Trade accounts receivable are recorded in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets at invoiced amounts less provisions for distributor price adjustments under local contracts and doubtful accounts. The allowance for doubtful accounts represents our estimate of probable credit losses and is based on historical write-off experience and known conditions that would likely lead to non-payment. The allowance for doubtful accounts and related metrics, such as days’ sales outstanding, are reviewed monthly. Accounts with past due balances over 90 days are reviewed individually for collectability. Customer invoices are charged off against the allowance when we believe it is probable that the invoices will not be paid.

Research and Development Costs

(j) Research and Development Costs - Research and development costs are charged to expense as incurred. Research and development costs include, among other things, salaries and wages for research scientists, materials and supplies used in the development of new products, costs for development of instrumentation equipment, costs for clinical trials, and costs for facilities and equipment.

Income Taxes

(k) Income Taxes - The provision for income taxes includes federal, foreign, state and local income taxes currently payable and those deferred because of temporary differences between income for financial reporting and income for tax purposes. We prepare estimates of permanent and temporary differences between income for financial reporting purposes and income for tax purposes. These differences are adjusted to actual upon filing of our tax returns, typically occurring in the third and fourth quarters of the current fiscal year for the preceding fiscal year’s estimates.

Accounting For Income Tax Uncertainties

We account for uncertain tax positions using a benefit recognition model with a two-step approach: (i) a more-likely-than-not recognition criterion; and (ii) a measurement attribute that measures the position as the largest amount of tax benefit that is greater than 50% likely of being ultimately realized upon ultimate settlement. If it is not more likely than not that the benefit will be sustained on its technical merits, no benefit is recorded. We recognize accrued interest related to unrecognized tax benefits as a portion of our income tax provision in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. See Note 6.

Stock-Based Compensation

(l) Stock-Based Compensation - We recognize compensation expense for all share-based awards made to employees, based upon the fair value of the share-based award on the date of the grant. See Note 7(b).

Comprehensive Income (Loss)

(m) Comprehensive Income (Loss) - Comprehensive income (loss) represents the net change in shareholders’ equity during a period from sources other than transactions with shareholders. As reflected in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income, our comprehensive income is comprised of net earnings, foreign currency translation, unrealized losses on our cash flow hedge, and the income taxes thereon.

Shipping and Handling Costs

(n) Shipping and Handling Costs - Shipping and handling costs invoiced to customers are included in net revenues. Costs to distribute products to customers, including freight costs, warehousing costs, and other shipping and handling activities are included in cost of sales.

Non-Income Government-Assessed Taxes

(o) Non-Income Government-Assessed Taxes - We classify all non-income, government-assessed taxes (sales, use and value-added) collected from customers and remitted by us to appropriate revenue authorities, on a net basis (excluded from net revenues) in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

(p) Recent Accounting Pronouncements - In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, which supersedes and replaces nearly all currently-existing U.S. GAAP revenue recognition guidance including related disclosure requirements. This guidance, including any clarification guidance thereon, is effective for the Company beginning October 1, 2018 (fiscal 2019). The Company anticipates that adoption of ASU 2014-09 on a modified retrospective basis will result in the recording of an immaterial adjustment to retained earnings of approximately $150 and expanding certain disclosures, as required.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases, which amends the accounting guidance related to leases. These changes, which are designed to increase transparency and comparability among organizations for both lessees and lessors, include, among other things, requiring recognition of lease assets and liabilities on the balance sheet and disclosing key information about leasing arrangements. Adoption and implementation of the guidance is not required by the Company until the beginning of fiscal 2020, although early adoption is permitted. The Company expects to begin its assessment of the impact that adoption of this guidance will have on its financial statements in fiscal 2019.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting, which amends the accounting for share-based payment transactions. These changes, which are designed for simplification, involve several aspects of the accounting for share-based transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, and classification on the statement of cash flows. The Company adopted this guidance in the first quarter of fiscal 2018, and as a result recorded $160 to the income tax provision, which under previous guidance would have been recorded in additional paid-in capital. While the future effect of this guidance is dependent on numerous factors (e.g., the market price of the Company’s common stock on the equity award grant date, the exercise/lapse dates of equity awards, and the market price of the Company’s common stock on such exercise/lapse dates), the effect is not expected to be material. During fiscal 2018, our tax provision included a $180 charge for application of ASU 2016-09.

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15, Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments. The update addresses certain specific cash flows and their treatment, with the objective being to reduce the existing diversity in how the items are presented and classified within the statement of cash flows. Adoption and implementation of the guidance is not required by the Company until the beginning of fiscal 2019, although early adoption is permitted. Adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a significant impact on the Company’s statement of cash flows.

Reclassifications

(q) Reclassifications - Certain reclassifications have been made to the prior fiscal year financial statements to conform to the current year presentation. Such reclassifications had no impact on net earnings or shareholders’ equity.