2.	Significant Accounting Policies

A summary of the Company’s significant accounting policies is included in Note 1 to the audited consolidated financial statements of the Company’s fiscal 2018 Annual Report on Form 10-K and should be referred to for a description of the Company’s current significant accounting policies, with the exception of Revenue Recognition, which is set forth below.

Revenue Recognition –

Adoption of New Standard

On October 1, 2018, we adopted ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, using the modified retrospective transition method applied to those contracts that were not completed as of that date. Results for reporting periods beginning on or after October 1, 2018 are presented under the new guidance, while prior period amounts are not adjusted and continue to be reported in accordance with previously applicable guidance.

Upon adoption, we recorded a reduction of $116 to the opening balance of retained earnings as of October 1, 2018. This adjustment is related to writing off the book value of clinical diagnostic testing instruments located at customers for which there is no contractual arrangement for the instrument to be returned to the Company. Instruments placed with customers under an agreement to return the instrument to the Company were reclassified to machinery and equipment. Prior to adoption of the new guidance, all instruments placed with customers were capitalized and amortized over an estimated three-year utilization period, with the net balance reflected as deferred instrument costs.

The following table summarizes the impact of the new revenue standard on our opening balance sheet:


	Balance at September 30, 2018			New Revenue Standard Adjustment			Balance at October 1, 2018
PROPERTY, PLAN AND EQUIPMENT
Machinery, equipment and furniture	$	50,606		$	8,696		$	59,302
Accumulated depreciation and amortization		(55,846	)		(7,611	)		(63,457	)
OTHER ASSETS
Deferred instrument costs, net		1,239			(1,239	)		—
NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES
Deferred income taxes		(3,769	)		38			(3,731	)
SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Retained earnings		(49,602	)		116			(49,486	)

The adoption of this new standard had an immaterial impact on our reported total revenues and operating income, as compared to what would have been reported under the prior standard. We expect the impact of adoption in future periods to continue to be immaterial. Our accounting policies under the new standard were applied prospectively and are noted below following the discussion of Revenue Disaggregation.

Revenue Disaggregation

The following tables present our revenues disaggregated by major geographic region, major product platform and disease state (Diagnostics only):

Revenue by Reportable Segment & Geographic Region


	Three Months Ended December 31,
	2018		2017		Inc (Dec)
Diagnostics-
Americas	$	31,147	$	31,575		(1	)%
EMEA		5,085		5,415		(6	)%
ROW		433		500		(13	)%

Total Diagnostics		36,665		37,490		(2	)%

Life Science-
Americas		4,534		5,250		(14	)%
EMEA		7,455		5,185		44	%
ROW		2,826		4,358		(35	)%

Total Life Science		14,815		14,793		—	%

Consolidated	$	51,480	$	52,283		(2	)%

Revenue by Product Platform/Type


	Three Months Ended December 31,
	2018		2017		Inc (Dec)
Diagnostics-
Molecular assays	$	7,298	$	8,717		(16	)%
Immunoassays & blood chemistry assays		29,367		28,773		2	%

Total Diagnostics	$	36,665	$	37,490		(2	)%

Life Science-
Molecular reagents	$	6,589	$	5,688		16	%
Immunological reagents		8,226		9,105		(10	)%

Total Life Science	$	14,815	$	14,793		—	%

Revenue by Disease State (Diagnostics only)


	Three Months Ended December 31,
	2018		2017		Inc (Dec)
Diagnostics-
Gastrointestinal assays	$	18,633	$	20,270		(8	)%
Respiratory illness assays		7,977		7,486		7	%
Blood chemistry assays		4,466		4,266		5	%
Other		5,589		5,468		2	%

Total Diagnostics	$	36,665	$	37,490		(2	)%

Revenue Policies

Product Sales

Revenue from contracts with customers is recognized in an amount that reflects the consideration we expect to receive in exchange for products when obligations under such contracts are satisfied. Revenue is generally recognized at a point-in-time when products are shipped and title has passed to the customer. Such contracts can include various combinations of products that are generally accounted for as distinct performance obligations.

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. 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 are netted against accounts receivable.

Shipping and handling costs incurred after control of the product is transferred to our customers are treated as fulfillment costs and not a separate performance obligation.

Our payment terms differ by jurisdiction and customer but payment is generally required in a term ranging from 30 to 90 days from the date of shipment or satisfaction of the performance obligation. 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. Customer invoices are charged off against the allowance when we believe it is probable that the invoices will not be paid.

Practical Expedients and Exemptions

Revenue is recognized net of any taxes collected from customers (sales tax, value added tax, etc.), which are subsequently remitted to government authorities.

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.

We expense as incurred the costs to obtain contracts, as the amortization period would have been one year or less. These costs, recorded within selling and marketing expense, include our internal sales force compensation programs and certain partner sales incentive programs, as we have determined that annual compensation is commensurate with annual selling activities.

Reagent Rental Arrangements

Our Alethia and LeadCare product platforms require the use of instruments for the tests to be processed. In many cases a customer is given use of the instrument, provided they continue purchasing the associated tests, also referred to as “consumables” or “reagents”. If a customer stops purchasing the consumables, the instrument must be returned to Meridian. Such arrangements are common practice in the diagnostics industry and are referred to as “Reagent Rental” agreements. These agreements may also include instrument related services such as a limited replacement warranty, training and installation. We concluded that the use of the instrument and related services (collectively known as “lease elements”) are not within the scope of ASU No. 2014-09 but rather ASU 2016-02, Leases. Accordingly, we first allocate the transaction price between the lease elements and the non-lease elements based on estimates of relative standalone selling prices. Lease revenue is derived solely from the sale of consumables and is therefore recognized monthly as earned, which coincides with the transfer of control of the non-lease elements.

For the portion of the transaction price allocated to the non-lease elements, which are principally the test kits, the related revenue will be recognized at a point-in-time when control transfers.

Revenue allocated to the lease elements of these Reagent Rental arrangements represent less than 1% of total revenue and are included as part of net revenues in our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements –

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 during the second quarter of fiscal 2019.

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. The Company adopted this guidance in the first quarter of fiscal 2019, with the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows reflecting such adoption, including the information related to restricted cash.

In February 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-02, Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, to address certain of the recent U.S. federal income tax legislation’s impact on Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (“AOCI”). The guidance specifically provides the option of reclassifying “stranded tax effects” related to the tax legislation from AOCI to retained earnings. Adoption and implementation of the optional guidance is not effective for the Company until the beginning of fiscal 2020, although early adoption is permitted. The Company plans to adopt this guidance in fiscal 2020 as required but does not expect adoption to have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated results of operations, cash flows or financial position.

Reclassifications –

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