Fair value measurement

For a description of the fair value hierarchy, see Note 10 to the Company’s consolidated financial statements included in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.

The following tables provide information regarding the Company's financial assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017:



	Total carrying value at September 30, 2018		Quoted prices in active markets (Level 1)		Significant other observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
	(Dollars in thousands)
Investments in marketable securities	$	9,849	$	9,849	$	—	$	—
Derivative assets	2,333		—		2,333		—
Derivative liabilities	1,636		—		1,636		—
Contingent consideration liabilities	244,574		—		—		244,574



	Total carrying value at December 31, 2017		Quoted prices in active markets (Level 1)		Significant other observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
	(Dollars in thousands)
Investments in marketable securities	$	9,045	$	9,045	$	—	$	—
Derivative assets	1,221		—		1,221		—
Derivative liabilities	1,426		—		1,426		—
Contingent consideration liabilities	272,136		—		—		272,136

There were no transfers of financial assets or liabilities reported at fair value among Level 1, Level 2 or Level 3 within the fair value hierarchy during the nine months ended September 30, 2018.

Valuation Techniques

The Company’s financial assets valued based upon Level 1 inputs are comprised of investments in marketable securities held in trust, which are available to satisfy benefit obligations under Company benefit plans and other arrangements. The investment assets of the trust are valued using quoted market prices.

The Company’s financial assets and liabilities valued based upon Level 2 inputs are comprised of foreign currency forward contracts. The Company uses foreign currency forward contracts to manage foreign currency transaction exposure as well as exposure to foreign currency denominated monetary assets and liabilities. The Company measures the fair value of the foreign currency forward contracts by calculating the amount required to enter into offsetting contracts with similar remaining maturities as of the measurement date, based on quoted market prices, and taking into account the creditworthiness of the counterparties.

The Company’s financial liabilities valued based upon Level 3 inputs are comprised of contingent consideration arrangements pertaining to the Company’s acquisitions, which are discussed immediately below.

Contingent consideration

As of September 30, 2018, the Company estimates that contingent consideration payments will occur in 2018 through 2029, and the maximum amount of undiscounted payments the Company could make under contingent consideration arrangements is $325 million. The contingent consideration liabilities, which primarily consist of Company obligations payable if specified net sales goals are achieved, are remeasured to fair value each reporting period using assumptions including estimated revenues (based on internal operational budgets and long-range strategic plans), discount rates, probability of payment and projected payment dates.

The contingent consideration fair value measurement is based on significant inputs not observable in the market and therefore constitute Level 3 inputs within the fair value hierarchy. The contingent consideration liability related to the NeoTract acquisition represents the estimated fair value of the Company's obligations to make additional payments of up to $300 million in the aggregate if specified sales goals are achieved. Specifically, the payments are based on net sales (as defined in the NeoTract acquisition agreement) for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2019 and 2020. The fair value of the contingent consideration related to the NeoTract acquisition was estimated using a Monte Carlo valuation approach, which simulates future revenues during the earn out-period using management's best estimates. The Company determines the value of its other contingent consideration liabilities based on a probability-weighted discounted cash flow analysis. Increases in projected revenues and probabilities of payment may result in significantly higher fair value measurements; decreases in these items may have the opposite effect. Increases in the discount rates may result in significantly lower fair value measurements; decreases in the discount rates may have the opposite effect.

The table below provides additional information regarding the valuation technique and inputs used in determining the fair value of contingent consideration recognized in connection with the NeoTract acquisition.

The following table provides information regarding changes, during the nine months ended September 30, 2018, in Level 3 financial liabilities related to contingent consideration:



	Contingent consideration
	2018
	(Dollars in thousands)
Balance - December 31, 2017	$	272,136
Additions₍₁₎	396
Payments ₍₂₎	(75,252		)
Revaluations	47,344
Translation adjustment	(50		)
Balance - September 30, 2018	$	244,574

(1) The Company established a liability related to the estimated fair value of contingent consideration associated with the acquired assets from QT Vascular.

(2) Consists mainly of a $75.0 million payment resulting from the achievement of a sales goal associated with the NeoTract acquisition for the period from January 1, 2018 to April 30, 2018.

Valuation Technique

Unobservable Input

Contingent consideration

Monte Carlo simulation

Revenue volatility

Risk free rate

Cost of debt structure

Projected year of payment