BIO-RAD LABORATORIES, INC.BIO
BIO-RAD LABORATORIES, INC. Fair Value Disclosure
3. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS AND INVESTMENTS
We determine the fair value of an asset or liability based on the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The identification of market participant assumptions provides a basis for determining what inputs are to be used for pricing each asset or liability. A fair value hierarchy has been established which gives precedence to fair value measurements calculated using observable inputs over those using unobservable inputs. This hierarchy prioritizes the inputs into three broad levels as follows:
•Level 1: Quoted prices in active markets for identical instruments
•Level 2: Other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices in active markets for similar instruments)
•Level 3: Significant unobservable inputs (including assumptions in determining the fair value of certain investments)
Financial assets and liabilities carried at fair value and measured on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2025 are classified in the hierarchy as follows (in millions):
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Financial assets carried at fair value: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cash equivalents: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Corporate debt securities | $ | — | $ | 1.6 | $ | — | $ | 1.6 | |||||||||||||||
| Time deposits | — | 39.4 | — | 39.4 | |||||||||||||||||||
U.S. government sponsored agencies securities | — | 59.9 | — | 59.9 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Money market funds | 209.7 | — | — | 209.7 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total cash equivalents (a) | 209.7 | 100.9 | — | 310.6 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Restricted investments (b) | 1.1 | — | — | 1.1 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Equity Securities (c) | 5,740.5 | — | — | 5,740.5 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Loan under the fair value option (d) | — | — | 373.4 | 373.4 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Available-for-sale investments: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Corporate debt securities | — | 451.9 | — | 451.9 | |||||||||||||||||||
U.S. government sponsored agencies securities | — | 79.6 | — | 79.6 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Foreign government obligations | — | 11.7 | — | 11.7 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Municipal obligations | — | 14.9 | — | 14.9 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Asset-backed securities | — | 381.5 | — | 381.5 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total available-for-sale investments (e) | — | 939.6 | — | 939.6 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Forward foreign exchange contracts (f) | — | 1.2 | — | 1.2 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total financial assets carried at fair value | $ | 5,951.3 | $ | 1,041.7 | $ | 373.4 | $ | 7,366.4 | |||||||||||||||
| Financial liabilities carried at fair value: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Forward foreign exchange contracts (g) | $ | — | $ | 1.8 | $ | — | $ | 1.8 | |||||||||||||||
| Contingent consideration (h) | — | — | 29.6 | 29.6 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total financial liabilities carried at fair value | $ | — | $ | 1.8 | $ | 29.6 | $ | 31.4 | |||||||||||||||
Financial assets and liabilities carried at fair value and measured on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2024 are classified in the hierarchy as follows (in millions):
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Financial assets carried at fair value: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cash equivalents: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Time deposits | $ | — | $ | 31.2 | $ | — | $ | 31.2 | |||||||||||||||
U.S. government sponsored agencies securities | — | 14.9 | — | 14.9 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Money market funds | 139.4 | — | — | 139.4 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total cash equivalents (a) | 139.4 | 46.1 | — | 185.5 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Restricted investments (b) | 1.6 | — | — | 1.6 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Equity securities (c) | 4,548.0 | — | — | 4,548.0 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Loan under the fair value option (d) | — | — | 317.5 | 317.5 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Available-for-sale investments: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Corporate debt securities | — | 533.6 | — | 533.6 | |||||||||||||||||||
U.S. government sponsored agencies securities | — | 118.6 | — | 118.6 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Foreign government obligations | — | 5.2 | — | 5.2 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Municipal obligations | — | 9.4 | — | 9.4 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Asset-backed securities | — | 430.8 | — | 430.8 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total available-for-sale investments (e) | — | 1,097.6 | — | 1,097.6 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Forward foreign exchange contracts (f) | — | 8.8 | — | 8.8 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total financial assets carried at fair value | $ | 4,689.0 | $ | 1,152.5 | $ | 317.5 | $ | 6,159.0 | |||||||||||||||
| Financial liabilities carried at fair value: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Forward foreign exchange contracts (g) | $ | — | $ | 2.4 | $ | — | $ | 2.4 | |||||||||||||||
| Total financial liabilities carried at fair value | $ | — | $ | 2.4 | $ | — | $ | 2.4 | |||||||||||||||
(a) Cash equivalents are included in Cash and cash equivalents in the consolidated balance sheets.
(b) Restricted investments are included in Other investments in the consolidated balance sheets.
(c) Equity securities are included in the following accounts in the consolidated balance sheets (in millions):
| December 31, 2025 | December 31, 2024 | ||||||||||
| Short-term investments | $ | 71.3 | $ | 78.8 | |||||||
| Other investments | 5,669.2 | 4,469.2 | |||||||||
| Total | $ | 5,740.5 | $ | 4,548.0 | |||||||
(d) The Loan under the fair value option is included in Other investments in the consolidated balance sheets.
(e) Available-for-sale investments are included in Short-term investments in the consolidated balance sheets.
(f) Forward foreign exchange contracts in an asset position are included in Other current assets in the consolidated balance sheets.
(g) Forward foreign exchange contracts in a liability position are included in Other current liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets.
(h) Contingent consideration in a liability position is included in Other long-term liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets. Changes in the estimated fair value of the contingent consideration are included in Research and development expense for the technological milestone and Selling, general and administrative expense for the sales-related milestone.
Level 1 Fair Value Measurements
As of December 31, 2025, we owned 12,987,900 ordinary voting shares and 9,588,908 preference shares of Sartorius, of Goettingen, Germany, a process technology supplier to the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, chemical and food and beverage industries. We owned approximately 38% of the outstanding ordinary shares (excluding treasury shares) and 28% of the preference shares of Sartorius as of December 31, 2025. The Sartorius family trust (Sartorius family members are beneficiaries of the trust) holds a majority interest of the outstanding ordinary shares of Sartorius. We do not have the ability to exercise significant influence over the operating and financial policies of Sartorius primarily because we do not have any representative or designee on Sartorius' board of directors and have tried and failed to obtain access to operating or financial information necessary to apply the equity method of accounting.
The change in fair market value of our investment in Sartorius for the twelve months ended December 31, 2025 was a gain of $872.6 million and is recorded in our consolidated statements of income (loss).
Level 2 Fair Value Measurements
To estimate the fair value of Level 2 debt securities as of December 31, 2025 and 2024, our primary pricing provider uses Refinitiv as the primary pricing source. Our pricing process allows us to select a hierarchy of pricing sources for securities held. If Refinitiv does not price a Level 2 security that we hold, then the pricing provider will utilize our custodian supplied pricing as the secondary pricing source.
Available-for-sale investments consist of the following (in millions):
| December 31, 2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amortized Cost | Unrealized Gains | Unrealized Losses | Allowances for Credit Losses | Estimated Fair Value | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Short-term investments: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Corporate debt securities | $ | 447.4 | $ | 4.6 | $ | (0.1) | — | $ | 451.9 | ||||||||||||||||||||
U.S. government sponsored agencies securities | 79.1 | 0.5 | — | — | 79.6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Foreign government obligations | 11.6 | 0.1 | — | — | 11.7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Municipal obligations | 14.6 | 0.3 | — | — | 14.9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Asset-backed securities | 378.9 | 3.3 | (0.7) | — | 381.5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| $ | 931.6 | $ | 8.8 | $ | (0.8) | $ | — | $ | 939.6 | ||||||||||||||||||||
The following is a summary of the amortized cost and estimated fair value of our debt securities at December 31, 2025 by contractual maturity date (in millions):
| Amortized Cost | Estimated Fair Value | ||||||||||
| Mature in less than one year | $ | 57.6 | $ | 57.8 | |||||||
| Mature in one to five years | 593.2 | 599.1 | |||||||||
| Mature in more than five years | 280.8 | 282.7 | |||||||||
| Total | $ | 931.6 | $ | 939.6 | |||||||
Available-for-sale investments consist of the following (in millions):
| December 31, 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amortized Cost | Unrealized Gains | Unrealized Losses | Estimated Fair Value | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Short-term investments: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Corporate debt securities | $ | 533.1 | $ | 2.1 | $ | (1.6) | $ | 533.6 | |||||||||||||||
| Municipal obligations | 9.5 | — | (0.1) | 9.4 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Asset-backed securities | 432.4 | 1.3 | (2.9) | 430.8 | |||||||||||||||||||
U.S. government sponsored agencies securities | 119.5 | 0.1 | (1.0) | 118.6 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Foreign government obligations | 5.2 | — | — | 5.2 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 1,099.7 | $ | 3.5 | $ | (5.6) | $ | 1,097.6 | |||||||||||||||
As of December 31, 2025, there were no significant continuous unrealized losses greater than 12 months.
Our evaluation of credit losses for available-for-sale investments included the extent to which the fair value is less than the amortized cost basis, adverse conditions specifically related to the debt security, an industry or geographic area, and any changes in the rating of a security by a rating agency. Credit loss impairments are limited to the amount that the fair value of an instrument is less than its amortized cost basis.
At December 31, 2025, we concluded that all payments related to our available-for-sale investments are expected to be made in full and on time at par value. The diminution of value in the intervening period is due to market conditions such as illiquidity and interest rate movements and not due to significant, inherent credit concerns surrounding the issuer. As a result, we have no allowances for credit losses on our available-for-sale investments portfolio as of December 31, 2025.
Included in Other current assets are $11.9 million and $13.1 million of interest receivable as of December 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively, primarily associated with securities in our available-for-sale investments portfolio. Associated interest on these securities is typically payable semi-annually. Due to the short-term nature of our interest receivable asset, we have made an accounting policy election not to measure an allowance for credit losses for accrued interest receivable. We consider any uncollected interest receivable that is overdue greater than one year to be impaired for purposes of write-off. For the year ended December 31, 2025, we have not written off any uncollected interest receivable.
We enter into forward foreign exchange contracts to manage foreign exchange risk arising from movements in foreign exchange rates that affect foreign currency denominated cash, account receivables and payables. We do not use derivative financial instruments for speculative or trading purposes. We do not seek hedge accounting treatment for these balance sheet hedge contracts. As a result, these contracts, generally with maturity dates of 90 days or less, are recorded at their fair value at each balance sheet date. The estimated fair value of these contracts was derived using the spot rates and forward points from Refinitiv on the last business day of the quarter. The resulting gains or losses from foreign exchange contracts are expected to offset remeasurement losses or gains from foreign currency exposures being hedged, both of which are included in Foreign currency exchange gains, net in the consolidated statements of income (loss).
The following is a summary of our foreign currency forward contracts (in millions) that are classified as balance sheet hedges:
| December 31, | |||||
| 2025 | |||||
Contracts maturing in January through March 2026 to sell foreign currency: | |||||
| Notional value | $ | 870.3 | |||
| Unrealized gain/(loss) | $ | (1.0) | |||
Contracts maturing in January through March 2026 to purchase foreign currency: | |||||
| Notional value | $ | 107.4 | |||
| Unrealized gain/(loss) | $ | 0.4 | |||
Included in Other investments in the consolidated balance sheets are investments without readily determinable fair value measured at cost with adjustments for observable price changes or impairments. The carrying amount of these investments was $23.0 million as of each of December 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024.
Also included in Other investments in the consolidated balance sheets are our equity method investments, for which our share of the equity method investees earnings is included in Other income, net in our consolidated statements of income (loss). The carrying amount of these investments, net of impairments, was $36.9 million and $27.9 million as of December 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively.
The carrying amount and fair value of our long-term debt was as follows (in millions):
| December 31, 2025 | December 31, 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Carrying Amount | Fair Value | Carrying Amount | Fair Value | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Senior notes | $ | 1,193.0 | $ | 1,152.6 | $ | 1,191.2 | $ | 1,098.3 | ||||||||||||||||||
Other long-term debt | 10.0 | 10.0 | 9.2 | 9.2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Total | $ | 1,203.0 | $ | 1,162.6 | $ | 1,200.4 | $ | 1,107.5 | ||||||||||||||||||
The fair value of our long-term debt was determined based on quoted market prices and on borrowing rates available to the Company at the respective period ends, which represent level 2 measurements.
Level 3 Fair Value Investments
During the fourth quarter of 2021, we extended a collateralized loan to Sartorius-Herbst Beteiligungen II Gmbh ("SHB"), a private limited company incorporated under the laws of Germany, with a principal amount of €400 million due on January 31, 2029, subject to certain events which could trigger payment prior to maturity (“Loan”). SHB used the Loan proceeds to partially finance the acquisition of interests under the Sartorius family trust (“Trust”) from a beneficiary of the Trust. The Loan is collateralized by the pledge of certain of the Trust interests, which upon termination of the Trust in mid-2028 represent the right to receive Sartorius ordinary shares. Interest on the loan is payable annually in arrears at 1.5% per annum, and the entire principal amount is due at maturity. In addition to contractual interest, we are entitled to certain value appreciation rights associated with the acquired Trust interests, which upon termination of the Trust represent the right to receive Sartorius ordinary shares, that is due upon repayment of the Loan. We elected the fair value option under ASC 825, Financial Instruments for accounting of the Loan to SHB to simplify the accounting. The fair value of the Loan and value appreciation right is estimated under the income approach using a discounted cash flow, and option pricing model, respectively, which results in a fair value measurement categorized in Level 3. The significant assumptions used to estimate fair value of the Loan include an estimate of the discount rate and cash flows of the Loan and the significant assumptions used to estimate the fair value of the value appreciation right include volatility, the risk-free interest rate, expected life (in years) and expected dividend. The inputs are subject to estimation uncertainty and actual amounts realized may materially differ. An increase in the expected volatility may result in a significantly higher fair value, whereas a decrease in expected life may result in a significantly lower fair value. All subsequent changes in fair value of the Loan and value appreciation right, including accrued interest are recognized in (Gains) losses from change in fair market value of equity securities and loan receivable in our consolidated statements of income (loss). The overall
change in fair market value reflected in (Gains) losses from change in fair market value of equity securities and loan receivable during the twelve months ended December 31, 2025 was a gain of $12.4 million, which includes a $16.1 million gain from change in fair market value of the Loan and a $3.7 million loss from change in fair market value of the value appreciation right. The increase in the fair market value of the loan receivables was due to a closer maturity date and lower discount rate. As of December 31, 2025, the €400.0 million principal amount of the loan is still due on January 31, 2029.
The following table provides a reconciliation of the Level 3 Loan measured at estimated fair value (in millions):
| December 31, 2024 | $ | 317.5 | |||
Change in estimated fair market value, net | 12.4 | ||||
| Foreign currency adjustments gains (losses), net | 43.5 | ||||
| December 31, 2025 | $ | 373.4 | |||
During the second quarter of 2025, we recognized a contingent consideration liability upon our acquisition of Stilla, which represents future potential payments of up to $50.0 million, payable in cash upon the achievement of certain technological and sales-related milestones, commencing on the Acquisition Date through December 31, 2026 and 2027, respectively. At the Acquisition Date, the fair value of the contingent consideration of $28.5 million was determined by using a probability-weighted expected return model for both the achievement of the technological and sales-related milestones. The significant assumptions used to estimate the fair value of the contingent consideration include an estimate of the probability of achievement and the discount rate. The probability of achievement is subject to estimation uncertainty and actual amounts realized may materially differ. An increase in the expected probability of achievement may result in a higher fair value, whereas a decrease in expected probability of achievement may result in a lower fair value. The fair value of the contingent consideration is remeasured at each reporting period based on the assumptions and inputs on the date of remeasurement. The fair value of the estimated contingent consideration was $29.6 million as of December 31, 2025.
The following table provides a reconciliation of the Level 3 Stilla contingent consideration liability in the aggregate measured at estimated fair value (in millions):
| December 31, 2024 | $ | — | |||
Stilla contingent consideration | 28.5 | ||||
Measurement period adjustment | 0.1 | ||||
Change in estimated fair value | 1.0 | ||||
| December 31, 2025 | $ | 29.6 | |||
The following table provides quantitative information about Level 3 inputs for fair value measurement of our Stilla contingent consideration liability as of December 31, 2025. Significant increases or decreases in these inputs in isolation could result in a significantly lower or higher fair value measurement.
| Valuation Technique | Unobservable Input | Percentage | |||||||||
Stilla | Probability-weighted expected return model | Discount rate | 4.1 | % | |||||||
Historical Timeline
| Fiscal Year | Filed | |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Feb 13, 2026 | Showing above |
| 2024 | Feb 14, 2025 | |
| 2023 | Feb 16, 2024 | |
| 2022 | Feb 17, 2023 | |
| 2021 | Feb 11, 2022 | |
| 2020 | Feb 16, 2021 | |
| 2019 | Mar 2, 2020 | |
| 2018 | Apr 1, 2019 | |
| 2017 | Apr 16, 2018 | |
| 2016 | Mar 1, 2017 | |
| 2015 | Feb 29, 2016 | |
About Fair Value Disclosures
Fair value disclosures classify all assets and liabilities measured at fair value into a three-level hierarchy: Level 1 (quoted market prices), Level 2 (observable inputs like yield curves), and Level 3 (unobservable inputs requiring management estimates). The proportion of Level 3 assets directly reflects how much of the balance sheet depends on internal models rather than market evidence.
Key signals: a growing Level 3 balance relative to total fair-value assets increases valuation uncertainty and earnings volatility risk. Watch for transfers between levels — assets moving from Level 2 to Level 3 often signal deteriorating market liquidity. Unrealized gains and losses on Level 3 positions flow through earnings or other comprehensive income, so large swings deserve scrutiny. For financial institutions, examine the sensitivity disclosures that show how Level 3 valuations change under alternative assumptions. Compare the fair value of debt against its carrying amount to gauge hidden leverage.