13. Fair Value Measurements

The fair value accounting guidance requires that assets and liabilities carried at fair value be classified and disclosed in one of the following three categories:

Level 1 — Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
Level 2 — Observable inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1, such as quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar assets and liabilities in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data.
Level 3 — Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities. This includes certain pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies, and similar techniques that use significant unobservable inputs.

Level 1 assets being measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2025 included the Company’s money market investments and a short-duration bond equity fund and classified as short-term marketable securities.

The Company uses Level 2 fair value measurements for its Convertible Notes, which are carried at the face value less unamortized debt discount and issuance costs on the consolidated balance sheets. The fair value of the Convertible Notes is presented at each reporting period for disclosure purposes only (see Note 6). Additionally, the Company uses Level 2 fair value measurements for its debt investments that are designated as available-for-sale and classified as short-term marketable securities (see Note 2).

Several of the Company’s prior acquisition-related assets and liabilities have been measured using Level 3 techniques. During 2020 the Company recorded a contingent liability associated with its acquisition of the bovine carotid graft business from Artegraft. The agreement required the Company to make potential additional payments to Artegraft of up to $17.5 million, depending on the achievement of certain unit sales milestones during the first three calendar years following the acquisition

through December 31, 2023. As of December 31, 2023, there were no unit sales milestones achieved during the earn-out period, and therefore the Company reduced the remaining liability to zero.

In 2019, the Company recorded contingent liabilities associated with its acquisition of the Anteris biologic patch business. In January 2025, the Company received the MDR CE mark approval of CardioCel and VascuCel, which allows the Company to distribute their Burlington manufactured products to EU markets. As of December 31, 2024, the fair value of the CE Mark Contingency reflected the total holdback due to Anteris of $1.4 million. The payment to Anteris was made in the first quarter of 2025. No further liabilities exist for the Company as of December 31, 2025.

The following table provides a roll-forward of the fair value of these liabilities, as determined by Level 3 unobservable inputs:

 

Year ended December 31,

 

 

2025

 

 

2024

 

 

2023

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Beginning balance

 

$

1,358

 

 

$

1,224

 

 

$

1,339

 

Additions

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

Payments

 

 

(1,358

)

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

Change in fair value included in earnings

 

 

-

 

 

 

134

 

 

 

(115

)

Ending balance

 

$

 

 

$

1,358

 

 

$

1,224

 

Historical Timeline

Fiscal YearFiled
2025Feb 26, 2026Showing above
2024Feb 28, 2025
2023Feb 29, 2024
2022Mar 1, 2023
2021Feb 28, 2022
2020Mar 12, 2021
2019Mar 12, 2020
2018Mar 11, 2019
2017Mar 9, 2018
2016Mar 9, 2017
2015Mar 10, 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.