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Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies) | 9 Months Ended
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Oct. 02, 2021
Accounting Policies [Abstract] |
Fiscal Period | The Company’s interim fiscal quarter typically ends on the thirteenth Saturday of each quarter. Since the Company’s fiscal year end is December 31, the first and fourth fiscal quarters may have more or less than thirteen complete weeks. The Company’s third fiscal quarters for 2021 and 2020 ended on October 2, 2021 and September 26, 2020, respectively.
Basis of Accounting | The accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the instructions to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and do not include all of the information and footnote disclosures required for annual financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) in the United States of America. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries, which are wholly owned. All inter-company balances and transactions have been eliminated. The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires the Company to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent liabilities at the dates of the financial statements. Actual amounts may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions . It is management’s opinion that the accompanying interim consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments (which are normal and recurring) that are necessary for a fair statement of the results for the interim periods. The interim consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, as filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on February 24, 2021.
Principles of Consolidation | The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries, which are wholly owned. All inter-company balances and transactions have been eliminated.
Use of Estimates | The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires the Company to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent liabilities at the dates of the financial statements. Actual amounts may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions .
Risks and Uncertainties | Risks and Uncertainties The Company is subject to risks common to companies in the analytical instrument industry, including, but not limited to, global economic and financial market conditions, fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, fluctuations in customer demand, development by its competitors of new technological innovations, costs of developing new technologies, levels of debt and debt service requirements, risk of disruption, dependence on key personnel, protection and litigation of proprietary technology, shifts in taxable income between tax jurisdictions and compliance with regulations of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and similar foreign regulatory authorities and agencies. Both the Company’s domestic and international operations have been and continue to be affected by the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting volatility and uncertainty it has caused in the U.S. and international markets. The Company operates in over 35 countries, including those in regions most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Through the date of the issuance of these financial statements, the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows have not been materially impacted and, thus, the Company concluded that no goodwill or long-lived asset impairment analyses were required. Further, there have been no violations of debt covenants. Any prolonged material disruption of the Company’s employees, suppliers, manufacturing, or customers could materially impact its consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
Translation of Foreign Currencies | Translation of Foreign Currencies The functional currency of each of the Company’s foreign operating subsidiaries is the local currency of its country of domicile, except for the Company’s subsidiaries in Hong Kong, Singapore and the Cayman Islands, where the underlying transactional cash flows are denominated in currencies other than the respective local currency of domicile. The functional currency of the Hong Kong, Singapore and Cayman Islands subsidiaries is the U.S. dollar, based on the respective entity’s cash flows. For the Company’s foreign operations, assets and liabilities are translated into U.S. dollars at exchange rates prevailing on the balance sheet date, while revenues and expenses are translated at average exchange rates prevailing during the respective period. Any resulting translation gains or losses are included in accumulated other comprehensive income in the consolidated balance sheets.
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Investments | Cash, Cash Equivalents and Investments Cash equivalents represent highly liquid investments, with original maturities of 90 days or less, while investments with longer maturities are classified as investments. The Company maintains cash balances in various operating accounts in excess of federally insured limits, and in foreign subsidiary accounts in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. As of October 2, 2021 and December 31, 2020, $371 million out of $655 million and $364 million out of $443 million, respectively, of the Company’s total cash, cash equivalents and investments were held by foreign subsidiaries. In addition, $240 million out of $655 million and $254 million out of $443 million of cash, cash equivalents and investments were held in currencies other than the U.S. dollar at October 2, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively.
Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Credit Losses | Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Credit Losses Trade accounts receivable are recorded at the invoiced amount and do not bear interest. The Company has very limited use of rebates and other cash considerations payable to customers and, as a result, the transaction price determination does not have any material variable consideration. The Company does not consider there to be significant concentrations of credit risk with respect to trade receivables due to the short-term nature of the balances, the Company having a large and diverse customer base, and the Company having a strong historical experience of collecting receivables with minimal defaults. As a result, credit risk is considered low across territories and trade receivables are considered to be a single class of financial asset. The allowance for credit losses is based on a number of factors and is calculated by applying a historical loss rate to trade receivable aging balances to estimate a general reserve balance along with an additional adjustment for any specific receivables with known or anticipated issues affecting the likelihood of recovery. Past due balances with a probability of default based on historical data as well as relevant available forward-looking information are included in the specific adjustment. The historical loss rate is reviewed on at least an annual basis and the allowance for credit losses is reviewed quarterly for any required adjustments. The Company does not have any off-balance sheet credit exposure related to its customers. Trade receivables related to instrument sales are collateralized by the instrument that is sold. If there is a risk of default related to a receivable that is collateralized, then the fair value of the collateral is calculated and adjusted for the cost to re-possess, refurbish and re-sell the instrument. This adjusted fair value is compared to the receivable balance and the difference would be recorded as the expected credit loss. The following is a summary of the activity of the Company’s allowance for credit losses for the nine months ended October 2, 2021 and September 26, 2020 (in thousands):
|  | Balance at Beginning of Period |  |  | Impact of CECL Adoption |  |  | Additions |  |  | Deductions |  |  | Balance at End of Period |
Allowance for Credit Losses |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
October 2, 2021 |  | $ | 14,381 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 3,388 |  |  | $ | (4,107 | ) |  | $ | 13,662 |
September 26, 2020 |  | $ | 9,560 |  |  | $ | 985 |  |  | $ | 7,826 |  |  | $ | (5,784 | ) |  | $ | 12,587 |
Income Taxes | The Company accounts for its uncertain tax return positions in accordance with the accounting standards for income taxes, which require financial statement reporting of the expected future tax consequences of uncertain tax reporting positions on the presumption that all concerned tax authorities possess full knowledge of those tax reporting positions, as well as all of the pertinent facts and circumstances, but prohibit any discounting of unrecognized tax benefits associated with those reporting positions for the time value of money. The Company continues to classify interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as a component of the provision for income taxes.
Other Investments | Other Investments During the nine months ended October 2, 2021 and September 26, 2020, the Company made investments in unaffiliated companies of $1 million and $4 million, respectively. During the nine months ended October 2, 2021, the Company recorded an unrealized gain on an equity security still held at the reporting date of approximately $10 million within other income (expense) on the income statement. This unrealized gain was recorded as an upward price adjustment to the carrying value of the investment due to an observable price change of a similar security issued during the current period. During the nine months ended September 26, 2020, the Company recorded an unrealized loss on an equity security still held at the reporting date of approximately $1 million within other income (expense) on the income statement. This unrealized loss was recorded as a downward price adjustment to the carrying value of the investment due to an observable price change of a similar security issued during the current period.
Fair Value Measurements | Fair Value Measurements In accordance with the accounting standards for fair value measurements and disclosures, certain of the Company’s assets and liabilities are measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of October 2, 2021 and December 31, 2020. Fair values determined by Level 1 inputs utilize observable data, such as quoted prices in active markets. Fair values determined by Level 2 inputs utilize data points other than quoted prices in active markets that are observable either directly or indirectly. Fair values determined by Level 3 inputs utilize unobservable data points for which there is little or no market data, which require the reporting entity to develop its own assumptions. The following table represents the Company’s assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis at October 2, 2021 (in thousands):
|  | Total at October 2, 2021 |  |  | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) |  |  | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) |  |  | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) |
Assets: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
U.S. Treasury securities |  | $ | 12,043 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 12,043 |  |  | $ | — |
Corporate debt securities |  |  | 83,045 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 83,045 |  |  |  | — |
Time deposits |  |  | 35,803 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 35,803 |  |  |  | — |
Waters 401(k) Restoration Plan assets |  |  | 38,587 |  |  |  | 38,587 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |
Foreign currency exchange contracts |  |  | 93 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 93 |  |  |  | — |
Total |  | $ | 169,571 |  |  | $ | 38,587 |  |  | $ | 130,984 |  |  | $ | — |
Liabilities: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Contingent consideration |  | $ | 1,307 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 1,307 |
Foreign currency exchange contracts |  |  | 375 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 375 |  |  |  | — |
Interest rate cross-currency swap agreements |  |  | 12,322 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 12,322 |  |  |  | — |
Total |  | $ | 14,004 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 12,697 |  |  | $ | 1,307 |
The following table represents the Company’s assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis at December 31, 2020 (in thousands):
|  | Total at December 31, 2020 |  |  | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) |  |  | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) |  |  | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) |
Assets: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Time deposits |  | $ | 6,451 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 6,451 |  |  | $ | — |
Waters 401(k) Restoration Plan assets |  |  | 38,988 |  |  |  | 38,988 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |
Foreign currency exchange contracts |  |  | 836 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 836 |  |  |  | — |
Total |  | $ | 46,275 |  |  | $ | 38,988 |  |  | $ | 7,287 |  |  | $ | — |
Liabilities: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Contingent consideration |  | $ | 1,185 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 1,185 |
Foreign currency exchange contracts |  |  | 185 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 185 |  |  |  | — |
Interest rate cross-currency swap agreements |  |  | 44,996 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 44,996 |  |  |  | — |
Total |  | $ | 46,366 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 45,181 |  |  | $ | 1,185 |
Fair Value of 401(k) Restoration Plan Assets The 401(k) Restoration Plan is a nonqualified defined contribution plan and the assets were held in registered mutual funds and have been classified as Level 1. The fair values of the assets in the plan are determined through market and observable sources from daily quoted prices on nationally recognized securities exchanges. Fair Value of Cash Equivalents, Investments, Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts and Interest Rate Cross-Currency Swap Agreements The fair values of the Company’s cash equivalents, investments, foreign currency exchange contracts and interest rate cross-currency swap agreements are determined through market and observable sources and have been classified as Level 2. These assets and liabilities have been initially valued at the transaction price and subsequently valued, typically utilizing third-party pricing services. The pricing services use many inputs to determine value, including reportable trades, benchmark yields, credit spreads, broker/dealer quotes, current spot rates and other industry and economic events. The Company validates the prices provided by third-party pricing services by reviewing their pricing methods and obtaining market values from other pricing sources. Fair Value of Contingent Consideration The fair value of the Company’s liability for contingent consideration relates to earnout payments in connection with the December 2020 acquisition of Integrated Software Solutions (“ISS”) and is determined using a probability-weighted discounted cash flow model, which uses significant unobservable inputs, and has been classified as Level 3. Subsequent changes in the fair value of the contingent consideration liability are recorded in the results of operations. The fair value of the contingent consideration liability associated with future earnout payments is based on several factors, including the achievement of certain revenue and customer account milestones over the two years after the acquisition date and a discount rate that reflects both the likelihood of achieving the estimated future results and the Company’s creditworthiness. A change in any of these unobservable inputs can significantly change the fair value of the contingent consideration. The fair value of future contingent consideration payments related to the December 2020 acquisition of ISS was estimated to be $1 million at both October 2, 2021 and December 31, 2020. Fair Value of Other Financial Instruments The Company’s accounts receivable and accounts payable are recorded at cost, which approximates fair value due to their short-term nature. The carrying value of the Company’s variable interest rate debt approximates fair value due to the variable nature of the interest rate. The carrying value of the Company’s fixed interest rate debt was $1.3 billion and $910 million at October 2, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively. The fair value of the Company’s fixed interest rate debt was estimated using discounted cash flow models, based on estimated current rates offered for similar debt under current market conditions for the Company. The fair value of the Company’s fixed interest rate debt was estimated to be $1.3 billion and $963 million at October 2, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively, using Level 2 inputs.
Derivative Transactions | Derivative Transactions The Company is a global company that operates in over 35 countries and, as a result, the Company’s net sales, cost of sales, operating expenses and balance sheet amounts are significantly impacted by fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates. The Company is exposed to currency price risk on foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations when it translates its non-U.S. dollar foreign subsidiaries’ financial statements into U.S. dollars and when any of the Company’s subsidiaries purchase or sell products or services in a currency other than its own currency. The Company’s principal strategies in managing exposures to changes in foreign currency exchange rates are to (1) naturally hedge the foreign-currency-denominated liabilities on the Company’s balance sheet against corresponding assets of the same currency, such that any changes in liabilities due to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates are typically offset by corresponding changes in assets and (2) mitigate foreign exchange risk exposure of international operations by hedging the variability in the movement of foreign currency exchange rates on a portion of its Euro-denominated net asset investments. The Company presents the derivative transactions in financing activities in the statement of cash flows. Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts The Company does not specifically enter into any derivatives that hedge foreign-currency-denominated operating assets, liabilities or commitments on its balance sheet, other than a portion of certain third-party accounts receivable and accounts payable, and the Company’s net worldwide intercompany receivables and payables, which are eliminated in consolidation. The Company periodically aggregates its net worldwide balances by currency and then enters into foreign currency exchange contracts that mature within 90 days to hedge a portion of the remaining balance to minimize some of the Company’s currency price risk exposure. The foreign currency exchange contracts are not designated for hedge accounting treatment. Principal hedged currencies include the Euro, Japanese yen, British pound, Mexican peso and Brazilian real. Interest Rate Cross-Currency Swap Agreements As of October 2, 2021, the Company had entered into three-year interest rate cross-currency swap derivative agreements with an aggregate notional value of $340 million to hedge the variability in the movement of foreign currency exchange rates on a portion of its Euro-denominated net asset investments. Under hedge accounting, the change in fair value of the derivative that relates to changes in the foreign currency spot rate are recorded in the currency translation adjustment in other comprehensive income and remain in accumulated comprehensive income in stockholders’ equity (deficit) until the sale or substantial liquidation of the foreign operation. The difference between the interest rate received and paid under the interest rate cross-currency swap derivative agreement is recorded in interest income in the statement of operations. The Company’s foreign currency exchange contracts and interest rate cross-currency swap agreements included in the consolidated balance sheets are classified as follows (in thousands):
|  | October 2, 2021 |  |  | December 31, 2020 |
|  | Notional Value |  |  | Fair Value |  |  | Notional Value |  |  | Fair Value |
Foreign currency exchange contracts: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Other current assets |  | $ | 19,000 |  |  | $ | 93 |  |  | $ | 66,690 |  |  | $ | 836 |
Other current liabilities |  | $ | 46,772 |  |  | $ | 375 |  |  | $ | 20,000 |  |  | $ | 185 |
Interest rate cross-currency swap agreements: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Other liabilities |  | $ | 340,000 |  |  | $ | 12,322 |  |  | $ | 560,000 |  |  | $ | 44,996 |
Accumulated other comprehensive loss |  |  |  |  |  | $ | 20,219 |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ | 44,996 |
The following is a summary of the activity included in the consolidated statements of operations and statements of comprehensive income related to the foreign currency exchange contracts and interest rate cross-currency swap agreements (in thousands):
|  | Financial Statement Classification |  | Three Months Ended |  |  | Nine Months Ended |
|  | October 2, 2021 |  |  | September 26, 2020 |  |  | October 2, 2021 |  |  | September 26, 2020 |
Foreign currency exchange contracts: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Realized (losses) gains on closed contracts |  | Cost of sales |  | $ | (774 | ) |  | $ | 1,113 |  |  | $ | 681 |  |  | $ | (45 | )
Unrealized (losses) gains on open contracts |  | Cost of sales |  |  | (933 | ) |  |  | 808 |  |  |  | (2,256 | ) |  |  | 1,455 |
Cumulative net pre-tax (losses) gains |  | Cost of sales |  | $ | (1,707 | ) |  | $ | 1,921 |  |  | $ | (1,575 | ) |  | $ | 1,410 |
Interest rate cross-currency swap agreements: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest earned |  | Interest income |  | $ | 2,305 |  |  | $ | 3,777 |  |  | $ | 9,505 |  |  | $ | 11,275 |
Unrealized gains on open contracts |  | Other comprehensive income |  | $ | 7,762 |  |  | $ | 19,582 |  |  | $ | 24,777 |  |  | $ | 19,675 |
Stockholders' Equity | Stockholders’ Equity In January 2019, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the Company to repurchase up to $4 billion of its outstanding common stock over a two-year period. This program replaced the remaining amounts available from the pre-existing program. During the nine months ended October 2, 2021 and September 26, 2020, the Company repurchased 1.5 million and 0.8 million shares of the Company’s outstanding common stock at a cost of $484 million and $167 million, respectively, under the January 2019 authorization and other previously announced programs. In addition, the Company repurchased $9 million and $10 million of common stock related to the vesting of restricted stock units during the nine months ended October 2, 2021 and September 26, 2020, respectively. As of October 2, 2021, the Company had repurchased an aggregate of 12.7 million shares at a cost of $3.0 billion under the January 2019 repurchase program and had a total of $1.0 billion authorized for future repurchases. In December 2020, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the extension of the share repurchase program through January 21, 2023. The Company had $20 million of treasury stock purchases that were accrued and unsettled at December 31, 2019. These transactions were settled in January 2020. The Company did not have any unsettled treasury stock purchases as of December 31, 2020 or October 2, 2021.
Product Warranty Costs | Product Warranty Costs The Company accrues estimated product warranty costs at the time of sale, which are included in cost of sales in the consolidated statements of operations. While the Company engages in extensive product quality programs and processes, including actively monitoring and evaluating the quality of its component suppliers, the Company’s warranty obligation is affected by product failure rates, material usage and service delivery costs incurred in correcting a product failure. The amount of the accrued warranty liability is based on historical information, such as past experience, product failure rates, number of units repaired and estimated costs of material and labor. The liability is reviewed for reasonableness at least quarterly. The following is a summary of the activity of the Company’s accrued warranty liability for the nine months ended October 2, 2021 and September 26, 2020 (in thousands):
|  | Balance at Beginning of Period |  |  | Accruals for Warranties |  |  | Settlements Made |  |  | Balance at End of Period |
Accrued warranty liability: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
October 2, 2021 |  | $ | 10,950 |  |  | $ | 6,537 |  |  | $ | (6,991 | ) |  | $ | 10,496 |
September 26, 2020 |  | $ | 11,964 |  |  | $ | 5,442 |  |  | $ | (7,145 | ) |  | $ | 10,261 |
Restructuring | Restructuring In January 2020, the Company made organizational changes to better align its resources with its growth and innovation strategies, resulting in a worldwide workforce reduction, impacting 3% of the Company’s employees. During the three and nine months ended September 26, 2020, the Company incurred $6 million and $27 million of severance-related costs, lease termination costs and other related costs. Restructuring charges incurred during the three and nine months ended October 2, 2021 were immaterial.
Stock-Based Compensation | The Company accounts for stock-based compensation costs in accordance with the accounting standards for stock-based compensation, which require that all share-based payments to employees be recognized in the statements of operations, based on their grant date fair values. The Company recognizes the expense using the straight-line attribution method. The stock-based compensation expense recognized in the consolidated statements of operations is based on awards that ultimately are expected to vest; therefore, the amount of expense has been reduced for estimated forfeitures. Forfeitures are estimated based on historical experience. If actual results differ significantly from these estimates, stock-based compensation expense and theCompany’s results of operations could be materially impacted. In addition, if the Company employs different assumptions in the application of these standards, the compensation expense that the Company records in the future periods may differ significantly from what the Company has recorded in the current period.
Earnings Per Share | The effect of dilutive securities was calculated using the treasury stock method.
Retirement Plans | The Company sponsors various retirement plans. The components of net periodic benefit cost other than the service cost component are included in other expense in the consolidated statements of operations.
New Accounting Pronouncements | Recently Adopted Accounting Standards In December 2019, accounting guidance was issued that simplifies the accounting for income taxes by removing certain exceptions within the current guidance, including the approach for intraperiod tax allocation, the methodology for calculating income taxes in an interim period and the recognition of deferred tax liabilities for outside basis differences. The amendment also improves consistent application by clarifying and amending existing guidance related to aspects of the accounting for franchise taxes and enacted changes in tax laws or rates and clarifies the accounting for transactions that result in a step up in the tax basis of goodwill. This guidance is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2020. The Company adopted this standard on January 1, 2021. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows. In January 2020, accounting guidance was issued that clarifies the accounting guidance for equity method investments, joint ventures, and derivatives and hedging. The update clarifies the interaction between different sections of the accounting guidance that could be applicable and helps clarify which guidance should be applied in certain situations which should increase relevance and comparability of financial statement information. This guidance is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2020. The Company adopted this standard on January 1, 2021. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows. Recently Issued Accounting Standards In March 2020, accounting guidance was issued that facilitates the effects of reference rate reform on financial reporting. The amendments in the update provide optional guidance for a limited period of time to ease the potential burden in accounting for or recognizing the effects of reference rate reform on financial reporting and apply to all entities, subject to meeting certain criteria, that have contracts, hedging relationships, and other transactions that reference LIBOR or another reference rate expected to be discontinued because of reference rate reform. In January of 2021, an update was issued to clarify that certain optional expedients and exceptions under the reference rate reform guidance for contract modifications and hedge accounting apply to derivatives that are affected by the discounting transition. Specifically, certain provisions in the reference rate reform guidance, if elected by an entity, apply to derivative instruments that use an interest rate for margining, discounting, or contract price alignment that is modified as a result of reference rate reform. This temporary guidance is effective for all entities as of March 12, 2020 through December 31, 2022. The Company may elect to apply this guidance for all contract modifications or eligible hedging relationships during that time period subject to certain criteria. The Company is still evaluating the impact of reference rate reform and whether this guidance will be adopted.
Revenue Recognition | The Company’s deferred revenue liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets consist of the obligation on instrument service contracts and customer payments received in advance, prior to transfer of control of the instrument. The Company records deferred revenue primarily related to its service contracts, where consideration is billable at the beginning of the service period. The following is a summary of the activity of the Company’s deferred revenue and customer advances for the nine months ended October 2, 2021 and September 26, 2020 (in thousands):
|  | October 2, 2021 |  |  | September 26, 2020 |
Balance at the beginning of the period |  | $ | 239,759 |  |  | $ | 213,695 |
Recognition of revenue included in balance at beginning of the period |  |  | (197,279 | ) |  |  | (177,667 | )
Revenue deferred during the period, net of revenue recognized |  |  | 264,184 |  |  |  | 213,895 |
Balance at the end of the period |  | $ | 306,664 |  |  | $ | 249,923 |
The Company classified $44 million and $42 million of deferred revenue and customer advances in other long-term liabilities at October 2, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively. The amount of deferred revenue and customer advances equals the transaction price allocated to unfulfilled performance obligations for the period presented. Such amounts are expected to be recognized in the future as follows (in thousands):
|  | October 2, 2021 |
Deferred revenue and customer advances expected to be recognized in: |  |  |  |
One year or less |  | $ | 262,758 |
13-24 months |  |  | 25,076 |
25 months and beyond |  |  | 18,830 |
Total |  | $ | 306,664 |
Other Items | Other Items During the nine months ended October 2, 2021, the Company executed a settlement agreement to resolve patent infringement litigation with Bruker Corporation and Bruker Daltronik GmbH regarding their timsTOF product line. In connection with the settlement, the Company is entitled to receive $10 million in guaranteed payments, including minimum royalty payments, which was recognized within other income in our consolidated statement of operations. During the nine months ended October 2, 2021, the Company received $3 million in guaranteed payments, net of applicable withholding taxes.

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