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Nature of Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies(Notes)
 6 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2020
Notes To Financial Statements [Abstract]  
Significant Accounting Policies Nature of Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Nature of Operations
STERIS plc is a leading provider of infection prevention and other procedural products and services. Our MISSION IS TO HELP OUR CUSTOMERS CREATE A HEALTHIER AND SAFER WORLD by providing innovative healthcare and life science product and service solutions around the globe. We offer our Customers a unique mix of innovative consumable products, such as detergents, gastrointestinal ("GI") endoscopy accessories, barrier product solutions, and other products and services, including: equipment installation and maintenance, microbial reduction of medical devices, instrument and scope repair solutions, laboratory testing services, on-site and off-site reprocessing, and capital equipment products, such as sterilizers and surgical tables, and connectivity solutions such as operating room (“OR”) integration.
Our fiscal year ends on March 31. References in this Quarterly Report to a particular “year” or “year-end” mean our fiscal year. The significant accounting policies applied in preparing the accompanying consolidated financial statements of the Company are summarized below:
Interim Financial Statements
We prepared the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements of the Company according to accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information and the instructions to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X. This means that they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements. Our unaudited interim consolidated financial statements contain all material adjustments (including normal recurring accruals and adjustments) management believes are necessary to fairly state our financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows for the periods presented.
These interim consolidated financial statements should be read together with the consolidated financial statements and related notes included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2020 dated May 29, 2020. The Consolidated Balance Sheet at March 31, 2020 was derived from the audited consolidated financial statements at that date, but does not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements.
Principles of Consolidation
We use the consolidation method to report our investment in our subsidiaries. Therefore, the accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned and majority-owned subsidiaries. We eliminate inter-company accounts and transactions when we consolidate these accounts. Investments in equity of unconsolidated affiliates, over which the Company has significant influence, but not control, over the financial and operating polices, are accounted for primarily using the equity method. These investments are immaterial to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements.
Use of Estimates
We make certain estimates and assumptions when preparing financial statements according to U.S. GAAP that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the financial statement dates and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the periods presented. These estimates and assumptions involve judgments with respect to many factors that are difficult to predict and are beyond our control. Actual results could be materially different from these estimates. We revise the estimates and assumptions as new information becomes available. This means that operating results for the three and six month periods ended September 30, 2020 are not necessarily indicative of results that may be expected for future quarters or for the full fiscal year ending March 31, 2021.
Revenue Recognition and Associated Liabilities
We adopted Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2014-09 “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” and the subsequently issued amendments on April 1, 2018. At the time of adoption, certain of our capital equipment contracts were comprised of a single integrated performance obligation, which resulted in the deferral of the corresponding capital equipment revenue and cost of revenues until installation was complete. Since the adoption of the standard, there have been changes made in our selling philosophy, product architecture, and manufacturing processes with respect to this product line, that impact whether the promises to transfer the individual goods or services to the Customer are separately identifiable from other promises in the contract. After review of these changes, we have concluded that these contracts consist of multiple performance obligations that are capable of being distinct and meet the criteria for revenue to be recognized when the Customer obtains control of the asset, which is upon delivery of each performance obligation. Revenues and costs of revenues related to these
contracts totaling $14,609 and $7,560, respectively, that had previously been deferred were recognized in our fiscal 2021 first quarter.
Revenue is recognized when obligations under the terms of the contract are satisfied and control of the promised products or services have transferred to the Customer. Revenues are measured at the amount of consideration that we expect to be paid in exchange for the products or services. Product revenue is recognized when control passes to the Customer, which is generally based on contract or shipping terms. Service revenue is recognized when the Customer benefits from the service, which occurs either upon completion of the service or as it is provided to the Customer. Our Customers include end users as well as dealers and distributors who market and sell our products. Our revenue is not contingent upon resale by the dealer or distributor, and we have no further obligations related to bringing about resale. Our standard return and restocking fee policies are applied to sales of products. Shipping and handling costs charged to Customers are included in Product revenues. The associated expenses are treated as fulfillment costs and are included in Cost of revenues. Revenues are reported net of sales and value-added taxes collected from Customers.
We have individual Customer contracts that offer discounted pricing. Dealers and distributors may be offered sales incentives in the form of rebates. We reduce revenue for discounts and estimated returns, rebates, and other similar allowances in the same period the related revenues are recorded. The reduction in revenue for these items is estimated based on historical experience and trend analysis to the extent that it is probable that a significant reversal of revenue will not occur. Estimated returns are recorded gross on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
In transactions that contain multiple performance obligations, such as when products, maintenance services, and other services are combined, we recognize revenue as each product is delivered or service is provided to the Customer. We allocate the total arrangement consideration to each performance obligation based on its relative standalone selling price, which is the price for the product or service when it is sold separately.
Payment terms vary by the type and location of the Customer and the products or services offered. Generally, the time between when revenue is recognized and when payment is due is not significant. We do not evaluate whether the selling price contains a financing component for contracts that have a duration of less than one year.
We do not capitalize sales commissions as substantially all of our sales commission programs have an amortization period of one year or less.
Certain costs to fulfill a contract are capitalized and amortized over the term of the contract if they are recoverable, directly related to a contract and generate resources that we will use to fulfill the contract in the future. At September 30, 2020, assets related to costs to fulfill a contract were not material to our Consolidated Financial Statements.
Refer to Note 9, titled "Business Segment Information" for disaggregation of revenue.
Product Revenue
Product revenues consist of revenues generated from sales of consumables and capital equipment. These contracts are primarily based on a Customer’s purchase order and may include a Distributor, Dealer or Group Purchasing Organization ("GPO") agreement. We recognize revenue for sales of product when control passes to the Customer, which generally occurs either when the products are shipped or when they are received by the Customer. Revenue related to capital equipment products is deferred until installation is complete if the capital equipment and installation are highly integrated and form a single performance obligation.
Service Revenue
Within our Healthcare and Life Sciences segments, service revenues consist of revenue generated from parts and labor associated with the maintenance, repair and installation of capital equipment. These contracts are primarily based on a Customer’s purchase order and may include a Distributor, Dealer, or Group Purchasing Organization ("GPO") agreement. For maintenance, repair and installation of capital equipment, revenue is recognized upon completion of the service. Healthcare service revenues also include outsourced reprocessing services and instrument repairs. Contracts for outsourced reprocessing services are primarily based on an agreement with a Customer, ranging in length from several months to 15 years. Outsourced reprocessing services revenue is recognized ratably over the contract term using a time-based input measure, adjusted for volume and other performance metrics, to the extent that it is probable that a significant reversal of revenue will not occur. Contracts for instrument repairs are primarily based on a Customer’s purchase order, and the associated revenue is recognized upon completion of the repair.
We also offer preventive maintenance and separately priced extended warranty agreements to our Customers, which require us to maintain and repair our products over the duration of the contract. Generally, these contract terms are cancellable without penalty and range from one to five years. Amounts received under these Customer contracts are initially recorded as a service liability and are recognized as service revenue ratably over the contract term using a time-based input measure.
Within our Applied Sterilization Technologies segment, service revenues include contract sterilization and laboratory services. Sales contracts for contract sterilization and laboratory services are primarily based on a Customer’s purchase order and associated Customer agreement and revenues are generally recognized upon completion of the service.
Contract Liabilities
Payments received from Customers are based on invoices or billing schedules as established in contracts with Customers. Deferred revenue is recorded when payment is received in advance of performance under the contract. Deferred revenue is recognized as revenue upon completion of the performance obligation, which generally occurs within one year. During the first six months of fiscal 2021, $36,768 of the March 31, 2020 deferred revenue balance was recorded as revenue. During the first six months of fiscal 2020, $42,923 of the March 31, 2019 deferred revenue balance was recorded as revenue.
Refer to Note 6, titled "Additional Consolidated Balance Sheet Information" for Deferred revenue balances.
Service Liabilities
Payments received in advance of performance for cancellable preventive maintenance and separately priced extended warranty contracts are recorded as service liabilities. Service liabilities are recognized as revenue as performance is rendered under the contract.
Refer to Note 6, titled "Additional Consolidated Balance Sheet Information" for Service liability balances.
Remaining Performance Obligations
Remaining performance obligations reflect only the performance obligations related to agreements for which we have a firm commitment from a Customer to purchase and exclude variable consideration related to unsatisfied performance obligations. With regard to products, these remaining performance obligations include capital equipment and consumable orders which have not shipped. With regard to service, these remaining performance obligations primarily include installation, certification, and outsourced reprocessing services. As of September 30, 2020, the transaction price allocated to remaining performance obligations was approximately $971,000. We expect to recognize approximately 49% of the transaction price within one year and approximately 45% beyond one year. The remainder has yet to be scheduled for delivery.
Recently Issued Accounting Standards Impacting the Company

Recently Issued Accounting Standards Impacting the Company are presented in the following table:
StandardDate of IssuanceDescriptionDate of AdoptionEffect on the financial statements or other significant matters
Standards that have been adopted in fiscal 2021
ASU 2016-13, "Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments"June 2016The standard required a financial asset (or group of financial assets) measured at amortized cost to be presented at the net amount expected to be collected. The allowance for credit losses is a valuation account that is deducted from the amortized cost basis of the financial asset(s) to present the net carrying value at the amount expected to be collected on the financial asset. Credit losses relating to available-for-sale debt securities should be recorded through an allowance for credit losses. The standard was effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019. First Quarter Fiscal 2021
We adopted this standard effective April 1, 2020 with no material impact to our consolidated financial statements.
ASU 2018-13 "Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820) Disclosure Framework- Changes to Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement”
August 2018The standard modified the disclosure requirements by adding, removing, and modifying certain required disclosures for fair value measurements for assets and liabilities disclosed within the fair value hierarchy.  The standard was effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019.
First Quarter Fiscal 2021We adopted this standard effective April 1, 2020 with no material impact on our consolidated financial statements as it modifies disclosure requirements only.
ASU 2018-14 "Compensation- Retirement Benefits - Defined Benefit Plans- General Topic (715-20): Disclosure Framework- Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Defined Benefit Plans"August 2018The standard modified the disclosure requirements by adding, removing, and modifying certain required disclosures for employers that sponsor defined benefit pension or other post-retirement benefit plans.  The standard also clarified disclosure requirements for defined benefit pension plans relating to the projected benefit obligation and accumulated benefit obligation.  The standard was effective for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2019.
First Quarter Fiscal 2021
We adopted this standard effective April 1, 2020 with no material impact on our consolidated financial statements as it modifies disclosure requirements only.
ASU 2018-15 "Intangibles- Goodwill and Other- Internal Use Software (Subtopic 350-40): Customer’s Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement that is a Service Contract"August 2018The standard aligned the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred to develop or
obtain internal-use software. The standard was effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019.
First Quarter Fiscal 2021We adopted this standard on April 1, 2020 using the prospective method. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements and disclosures.
Standards that have not yet been adopted
ASU 2019-12 "Income Taxes (Topic 740)"December 2019The standard provides final guidance that simplifies the accounting for income taxes by eliminating certain exceptions to the guidance in ASC 740 related to the approach for intra-period tax allocation, the methodology for calculating income taxes in an interim period and the recognition of deferred tax liabilities for outside basis differences. The guidance simplifies 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. The standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020 and early adoption is permitted.N/AWe are in the process of evaluating the impact that the standard will have on our consolidated financial statements.
A detailed description of our significant and critical accounting policies, estimates, and assumptions is included in our consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2020 dated May 29, 2020. Our significant and critical accounting policies, estimates, and assumptions have not changed materially from March 31, 2020.