Fair Value Measurements

12 Months Ended

Jan. 31, 2022

Note 4 – Fair Value Measurements

ASC Topic 820 “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures” (Topic 820) defines fair value as the price that would be received upon sale of an asset or paid upon transfer of a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date and in the principal or most advantageous market for that asset or liability. The fair value, in this context, should be calculated based on assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, not on assumptions specific to the entity. In addition, the fair value of liabilities should include consideration of non-performance risk, including our own credit risk.

Topic 820 establishes a fair value hierarchy which prioritizes the inputs used in the valuation methodologies in measuring fair value into three levels:

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Level 1—inputs are based upon unadjusted quoted prices for identical instruments traded in active markets.

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Level 2—inputs are based upon quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active, and model-based valuation techniques for which all significant assumptions are observable in the market or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.

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Level 3—inputs are generally unobservable and typically reflect management’s estimates of assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. The fair values are therefore determined using model-based techniques that include option pricing models, discounted cash flow models, and similar techniques.

The carrying amounts of the Company’s cash, accounts receivable (net), accounts payable, accrued liabilities and income taxes payable approximate their fair value (a Level 2 measurement) due to their short maturities.

The following table shows the Company’s financial instruments measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of January 31, 2022:


	Level 1	Level 2	Level 3	Total
Assets:
Equity derivative contracts	—	10,863	—	10,863

Liabilities:
Contingent consideration	—	—	12,990	12,990

The following table shows the Company’s financial instruments measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of January 31, 2021:


	Level 1	Level 2	Level 3	Total
Assets:
Equity derivative contracts	—	8,001	—	8,001

Liabilities:
Contingent consideration	—	—	4,671	4,671

The Company enters into equity derivative contracts including floating-rate equity forwards to partially offset the potential fluctuations of certain future share-based compensation expenses. The equity derivative contracts are not designated as hedge instruments and the Company does not hold derivatives for speculative purposes. As at January 31, 2022, we had equity derivatives for 252,011 Descartes common shares with a weighted average price of $29.55.

The fair value of equity contract derivatives is determined utilizing a valuation model based on the quoted market value of our common shares at the balance sheet date (Level 2 fair value inputs). The fair value of equity contract derivatives is recorded as other current assets and gains and losses are recorded in general and administrative expenses in the consolidated financial statements. For the years ended January 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020, we recognized an expense (recovery) in general and administrative expenses of ($2.9) million, ($3.4) million and ($4.0) million, respectively.

The following table presents the changes in the fair value measurements in Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy:


		Level 3
Balance at January 31, 2020		1,924
Increase from acquisitions		4,239
Cash payments		(95)
Charges through profit or loss		(1,731)
Effect of movements in foreign exchange		334
Balance at January 31, 2021		4,671
Increase from acquisitions		3,339
Charges through profit or loss		5,070
Effect of movements in foreign exchange		(90)
Balance at January 31, 2022		12,990

Estimates of the fair value of contingent consideration is performed by the Company on a quarterly basis. Key unobservable inputs include revenue growth rates and the discount rates applied (11% to 13%). The estimated fair value increases as the annual revenue growth rate increases and as the discount rate decreases and vice versa.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for the fair value of financial instruments (as defined), including financial assets and financial liabilities (collectively, as defined), and the measurements of those instruments as well as disclosures related to the fair value of non-financial assets and liabilities. Such disclosures about the financial instruments, assets, and liabilities would include: (1) the fair value of the required items together with their carrying amounts (as appropriate); (2) for items for which it is not practicable to estimate fair value, disclosure would include: (a) information pertinent to estimating fair value (including, carrying amount, effective interest rate, and maturity, and (b) the reasons why it is not practicable to estimate fair value; (3) significant concentrations of credit risk including: (a) information about the activity, region, or economic characteristics identifying a concentration, (b) the maximum amount of loss the entity is exposed to based on the gross fair value of the related item, (c) policy for requiring collateral or other security and information as to accessing such collateral or security, and (d) the nature and brief description of such collateral or security; (4) quantitative information about market risks and how such risks are managed; (5) for items measured on both a recurring and nonrecurring basis information regarding the inputs used to develop the fair value measurement; and (6) for items presented in the financial statement for which fair value measurement is elected: (a) information necessary to understand the reasons for the election, (b) discussion of the effect of fair value changes on earnings, (c) a description of [similar groups] items for which the election is made and the relation thereof to the balance sheet, the aggregate carrying value of items included in the balance sheet that are not eligible for the election; (7) all other required (as defined) and desired information.

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