Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

The accompanying interim consolidated financial statements of Gen-Probe Incorporated (“Gen-Probe” or the “Company”) as of March 31, 2012, and for the three month periods ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, are unaudited and have been prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements. In management’s opinion, the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements include all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring accruals, necessary to state fairly the financial information therein in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be reported for any other interim period or for the year ending December 31, 2012.

These unaudited interim consolidated financial statements and related footnotes should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and related footnotes contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011.

Principles of Consolidation

These unaudited interim consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Gen-Probe as well as its wholly owned subsidiaries. All material intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation. The Company has not identified any interests in variable interest entities that require consolidation.

The Company translates the financial statements of its non-U.S. operations using the end-of-period exchange rates for assets and liabilities and the average exchange rates for each reporting period for results of operations. Net gains and losses resulting from the translation of foreign financial statements and the effect of exchange rates on intercompany receivables and payables of a long-term investment nature are recorded as a separate component of stockholders’ equity under the caption “Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).” These adjustments will affect net income upon the sale or liquidation of the underlying investment.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements. These estimates include assessing the collectability of accounts receivable, the recognition of revenues, and the valuation of the following: stock-based compensation; marketable securities; equity investments in publicly and privately held companies; income tax; accrued liabilities; inventories; and goodwill and long-lived assets, including patent costs, capitalized software, purchased intangibles and licenses and manufacturing access fees. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Segment Information

The Company currently operates in one business segment: the development, manufacturing, marketing, sales and support of molecular diagnostic products primarily to diagnose human diseases, screen donated human blood and ensure transplant compatibility. Although the Company’s products comprise distinct product lines to serve different end markets within molecular diagnostics, the Company does not operate its business in operating segments. The Company is managed by a single functionally- based management team that manages all aspects of the Company’s business and reports directly to the Chief Executive Officer. For all periods presented, the Company operated in a single business segment. Product sales by product line are presented in Note 10 of these Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

Revenue Recognition

The Company records shipments of its clinical diagnostic products as product sales when the product is shipped, title and risk of loss have passed to the customer, the consideration is fixed and determinable, and collection of the resulting receivable is reasonably assured.

The Company manufactures blood screening products according to demand schedules provided by its collaboration partner, Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics, Inc. (“Novartis”). Upon shipment to Novartis, the Company recognizes blood screening product sales at an agreed upon transfer price and records the related cost of products sold. Based on the terms of the Company’s collaboration agreement with Novartis, the Company’s ultimate share of the net revenue from sales to the end user is not known until reported to the Company by Novartis. The Company then adjusts blood screening product sales upon receipt of customer revenue reports and a net payment from Novartis of amounts reflecting the Company’s ultimate share of net sales by Novartis for these products, less the transfer price revenues previously recognized.

In most cases, the Company provides its instrumentation to its clinical diagnostics customers without requiring them to purchase the equipment or enter into an equipment lease. Instead, the Company recovers the cost of providing the instrumentation in the amount it charges for its diagnostic assays. The depreciation costs associated with an instrument are charged to cost of product sales on a straight-line basis over the estimated life of the instrument. The costs to maintain these instruments in the field are charged to cost of product sales as incurred.

The Company sells its instruments to Novartis for use in blood screening and records these instrument sales upon delivery since Novartis is responsible for the placement, maintenance and repair of the units with its customers. The Company also sells instruments to its clinical diagnostics customers and records sales of these instruments upon delivery and customer acceptance. For certain customers with non-standard payment terms, instrument sales are recorded based upon expected cash collection. Prior to delivery, each instrument is tested to meet Gen-Probe’s specifications and the specifications of the United States Food and Drug Administration (the “FDA”), and is shipped fully assembled. Customer acceptance of the Company’s clinical diagnostic instrument systems requires installation and training by the Company’s technical service personnel. Installation is a standard process consisting principally of uncrating, calibrating and testing the instrumentation.

The Company records revenue for its research products and services in the period during which the related costs are incurred or the services are provided. This revenue consists of outsourcing services for the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and healthcare industries, including nucleic acid purification and analysis services, as well as the sale of monoclonal antibodies.

Revenue arrangements with multiple deliverables are evaluated for proper accounting treatment. In these arrangements, the Company records revenue as separate units of accounting if the delivered items have value to the customer on a stand-alone basis, if the arrangement includes a general right of return relative to the delivered items, and if delivery or performance of the undelivered items is considered probable and substantially within the Company’s control. Beginning in 2011, arrangement consideration is allocated at the inception of the arrangement to all deliverables using the relative selling price method that is based on a three-tier hierarchy. The relative selling price method requires that the estimated selling price for each deliverable be based on vendor-specific objective evidence (“VSOE”) of fair value, which represents the price charged for each deliverable when it is sold separately or, for a deliverable not yet being sold separately, the price established by management. When VSOE of fair value is not available, third-party evidence (“TPE”) of fair value is acceptable, or a best estimate of the selling price if neither VSOE nor TPE is available. A best estimate of the selling price should be consistent with the objective of determining the price at which the Company would transact if the deliverable were sold regularly on a stand-alone basis and should also take into account market conditions and company-specific factors.

The Company recognizes collaborative research revenue over the term of various collaboration agreements, as negotiated monthly contracted amounts are earned or reimbursable costs are incurred related to those agreements. Negotiated monthly contracted amounts are earned in relative proportion to the performance required under the applicable contracts. Non-refundable license fees with stand-alone value are recognized at the time that the Company has satisfied all performance obligations. License fees without stand-alone value are recognized in combination with any undelivered performance obligations. Milestone consideration that is contingent upon achievement of a milestone in its entirety is recorded as revenue in the period in which the milestone is achieved only if the milestone meets all criteria to be considered substantive. These criteria include: (i) the consideration being earned should be commensurate with either the Company’s performance to achieve the milestone or the enhancement of the value of the item delivered as a result of a specific outcome resulting from the Company’s performance to achieve the milestone; (ii) the consideration being earned should relate solely to past performance; (iii) the consideration being earned should be reasonable relative to all deliverables and payment terms in the arrangement; and (iv) the milestone should be considered in its entirety and cannot be bifurcated into substantive and non-substantive components. Any amounts received prior to satisfying the Company’s revenue recognition criteria are recorded as deferred revenue on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.

Royalty and license revenue is recognized in connection with the sale or use of the Company’s products or technologies under license agreements with third parties. For those arrangements where royalties are reasonably estimable, the Company recognizes revenue based on estimates of royalties earned during the applicable period and adjusts for differences between the estimated and actual royalties in the following period. Historically, these adjustments have not been material. For those arrangements where royalties are not reasonably estimable, the Company recognizes revenue upon receipt of royalty statements from the applicable licensee.

Stock-based Compensation

Stock-based compensation expense is recognized for restricted stock, deferred issuance restricted stock, performance stock awards, which include awards subject to performance conditions and/or market conditions, stock options, and shares purchasable under the Company’s Employee Stock Purchase Plan (“ESPP”). Certain of these costs are capitalized into inventory on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets, and are recognized as an expense when the related products are sold.

The Company uses the Black-Scholes-Merton option pricing model to value stock options granted. The determination of the fair value of stock option awards on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes-Merton model is affected by the Company’s stock price and the implied volatility on its traded options, as well as the input of other subjective assumptions. These assumptions include, but are not limited to, the expected term of stock options and the Company’s expected stock price volatility over the term of the awards.

Stock-based compensation expense for restricted stock, deferred issuance restricted stock, and performance condition stock awards is measured based on the closing fair market value of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. Stock-based compensation expense for market condition stock awards is measured based on the fair value of the award on the date of grant using a Monte Carlo simulation model. The Monte Carlo simulation model utilizes multiple point variables that determine the probability of satisfying the market condition stipulated in the grant and calculates the fair value of the award.

Net Income Per Share

Diluted net income per share is reported based on the more dilutive of the treasury stock or the two-class method. Under the two-class method, net income is allocated to common stock and participating securities. The Company’s restricted stock, deferred issuance restricted stock and performance stock awards meet the definition of participating securities. Basic net income per share under the two-class method is computed by dividing net income, adjusted for earnings allocated to unvested stockholders for the period, by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net income per share under the two-class method is computed by dividing net income, adjusted for earnings allocated to unvested stockholders for the period, by the weighted average number of common and common equivalent shares outstanding during the period. The Company excludes stock options from the calculation of diluted net income per share when the combined exercise price, unrecognized stock-based compensation expense and assumed tax benefits upon exercise are greater than the average market price for the Company’s common stock because their effect is anti-dilutive.

Accounting Standards Update 2011-04

In May 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued an Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) on fair value measurement. The ASU expands the disclosure requirements of Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 820, Fair Value Measurement (“ASC Topic 820”), for fair value measurements and makes other amendments. Specifically, the ASU clarifies the accounting guidance for highest-and-best-use and valuation-premise concepts for non-financial assets, application to financial assets and financial liabilities with offsetting positions in market risks or counterparty credit risk, premiums or discounts in fair value measurement, and fair value of an instrument classified in an entity’s stockholders’ equity. Additionally, the ASU expands the disclosure requirements under ASC Topic 820, particularly for Level 3 inputs. The ASU was effective for interim and annual reporting periods of the Company beginning January 1, 2012. Upon adoption, the guidance did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and is not expected to have a material impact on its future operating results.

Accounting Standards Update 2011-05 and 2011-12

In June 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-05 on the presentation of comprehensive income. The ASU removes the presentation options in ASC Topic 220, Comprehensive Income, and requires entities to report components of comprehensive income in either (1) a continuous statement of comprehensive income or (2) two separate but consecutive statements. The ASU does not change the items that must be reported in other comprehensive income (loss) and does not require any incremental disclosures in addition to those already required under existing accounting guidance. The ASU was effective for interim and annual reporting periods of the Company beginning January 1, 2012. For the three months ended March 31, 2012, the Company has applied the provisions of ASU 2011-05 by presenting comprehensive income in a statement separate from the consolidated statements of income.

In December 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-12, deferring certain provisions of ASU 2011-05. One of the provisions of ASU 2011-05 required entities to present reclassification adjustments out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) by component in both the statement in which net income is presented and the statement in which other comprehensive income (loss) is presented (for both interim and annual financial statements). This requirement is indefinitely deferred by ASU 2011-12 and will be further deliberated by the FASB at a future date. The effective date of ASU 2011-12 is the same as that for the unaffected provisions of ASU 2011-05.

Accounting Standards Update 2011-08

In September 2011, the FASB issued an ASU on performing goodwill impairment testing. The ASU amends the guidance in ASU Topic 350-20, Goodwill. Under the revised guidance, entities testing goodwill for impairment have the option of performing a qualitative assessment before calculating the fair value of the reporting unit (step 1 of the goodwill impairment test). If entities determine, on the basis of qualitative factors, that the fair value of the reporting unit is more likely than not less than the carrying amount, the two-step impairment test would be required. The ASU does not change how goodwill is calculated or assigned to reporting units, does not revise the requirement to test goodwill annually for impairment, and does not amend the requirement to test goodwill for impairment between annual tests if events and circumstances warrant. The ASU provides examples of events and circumstances to consider for qualitative assessment. The amendments were effective for annual and interim goodwill impairment tests performed by the Company beginning January 1, 2012. The Company adopted this guidance in the first quarter of 2012 for its goodwill impairment testing. The Company does not believe the adoption of this guidance will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

Marketable Securities

The Company periodically reviews its marketable equity securities for other-than-temporary declines in fair value below their cost basis, or whenever events or circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. The determination that a decline is other-than-temporary is, in part, subjective and influenced by many factors. When assessing marketable equity securities for other-than-temporary declines in value, the Company considers factors including: the significance of the decline in value compared to the cost basis; the underlying factors contributing to a decline in the prices of securities in a single asset class; how long the market value of the investment has been less than its cost basis; any market conditions that impact liquidity; the views of external investment analysts; the financial condition and near-term prospects of the investee; any news or financial information that has been released specific to the investee; and the outlook for the overall industry in which the investee operates.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The Company determines the fair value of its assets and liabilities based on the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants as of the measurement date. There is an established hierarchy for inputs used in measuring fair value that maximizes the use of observable inputs and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs by requiring that the most observable inputs be used when available. Observable inputs are inputs market participants would use in valuing the asset or liability and are developed based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Company. Unobservable inputs are inputs that reflect the Company’s assumptions about the factors market participants would use in valuing the asset or liability. Applicable accounting guidance under ASC Topic 820 establishes three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value:


•	Level 1 - Quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets.


•	Level 2 - Quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active; and model-derived valuations in which all significant inputs and significant value drivers are observable in active markets.


•	Level 3 - Valuations derived from valuation techniques in which one or more significant inputs or significant value drivers are unobservable.

Assets and liabilities are classified based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The carrying amounts of financial instruments such as cash equivalents, accounts receivable, prepaid and other current assets, accounts payable and other current liabilities approximate the related fair values due to the short-term maturities of these instruments. The Company reviews the fair value hierarchy on a quarterly basis. Changes in the observations or valuation inputs may result in a reclassification of levels for certain securities within the fair value hierarchy.

Fair Value Transfer

The Company’s policy is to record transfers of assets and liabilities between Level 1 and Level 2 at their fair values as of the end of each reporting period, consistent with the date of the determination of fair value.

Cost Method Investments

The valuation of investments in non-public companies requires significant management judgment due to the absence of quoted market prices, inherent lack of liquidity and the long-term nature of such assets. The Company’s equity investments in private companies are initially valued based upon the transaction price under the cost method of accounting. Equity investments in non-public companies are classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy.

The Company records impairment charges when an investment has experienced a decline that is deemed to be other-than-temporary. The determination that a decline is other-than-temporary is, in part, subjective and influenced by many factors. Future adverse changes in market conditions or poor operating results of investees could result in losses or an inability to recover the carrying value of the investments, thereby possibly requiring impairment charges in the future. When assessing investments in private companies for an other-than-temporary decline in value, the Company considers many factors, including, but not limited to, the following: the share price from the investee’s latest financing round; the performance of the investee in relation to its own operating targets and its business plan; the investee’s revenue and cost trends; the investee’s liquidity and cash position, including its cash burn rate; and market acceptance of the investee’s products and services. From time to time, the Company may consider third party evaluations or valuation reports. The Company also considers new products and/or services that the investee may have forthcoming, any significant news specific to the investee, the investee’s competitors and the outlook of the overall industry in which the investee operates. In the event the Company’s judgments change as to other-than-temporary declines in value, the Company may record an impairment loss, which could have an adverse effect on its results of operations.

Stockholders' Equity

All components of comprehensive income, including net income, are reported in the consolidated financial statements in the period in which they are recognized. Comprehensive income is defined as the change in equity during a period from transactions and other events and circumstances from non-owner sources. Net income and other comprehensive income (loss), which includes certain changes in stockholders’ equity, such as foreign currency translation of the Company’s wholly owned subsidiaries’ financial statements and unrealized gains and losses on the Company’s available-for-sale securities, are reported, net of their related tax effect, to arrive at comprehensive income.