(11)    Fair Value Measurements

ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (“ASC 820”) establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs used to measure fair value that maximizes the use of observable inputs and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs. Observable inputs are information that reflect the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Company. Unobservable inputs are variables that reflect the Company’s assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed based on the best information available in the circumstances.

The three levels of the fair value hierarchy established by ASC 820 in order of priority are as follows:

The following summarizes the Company’s assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of October 31, 2024 and are categorized using the fair value hierarchy (in thousands):

Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash

The cost of our cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash agreed to the estimated fair value as of October 31, 2024. Refer to Note 2 “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash” in our 2024 Form 10-K for additional detail.

Interest Rate Swaps

On June 17, 2022, the Company entered into two fixed-rate interest rate swap agreements to change the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”)-based component of the interest rate on a portion of the Company’s variable rate debt to a fixed rate (the “Interest Rate Swaps”). The Interest Rate Swaps have a combined notional value of $300.0 million and a maturity date of June 5, 2027. The objective of the Interest Rate Swaps is to eliminate the variability of cash flows in interest payments on $300.0 million of variable rate debt attributable to changes in benchmark one-month SOFR interest rates. The hedged risk is the exposure to changes in interest payments, attributable to fluctuations in benchmark SOFR interest rates over the interest rate swap term. The changes in cash flows of the interest rate swap are expected to offset changes in cash flows of the variable rate debt. The Interest Rate Swaps are not designated as a cash flow hedge and changes in the fair value of the interest rate swaps are recorded in earnings each period. For the three and nine months ended October 31, 2024, the Company recognized a non-cash gain (loss) of ($0.8) million and $0.4 million attributable to the Interest Rate Swaps, respectively. For the three and nine months ended October 31, 2023, the Company recognized a non-cash gain (loss) of $4.0 million and $11.2 million attributable to the Interest Rate Swaps, respectively.

The inputs for determining fair value of the Interest Rate Swaps are classified as Level 2 inputs. Level 2 fair value is based on estimates using standard pricing models. These standard pricing models use inputs which are derived from or corroborated by observable market data such as interest rate yield curves, index forward curves, discount curves, and volatility surfaces. The counterparties to these derivative contracts are highly rated financial institutions which we believe carry only a minimal risk of nonperformance.

Depending on whether the Interest Rate Swaps are in an asset or liability position as of the end of a reporting period, they are included in either the captions “Other assets” or “Other long-term liabilities” on the Company's condensed consolidated balance sheets.

Liability-Classified Market-Based Awards 

The fair value of the liability-classified market-based awards are determined using a Monte Carlo simulation, weighted for the service period completed, at each reporting date. The most significant inputs for determining the fair value either originate from the grant agreement (e.g., stock price hurdles, vesting amounts, and service dates) or are derived from or corroborated by observable market data (e.g., interest rates, stock prices, equity risk, market betas, size premiums, average stock volatility); therefore we have classified the fair value measurement as Level 2. Refer to Note 9 "Stock-Based Compensation" above for additional information related to the liability-classified market-based awards.

Other Fair Value Instruments

The Company currently invests excess cash balances primarily in money market funds invested in United States Treasury securities and United States Treasury securities repurchase agreements, as well as cash deposits held at major banks. The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, trade receivables, trade payables and accrued liabilities, as reported on the condensed consolidated balance sheet as of  October 31, 2024, approximate their fair value because of the short maturity of those instruments. 

Our long-term debt is a financial instrument, and the fair value of the Company’s outstanding principal as of October 31, 2024 was $480.0 million. This fair value is determined based on inputs that are classified as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.