KADANT INC

10. Fair Value Measurements and Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Fair value measurement is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date.

A fair value hierarchy is established, which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value into three broad levels as follows:

•Level 1—Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

•Level 2—Inputs, other than quoted prices in active markets, that are observable either directly or indirectly.

•Level 3—Unobservable inputs based on the Company's own assumptions.

The following table presents the fair value hierarchy for those assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis:

(a)Included in accounts receivable in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet.

(b)Included in other long-term liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet.

The Company uses the market approach technique to value its Level 1 and Level 2 financial assets and liabilities, and there were no changes in valuation techniques during 2024. Banker's acceptance drafts are carried at face value which

approximates their fair value due to the short-term nature of the negotiable instrument. The fair values of the forward currency-exchange contracts are based on quoted forward foreign exchange rates at the reporting date. The forward currency-exchange contracts are hedges of either recorded assets or liabilities or anticipated transactions and represent the estimated amount the Company would receive or pay upon liquidation of the contracts. Changes in values of the underlying hedged assets and liabilities or anticipated transactions are not reflected in the table above.

The Company uses the income approach technique to estimate the fair value of its Level 3 contingent consideration, including valuation models that incorporate probability adjusted assumptions and simulations related to the achievement of milestones and the likelihood of making the related payment. The unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurements include the probability of successful achievement of certain revenue targets, forecasted revenue, revenue volatility, and discount rates. Projected contingent consideration related to revenue-based payments are discounted back to the current period using a discounted cash flow model. Changes to the fair value of contingent consideration can result from changes to one or multiple inputs, including the discount rate, projected revenue, revenue volatility, and the assumed probabilities of successful achievement of certain revenue targets.

The following table provides a rollforward of the change in the fair value of the contingent consideration as determined by Level 3 inputs:

The carrying value and fair value of the Company's debt obligations, excluding lease obligations, are as follows:

The carrying value of the revolving credit facility approximates the fair value as the obligation bears variable rates of interest, which adjust frequently, based on prevailing market rates. The fair values of the senior promissory notes are primarily calculated based on quoted market rates plus an applicable margin available to the Company at the respective period ends, which represent Level 2 measurements.