FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

Authoritative guidance for financial assets and liabilities measured on a recurring basis applies to all financial assets and financial liabilities that are being measured and reported on a fair value basis. Fair value, as defined in the authoritative guidance, is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The authoritative guidance affects the fair value measurement of an investment with quoted market prices in an active market for identical instruments, which must be classified in one of the following categories:

Level 1 Inputs

Level 1 inputs come from quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

Level 2 Inputs

Level 2 inputs are other than quoted prices that are observable for an asset or liability. These inputs include: quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active; inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability; and inputs that are derived principally from, or corroborated by, observable market data by correlation or other means.

Level 3 Inputs

Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs for the asset or liability which require the Company's own assumptions.

Financial assets and liabilities are classified based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. Our assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement requires judgment and may affect the valuation of the fair value of assets and liabilities and their placement within the fair value hierarchy levels.

Our acquisitions may include contingent consideration as part of the purchase price. The fair value of the contingent consideration is estimated as of the acquisition date based on the present value of the contingent payments to be made using a weighted probability of possible payments. The unobservable inputs used in the determination of the fair value of the contingent consideration include managements assumptions about the likelihood of payment based on the established benchmarks and discount rates based on an internal rate of return analysis. The fair value measurement includes inputs that are Level 3 inputs as discussed above, as they are not observable in the market. Should actual results increase or decrease as compared to the assumptions used in our analysis, the fair value of the contingent consideration obligations will increase or decrease, up to the contracted limit, as applicable. Changes in the fair value of the contingent earn-out consideration are measured each reporting period and reflected in our results of operations.

As of December 31, 2019, we recorded a $2.7 million liability for contingent consideration associated with the acquisition of ASI in other current and long-term liabilities. See further discussion at Note 15 - Business Acquisitions. For the Company's assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3), the following table provides a reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances for each category therein, and gains or losses recognized during the twelve months ended December 31, 2019:



Fair Value Measurements Using Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
	Contingent Liability for Accrued Consideration
	(in thousands)
Beginning balance at December 31, 2018	4,319
Acquisitions and settlements
Acquisitions (Note 15)	—
Settlements	(1,500		)
Total remeasurement adjustments:
Changes in fair value recorded in other (income) expense, net	(114		)
Ending balance at December 31, 2019	$	2,705

The amount of total (gains) or losses for the year included in earnings or changes to net assets, attributable to changes in unrealized (gains) or losses relating to assets or liabilities still held at year-end.	(114		)

* Included in other current and long-term liabilities

Quantitative Information about Level 3 Fair Value Measurements

The significant unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurement of the Company's contingent consideration liabilities designated as Level 3 are as follows:



(in thousands, unaudited)	Fair Value at December 31, 2019		Valuation Technique	Significant Unobservable Inputs
Contingent consideration: (ASI acquisition)	$	2,705	Discounted cash flow	Annualized EBITDA and probability of achievement

Sensitivity to Changes in Significant Unobservable Inputs

As presented in the table above, the significant unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurement of contingent consideration related to the acquisition of ASI are annualized EBITDA forecasts developed by the Company's management and the probability of achievement of those EBITDA results. The discount rate used in the calculation was 7.5%. Significant increases (decreases) in these unobservable inputs in isolation would result in a significantly (lower) higher fair value measurement.

Other financial instruments not measured at fair value on the Company's consolidated balance sheets at December 31, 2019 but which require disclosure of their fair values include: cash and cash equivalents, trade accounts receivable, trade accounts payable and accrued expenses, accrued payroll and related benefits, and the revolving line of credit and term loan debt under our syndicated credit agreement facility (Note 10). The Company believes that the estimated fair value of such instruments at December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018 approximates their carrying value as reported on the consolidated balance sheets.