Fair Value Measurements

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2020

16. Fair Value Measurements

The hierarchy of fair value measurements assigns a level to fair value measurements based on the inputs used in the respective valuation techniques. The levels of the hierarchy, as defined below, give the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs.

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Level 1 is defined as observable inputs such as quoted prices in active markets for identical assets. Level 1 assets include U.S. Treasury securities, and coal swaps and futures that are submitted for clearing on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

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Level 2 is defined as observable inputs other than Level 1 prices. These include quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in an active market, quoted prices for identical assets and liabilities in markets that are not active, or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities. The Company’s level 2 assets and liabilities include U.S. government agency securities, coal commodity contracts and interest rate swaps with fair values derived from quoted prices in over-the-counter markets or from prices received from direct broker quotes.

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Level 3 is defined as unobservable inputs in which little or no market data exists, therefore requiring an entity to develop its own assumptions. These include the Company’s commodity option contracts (coal, natural gas and heating oil) valued using modeling techniques, such as Black-Scholes, that require the use of inputs, particularly volatility, that are rarely observable. Changes in the unobservable inputs would not have a significant impact on the reported Level 3 fair values at September 30, 2020.

The table below sets forth, by level, the Company’s financial assets and liabilities that are recorded at fair value in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet:


	September 30, 2020
	Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3

	(In thousands)
Assets:
Investments in marketable securities	$	63,128	$	15,306	$	47,822	$	—
Derivatives		2,665		2,560		105		—
Total assets	$	65,793	$	17,866	$	47,927	$	—
Liabilities:
Derivatives	$	4,545	$	—	$	4,545	$	—

The Company’s contracts with its counterparties allow for the settlement of contracts in an asset position with contracts in a liability position in the event of default or termination. For classification purposes, the Company records the net fair value of all the positions with these counterparties as a net asset or liability. Each level in the table above displays the underlying contracts according to their classification in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet, based on this counterparty netting.

The following table summarizes the change in the fair values of financial instruments categorized as Level 3.


	Three Months Ended		Nine Months Ended
	September 30, 2020		September 30, 2020
	(In thousands)
Balance, beginning of period	$	33	$	61
Realized and unrealized losses recognized in earnings, net		(33)		(1,158)
Purchases		—		1,235
Issuances		—		(138)
Settlements		—		—
Ending balance	$	—	$	—

Net unrealized losses of $0.0 million and $0.2 million were recognized in the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations within Other operating income, net during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, respectively, related to Level 3 financial instruments held on September 30, 2020.

Fair Value of Long-Term Debt

At September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the fair value of the Company’s debt, including amounts classified as current, was $356.7 million and $308.0 million, respectively. Fair values are based upon observed prices in an active market, when available, or from valuation models using market information, which fall into Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.

- 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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