Fair Value Measurements

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2015

13. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:

The Company uses a three-tier fair value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value. These tiers include: Level 1, defined as observable inputs such as quoted prices in active markets; Level 2, defined as inputs other than quoted prices in active markets that are either directly or indirectly observable; and Level 3, defined as unobservable inputs in which little or no market data exists, therefore requiring an entity to develop its own assumptions.

At March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the Company held certain assets that are required to be measured at fair value on a recurring basis. These included investments held in conjunction with the Company’s non-qualified contributory deferred compensation plan. These investments consist of mutual funds traded in an active market. The Company determined the fair value of these mutual funds based on the net asset value per unit of the funds or the portfolio, which is based upon quoted market prices in an active market. Therefore, the Company has categorized these investments as Level 1.

As discussed in Note 7, in the first quarter of 2015, the Company cash settled 4.7 million common stock warrants associated with its Convertible Notes, which were classified as a derivative liability in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2014. The Company determined the fair value of these warrants based on the Company’s closing stock price at December 31, 2014 and a pricing grid provided by the counterparties to the warrants that was based on observable inputs. Therefore, the Company has categorized this liability as Level 2.

The Company has consistently applied the above valuation techniques in all periods presented and believes it has obtained the most accurate information available for each type of instrument.

The Company had no liabilities required to be measured at fair value at March 31, 2015. The Company’s assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, were as follows (in thousands):


	March 31,		Markets for Identical Assets		Observable Inputs		Unobservable Inputs
	2015		(Level 1)		(Level 2)		(Level 3)
Deferred compensation plan investments	$	19,704	$	19,704	$	—	$	—

Total assets measured at fair value	$	19,704	$	19,704	$	—	$	—


	December 31,		Markets for Identical Assets		Observable Inputs		Unobservable Inputs
	2014		(Level 1)		(Level 2)		(Level 3)
Deferred compensation plan investments	$	19,712	$	19,712	$	—	$	—

Total assets measured at fair value	$	19,712	$	19,712	$	—	$	—

Warrant liability	$	134,477	$	—	$	134,477	$	—

Total liabilities measured at fair value	$	134,477	$	—	$	134,477	$	—

The remainder of the assets and liabilities held by the Company at March 31, 2015 are not required to be measured at fair value. The carrying value of certain of these assets and liabilities do not approximate fair value, as described below.

As further discussed in Note 6 and the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014, in connection with the development of Gaylord National, the Company received two bonds (“Series A Bond” and “Series B Bond”) from Prince George’s County, Maryland which had aggregate carrying values of $85.3 million and $63.9 million, respectively, at March 31, 2015. The maturity dates of the Series A Bond and the Series B Bond are July 1, 2034 and September 1, 2037, respectively. Based upon current market interest rates of notes receivable with comparable market ratings and current expectations about the timing of debt service payments under the notes, which the Company considers as Level 3, the fair value of the Series A Bond, which has the senior claim to the cash flows supporting these bonds, approximated carrying value at March 31, 2015 and the fair value of the Series B Bond was approximately $45 million at March 31, 2015. While the fair value of the Series B Bond decreased to less than its carrying value during 2011 due to a change in the timing of the debt service payments, the Company has the intent and ability to hold this bond to maturity and expects to receive all debt service payments due under the note. Therefore, the Company does not consider the Series B Bond to be other than temporarily impaired at March 31, 2015.

The Company has outstanding $350.0 million in aggregate principal amount of senior notes due 2021 that accrue interest at a fixed rate of 5.0%. The fair value of these notes, based upon quoted market prices, which the Company considers as Level 1, was $358.8 million at March 31, 2015.

The carrying amount of short-term financial instruments held by the Company (cash, short-term investments, trade receivables, accounts payable and accrued liabilities) approximates fair value due to the short maturity of those instruments. The concentration of credit risk on trade receivables is minimized by the large and diverse nature of the Company’s customer base.

- 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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