Fair Value Measurements

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

We use a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The hierarchy, which gives the highest priority to quoted prices in active markets, is comprised of the following three levels:

Level 1 – Unadjusted quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities.

Level 2 – Observable inputs, other than Level 1 inputs. Level 2 inputs would typically include quoted prices in markets that are not active or financial instruments for which all significant inputs are observable, either directly or indirectly.

Level 3 – Prices or valuations that require inputs that are both significant to the measurement and unobservable.

The following tables provide the assets and liabilities carried at fair value measured on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 (in thousands):



	Assets at Fair Value as of December 31, 2015
Asset Category	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
Cash and cash equivalents ⁽¹⁾	$	486,831	$	—	$	—	$	486,831
Restricted cash ⁽²⁾	4,232		—		—		4,232
Deferred compensation plan assets ⁽³⁾	7,497		—		—		7,497
Total	$	498,560	$	—	$	—	$	498,560



	Assets at Fair Value as of December 31, 2014
Asset Category	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
Cash and cash equivalents ⁽¹⁾	$	432,056	$	—	$	—	$	432,056
Restricted cash ⁽²⁾	6,474		—		—		6,474
Deferred compensation plan assets ⁽³⁾	3,139		—		—		3,139
Total	$	441,669	$	—	$	—	$	441,669

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(1)	Cash and cash equivalents consist primarily of money market funds with original maturity dates of three months or less, which are Level 1 assets. At December 31, 2015 and 2014, we had $151.4 million and $156.7 million, respectively, in money market funds.


(2)	Restricted cash is classified as “Prepaid expenses and other” in our consolidated balance sheets.


(3)	Deferred compensation plan assets are classified as “Other assets” in our consolidated balance sheets.

We believe that the carrying values of our financial instruments, which include accounts receivable and other financing commitments, approximate their fair values due primarily to their short-term maturities and low risk of counterparty default. The carrying value of our debt associated with the 2013 Credit Agreement approximates its fair value due to the variable rate on such debt.

- 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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