Fair Value Measurements

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

Fair value is defined as 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. Fair value measurements are classified using a three-level hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used to measure fair value into three levels and bases the categorization within the hierarchy upon the lowest level of input that is available and significant to the fair value measurement. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to observable inputs such as unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs. The Company uses observable inputs where relevant and whenever possible. The three levels of the hierarchy are defined as follows:

Level 1 — Fair value is derived using quoted prices from active markets for identical instruments.

Level 2 — Fair value is derived using quoted prices for similar instruments from active markets or for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active; or, fair value is based on model-derived valuations in which all significant inputs and significant value drivers are observable from active markets.

Level 3 — Fair value is derived from valuation techniques in which one or more significant inputs or significant value drivers are unobservable.

The carrying value of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, accounts receivable, and accounts payable and accrued expenses approximates their fair value because of their short-term nature.

Long-term Debt — The Company’s long-term debt is recorded at adjusted cost, net of original issue discounts and deferred financing costs. The fair value of the Company’s long-term debt is based on current bid prices, which approximates carrying value. As such, the Company’s long-term debt was classified as Level 1. As of December 31, 2020, the carrying value and estimated fair value of long-term debt was $1.03 billion and $1.02 billion, respectively. As of December 31, 2019, the carrying value and estimated fair value of long-term debt was $1.05 billion.

Derivative Financial Instruments — The Company’s interest rate swap agreements and interest rate cap agreements are recorded at fair value, which were estimated using market-standard valuation models. Such models project future cash flows and discount the future amounts to a present value using market-based observable inputs. Additionally, the fair value of the interest rate swaps and interest rate caps included consideration of credit risk. The Company used a potential future exposure model to estimate this credit valuation adjustment (“CVA”). The inputs to the CVA were largely based on observable market data, with the exception of certain assumptions regarding credit worthiness. As the magnitude of the CVA was not a significant component of the fair value of the interest rate swaps and interest rate caps, it was not considered a significant input. The fair value of the interest rate swaps and interest rate caps are classified as Level 2. As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, the fair value of the interest rate swap agreements was a liability of $4.8 million and $2.9 million, which were recorded in other current liabilities and other long-term liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet, respectively. As of December 31, 2020, the fair value of the interest rate cap agreements was $0.3 million, which was recorded in other assets on the consolidated balance sheet.

Debt Securities — The Company’s investments in debt securities, which are classified as available-for-sale, consisted of U.S. Treasury and U.S. government agency securities and certificates of deposits. These securities are held in escrow by the Company’s wholly-owned captive insurance company and were purchased with restricted cash. As such, these securities are not available to fund the Company’s operations. These securities are recorded at fair value using quoted prices available in active markets. As such, the Company’s debt securities are classified as Level 1. As of December 31, 2020, the fair value of the available-for-sale debt securities was $27.9 million and was classified based on the instruments’ maturity dates, with $21.5 million included in prepaid expenses and other current assets and $6.4 million in other assets on the consolidated balance sheet. As of December 31, 2019, the fair value of the available-for-sale debt securities was $24.9 million, with $17.0 million included in prepaid expenses and other current assets and $7.9 million in other assets on the consolidated balance sheet.

Liabilities for Contingent Consideration — The Company is subject to contingent consideration arrangements in connection with certain business combinations as disclosed in Note 5, Acquisitions. Liabilities for contingent consideration are measured at fair value each reporting period, with the acquisition-date fair value included as part of the consideration payable for the related business combination and subsequent changes in fair value recorded to selling, general and administrative expenses in the Company’s consolidated statements of income. The fair value of the contingent consideration was calculated using a real options model based on probability-weighted outcomes of meeting certain future performance targets and related to a 2019 acquisition. The key inputs to the valuation are the projections of future financial results in relation to the business. The Company classified the contingent consideration liability as a Level 3 fair value measurement due to the lack of observable inputs used in the model.

The following table provides a roll forward of the fair value of recurring Level 3 fair value measurements:


	Years ended December 31,
	2020		2019
	(In thousands)
Beginning balance	$	15,987	$	1,930
Issuance of contingent consideration in connection with acquisitions	—		13,870
Settlements of contingent consideration liabilities	(1,238)		(650)
Changes in fair value	(1,390)		557
Foreign currency translation	362		280
Ending balance	$	13,721	$	15,987

Nonrecurring Fair Value Estimates — During the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company recognized impairment losses of $16.2 million and $10.0 million, respectively, on fixed assets and operating lease right-of-use assets for certain centers. The impairment losses were included in cost of services on the consolidated statement of income, which have been allocated to the full-service center-based child care segment. The estimated fair value of the applicable center long-lived assets was based on the fair value of the asset groups, calculated using a discounted cash flow model, with unobservable inputs. The fair value of the fixed assets was insignificant given the current and expected cash flows of these centers and the valuation of the lease right-of-use-assets considered the amount a market participant would pay for use of the asset. The Company classified the center long-lived assets as a Level 3 fair value measurement due to the lack of observable inputs used in the model.

During the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company recognized a $2.1 million impairment loss on an equity investment. The impairment loss was included in cost of services on the consolidated statement of income, which has been allocated to the back-up care segment. The estimated fair value of the equity investment was based on a qualitative assessment that considered the economic environment, business prospects and transaction information in the entity’s securities, among other factors considered. The Company classified the equity investment as a Level 3 fair value measurement due to the lack of observable inputs.

- 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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