Fair Values of Financial Instruments

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

GAAP requires assets and liabilities carried at fair value to be classified and disclosed in one of the following categories:

•Level 1: Quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

•Level 2: Observable market-based inputs or unobservable inputs that are corroborated by market data.

•Level 3: Unobservable inputs that are not corroborated by market data.

The below methods and assumptions were used by the Company in estimating the fair values of its financial instruments. There were no transfers of assets or liabilities between levels in any period presented.

Financial Instrument

Fair Value
Level

Methods and Assumptions

Deferred compensation plan assets and liabilities

Level 1

The fair value of the Company’s nonqualified deferred compensation plan for certain executives and other highly compensated employees is based on the fair values of associated assets and liabilities, which are held in mutual funds and are based on the quoted market values of the securities held within the mutual funds.

Pension plan assets

Level 1

The fair values of the Company’s Level 1 pension plan assets, which are equity securities and fixed income investment vehicles, are valued using the quoted market prices of those securities which are actively traded on national exchanges.

Pension plan assets

Level 2

The fair values of the Company’s Level 2 pension plan assets, which are investments that are pooled with other investments in a commingled fund, are valued using the net asset value produced by the fund manager. The assets within the commingled funds have a readily determinable fair market value.

Commodity derivative instruments

Level 2

The fair values of the Company’s commodity derivative instruments are based on current settlement values at each balance sheet date, which represent the estimated amounts the Company would have received or paid upon termination of these instruments. The Company’s credit risk related to the commodity derivative instruments is managed by requiring high standards for its counterparties and periodic settlements. The Company considers nonperformance risk in determining the fair values of commodity derivative instruments.

Long-term debt

Level 2

The carrying amounts of the Company’s variable rate debt approximate the fair values due to variable interest rates with short reset periods. The fair values of the Company’s fixed rate debt are based on estimated current market prices.

Acquisition related contingent consideration

Level 3

The fair value of the Company’s acquisition related contingent consideration is based on internal forecasts and the WACC derived from market data.

The following tables summarize the carrying amounts and the fair values by level of the Company’s deferred compensation plan assets and liabilities, pension plan assets, commodity derivative instruments, long-term debt and acquisition related contingent consideration:


	December 31, 2023
(in thousands)	Carrying Amount		Total Fair Value		Fair Value Level 1		Fair Value Level 2		Fair Value Level 3
Assets:
Deferred compensation plan assets	$	64,769	$	64,769	$	64,769	$	—	$	—
Pension plan assets	47,321		47,321		24,153		23,168		—
Commodity derivative instruments	3,747		3,747		—		3,747		—
Liabilities:
Deferred compensation plan liabilities	64,769		64,769		64,769		—		—
Long-term debt	599,159		579,000		—		579,000		—
Acquisition related contingent consideration	669,337		669,337		—		—		669,337


	December 31, 2022
(in thousands)	Carrying Amount		Total Fair Value		Fair Value Level 1		Fair Value Level 2		Fair Value Level 3
Assets:
Deferred compensation plan assets	$	51,257	$	51,257	$	51,257	$	—	$	—
Pension plan assets	261,942		261,942		242,639		19,303		—
Commodity derivative instruments	4,808		4,808		—		4,808		—
Liabilities:
Deferred compensation plan liabilities	51,257		51,257		51,257		—		—
Long-term debt	598,817		575,900		—		575,900		—
Acquisition related contingent consideration	541,491		541,491		—		—		541,491

The acquisition related contingent consideration was valued using a probability weighted discounted cash flow model based on internal forecasts and the WACC derived from market data, which are considered Level 3 inputs. Each reporting period, the Company adjusts its acquisition related contingent consideration liability related to the distribution territories subject to acquisition related sub-bottling payments to fair value by discounting future expected acquisition related sub-bottling payments required under the CBA using the Company’s estimated WACC.

The future expected acquisition related sub-bottling payments extend through the life of the related distribution assets acquired in each distribution territory, which is generally 40 years. As a result, the fair value of the acquisition related contingent consideration liability is impacted by the Company’s WACC, management’s estimate of the acquisition related sub-bottling payments that will be made in the future under the CBA, and current acquisition related sub-bottling payments (all Level 3 inputs). Changes in any of these Level 3 inputs, particularly the underlying risk-free interest rate used to estimate the Company’s WACC, could result in material changes to the fair value of the acquisition related contingent consideration liability and could materially impact the amount of non-cash expense (or income) recorded each reporting period.

The acquisition related contingent consideration liability is the Company’s only Level 3 asset or liability. A summary of the Level 3 activity is as follows:


	Fiscal Year
(in thousands)	2023		2022
Beginning balance - Level 3 liability	$	541,491	$	542,105
Payments of acquisition related contingent consideration	(28,208)		(36,515)
Reclassification to current payables	(3,300)		3,600
Increase in fair value	159,354		32,301
Ending balance - Level 3 liability	$	669,337	$	541,491

As of December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, discount rates of 8.5% and 9.1%, respectively, were utilized in the valuation of the Company’s acquisition related contingent consideration liability. The increase in the fair value of the acquisition related contingent consideration liability in 2023 was driven by higher projections of future cash flows in the distribution territories subject to acquisition related sub-bottling payments as well as a decrease in the discount rate used to calculate the fair value of the liability. This fair value adjustment was recorded in mark-to-market on acquisition related contingent consideration in the consolidated statement of operations for 2023.

For the next five years, the Company anticipates that the amount it could pay annually under the acquisition related contingent consideration arrangements for the distribution territories subject to acquisition related sub-bottling payments will be in the range of approximately $50 million to $70 million.

- 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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