FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2015

NOTE 10—FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

The following is a summary of our available-for-sale securities measured at fair value:

	June 30, 2015
	Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
	(in thousands)
Mutual funds⁽¹⁾	$	756	$	-	$	756	$	-
Commercial paper		300		-		300		-
Total	$	1,056	$	-	$	1,056	$	-

	December 31, 2014
	Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
	(in thousands)
Mutual funds⁽¹⁾	$	2,216	$	-	$	2,216	$	-
Commercial paper		1,699		-		1,699		-
Total	$	3,915	$	-	$	3,915	$	-

⁽¹⁾	Various U.S. equities and other investments managed under mutual funds

Our Level 2 investments consist primarily of commercial paper, asset-backed commercial paper notes backed by a pool of mortgage-backed securities and mutual funds. The fair value of our Level 2 investments was determined using a market approach that is based on quoted prices and other information for similar or identical instruments.

Other Financial Instruments

We used the following methods and assumptions in estimating our fair value disclosures for our other financial instruments:

Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents. The carrying amounts that we have reported in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets for cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents approximate their fair values and are classified as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy.

Short-term and long-term debt. The fair value of debt instruments is classified as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy and is valued using a market approach based on quoted prices for similar instruments traded in active markets. Where quoted prices are not available, the income approach is used to value these instruments based on the present value of future cash flows discounted at estimated borrowing rates for similar debt instruments or on estimated prices based on current yields for debt issues of similar quality and terms.

Forward contracts. The fair value of forward contracts is classified as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy and is valued using observable market parameters for similar instruments traded in active markets. Where quoted prices are not available, the income approach is used to value forward contracts, which discounts future cash flows based on current market expectations and credit risk.

The estimated fair values of certain of our financial instruments are as follows:

	June 30, 2015						December 31, 2014
	Carrying Amount			Fair Value			Carrying Amount			Fair Value
Balance Sheet Instruments	(In thousands)
Cash and cash equivalents	$	576,575		$	576,575		$	665,309		$	665,309
Restricted cash and cash equivalents		194,427			194,427			187,585			187,585
Investments		1,056			1,056			3,915			3,915
Debt		(854,162	)		(840,183	)		(864,469	)		(737,980	)
Forward contracts		(45,453	)		(45,453	)		(46,912	)		(46,912	)

Non-financial Instruments

In accordance with ASC 360-10, Property, Plant and Equipment, one of our vessels, the DB101, which was held and used in our ASA segment, was written down to a fair value of $13.6 million, resulting in a non-cash impairment charge of $4.2 million in the first quarter of 2015, which related to our plan to decommission this vessel in the second quarter of 2015. In the second quarter of 2015, we disposed of the asset and recognized an additional loss of $3.3 million.

In the second quarter of 2015, we abandoned a marine pipelay welding system project and recognized a $6.6 million non-cash impairment charge, which equaled the carrying value of that asset.

In June 2014, we cancelled a pipelay system originally intended for the CSV 108, which resulted in a $10.7 million improvement to the cancellation cost estimate included in the $37.8 million of vessel-impairment charges recognized during the year ended December 31, 2013.

- 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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