Fair Value Measurements

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2013

Note 15 — Fair Value Measurements

Certain of our financial assets and liabilities are measured and reported at fair value on a recurring basis as required under applicable accounting requirements. These requirements establish a hierarchy for inputs used in measuring fair value. The fair value is to be calculated based on assumptions that market participants would use in pricing assets and liabilities and not on assumptions specific to the entity. The statement requires that each asset and liability carried at fair value be classified into one of the following categories:


	•		Level 1. Observable inputs such as quoted prices in active markets;
	•		Level 2. Inputs, other than the quoted prices in active markets, that are observable either directly or indirectly; and
	•		Level 3. Unobservable inputs for which there is little or no market data, which require the reporting entity to develop its own assumptions.

Assets and liabilities measured at fair value are based on one or more of three valuation techniques as follows:

(a)	Market Approach. Prices and other relevant information generated by market transactions involving identical or comparable assets or liabilities.

(b)	Cost Approach. Amount that would be required to replace the service capacity of an asset (replacement cost).

(c)	Income Approach. Techniques to convert expected future cash flows to a single present amount based on market expectations (including present value techniques, option-pricing and excess earnings models).

The following table provides additional information related to other financial instruments measured at fair value on a recurring basis at September 30, 2013 (in thousands):


		Level 1		Level 2 ⁽¹⁾		Level 3		Total	Valuation Technique
Assets:
Foreign exchange contracts	$	–	$	6	$	–	$	6	(c)
Interest rate swaps		–		421		–		421	(c)

Liabilities:
Fair value of long-term debt ⁽²⁾		562,259		111,547		–		673,806	(a)
Foreign exchange contracts		–		14,839		–		14,839	(c)
Interest rate swaps		–		732		–		732	(c)
Total net liability	$	562,259	$	126,691	$	–	$	688,950

(1) Unless otherwise indicated, the fair value of our Level 2 derivative instruments reflects our best estimate and is based upon exchange or over-the-counter quotations whenever they are available. Quoted valuations may not be available due to location differences or terms that extend beyond the period for which quotations are available. Where quotes are not available, we utilize other valuation techniques or models to estimate market values. These modeling techniques require us to make estimations of future prices, price correlation and market volatility and liquidity based on market data. Our actual results may differ from our estimates, and these differences could be positive or negative.

(2) See Note 7 for additional information regarding our long-term debt. The fair value of our debt is as follows:


		September 30, 2013
		Carrying Value		Fair Value ^(b)

Term Loan (matures June 2018)	$	296,250	$	295,509
2032 Notes (mature March 2032) ^(a)		200,000		266,750
MARAD Debt (matures February 2027)		100,168		111,547
Total debt	$	596,418	$	673,806

(a) Carrying value excludes the related unamortized debt discount of $27.8 million at September 30, 2013.

(b) The estimated fair value of all debt, other than the MARAD debt, was determined using Level 1 inputs using the market approach. The fair value of the MARAD debt was determined using a third party evaluation of the remaining average life and outstanding principal balance of the MARAD indebtedness as compared to other governmental obligations in the marketplace with similar terms. The fair value of the MARAD Debt was estimated using Level 2 fair value inputs using the market approach.

- 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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