Fair Value Measurements

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2015

Effective January 1, 2008, the Company adopted guidance regarding accounting for Fair Value Measurements, for financial assets and liabilities. This guidance defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value and expands the related disclosure requirements. The statement indicates, among other things, that a fair value measurement assumes a transaction to sell an asset or transfer a liability occurs in the principal market for the asset or liability or, in the absence of a principal market, the most advantageous market for the asset or liability.

In order to increase consistency and comparability in fair value measurements, the guidance establishes a hierarchy for observable and unobservable inputs used to measure fair value into three broad levels, which are described below:


•	Level 1: Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for assets or liabilities. The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to Level 1 inputs.


•	Level 2: Observable prices that are based on inputs not quoted on active markets, but corroborated by market data.


•	Level 3: Unobservable inputs are used when little or no market data is available. The fair value hierarchy gives the lowest priority to Level 3 inputs.

In determining fair value, the Company utilizes valuation techniques that maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs to the extent possible as well as considers counterparty credit risk in its assessment of fair value.

On a nonrecurring basis, the Company uses fair value measures when analyzing asset impairment. Long-lived assets and certain identifiable intangible assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. If it is determined such indicators are present and the review indicates that the assets will not be fully recoverable, based on undiscounted estimated cash flows over the remaining amortization periods, their carrying values are reduced to estimated fair value. Measurements based on undiscounted cash flows are considered to be level 3 inputs. During the fourth quarter of each year, the Company evaluates goodwill and indefinite-lived intangibles for impairment at the reporting unit level. For each acquisition, the Company performed a detailed review to identify intangible assets and a valuation is performed for all such identified assets. The Company used several market participant measurements to determine estimated value. This approach includes consideration of similar and recent transactions, as well as utilizing discounted expected cash flow methodologies. The amounts allocated to assets acquired and liabilities assumed in the acquisitions were determined using level 3 inputs. Fair value for property and equipment was based on other observable transactions for similar property and equipment. Accounts receivable represents the best estimate of balances that will ultimately be collected, which is based in part on allowance for doubtful accounts reserve criteria and an evaluation of the specific receivable balances.

The following tables present certain information for our financial liabilities that is disclosed at fair value on a recurring basis at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014:



	Level 1				Level 1
	March 31, 2015				December 31, 2014
	Carrying Amount		Fair Value		Carrying Amount		Fair Value
Liabilities:
6.75% Notes due 2020	$	741,722	$	773,588	$	742,017	$	751,538

Our long term debt includes fixed rate debt. The fair value of this instrument is based on quoted market prices.

The following table presents changes in Deferred Acquisition Consideration:



	Fair Value Measurements Using Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
	March 31,			December 31,
	2015			2014
Beginning Balance of contingent payments	$	172,227		$	151,848
Payments	(2,033		)	(61,441		)
Grants (1)	2,944			68,642
Redemption value adjustments (2)	3,723			20,816
Transfers to (from) fixed payments	—			(5,146		)
Foreign translation adjustment	(3,055		)	(2,492		)
Ending Balance of contingent payments	$	173,806		$	172,227

(1) Grants are the initial estimated deferred acquisition payments of new acquisitions completed within that fiscal

period.

(2) Redemption value adjustments are fair value changes from the Company’s initial estimates of deferred acquisition

payments, including the accretion of present value and stock based compensation charges relating to acquisition

payments that are tied to continued employment.

In addition to the above amounts, there are fixed payments of $26,998 and $33,141 for total deferred acquisition consideration of $200,804 and $205,368, which reconciles to the consolidated financial statements at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively.

The Company includes the payments of all deferred acquisition consideration in financing activities in the Company's consolidated statement of cash flows, as the Company believes these payments to be seller related financing activities, which is the predominant source of cash flows.

Level 3 payments relate to payments made for deferred acquisition consideration. Level 3 grants relate to contingent purchase price obligations related to acquisitions. The Company records the initial liability of the estimated present value. The estimated liability is determined in accordance with various contractual valuation formulas that may be dependent on future events, such as the growth rate of the earnings of the relevant subsidiary during the contractual period, and, in some cases, the currency exchange rate of the date of payment. Level 3 redemption value adjustments relate to the remeasurement and change in these various contractual valuation formulas as well as adjustments of present value.

At March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the carrying amount of the Company’s financial instruments, including cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable and accounts payable, approximated fair value because of their short-term maturity.

- 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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