Financial Instruments

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2014

10. Financial Instruments

We consider the recorded value of certain of our financial assets and liabilities, which consist primarily of cash equivalents, accounts receivable, long-term receivables and accounts payable, to approximate the fair value of the respective assets and liabilities at December 31, 2014 and 2013, based on the short-term nature of the assets and liabilities. We determine the fair value of our long-term debt primarily based on quoted market prices for our 6³/₄% Senior Notes Due 2020 (“2020 Notes”) and 6.0% Senior Notes Due 2022 (“2022 Notes”) at December 31, 2014. The fair value of our long-term debt is classified within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy, because it is traded in less active markets.

The following table presents the carrying amounts and estimated fair values of our other financial instruments at December 31, 2014 and 2013:


	December 31,
	2014				2013
	Carrying Amount		Estimated Fair Value		Carrying Amount		Estimated Fair Value
Liabilities:
Acquisition-related contingent consideration, including current portion ⁽¹⁾	$	6,338	$	6,338	$	13,329	$	13,329
Long-term debt, including current portion		711,000		735,000		717,000		752,750

Total	$	717,338	$	741,338	$	730,329	$	766,079

⁽¹⁾	The short-term portion is included in “Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other.” The long-term portion is included in “Other liabilities.”

For business combinations consummated on or after January 1, 2009, we estimate the fair value of acquisition-related contingent consideration using a probability-weighted discounted cash flow model. This fair value measure is based on significant inputs not observed in the market and thus represents a Level 3 measurement. Fair value measurements characterized within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy are measured based on unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and reflect our own assumptions in measuring fair value.

The significant unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurements of our acquisition-related contingent consideration are our measures of the future profitability and related cash flows and discount rates. Significant increases (decreases) in any of these inputs in isolation would result in a significantly lower (higher) fair value measurement. Generally, a change in the assumptions used for the discount rates is accompanied by a directionally opposite change in the fair value measurement and a change in the assumptions used for the future cash flows is accompanied by a directionally similar change in the fair value measurement. The fair value of the contingent consideration is reassessed at each reporting period by the Company based on additional information as it becomes available. Any change in the fair value adjustment is recorded in the earnings of that period and is included within the “Acquisition-related contingent considerations” line in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss).

During the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012, management determined that the fair value of certain contingent consideration liabilities had declined. This remeasurement of the contingent consideration was based on management’s probability-adjusted present value of the consideration expected to be transferred during the remainder of the earnout period, based on the acquired operations’ forecasted results. The resulting reduction in the liability was recorded as income during the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, of $2.7 million, $13.6 million and $5.2 million, respectively.

Accretion expense for acquisition-related contingent consideration totaled $1.0 million, $2.7 million and $2.2 million for years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively, and is included within “Acquisition-related contingent consideration” in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss).

The following table represents the change in the acquisition-related contingent consideration liability during the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013:


	December 31,
	2014			2013
Beginning balance	$	13,329		$	16,426
Acquisition ⁽¹⁾		(4,495	)		8,993
Accretion of acquisition-related contingent consideration ⁽²⁾		1,047			2,686
Remeasurement of acquisition-related contingent consideration ⁽²⁾		(2,722	)		(13,555	)
Payments		(813	)		(401	)
Unrealized gains related to currency translation in other comprehensive income		(8	)		(820	)

Ending balance	$	6,338		$	13,329

⁽¹⁾	Includes adjustments during the purchase price allocation period.

⁽²⁾	Includes adjustments to fair value related to accretion and remeasurement of contingent consideration which are recorded in “Acquisition-related contingent consideration” on the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss).

- 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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