Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Fair Value Measurements

v2.4.1.9
Fair Value Measurements
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]  
Fair Value Measurements
Fair Value Measurements
 
According to the Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures Topic of the Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification, fair value is defined as the amount that would be received for selling an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants and requires that assets and liabilities carried at fair value are classified and disclosed in the following three categories:

•
Level 1 - Quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets. 
•
Level 2 - Quoted prices for similar instruments in active or inactive markets and valuations derived from models where all significant inputs are observable in active markets.
•
Level 3 - Valuations derived from valuation techniques in which one or more significant inputs are unobservable in any market.
 
The following summarizes the fair value level of assets and liabilities that are measured on a recurring basis at December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 (amounts in thousands): 
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Total
December 31, 2014
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Derivative financial instruments — assets (a)
$
—

 
1,123

 
—

 
1,123

Derivative financial instruments - liabilities
—

 
(5,780
)
 
—

 
(5,780
)
Total
$
—

 
(4,657
)
 
—

 
(4,657
)
December 31, 2013
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Derivative financial instruments - assets (a)
$
—

 
2,495

 
—

 
2,495

Derivative financial instruments - liabilities
—

 
(2,013
)
 
—

 
(2,013
)
Total
$
—

 
482

 
—

 
482

 
(a)
Included in Other assets, net on the consolidated balance sheets.
 
The Company has determined that the majority of the inputs used to value the Swaps fall within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.  The credit valuation adjustments associated with the derivatives utilize Level 3 inputs, such as estimates of current credit spreads to evaluate the likelihood of default by their counterparties.  As the counterparties have publicly available credit information, the credit spreads over LIBOR used in the calculations represent implied credit default swap spreads obtained from a third-party credit data provider.  As of December 31, 2014, the Company has assessed the significance of the impact of the credit valuation adjustments on the overall valuation of its derivative positions and has determined that the credit valuation adjustments are not significant to the overall valuation of the Swaps.  As a result, the Company has determined that its derivative valuations are classified in Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.
 
Carrying values and fair values of financial instruments that are not carried at fair value are as follows (amounts in thousands):
 
December 31, 2014
 
December 31, 2013
Long term debt, including current portion:
 

 
 

Carrying value
$
1,649,708

 
$
1,606,793

Fair value (a)
1,605,255

 
1,656,797

 
(a)
T he fair value is based on valuations from third party financial institutions and is classified as Level 2 in the hierarchy.
 
The Company’s other financial instruments, including cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable and accounts payable are carried at cost, which approximates their fair value because of their short-term maturity.