Financial Instruments

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

8. Financial Instruments

We consider the recorded value of our certain 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, 2015 and 2014, 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 6% Senior Notes Due 2022 (the “2022 Notes”) at December 31, 2015. The fair value of our borrowings on our senior secured bank revolving credit facility (“Senior Bank Credit Facility”) approximates the carrying amount. During the quarter ended September 30, 2015, we repurchased a portion of our 6 ¾% Senior Notes Due 2020 (the “2020 Notes”) through a cash tender offer and satisfied and discharged the entire remaining amount of our 2020 Notes. 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, 2015 and 2014:

	December 31,
	2015				2014
	Carrying		Estimated		Carrying		Estimated
	Amount		Fair Value		Amount		Fair Value
Liabilities
Acquisition-related contingent consideration, including current portion ⁽¹⁾	$	4,394	$	4,394	$	6,338	$	6,338
Long-term debt, including current portion		500,000		513,500		711,000		735,000
Total	$	504,394	$	517,894	$	717,338	$	741,338

⁽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, 2015, 2014, and 2013, 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 totaling $1.9 million, $2.7 million and $13.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

Accretion expense for acquisition-related contingent consideration totaled $0.7 million, $1.0 million and $2.7 million for years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and is included within “Acquisition-related contingent consideration” in 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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