v2.4.0.8
Fair Value Measurements
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2014
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS [Abstract]  
Fair Value Measurements [Text Block]
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
Fair value is defined under U.S. GAAP as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. As such, fair value is a market-based measurement that is determined based on assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or a liability.
To increase the comparability of fair value measures, the following hierarchy prioritizes the inputs in valuation methodologies used to measure fair value:
Level 1-Measurements that reflect quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets.
Level 2-Measurements that include other inputs that are directly or indirectly observable in the marketplace.
Level 3-Measurements derived from valuation techniques in which one or more significant inputs or significant value drivers are unobservable. These fair value measurements require significant judgment.
In determining fair value, the Company uses various valuation approaches within the fair value measurement framework. The valuation methodologies used for the Company's assets and liabilities measured at fair value and their classification in the valuation hierarchy are summarized below:
Cash equivalents - Cash equivalents primarily consist of AAA-rated money market funds with overnight liquidity and no stated maturities. The Company classified cash equivalents as Level 1 due to the short-term nature of these instruments and measured the fair value based on quoted prices in active markets for identical assets.
Available-for-sale securities - The Company has investments in redeemable preferred shares and convertible debt securities issued by nonpublic entities. The Company measures the fair value of available-for-sale securities using the discounted cash flow method, which is an income approach, and the probability-weighted expected return method, which is an income approach that incorporates probability-weighted outcomes.
The Company has classified its investments in available-for-sale securities as Level 3 due to the lack of observable market data over fair value inputs such as cash flow projections, discount rates and probability-weightings. Increases in projected cash flows and decreases in discount rates contribute to increases in the estimated fair values of available-for-sale securities, whereas decreases in projected cash flows and increases in discount rates contribute to decreases in their fair values. Additionally, increases in the probabilities of favorable investment outcomes, such as a sale or initial public offering of the investee, and decreases in the probabilities of unfavorable outcomes, such as a default by the investee, contribute to increases in the estimated fair value of available-for-sale securities, whereas decreases in the probabilities of favorable investment outcomes and increases in the probabilities of unfavorable investment outcomes contribute to decreases in their fair values.
Contingent consideration - The Company has contingent obligations to transfer cash payments to the former owners in conjunction with certain acquisitions if specified financial results are met over future reporting periods. Liabilities for contingent consideration (i.e., earn-outs) are measured at fair value each reporting period, with the acquisition-date fair value included as part of the consideration transferred and subsequent changes in fair value are recorded in earnings within "Acquisition-related expense (benefit), net" on the condensed consolidated statements of operations.
The Company uses an income approach to value contingent consideration liabilities, which is determined based on the present value of probability-weighted future cash flows. The Company has generally classified the contingent consideration liabilities as Level 3 due to the lack of relevant observable market data over fair value inputs such as probability-weighting of payment outcomes. Increases in the assessed likelihood of a higher payout under a contingent consideration arrangement contribute to increases in the fair value of the related liability. Conversely, decreases in the assessed likelihood of a higher payout under a contingent consideration arrangement contribute to decreases in the fair value of the related liability. Changes in assumptions could have an impact on the payout of contingent consideration arrangements with a maximum cash payout of $7.3 million as of June 30, 2014.
The following tables summarize the Company's assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis (in thousands):
 
 
 
Fair Value Measurement at Reporting Date Using
Description
June 30, 2014
 
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for
Identical Assets
(Level 1)
 
Significant Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
 
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash equivalents
$
500,558

 
$
500,558

 
$

 
$

Available-for-sale securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Convertible debt securities
$
2,630

 
$

 
$

 
$
2,630

Redeemable preferred shares
$
4,544

 
$

 
$

 
$
4,544

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Contingent consideration
$
4,006

 
$

 
$

 
$
4,006

 
 
 
Fair Value Measurement at Reporting Date Using
Description
December 31, 2013
 
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for
Identical Assets
(Level 1)
 
Significant Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
 
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash equivalents
$
585,514

 
$
585,514

 
$

 
$

Available-for-sale securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Convertible debt securities
$
3,174

 
$

 
$

 
$
3,174

Redeemable preferred shares
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Contingent consideration
$
606

 
$

 
$

 
$
606


    
The following table provides a roll-forward of the fair value of recurring Level 3 fair value measurements for the three and six months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013 (in thousands):
 
Three Months Ended June 30,
 
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
2014
 
2013
 
2014
 
2013
Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Available-for-sale securities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Convertible debt securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Beginning Balance
$
2,693

 
$
3,341

 
$
3,174

 
$
3,087

Total (losses) gains included in other comprehensive (loss) income
(63
)
 
(108
)
 
(544
)
 
146

Ending Balance
$
2,630

 
$
3,233

 
$
2,630

 
$
3,233

Unrealized (losses) gains still held(1)
$
(63
)
 
$
(108
)
 
$
(544
)
 
$
146

Redeemable preferred shares(2):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Beginning Balance
$
4,599

 
$
42,539

 
$

 
$
42,539

Purchase of redeemable preferred shares

 

 
4,599

 

Total (losses) gains included in other comprehensive (loss) income
(55
)
 

 
(55
)
 

Ending Balance
$
4,544

 
$
42,539

 
$
4,544

 
$
42,539

Unrealized (losses) gains still held(1)
$
(55
)
 
$

 
$
(55
)
 
$

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Contingent Consideration:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Beginning Balance
$

 
$
7,699

 
$
606

 
$
7,601

Issuance of contingent consideration in connection with acquisitions
4,006

 

 
4,006

 
30

Settlements of contingent consideration liabilities

 
(30
)
 
(424
)
 
(30
)
Reclass to non-fair value liabilities when no longer contingent

 

 
(143
)
 

Total (gains) losses included in earnings(3)

 
(815
)
 
(39
)
 
(747
)
Ending Balance
$
4,006

 
$
6,854

 
$
4,006

 
$
6,854

Unrealized (gains) losses still held(1)
$

 
$
(815
)
 
$

 
$
(747
)
(1)
Represents the unrealized losses or gains recorded in earnings or other comprehensive (loss) income during the period for assets and liabilities classified as Level 3 that are still held (or outstanding) at the end of the period.
(2)
For the three and six months ending June 30, 2013, the Company's investments in Life Media Limited (F-tuan) preferred shares were previously classified as cost method investments and have been reclassified to the available-for-sale category in this table. The balance as of June 30, 2013 represents the Company’s investments in F-tuan preferred shares, which were written down to zero through an other-than-temporary impairment charge as of December 31, 2013 and continue to have an estimated fair value of zero as of June 30, 2014. The $4.5 million balance as of June 30, 2014 represents the Company's investment in the preferred shares of an online home services company during the current period, as described in Note 4 "Investments."
(3)
Changes in the fair value of contingent consideration liabilities are classified within "Acquisition-related expense (benefit), net" on the condensed consolidated statements of operations.
Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Nonrecurring Basis
Certain assets and liabilities are measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis, including assets that are written down to fair value as a result of an impairment. The Company did not record any significant nonrecurring fair value measurements after initial recognition during the three and six months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013.
Estimated Fair Value of Financial Assets and Liabilities Not Measured at Fair Value
The following table presents the carrying amounts and fair values of financial instruments that are not carried at fair value in the condensed consolidated financial statements (in thousands):
 
 
June 30, 2014
 
December 31, 2013
 
 
Carrying Amount
 
Fair Value
 
Carrying Amount
 
Fair Value
Cost method investments
 
$
15,092

 
$
17,593

 
$
15,788

 
$
15,573


The fair values of the Company's cost method investments were determined using the market approach or the income approach, depending on the availability of fair value inputs such as financial projections for the investees and market multiples for comparable companies. The Company has classified the fair value measurements of its cost method investments as Level 3 measurements within the fair value hierarchy because they involve significant unobservable inputs such as cash flow projections and discount rates.
The Company's other financial instruments not carried at fair value consist primarily of short term certificates of deposit, accounts receivable, restricted cash, accounts payable, accrued merchant and supplier payables and accrued expenses. The carrying values of these assets and liabilities approximate their respective fair values as of June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013 due to their short term nature.