FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2015

FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS [Abstract]

14. FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

U.S. GAAP establishes a hierarchical disclosure framework which prioritizes and ranks the level of market price observability used in measuring financial instruments at fair value. Market price observability is affected by a number of factors, including the type of financial instrument, the characteristics specific to the financial instrument and the state of the marketplace, including the existence and transparency of transactions between market participants. Financial instruments with readily available quoted prices in active markets generally will have a higher degree of market price observability and a lesser degree of judgment used in measuring fair value.

Financial instruments measured and reported at fair value are classified and disclosed based on the observability of inputs used in the determination of fair values, as follows:

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Level I — Quoted prices are available in active markets for identical financial instruments as of the reporting date. The type of financial instruments in Level I include listed equities. Under U.S. GAAP, the Company does not adjust the quoted price for these investments, even in situations where the Company holds a large position and a sale could reasonably impact the quoted price.

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Level II — Pricing inputs are other than quoted prices in active markets, which are either directly or indirectly observable as of the reporting date, and fair value is determined through the use of models or other valuation methodologies. Financial instruments which are generally included in this category include long-term debt.

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Level III — Pricing inputs are unobservable for the financial instruments and includes situations where there is little, if any, market activity for the financial instrument. The inputs into the determination of fair value require significant management judgment or estimation.

In certain cases, the inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such cases, the determination of which category within the fair value hierarchy is appropriate for any given financial instrument is based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The Company’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment and considers factors specific to the financial instrument. There were no transfers between levels of the fair value hierarchy during the six months ended June 30, 2015.

The carrying amounts reported in the condensed consolidated balance sheets for cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, costs and recognized earnings in excess of billings, accounts payable, accrued expenses, billings in excess of costs and recognized earnings, and other current assets and liabilities approximate fair value due to relatively short periods to maturity. The Company’s investments in available-for-sale securities, recorded at fair value using quoted market prices (a Level I approach), as of June 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014 was $12.3 million and $4.9 million, respectively. The Company’s investments in available-for-sale securities, recorded using other valuation methodologies (a Level II approach), as of June 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014 was $16.1 million and $0, respectively. The estimated aggregate fair value of the Company’s debt, based on significant other observable inputs (a Level II approach) approximated $387.8 million and $338.1 million at June 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively.

- 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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