Fair Value Measurements

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

4.	Fair Value Measurements

The consolidated financial statements include financial instruments for which the fair market value may differ from amounts reflected on a historical basis.

Financial Liabilities Carried at Fair Value

The Company reports contingent seller financed promissory notes at fair value on the consolidated balance sheets under the caption of long term debt. The Company assesses the estimated fair value of the contingent seller financed promissory note (“contingent consideration”) using a probability weighted income approach (discounted cash flow) valuation technique. When preparing discounted cash flow models under the income approach, the Company uses internal forecasts to estimate future cash flows. The Company’s internal forecasts are developed using observable (Level 2) and unobservable (Level 3) inputs.

The Company uses the expected weighted average cost of capital, estimated using a capital asset pricing model, to discount future cash flows. The Company’s cost of equity estimate is developed using a combination of observable (Level 2) and unobservable (Level 3) inputs with appropriate adjustments that take into consideration our risk profile and other factors deemed appropriate. The Company believes the discount rates used appropriately reflect the risks and uncertainties associated with the probability of payout and market conditions generally and specifically in the Company’s internally developed forecasts.

Fair value is assessed on a quarterly basis and any changes in estimated fair value are recorded as a non-operating change in fair value of contingent consideration in the consolidated statement of operations. Fluctuations in the fair value of contingent consideration are impacted by two unobservable inputs, management’s estimate of the probability (which are greater than 75%) of the acquired company meeting the operating performance target and the estimated discount rate (a rate that approximates the Company’s weighted average cost of capital). Significant increases (decreases) in either of those inputs in isolation would result in a significantly higher (lower) fair value measurement. Generally, a change in the assumption used for the probability of meeting the performance target is accompanied by a directionally similar change in the fair value of contingent consideration liability, whereas a change in assumption used for the estimated discount rate is accompanied by a directionally opposite change in the fair value of contingent consideration liability.

Changes in the fair value measurement of contingent seller financed promissory note using significant unobservable inputs classified as Level 3 and valuation method used to estimate fair values are set forth below for the years ended:

	YEAR ENDED
	DECEMBER 31,
	2015		2014		2013

Balance, Beginning of Period	$	1,000,000	$	-	$	1,250,000

Total additions for the period:		—		—		—

Fair value of SCL contingent obligation (see Notes 3 and 9) (1)		—		1,000,000		—

Total gains or losses for the period:

Non-cash gain on change in fair value of AGS contingent obligation included in general and administrative expense (2)		—		—		(1,250,000)

Total liability settlements for the period:

Cash paid to settle contingent liability		(1,000,000)

Balance, End of Period	$	-	$	1,000,000	$	-

(1)

Management determined the fair value of its SCL contingent obligation based on a probability weighted discounted cash flow valuation technique. The potential probability of not paying out contingent consideration is considered remote. On May 1, 2015, the Company paid the contingent consideration in full.

(2)

Management determined the fair value of its AGS contingent obligation based on a probability weighted discounted cash flow valuation technique. The potential probability for payout of contingent consideration is considered remote during the year ended December 31, 2013. On April 15, 2014, the Company formally cancelled the contingent seller financed promissory note.

The Company monitors applicable market conditions and evaluates the fair value hierarchy levels as they pertain to the Company at least quarterly. For any transfers in and out of the levels of the fair value hierarchy, the Company elects to disclose the fair value measurement at the beginning of the reporting period during which the transfer occurred. There were no transfers into or out of Level 3 for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 or 2013. The Company’s outstanding obligations under the contingent seller financed promissory note were paid in full on May 30, 2015 as further described in Note 9.

Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities Carried at Other Than Fair Value

The Company’s financial instruments include cash equivalents, accounts receivable, short and long-term debt (except for contingent promissory notes) and other financial instruments associated with the issuance of the common stock. The carrying values of cash equivalents and accounts receivable approximate their fair value because of the short maturity of these instruments and past evidence indicates that these instruments settle for their carrying value. The carrying amounts of the Company’s bank borrowings under its credit facility approximate fair value because the interest rates reflect current market rates.

- 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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