COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2017

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

On October 21, 2011, the Company was notified that a complaint claiming $3.0 million for an investment banking fee (the “Lawsuit”) was filed by Jefferies & Company, Inc. (“Jefferies”) against the Company in New York State Supreme Court in the County of New York. In December 2010, Ascent and Jefferies entered into an engagement agreement (the “Fee Agreement”) pursuant to which Jefferies was hired to act as the Company's financial advisor in relation to certain potential transactions. In addition, Jefferies claimed an award for attorney's fees and prejudgment interest in the approximate amount of $1.2 million.

On April 16, 2014, the parties settled the lawsuit where the Company agreed to pay Jefferies a total of $2.0 million in equal installments over 40 months. The Company paid $150,000 during the three months ended March 31, 2017.

The Company records a liability in its financial statements for costs related to claims, including settlements and judgments, where the Company has assessed that a loss is probable and an amount can be reasonably estimated. The Company accrued $1.7 million, the net present value of the $2.0 million settlement, as of December 31, 2013. As of March 31, 2017, $196,000 was recorded as Accrued litigation settlement as a current liability in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.