Fair Value of Financial Instruments

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2017

Note 4. Fair Value of Financial Instruments

FASB ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements, establishes a hierarchy of valuation techniques based on the observability of inputs utilized in measuring assets and liabilities at fair values. This hierarchy establishes market-based or observable inputs as the preferred source of values, followed by valuation models using management assumptions in the absence of market inputs. The three levels of the hierarchy are as follows:

Level 1 – Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the reporting entity can access at the assessment date

Level 2 – Inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly

Level 3 – Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability

Our financial instruments consist of cash and cash equivalents, accounts and other receivables, a derivative liability, our outstanding notes and other debt, and accounts, interest and dividends payable.

The following table summarizes the fair value of our financial instruments at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016:

(Thousands)	Total		Quoted Prices in Active Markets (Level 1)		Prices with Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Prices with Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
At March 31, 2017
Liabilities
Senior secured term loan B - variable rate, due October 24, 2022	$	2,100,069	$	-	$	2,100,069	$	-
Senior secured notes - 6.00%, due April 15, 2023		567,875		-		567,875		-
Senior unsecured notes - 8.25%, due October 15, 2023		1,168,275		-		1,168,275		-
Senior unsecured notes - 7.125%, due December 15, 2024		405,000		-		405,000		-
Derivative liability		1,536		-		1,536		-
Contingent consideration		90,719		-		-		90,719
Total	$	4,333,474	$	-	$	4,242,755	$	90,719

(Thousands)	Total		Quoted Prices in Active Markets (Level 1)		Prices with Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Prices with Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
At December 31, 2016
Liabilities
Senior secured term loan B - variable rate, due October 24, 2022	$	2,139,586	$	-	$	2,139,586	$	-
Senior secured notes - 6.00%, due April 15, 2023		569,250		-		569,250		-
Senior unsecured notes - 8.25%, due October 15, 2023		1,176,600		-		1,176,600		-
Senior unsecured notes - 7.125%, due December 15, 2024		404,000		-		404,000		-
Derivative liability		6,102		-		6,102		-
Contingent consideration		98,600		-		-		98,600
Total	$	4,394,138	$	-	$	4,295,538	$	98,600

The carrying value of cash and cash equivalents, accounts and other receivables, and accounts, interest and dividends payable approximate fair values due to the short-term nature of these financial instruments.

The total principal balance of our outstanding notes and other debt was $4.16 billion at March 31, 2017, with a fair value of $4.24 billion. The estimated fair value of our outstanding notes and other debt was based on available external pricing data and current market rates for similar debt instruments, among other factors, which are classified as Level 2 inputs within the fair value hierarchy. Derivative liabilities are carried at fair value. See Note 6. The fair value of an interest rate swap is determined based on the present value of expected future cash flows using observable, quoted LIBOR swap rates for the full term of the swap and also incorporate credit valuation adjustments to appropriately reflect both Uniti’s own non-performance risk and non-performance risk of the respective counterparties. The Company has determined that the majority of the inputs used to value its derivative liabilities fall within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy; however the associated credit valuation adjustments utilized Level 3 inputs, such as estimates of credit spreads, to evaluate the likelihood of default by the Company and its counterparties. As of March 31, 2017, the Company has assessed the significance of the impact of the credit valuation adjustments on the overall valuation of its derivative positions and has determined that the credit valuation adjustment is not significant to the overall value of the derivatives. As such, the Company classifies its derivative liabilities valuation in Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

As part of the acquisition of Tower Cloud on August 31, 2016, we may be obligated to pay contingent consideration upon achievement of certain defined operational and financial milestones; therefore, we recorded the estimated fair value of future contingent consideration of $98.6 million as of August 31, 2016. The fair value of the contingent consideration as of August 31, 2016, was determined using a discounted cash flow model and probability adjusted estimates of the future earnings and is classified as Level 3. During the three months ended March 31, 2017, we paid $18.8 million for the achievement of certain milestones in accordance with the Tower Cloud merger agreement. Changes in the fair value of contingent consideration will be recorded in our Condensed Consolidated Statement of Income in the period in which the change occurs. There was a $10.9 million increase in the fair value of the contingent consideration as of March 31, 2017 that was recorded in Other expenses on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income during the three months ended March 31, 2017.

The following is a roll forward of our liability measured at fair value on a recurring basis using unobservable inputs (Level 3):

(Thousands)		December 31, 2016				Transfers into Level 3				(Gain)/Loss included in earnings				Settlements				March 31, 2017
Contingent consideration		$	98,600			$	-			$	10,910			$	(18,791	)		$	90,719

- 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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