Fair Value Measurements

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]

Fair Value Measurements

Fair Value Measurements

Fair value is defined 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. The fair value hierarchy consists of three broad levels, which gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3). The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are:

Level 1—Observable inputs that reflect unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets.

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.

The valuation methodologies we used to measure financial assets and liabilities were limited to the pension plan assets and the derivative financial instruments described in Note 15—Pensions and Other Post-retirement Benefits and Note 18—Derivative Financial Instruments, respectively. See Note 15 for the fair value hierarchy classification of pension plan assets. We estimate the fair value of the derivative financial instruments, consisting of foreign currency forward contracts, based upon valuation models with inputs that generally can be verified by observable market conditions and do not involve significant management judgment. Accordingly, the fair values of the derivative financial instruments are classified within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. With the exception of our investments in marketable securities and fixed rate long-term debt both as disclosed below, we believe that the reported carrying amounts of our remaining financial assets and liabilities approximate their fair values.

Our investments in available-for-sale marketable securities, primarily fixed income, were owed by our now-divested subsidiary MSA LLC and were part of our MSA LLC divestiture as described in Note 20—Contingencies. Prior to the divestiture, these investments were valued at fair value using quoted market prices for similar securities or pricing models. Accordingly, the fair values of the investments were classified within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. The amortized cost basis of our investments was $9.9 million as of December 31, 2022. The fair value of our investments was $9.9 million as of December 31, 2022, which was reported in Investments, short-term in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. Prior to the divestiture, changes in fair value were recorded in Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax. No impairment losses relating to these securities occurred during the year ended December 31, 2023. 

The reported carrying amount of fixed rate long-term debt, including the current portion of long-term debt, was $312.2 million and $266.5 million at December 31, 2023, and 2022, respectively. The fair value of this debt was $278.7 million and $218.3 million at December 31, 2023, and 2022, respectively. The fair value of this debt was determined using Level 2 inputs by evaluating similarly rated companies with publicly traded bonds where available or current borrowing rates available for financings with similar terms and