Organization — On March 13, 2020, the Company (as defined below), entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) with Red Fiber Parent LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Parent”), and RF Merger Sub Inc., an Ohio corporation and directly wholly owned subsidiary of Parent (“Merger Sub”). On September 7, 2021 (the “Closing Date” or “Merger Date”), upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement, and in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Ohio General Corporation Law (the “OGCL”), Merger Sub merged with and into the Company, with the Company continuing as the surviving corporation (the “Merger”). At the effective time of the Merger (the “Effective Time”), the separate corporate existence of Merger Sub ceased, and the Company survived the Merger as a wholly owned private subsidiary of Parent. As of the date of this filing, the Company has ceased to be a registrant (see Note 12), however due to contractual terms in certain indentures, the Company is required to voluntarily file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).

As a result of the Merger, for accounting purposes, Parent is the acquirer and Cincinnati Bell Inc. is the acquiree and accounting predecessor. The financial statement presentation includes the financial statements of historical Cincinnati Bell Inc. as “Predecessor” for periods prior to the Closing Date and of the Company as “Successor” for the periods after the Closing Date. In connection with the Merger and the related accounting determination, the Company has elected to apply push-down accounting and reflect in its financial statements the fair value of its assets and liabilities. The Consolidated Financial Statements and footnotes include a black line division between the columns titled "Predecessor" and "Successor" to signify that the amounts shown for the periods prior to and following the Merger are not comparable. The Company has elected to record all expenses that were contingent on the closing of the Merger in the Predecessor period. See Note 4 for additional information on the Merger.

Description of Business — Cincinnati Bell Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries ("Cincinnati Bell," "we," "our," "us" or the "Company") provides diversified telecommunications and technology services. For ease of reference, the terms “Cincinnati Bell,” “we,” “our Company,” “the Company,” “us,” or “our” as used in this report refer to both the Predecessor and the Successor and their respective subsidiaries. The Company generates a large portion of its revenue by serving customers in Cincinnati, Ohio, Dayton, Ohio and the islands of Hawaii. An economic downturn or natural disaster occurring in these, or a portion of these, limited operating territories could have a disproportionate effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows compared to similar companies of a national scope and similar companies operating in different geographic areas.

As of December 31, 2023, we operate our business through the following segments: Network and IT Services and Hardware.

The Company has approximately 5,300 employees as of December 31, 2023. Approximately 23% of total employees are covered by collective bargaining agreements with the Communications Workers of America (“CWA”) and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers ("IBEW)" Local 1357. The effective dates for collective bargaining agreements with the CWA and IBEW range through the second quarter of 2026 and third quarter of 2028, respectively.

In August 2023, Parent committed to make capital contributions of $600.0 million to the Company, of which $400.0 million was received by the Company in the third quarter of 2023 and recorded to "Additional paid-in capital" on the Consolidated Balance Sheets and $200.0 million will be received in the fourth quarter of 2024. The capital contribution received in the third quarter of 2023 was used to repay borrowings on the Company's Revolving Credit Facility due 2026, fund capital expenditures, and fund working capital.

Use of Estimates —The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Significant items subject to such estimates and judgments include: the carrying value of property, plant and equipment; the valuation of credit losses for receivables and deferred income taxes; reserves recorded for income tax exposures; assets and liabilities related to employee benefits; the valuation of deferred costs under Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 606, “Revenue Recognition”; purchase price allocation for acquired businesses; and the valuation of intangible assets and goodwill. In the normal course of business, the Company is also subject to various regulatory and tax proceedings, lawsuits, claims and other matters. The Company believes adequate provision has been made for all such asserted and unasserted claims in accordance with GAAP. Such matters are subject to many uncertainties and outcomes that are not predictable with assurance. We periodically review our estimates in light of changes in circumstances, facts and experience. The effects of material revisions in estimates are reflected in our financial statements prospectively from the date of the change in estimate.

Business Combinations — In accounting for business combinations, we apply the accounting requirements of Accounting Standards Codification 805 (“ASC 805”), “Business Combinations,” which requires the recording of net assets of acquired businesses at fair value. In developing fair value estimates for acquired assets and assumed liabilities, management analyzes a variety of factors including market data, estimated future cash flows of the acquired operations, industry growth rates, current replacement cost for fixed assets, and market rate assumptions for contractual obligations. Such a valuation requires management to make significant estimates and assumptions, particularly with respect to the intangible assets. In addition, any contingent consideration is presented at fair value at the date of acquisition, and transaction costs are expensed as incurred. The Company reports in its consolidated financial statements provisional amounts for the items for which accounting is incomplete. Goodwill is adjusted for any changes to provisional amounts made within the measurement period. See Note 4 for disclosures related to mergers and acquisitions.

Variable Interest Entity — The Company holds an interest in a limited liability company, Digital Access Ohio LLC (“DAO”), that is considered a variable interest entity ("VIE") in accordance with the guidance of ASC 810 “Consolidation.” DAO is considered a VIE as it has insufficient equity capital to finance its activities without additional financial support. The Company is the primary beneficiary of DAO as it has the power over the activities that most significantly impact the economic performance of DAO and has the obligation to absorb expected losses and the right to receive expected benefits that could be significant to DAO. As a result, the Company consolidated DAO, and all significant intercompany accounts have been eliminated. For the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, results of operations of DAO were nominal.

Funding of DAO is provided in the form of cash contributions, debt issuance and grants that include a free standing warrant that allows the holder of the warrant at its option to convert the warrant into a class A-2 share of DAO at any time during the period commencing on the 2nd anniversary of the funding agreement and ending on the 10th anniversary of the funding agreement date. The Company has recorded the fair value associated with the warrant to "Other noncurrent liabilities" on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Company will continue to assess whether it has a controlling financial interest and whether it is the primary beneficiary at each reporting period.

Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash — Cash consists of funds held in bank accounts. Cash equivalents consist of short-term, highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less. Restricted cash as of December 31, 2023 consists of funds held by DAO. Restricted cash as of December 31, 2022 consists of funds held in an escrow account related to a cost method investment and funds held by DAO. Restricted cash as of December 31, 2021 consists of funds held in an escrow account related to a cost method investment. Restricted cash is included with cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning-of-period and end-of-period total amounts shown on the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. A reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash to the Consolidated Balance Sheets follows:


(dollars in millions)	December 31, 2023		December 31, 2022		December 31, 2021
Cash and cash equivalents	$	9.1	$	9.4	$	5.6
Restricted cash included in Other noncurrent assets		3.4		3.5		0.5
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash per Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows	$	12.5	$	12.9	$	6.1

Receivables — Receivables consist principally of trade receivables from customers and are generally unsecured and due within 21 - 90 days. The Company has receivables with one customer, Verizon Communications Inc., which make up 23% and 21% of the outstanding accounts receivable balance at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Unbilled receivables arise from services rendered but not yet billed. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, unbilled receivables totaled $78.8 million and $66.9 million, respectively. Expected credit losses related to trade receivables are recorded as an allowance for credit losses in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Company establishes the allowances for uncollectible accounts using percentages of aged accounts receivable balances to reflect the historical average of credit losses as well as specific provisions for certain identifiable, potentially uncollectible balances. When internal collection efforts on accounts have been exhausted, the accounts are written off and the associated allowance for uncollectible accounts is reduced. As of the Merger Date, the Company measured their receivables at fair value in accordance with ASC 805.

Factoring Arrangements — In the second quarter of 2018, the Company executed an amendment of its Receivables Facility that includes an option for Cincinnati Bell Funding LLC (“CBF”) to sell certain receivables, on a non-recourse basis, directly to PNC Bank. The terms of the factoring arrangement provides for the factoring of certain receivables, which are purchased at the face amount of the receivable discounted at the annual rate of LIBOR plus a bank determined spread on the purchase date. In the second quarter of 2022, the Company executed an amendment of its Receivables Facility, which replaced LIBOR with SOFR, a rate equal to the secured overnight financing rate as administered by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

In the first quarter of 2023, the Company executed certain amendments (the "Amendments") to the Receivables Facility to, among other things, separate the Receivables Facility into two separate facilities, with (A) the existing Receivables Facility (the “Network Receivables Facility”), as amended by the Amendments, covering receivables originated by certain U.S. subsidiaries of the Company including Cincinnati Bell Telephone Company LLC, Hawaiian Telcom Communications, Inc. and certain of their respective subsidiaries and (B) a new facility (the “CBTS Receivables Facility”) covering receivables originated by certain U.S. and Canadian subsidiaries in the Company's IT Services and Hardware segment including CBTS Technology Solutions LLC and OnX Enterprise Solutions Ltd. The Amendments also moved the receivables monetization arrangements from the Network Receivables Facility to the CBTS Receivables Facility.

Sales of accounts receivable are reflected as a reduction of "Receivables, less allowances" in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as they meet the applicable criteria in ASC 860, "Transfers and Servicing." The fees recorded in relation to such sales of accounts receivable were $0.9 million and $1.8 million in 2023 and 2022, respectively, and are included in "Selling, general, and administrative" in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the outstanding balance of receivables sold under the terms of the factoring agreement was $3.5 million and $56.8 million, respectively. See Note 7 for further information related to the Network Receivables Facility and the CBTS Receivables Facility.

Property, Plant and Equipment — Property, plant and equipment is stated at original cost and presented net of accumulated depreciation and impairment losses. Property, plant and equipment owned by the Company on the Merger Date was stated at fair value in accordance with ASC 805, “Business Combinations.” Maintenance and repairs are charged to expense as incurred while improvements, which extend an asset's useful life or increase its functionality, are capitalized and depreciated over the asset's remaining life. The majority of the Network segment’s network property, plant and equipment used to generate its voice and data revenue is depreciated using the group method, which develops a depreciation rate annually based on the average useful life of a specific group of assets rather than for each individual asset as would be utilized under the unit method. Provision for depreciation of other property, plant and equipment, except for leasehold improvements, is based on the straight-line method over the estimated economic useful life. Depreciation of leasehold improvements is based on a straight-line method over the lesser of the economic useful life of the asset or the term of the lease, including optional renewal periods if renewal of the lease is reasonably assured.

Additions and improvements, including interest and certain labor costs incurred during the construction period, are capitalized. The Company records the fair value of a legal liability for an asset retirement obligation in the period it is incurred. The estimated removal cost is initially capitalized and depreciated over the remaining life of the underlying asset. The associated liability is accreted to its present value each period. Once the obligation is ultimately settled, any difference between the final cost and the recorded liability is recognized as gain or loss on disposition.

Accounting for Impacts of Involuntary Events and Contingencies — Assets destroyed or damaged as a result of involuntary events are written off or reduced in carrying value to their salvage value. When recovery of all or a portion of the amount of property damage loss or other covered expenses through insurance proceeds is demonstrated to be probable, a receivable is recorded and offsets the loss or expense up to the amount of the total loss or expense. Proceeds ultimately received from insurance claims for business interruption, direct expenditures and amounts for capital assets in excess of net book value will be recorded to results of operations when collected. No gain is recorded until all contingencies related to the insurance claim have been resolved.

Goodwill — Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price consideration over the fair value of net assets acquired and recorded in connection with business acquisitions. Goodwill is allocated at the business segment level. Goodwill is tested for impairment on an annual basis or when events or changes in circumstances indicate that such assets may be impaired using either a qualitative or quantitative approach. An impairment loss is measured as the excess of the carrying value of a reporting unit over its fair value, not to exceed the carrying amount of goodwill. For the year ended in 2023, to calculate fair value of the reporting units, management used a combination of methods, including both income-based and market-based methods. The income approach relies on estimates of future revenue growth rates, terminal growth rates, EBITDA margin assumptions, and discount rates. The market approach requires the determination of an appropriate peer group, which is utilized to derive estimated fair values based on selected market multiples. No impairment losses were recognized in goodwill for the years ended in 2023 and 2022, and the Successor and Predecessor periods in 2021.

Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets — Intangible assets represent purchased assets that lack physical substance but can be separately distinguished from goodwill because of contractual or legal rights, or because the asset is capable of being separately sold or exchanged. Federal Communications Commission ("FCC") licenses for wireless spectrum and other perpetual licenses represent indefinite-lived intangible assets. The Company may renew the wireless licenses in a routine manner every ten years for a nominal fee, provided the Company continues to meet the service and geographic coverage provisions required by the FCC. Intangible assets not subject to amortization are tested for impairment annually, or when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the asset might be impaired. No impairment losses were recognized on indefinite-lived intangible assets for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, and the Successor and Predecessor periods in 2021.

Long-Lived Assets — Management reviews the carrying value of property, plant and equipment and other long-lived assets, including intangible assets with definite lives, when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the assets may not be recoverable. An impairment loss is recognized when the estimated future undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the use of an asset (or group of assets) and its eventual disposition is less than its carrying amount. An impairment loss is measured as the amount by which the asset’s carrying value exceeds its estimated fair value. Long-lived intangible assets are amortized based on the estimated economic value generated by the asset in future years. No impairment losses were recognized on long-lived assets for the year ended December 31, 2023 and the Successor and Predecessor periods in 2021. For the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company recorded a loss on impairment of long-lived assets of $2.7 million related to the impairment of leasehold improvements at the Company’s headquarters. In addition, amortization of the remaining leasehold improvements at the Company’s headquarters was accelerated to reflect the update to management’s estimate of the remaining useful life.

Cost Method Investments — Certain of our cost method investments do not have readily determinable fair values. These investments are measured at cost minus impairment, if any, plus or minus changes resulting from observable price changes in orderly transactions for the identical or similar investment of the same issuer. The carrying value of these investments was $10.0 million and $8.0 million as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, and was included in "Other noncurrent assets" in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Investments are reviewed at least annually to determine if changes in circumstances exist that would indicate the carrying value may not be recoverable. If indicators are present then an analysis is performed to determine if carrying value exceeds the estimated fair value. No impairment losses were recognized for cost method investments for the year ended December 31, 2023 and the Successor and Predecessor periods in 2021. A nominal impairment was recognized for the cost method investments for the year ended December 31, 2022.

Leases — The Company adheres to lease accounting principles described in ASC 842, “Leases.” Under ASC 842, the Company determines if an arrangement is a lease at inception based on the facts and circumstances present. In lease transactions where the Company acts as the lessor, the lease component is accounted for in accordance with ASC 842, and the non-lease component is accounted for in accordance with ASC 606. Although separation of lease and non-lease components is required, certain practical expedients are available that release the Company from this requirement. Adoption of the practical expedient allows the Company to account for each lease component and the related non-lease component together as a single component provided that the timing and patterns of revenue recognition for the components are the same and the combined, single unit of account would be classified as an operating lease. The Company's operating leases for certain services that include Customer Premise Equipment, including handsets and set-top boxes, have lease and non-lease components. In these arrangements, management has concluded that the non-lease components are the predominant characteristic, and, as a result, the Company has elected to account for these arrangements as one single non-lease component recorded as "Revenue" in the Consolidated Statements of Operations in accordance with ASC 606.

Right-of-use assets represent our right to use an underlying asset for the lease term, and lease liabilities represent our obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. Operating lease right-of-use assets and liabilities are recognized at commencement date based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term. Certain adjustments to the right-of-use asset may be required for items such as initial direct costs paid or incentives received.

The Company's lease terms include options to extend, terminate or buyout the lease when it is reasonably certain that we will exercise that option. Leases that have contract prices based on variable factors, such as power usage, are recognized as variable lease expense in the period in which the obligation for those payments are incurred. Lease expense for variable lease payments is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term.

Revenue Recognition — The Company adheres to revenue recognition principles described in ASC 606. Under ASC 606, revenue is recognized when the Company transfers promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the Company expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. A good or service is considered to be transferred when the customer obtains control.

Revenue derived from foreign operations was approximately 7% of consolidated revenue in both 2023 and 2022. Revenue derived from foreign operations was approximately 6% of consolidated revenue for both the Successor period and the Predecessor period included within 2021.

Network — Revenues from local telephone, special access, internet product and video services, which are billed monthly prior to performance of service, are not recognized upon billing or cash receipt but rather are deferred until the service is provided. Consumer long distance, switched access and other usage based charges are billed monthly in arrears. Network bills service revenue in regular monthly cycles, which are spread throughout the days of the month. As the last day of each billing cycle rarely coincides with the end of the reporting period for usage-based services such as long distance and switched access, we must estimate service revenues earned but not yet billed. These estimates are based upon historical usage, and we adjust these estimates during the period in which actual usage is determinable, typically in the following reporting period.

Pricing of local voice services is generally subject to oversight by both state and federal regulatory commissions. Such regulation also covers services, competition, and other public policy issues. Various regulatory rulings and interpretations could result in increases or decreases to revenue in future periods.

For long-term indefeasible right of use, or IRU, contracts for fiber circuit capacity, the Company may receive up-front payments for services to be delivered for a period of up to 25 years. In these situations, the Company defers the revenue and amortizes it on a straight-line basis to earnings over the term of the contract. See Note 3 for further information.

IT Services and Hardware — Revenue is generally recognized as the service is provided. Maintenance on telephony equipment is deferred and recognized ratably over the term of the underlying customer contract, generally one to three years.

For hardware sales, revenue is recognized net of the cost of product and is recognized when the hardware is either shipped or delivered in accordance with the terms of the contract. Installation service revenue is generally recognized when installation is complete. We sell equipment and installation services on both a combined and standalone basis.

For the sale of hardware within the Infrastructure Solutions category, the Company evaluated whether it is the principal (in which case we report revenues on a gross basis) or the agent (in which case we report revenues on a net basis). The Company has concluded it acts as an agent because it does not control the inventory before it is transferred to customers, it does not have the ability to direct the product to anyone besides the purchasing customer, and it does not integrate the hardware with any of its own goods or services.

Income taxes — The Company and its subsidiaries file income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction as well as various foreign, state and local jurisdictions. The provision for income taxes is based upon income in the consolidated financial statements, rather than amounts reported on the income tax return. The income tax provision consists of an amount for taxes currently payable and an amount for tax consequences deferred to future periods. Deferred income taxes are provided for temporary differences between financial statement and income tax assets and liabilities. Deferred income taxes are recalculated annually at rates then in effect. The Company recognizes future tax benefits, such as net operating losses and tax credits, to the extent that realizing these benefits is considered to be more likely than not. Valuation allowances are recorded to reduce deferred tax assets to amounts that are more likely than not to be realized. The ultimate realization of the deferred income tax assets depends upon the ability to generate future taxable income during the periods in which basis differences and other deductions become deductible and prior to the expiration of the net operating loss carryforwards.

Previous tax filings are subject to normal reviews by regulatory agencies until the related statute of limitations expires.

Operating taxes — Certain operating taxes such as property, sales, use, and gross receipts taxes are reported as expenses in operating income primarily within cost of services. These taxes are not included in income tax expense because the amounts to be paid are not dependent on our level of income. Liabilities for audit exposures are established based on management's assessment of the probability of payment. The provision for such liabilities is recognized as either property, plant and equipment, operating tax expense, or depreciation expense depending on the nature of the audit exposure. Upon resolution of an audit, any remaining liability not paid is released against the account in which it was originally recorded.

Regulatory taxes — The Company incurs federal and state regulatory taxes on certain revenue producing transactions. We are permitted to recover certain of these taxes by billing the customer; however, collections cannot exceed the amount due to the federal regulatory agency. These federal regulatory taxes are presented in revenue and cost of services on a gross basis because, while the Company is required to pay the tax, it is not required to collect the tax from customers and, in fact, does not collect the tax from customers in certain instances. The amounts recorded as revenue totaled $34.0 million and $32.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, and $13.2 million and $27.2 million in the Successor and Predecessor periods in 2021, respectively. The amounts recorded as expense totaled $38.0 million and $36.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, and $13.7 million and $32.1 million in the Successor and Predecessor periods in 2021, respectively. We record all other federal taxes collected from customers on a net basis.

Stock-Based Compensation — Compensation cost is recognized for all share-based awards to employees and non-employee directors. We value all share-based awards to employees at fair value on the date of grant and expense this amount over the requisite service period, generally defined as the applicable vesting period. For awards which contain a performance condition, compensation expense is recognized over the service period, when achievement of the performance condition is deemed probable. The fair value of stock options and stock appreciation rights is determined using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model using assumptions such as volatility, risk-free interest rate, expected holding period and dividends. The fair value of stock awards is based on the Company’s closing share price on the date of grant. For all share-based payments, the Company accounts for forfeitures as they occur. Actual forfeiture activity reduces the total fair value of the awards to be recognized as compensation expense. When an award is granted to an employee who is retirement eligible, the compensation cost is recognized over the service period up to the date that the employee first becomes eligible to retire.

In connection with the consummation of the Merger, certain previously granted stock-based awards vested on the Closing Date per the terms of the change of control clauses in each plan and were paid at the share purchase price of $15.50. As a result, the following awards vested and were paid on the date of acquisition: (i) time-based restricted stock units and performance-based stock units associated with the 2019 – 2021 long-term incentive plan granted under the 2017 Long-Term Incentive Plan; (ii) time-based restricted stock units granted to non-employee directors in 2020 under the 2017 Stock Plan for Non-Employee Directors; and (iii) time-based restricted stock units granted under the Hawaiian Telcom 2010 Equity Incentive Plan in the first quarter of 2018 which the Company assumed responsibility for the eventual payout upon the acquisition of Hawaiian Telcom. Due to the accelerated vesting and cash payment of these awards, the Company recorded additional compensation expense of $9.3 million to “Selling, general and administrative” expense in the Predecessor period of 2021 on the Consolidated Statements of Operations. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, there are no outstanding awards granted under the 2017 Long-Term Incentive Plan, 2017 Stock Plan for Non-Employee Directors and Hawaiian Telcom 2010 Equity Incentive Plan.

Pension and Postretirement Benefit Plans — The Company maintains qualified and non-qualified defined benefit pension plans, and also provides postretirement healthcare and life insurance benefits for eligible employees. We recognize the overfunded or underfunded status of the defined benefit pension and other postretirement benefit plans as either an asset or liability. Changes in the funded status of these plans are recognized as a component of comprehensive income (loss) in the year they occur. Pension and postretirement healthcare and life insurance benefits earned during the year and interest on the projected benefit obligations are accrued and recognized currently in net periodic benefit cost. Prior service costs and credits are amortized over the average remaining life expectancy of plan participants or remaining service period, based upon whether plan participants are mostly retirees or active employees. Net gains or losses resulting from differences between actuarial estimates or from changes in actuarial assumptions are recognized as a component of annual net periodic benefit cost. Pension and postretirement benefit plans were remeasured as of the Merger Date. Unrecognized actuarial gains or losses that exceed 10% of the projected benefit obligation are amortized on a straight-line basis over the average life expectancy of the participant group for the Cincinnati pension plans and Hawaii pension plans, the average life expectancy of retirees for the Cincinnati postretirement plans and the average remaining service period of active employees for the Hawaii postretirement plans.

Derivative Financial Instruments — The Company accounts for derivative financial instruments by recognizing derivative instruments as either assets or liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets at fair value and recognizing the resulting gains or losses as adjustments to the Consolidated Statements of Operations or "Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income." The Company does not hold or issue derivative financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes.

For derivative instruments that hedge the exposure to variability in expected future cash flows that are designated and qualify as cash flow hedges, the gain or loss on the derivative instrument is reported as a component of "Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income" in stockholder's equity and reclassified into earnings in the same period or periods during which the hedged transaction affects earnings. To receive hedge accounting treatment, cash flow hedges must be highly effective in offsetting changes to expected future cash flows on hedged transactions. Derivatives that do not qualify as hedges are adjusted to fair value through earnings in the current period. All cash flows associated with the Company’s derivative instruments are classified as operating activities in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

Fair Value Measurements — Fair value of financial and non-financial assets and liabilities is defined as the price representing the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. Fair value is utilized to measure certain investments on a recurring basis. Fair value measurements are also utilized to determine the initial value of assets and liabilities acquired in a business combination, to perform impairment tests, and for disclosure purposes.

Management uses quoted market prices and observable inputs to the maximum extent possible when measuring fair value. In the absence of quoted market prices or observable inputs, fair value is determined using valuation models that incorporate assumptions that a market participant would use in pricing the asset or liability.

Fair value measurements are classified within one of three levels, which prioritize the inputs used in the methodologies of measuring fair value for assets and liabilities, as follows:

Level 1 — Quoted market prices for identical instruments in an active market;

Level 2 — Quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability (i.e., interest rates, yield curves, etc.), and inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means (market corroborated inputs); and

Level 3 — Unobservable inputs that reflect management's determination of assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. These inputs are developed based on the best information available, including our own data.

The determination of where an asset or liability falls in the hierarchy requires significant judgment.