Fair Value of Financial Instruments

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2018

Fair Value of Financial Instruments [Abstract]

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

7.  Fair Value of Financial Instruments

ASC 820 Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (Topic 820) defines fair value 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 (exit price).  The inputs used to measure fair value are classified into the following hierarchy:

Level 1:	Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities
Level 2:	Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities, or unadjusted quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, or inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability
Level 3:	Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability

The carrying amounts of financial instruments included in the consolidated financial statements and their estimated fair values are as follows (in thousands):

	As of March 31, 2018				As of December 31, 2017
	Carrying Amount		Estimated Fair Value		Carrying Amount		Estimated Fair Value
Cash and cash equivalents	$	167,845	$	167,845	$	197,337	$	197,337
Restricted cash		47,524		47,524		46,012		46,012
Notes receivable, net		424,117		510,000		426,858		525,000
Lines-of-credit, notes payable, and receivable-
backed notes payable		497,098		502,600		521,312		529,400
Junior subordinated debentures		70,677		87,000		70,384		88,500

Cash and cash equivalents.  The amounts reported in the unaudited Consolidated Balance Sheets for cash and cash equivalents approximate fair value.

Restricted cash.  The amounts reported in the unaudited Consolidated Balance Sheets for restricted cash approximate fair value.

Notes receivable, net.  The fair value of our notes receivable is estimated using Level 3 inputs and is based on estimated future cash flows considering contractual payments and estimates of prepayments and defaults, discounted at a market rate.

Lines-of-credit, notes payable, and receivable-backed notes payable. The amounts reported in the unaudited Consolidated Balance Sheets approximate fair value for indebtedness that provides for variable interest rates.  The fair value of our fixed-rate, receivable-backed notes payable was determined using Level 3 inputs by discounting the net cash outflows estimated to be used to repay the debt.  These obligations are to be satisfied using the proceeds from the consumer loans that secure the obligations.

Junior subordinated debentures. The fair value of our junior subordinated debentures is estimated using Level 3 inputs based on the contractual cash flows discounted at a market rate or based on market price quotes from the over-the-counter bond market.