Derivative Instruments

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]

Derivative Instruments

Derivative Instruments

The Company periodically uses derivative instruments that are not designated as hedges under FASB accounting guidance related to the accounting for derivative instruments, to hedge the fluctuations in foreign exchange rates for recognized balance sheet items such as intercompany receivables. As of September 30, 2012, all of the Company's pre-existing foreign currency hedge contracts have matured. The inputs that were used in the valuation of the hedge contracts included the USD/INR foreign currency exchange spot rates in effect at the inception date of the contract, forward premiums, forward foreign currency exchange rates, term, and contract maturity date.

The intended purpose of these hedging instruments was to offset the income statement impact of recorded foreign exchange transaction gains and losses resulting from U.S. dollar denominated intercompany invoices issued by our Indian subsidiary whose functional currency had been the Indian rupee until it was changed to the U.S. dollar effective July 1, 2012. The change in the fair value of these derivatives was recorded in foreign currency exchange gains in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income and was $1.2 million and $(1.1) million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively. These gains are in addition to the consolidated foreign exchange gains equivalent to $729 thousand and $3.7 million recorded during the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively, incurred by our subsidiaries for settlement of transactions denominated in other than their functional currency. The Company classifies its foreign currency hedges, for which the fair value is remeasured on a recurring basis at each reporting date, as a Level 2 instrument (i.e. wherein fair value is determined and based on observable inputs other than quoted market prices), which we believe is the most appropriate level within the fair value hierarchy based on the inputs used to determine its the fair value at the measurement date.

    In connection with the acquisition of PlanetSoft effective June 1, 2012, Ebix issued a put option to PlanetSoft's three shareholders. The put option, which expires in June 2014, is exercisable during the thirty-day period immediately following the two-year anniversary date of the business acquisition, which if exercised would enable them to sell the underlying 296,560 shares of Ebix common stock they received as part of the purchase consideration, back to the Company at a price of $16.86 per share, which represents a 10% discount off of the per-share value established on the effective date of the closing of Ebix's acquisition of PlanetSoft. In accordance with the relevant authoritative accounting literature a portion of the total purchase consideration was allocated to this put liability based on its initial fair value, which was determined to be $1.4 million using a Black-Scholes model. The inputs used in the valuation of the put option include term, stock price volatility, current stock price, exercise price, and the risk free rate of return. At September 30, 2012 the fair value of the put option liability was re-measured and was determined to have decreased $677 thousand during the nine month period then ended with this amount reflected as a gain included other non-operating income in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Statement of Income. As of September 30, 2012, the aggregate fair value of this derivative instrument, which is included as in current liabilities in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet, was $700 thousand. The Company has classified the put option, for which the fair value is re-measured on a recurring basis at each reporting date as a Level 2 instrument (i.e. wherein fair is partially determined and based on observable inputs other than quoted market prices), which we believe is the most appropriate level within the fair value hierarchy based on the inputs used to determine its fair value at the measurement date.