Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Fair Value Disclosures

v2.4.0.6
Fair Value Disclosures
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2013
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]  
FAIR VALUE DISCLOSURES
NOTE 6 — FAIR VALUE DISCLOSURES
We account for the non-recurring fair value measurements of our non-financial assets and liabilities in accordance with ASC 820-10, Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure. This guidance defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value and addresses required disclosures about fair value measurements. This standard establishes a three-level hierarchy for fair value measurements based upon the significant inputs used to determine fair value. Observable inputs are those which are obtained from market participants external to the company while unobservable inputs are generally developed internally, utilizing management’s estimates, assumptions and specific knowledge of the assets/liabilities and related markets. The three levels are defined as follows:
•
Level 1 — Valuation is based on quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities.
•
Level 2 — Valuation is determined from quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active, or by model-based techniques in which all significant inputs are observable in the market.
•
Level 3 — Valuation is derived from model-based techniques in which at least one significant input is unobservable and based on the company’s own estimates about the assumptions that market participants would use to value the asset or liability.
If the only observable inputs are from inactive markets or for transactions which the company evaluates as “distressed”, the use of Level 1 inputs should be modified by the company to properly address these factors, or the reliance of such inputs may be limited, with a greater weight attributed to Level 3 inputs. Refer to Notes 1 and 2 for additional information regarding the valuation of our non-financial assets.
Due to our quarterly review of our long-lived real-estate assets as described in Note 2, we consider the carrying amounts of real-estate assets subject to current period impairments to approximate fair value, although all such adjustments for the quarters ended March 31, 2013 and March 31, 2012 were considered immaterial.
     Financial Instruments. The fair value of our fixed-rate debt is derived from quoted market prices by independent
dealers and is as follows (in thousands):    
 
 
 
 
March 31, 2013
 
December 31, 2012
 
Hierarchy
Aggregate
Principal
 
Estimated
Fair Value
 
Aggregate
Principal
 
Estimated
Fair Value
7.731% senior subordinated notes
Level 2
 
$
83,125

 
$
85,519

 
$
99,825

 
$
102,950

4.50% senior notes
Level 2
 
$
175,000

 
$
174,563

 
N/A

 
N/A

7.15% senior notes
Level 2
 
$
200,000

 
$
223,000

 
$
200,000

 
$
220,760

7.00% senior notes
Level 2
 
$
300,000

 
$
334,140

 
$
300,000

 
$
328,500

1.875% convertible senior notes
Level 2
 
$
126,500

 
$
142,629

 
$
126,500

 
$
127,449


Due to the short-term nature of other financial assets and liabilities, we consider the carrying amounts of our other short-term financial instruments to approximate fair value.