Bristow Group Inc. Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2014

The fair value of an asset or liability is the price that would be received to sell an asset or transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. The Company utilizes a fair value hierarchy that maximizes the use of observable inputs and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value and defines three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value. Level 1 inputs are quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. Level 2 inputs are observable inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability either directly or indirectly, including quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, quoted prices in markets that are not active, inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability, or inputs derived from observable market data. Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities.

The Company’s financial assets and liabilities as of December 31, 2014 and 2013 that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis were as follows (in thousands):



	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
December 31, 2014
LIABILITIES
Derivative instruments⁽¹⁾	$	—	$	1,109	$	—
December 31, 2013
LIABILITIES
Derivative instruments⁽¹⁾	$	—	$	621	$	—

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(1)	The fair value of the Company’s derivative instruments was estimated using market data gathered by a third party financial institution, adjusted for market and credit risks applicable to the Company.

The estimated fair value of the Company’s other financial assets and liabilities as of December 31, 2014 and 2013 were as follows (in thousands):



	Carrying Amount		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
December 31, 2014
LIABILITIES
Long-term debt, including current portion	$	309,544	$	—	$	320,099	$	—
December 31, 2013
LIABILITIES
Long-term debt, including current portion	$	282,178	$	—	$	297,399	$	—

The carrying values of cash and cash equivalents, receivables and accounts payable approximate fair value. The fair value of the Company’s long-term debt was estimated using discounted cash flow analysis based on estimated current rates for similar types of arrangements. Considerable judgment was required in developing certain of the fair value estimates, and accordingly, the estimates presented herein are not necessarily indicative of the amounts that the Company could realize in a current market exchange.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for the fair value of financial instruments (as defined), including financial assets and financial liabilities (collectively, as defined), and the measurements of those instruments as well as disclosures related to the fair value of non-financial assets and liabilities. Such disclosures about the financial instruments, assets, and liabilities would include: (1) the fair value of the required items together with their carrying amounts (as appropriate); (2) for items for which it is not practicable to estimate fair value, disclosure would include: (a) information pertinent to estimating fair value (including, carrying amount, effective interest rate, and maturity, and (b) the reasons why it is not practicable to estimate fair value; (3) significant concentrations of credit risk including: (a) information about the activity, region, or economic characteristics identifying a concentration, (b) the maximum amount of loss the entity is exposed to based on the gross fair value of the related item, (c) policy for requiring collateral or other security and information as to accessing such collateral or security, and (d) the nature and brief description of such collateral or security; (4) quantitative information about market risks and how such risks are managed; (5) for items measured on both a recurring and nonrecurring basis information regarding the inputs used to develop the fair value measurement; and (6) for items presented in the financial statement for which fair value measurement is elected: (a) information necessary to understand the reasons for the election, (b) discussion of the effect of fair value changes on earnings, (c) a description of [similar groups] items for which the election is made and the relation thereof to the balance sheet, the aggregate carrying value of items included in the balance sheet that are not eligible for the election; (7) all other required (as defined) and desired information.

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