Fair Value of Financial Instruments

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2019

11. Fair Value of Financial Instruments

We use a three-level fair value hierarchy that categorizes assets and liabilities measured at fair value based on the observability of the inputs utilized in the valuation. The levels of the hierarchy, as defined below, give the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs.

Level 1 is defined as observable inputs such as quoted prices in active markets for identical assets. Our Level 1 assets currently include money market funds.
Level 2 is defined as observable inputs other than Level 1 prices, including quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in an active market, quoted prices for identical assets and liabilities in markets that are not active, or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities. Our Level 2 assets and liabilities include derivative financial instruments with fair values derived from quoted prices in over-the-counter markets or from prices received from direct broker quotes.
Level 3 is defined as unobservable inputs in which little or no market data exists, therefore requiring an entity to develop its own assumptions. We had no Level 3 financial instruments as of September 30, 2019 or December 31, 2018.

The tables below set forth, by level, our financial assets and liabilities that are recorded at fair value in the accompanying Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (in thousands):

		Fair Value as of September 30, 2019
		Level 1		Level 2		Total
Assets
	Money market funds ⁽¹⁾	$	4,936	$	—	$	4,936

			Fair Value as of December 31, 2018
		Level 1		Level 2		Total
Assets
	Money market funds ⁽¹⁾	$	28,740	$	—	$	28,740
Liabilities
	Derivative financial instruments ⁽²⁾	$	—	$	2,386	$	2,386

Included in Cash and cash equivalents in the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets along with $79.8 million and $62.5 million of demand deposits as of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively.
See Note 12 for information on the (Gain) loss on derivative financial instruments recognized in the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss).

- 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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CLOUD PEAK ENERGY INC. 10-Q