Forward Air Corporation Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2022

The Company categorizes its assets and liabilities into one of three levels based on the assumptions used in valuing the asset or liability. Estimates of fair value financial assets and liabilities are based on a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. Observable inputs (highest level) reflect market data obtained from independent sources, while unobservable inputs (lowest level) reflect internally developed market assumptions. In accordance with this guidance, fair value measurements are classified under the following hierarchy:

•Level 1 - Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

•Level 2 - Quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active; and model-derived valuations in which all significant inputs are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.

•Level 3 - Model-derived valuations in which one or more significant inputs are unobservable.

As previously discussed in Note 3, Acquisitions, the estimated fair value of the earn-out liability was determined using the option pricing method. The significant inputs used to calculate the estimated fair value are derived from a combination of observable and unobservable market data. Observable inputs used in the option pricing method include the risk-free rate and the revenue volatility while unobservable inputs include the revenue discount rate and the estimated revenue projections.

Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2022 and 2021 are summarized below:


	As of December 31, 2022
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
Earn-out liability	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—

	As of December 31, 2021
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
Earn-out liability	$	—	$	—	$	385	$	385

Cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, other receivables, and accounts payable are valued at their carrying amounts in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets, due to the immediate or short-term maturity of these financial instruments.

The carrying amount of long-term debt under the Company’s credit facility approximates fair value based on the borrowing rates currently available to the Company for a loan with similar terms and average maturity.

As of December 31, 2022, the estimated fair value of the Company’s finance lease obligation, based on current borrowing rates, was $23,210, compared to its carrying value of $23,794. As of December 31, 2021, the estimated fair value of the Company’s finance lease obligation, based on current borrowing rates, was $14,312, compared to its carrying value of $14,159.

In addition to assets and liabilities that are recorded at fair value on a recurring basis, the Company records assets and liabilities at fair value on a nonrecurring basis. Assets are recorded at fair value on a nonrecurring basis as a result of an impairment charge or assets held for sale. The losses on assets measured at fair value on a nonrecurring, discontinued operation basis are summarized below:


	2022		2021		2020
Earn-out asset impairment charge1	$	—	$	6,967	$	—
Goodwill impairment charge1	—		—		5,406
Valuation allowance on assets held for sale1	—		—		22,978

1 See Note 2, Discontinued Operation and Held for Sale.