PART  I

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

(1) Nature of Operations

B&G Foods, Inc. is a holding company whose principal assets are the shares of capital stock of its subsidiaries.  Unless the context requires otherwise, references in this report to “B&G Foods,” “our company,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to B&G Foods, Inc. and its subsidiaries.  Our financial statements are presented on a consolidated basis.

We operate in a single industry segment and manufacture, sell and distribute a diverse portfolio of high-quality shelf-stable and frozen foods across the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.  Our products include frozen and canned vegetables, hot cereals, fruit spreads, canned meats and beans, bagel chips, spices, seasonings, hot sauces, wine vinegar, maple syrup, molasses, salad dressings, pizza crusts, Mexican-style sauces, dry soups, taco shells and kits, salsas, pickles, peppers, tomato-based products, puffed corn and rice snacks, nut clusters and other specialty products.  Our products are marketed under many recognized brands, including Ac’cent ,   B&G ,   B&M ,   Baker’s Joy ,   Bear Creek   Country Kitchens ,   Brer Rabbit ,   Canoleo ,   Cary’s ,   Cream of Rice ,   Cream of Wheat ,   Devonsheer ,   Don Pepino ,   Durkee ,   Emeril’s ,   Grandma’s Molasses ,   Green Giant ,   JJ Flats ,   Joan of Arc ,   Las Palmas ,   Le Sueur ,   MacDonald’s ,   Mama Mary’s ,   Maple Grove Farms of Vermont ,   Molly McButter ,   Mrs. Dash ,   New York Flatbreads ,   New York Style ,   Old London ,   Original Tings ,   Ortega ,   Pirate’s Booty ,   Polaner ,   Red Devil ,   Regina ,   Sa-són ,   Sclafani ,   Smart Puffs ,   Spice Islands , Spring Tree ,   Sugar Twin ,   Tone’s ,   Trappey’s ,   TrueNorth ,   Underwood ,   Vermont Maid ,   Victoria ,   Weber , and Wright’s .  See Note 16, “Subsequent Event.” We also sell and distribute Static Guard , a household product brand . We compete in the retail grocery, foodservice, specialty, private label, club and mass merchandiser channels of distribution.  We sell and distribute our products directly and via a network of independent brokers and distributors to supermarket chains, foodservice outlets, mass merchants, warehouse clubs, non-food outlets and specialty distributors.

(2) Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Fiscal Year

Typically, our fiscal quarters and fiscal year consist of 13 and 52 weeks, respectively, ending on the Saturday closest to December 31 in the case of our fiscal year and fourth fiscal quarter, and on the Saturday closest to the end of the corresponding calendar quarter in the case of our fiscal quarters.  As a result, a 53 rd week is added to our fiscal year every five or six years.  In a 53-week fiscal year our fourth fiscal quarter contains 14 weeks.  Our fiscal year ending December 30, 2017 (fiscal 2017) and our fiscal year ended December 31, 2016 (fiscal 2016) each contain 52 weeks.  Each quarter of fiscal 2017 and 2016 contains 13 weeks.

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited consolidated interim financial statements for the thirteen and thirty-nine week periods ended September 30, 2017  (third quarter and first three quarters of 2017) and October 1, 2016  (third quarter and first three quarters of 2016) have been prepared by our company in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and include the accounts of B&G Foods, Inc. and its subsidiaries.  Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles have been omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations.  However, our management believes, to the best of their knowledge, that the disclosures herein are adequate to make the information presented not misleading.  All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated.  The accompanying unaudited consolidated interim financial statements contain all adjustments that are, in the opinion of management, necessary to present fairly our consolidated financial position as of September 30, 2017, and the results of our operations, comprehensive income and cash flows for the third quarter and first three quarters of 2017 and 2016.  Our results of operations for the third quarter and first three quarters of 2017 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year.  We have evaluated subsequent events for disclosure through the date of issuance of the accompanying unaudited consolidated interim financial statements. The accompanying unaudited consolidated interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal 2016 filed with the SEC on March 1, 2017.  Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation.

(2) Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires our management to make a number of estimates and assumptions relating to the reporting of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.  Some of the more significant estimates and assumptions made by management involve trade and consumer promotion expenses; allowances for excess, obsolete and unsaleable inventories; pension benefits; acquisition accounting fair value allocations; the recoverability of goodwill, other intangible assets, property, plant and equipment and deferred tax assets; and the determination of the useful life of customer relationship and amortizable trademark intangibles.  Actual results could differ significantly from these estimates and assumptions.

Management evaluates its estimates and assumptions on an ongoing basis using historical experience and other factors that management believes to be reasonable under the circumstances, including the current economic environment.  We adjust such estimates and assumptions when facts and circumstances dictate.  Volatility in the credit and equity markets can increase the uncertainty inherent in such estimates and assumptions.

Newly Adopted Accounting Standards

In March 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued a new accounting standards update (ASU) that changes the accounting for certain aspects of share-based payments to employees. The new guidance requires that excess tax benefits (which represent the excess of actual tax benefits received at the date of vesting or settlement over the benefits recognized over the vesting period or upon issuance of share-based payments) and tax deficiencies (which represent the amount by which actual tax benefits received at the date of vesting or settlement is lower than the benefits recognized over the vesting period or upon issuance of share-based payments) be recorded in the income statement as a reduction of income taxes when the awards vest or are settled. The new guidance also requires excess tax benefits to be classified as an operating activity in the statement of cash flows rather than as a financing activity. We adopted the provisions of this ASU at the beginning of fiscal 2017 and applied the required changes in accounting principle on a prospective basis. As a result of this adoption, we recognized discrete tax benefits of $0.8 million in the income taxes line item of our consolidated statement of operations for the first three quarters of 2017 related to excess tax benefits upon vesting or settlement in that period. We elected to adopt the cash flow presentation of the excess tax benefits prospectively, commencing with our statement of cash flows for the first quarter of 2017, where these benefits are classified along with other income tax cash flows as an operating activity. We excluded the excess tax benefits from the assumed proceeds available to repurchase shares in the computation of our diluted earnings per share for the first three quarters of 2017.

In November 2015, the FASB issued a new ASU that requires deferred tax assets and liabilities to be classified as noncurrent on the balance sheet. The ASU is effective beginning with the first quarter of fiscal 2017. We adopted the provisions of this ASU at the beginning of fiscal 2017 and applied the required changes in accounting principle on a retrospective basis. Accordingly, in our consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2016, $7.9 million of deferred tax assets were reclassified from current assets to noncurrent assets. The update impacted presentation and disclosure only, and therefore, the adoption of this ASU did not have any impact on our results of operations or liquidity.

In July 2015, the FASB issued a new ASU that simplifies the subsequent measurement of inventories by replacing the current lower of cost or market test with a lower of cost and net realizable value test. We adopted the provisions of this ASU at the beginning of fiscal 2017.   The adoption of this ASU did not have any impact on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or liquidity.

(2) Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

In March 2017, the FASB issued a new ASU that improves the presentation of net periodic pension cost and net periodic postretirement benefit cost.  The new guidance revises how employers that sponsor defined benefit pension and other postretirement plans present the net periodic benefit cost in their income statement and requires that the service cost component of net periodic benefit cost be presented in the same income statement line items as other employee compensation costs from services rendered during the period. The update is effective beginning with the first quarter of fiscal 2019.  We have not yet determined the impact from adoption of the ASU on our financial statements.

In January 2017, the FASB issued a new ASU which clarifies the definition of a business. The new guidance changes the definition of a business to assist entities in evaluating when a set of transferred assets and activities constitutes a business. The update is effective beginning with the first quarter of 2018.  We have not yet determined the impact from adoption of the ASU on our financial statements.

In January 2017, the FASB issued a new ASU that simplifies the subsequent measurement of goodwill, including the elimination of the second step from the goodwill impairment test. The update is effective for annual or any interim impairment tests in fiscal 2020 or later. The adoption of this ASU will not have any impact on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or liquidity.

In February 2016, the FASB issued a new ASU that requires lessees to recognize lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet for those leases classified as operating leases under current guidance. The update is effective beginning with the first quarter of fiscal 2019. We have not yet determined the impact from adoption of the ASU on our financial statements.

In May 2014, the FASB issued guidance on revenue recognition, with final guidance issued in 2016.  The guidance provides for a five-step model to determine the revenue to be recognized from the transfer of goods or services to customers. The guidance also requires improved disclosures to help users of the financial statements better understand the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows relating to customer contracts. It also provides clarification for principal versus agent considerations, identifying performance obligations and the accounting of intellectual property licenses. In addition, the FASB introduced practical expedients related to disclosures of remaining performance obligations, as well as other amendments to guidance on collectability, non-cash consideration and the presentation of sales and other similar taxes.  The two permitted transition methods under the guidance are the full retrospective approach or a cumulative effect adjustment to the opening retained earnings in the year of adoption (cumulative effect approach).  We have not yet made a determination as to which transition method we will be using.  We plan to adopt the new guidance when it becomes effective on December 31, 2017, the first day of our fiscal 2018.

We have established a project plan and completed an initial review of our revenue contracts to assess the impact of the guidance on our revenue contracts by reviewing our current accounting policies and practices to identify potential differences that would result from applying the new requirements to our revenue contracts.  We are also in the process of evaluating the impact, if any, on changes to our controls to support recognition and disclosures under the new guidance.  Based on the foregoing, we do not expect the adoption of the new standard to have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.

(3) Acquisitions

On December 2, 2016, we acquired Victoria Fine Foods, LLC, and a related entity, from Huron Capital Partners and certain other sellers for a purchase price of $72.0 million in cash.  We refer to this acquisition as the “ Victoria acquisition.”

On November 21, 2016, we completed the acquisition of the spices & seasonings business of ACH Food Companies, Inc. for a purchase price of $366.9 million.  We refer to this acquisition as the “spices & seasonings acquisition.” In connection with the acquisition,  as of September 30, 2017, we had receivables related to a transition services agreement with ACH Food Companies of $1.0 million included in prepaid expenses and other current assets in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. As of December 31, 2016, we had payables related to the transition services agreement of $12.6 million included in accrued expenses in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.

(3) Acquisitions (Continued)

We have accounted for each of these acquisitions using the acquisition method of accounting and, accordingly, have included the assets acquired, liabilities assumed and results of operations in our consolidated financial statements from the respective date of acquisition.  The excess of the purchase price over the fair value of identifiable net assets acquired represents goodwill. Unamortizable trademarks are deemed to have an indefinite useful life and are not amortized. Customer relationship intangibles and amortizable trademarks acquired are amortized over 10 to 20 years. Goodwill and other intangible assets, except in the case of the Victoria acquisition, are deductible for income tax purposes.  Inventory has been recorded at estimated selling price less costs of disposal and a reasonable selling profit and the property, plant and equipment and other intangible assets (including trademarks, customer relationships and other intangibles) acquired have been recorded at fair value as determined by our management with the assistance of a third-party valuation specialist.  See Note 5, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets.”

The following table sets forth the preliminary allocation of the Victoria acquisition purchase price to the estimated fair value of the net assets acquired at the date of acquisition. The preliminary purchase price allocation may be adjusted as a result of the finalization of our purchase price allocation procedures related to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed. We anticipate completing the purchase price allocation during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017.

(3) Acquisitions (Continued)

The following table sets forth the preliminary allocation of the spices & seasonings acquisition purchase price to the estimated fair value of the net assets acquired at the date of acquisition. The preliminary purchase price allocation may be adjusted as a result of the finalization of our purchase price allocation procedures related to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed. We anticipate completing the purchase price allocation during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017.

On August 19, 2017, we entered into an agreement to acquire Back to Nature Foods Company, LLC and related entities from Brynwood Partners VI L.P., Mondelēz International and certain other sellers for approximately $162.5 million in cash, subject to customary closing and post-closing working capital adjustments.  We completed the acquisition on October 2, 2017.  We funded the acquisition and related fees and expenses with additional revolving loans under our existing credit facility See Note 16, “Subsequent Event.”  We refer to this acquisition as the “ Back to Nature acquisition.”

(3) Acquisitions (Continued)

Unaudited Pro Forma Summary of Operations

The following pro forma summary of operations for the third quarter and first three quarters of 2016 presents our operations as if the spices & seasonings acquisition had occurred as of the beginning of fiscal 2016.  In addition to including the results of operations of this acquisition, the pro forma information gives effect to the interest on additional borrowings and the amortization of customer relationship intangibles. On an actual basis, the spices & seasonings business contributed $70.4 million and $200.9 million, respectively, of consolidated net sales for the third quarter and first three quarters of 2017.

The pro forma information presented above does not purport to be indicative of the results that actually would have been attained had the spices & seasonings acquisition occurred as of the beginning of fiscal 2016, and is not intended to be a projection of future results.

The Victoria acquisition was not material to our consolidated results of operations or financial position and, therefore, pro forma financial information is not presented.

(4) Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market and include direct material, direct labor, overhead, warehousing and product transfer costs.  Cost is determined using the first-in, first-out and average cost methods.  Inventories have been reduced by an allowance for excess, obsolete and unsaleable inventories.  The allowance is an estimate based on management’s review of inventories on hand compared to estimated future usage and sales.

Inventories consist of the following, as of the dates indicated (in thousands):

(5) Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

The carrying amounts of goodwill and other intangible assets, as of the dates indicated, consist of the following (in thousands):

Amortization expense associated with amortizable intangible assets for the third quarter and first three quarters of 2017 was $4.3 million and $13.0 million, respectively, and is recorded in operating expenses. Amortization expense associated with amortizable intangible assets for the third quarter and first three quarters of 2016 was $3.3 million and $10.0 million, respectively. We expect to recognize an additional $4.3 million of amortization expense associated with our amortizable intangible assets during the remainder of fiscal 2017, and thereafter $17.1 million of amortization expense in each of the fiscal years 2018 through 2021.  See Note 3, “Acquisitions.”

(6) Long-Term Debt

Long-term debt consists of the following, as of the dates indicated (in thousands):

As of September 30, 2017, the aggregate contractual maturities of long-term debt are as follows (in thousands):

Senior Secured Credit Agreement.  On March 30, 2017, we refinanced our senior secured credit facility. The refinancing reduced by 0.75% the spread over LIBOR or the applicable base rate on $640.1 million of tranche B term loans.

On April 3, 2017, we repaid all of the outstanding borrowings and amounts due under our revolving credit facility and tranche A term loans using a portion of the net proceeds of our registered public offering of $500.0 million aggregate principal amount of 5.25% senior notes due 2025.

At September 30, 2017, $640.1 million of tranche B term loans and $40.0 million of revolving loans were outstanding under our credit agreement.

At September 30, 2017, the available borrowing capacity under our revolving credit facility, net of outstanding letters of credit of $2.0 million, was $458.0 million. See Note 16, “Subsequent Event.” Proceeds of the revolving credit facility may be used for general corporate purposes, including acquisitions of targets in the same or a similar line of business as our company, subject to specified criteria.  We are required to pay a commitment fee of 0.50% per annum on the unused portion of the revolving credit facility.  The maximum letter of credit capacity under the revolving credit facility is $50.0 million, with a fronting fee of 0.25% per annum for all outstanding letters of credit and a letter of credit fee equal to the applicable margin for revolving loans that are Eurodollar (LIBOR) loans. The revolving credit facility matures on June 5, 2019.

The entire $640.1 million principal amount of tranche B term loans outstanding are due and payable at maturity on November 2, 2022.

(6) Long-Term Debt (Continued)

We may prepay the term loans or permanently reduce the revolving credit facility commitment under the credit agreement at any time without premium or penalty (other than customary “breakage” costs with respect to the early termination of LIBOR loans).  Subject to certain exceptions, the credit agreement provides for mandatory prepayment upon certain asset dispositions or casualty events and issuances of indebtedness.

Interest under the revolving credit facility, including any outstanding letters of credit, is determined based on alternative rates that we may choose in accordance with the credit agreement, including a base rate per annum plus an applicable margin ranging from 0.50% to 1.00%, and LIBOR plus an applicable margin ranging from 1.50% to 2.00%, in each case depending on our consolidated leverage ratio. At September 30, 2017, the revolving credit facility interest rate was approximately 3.24%.

Interest under the tranche B term loan facility is determined based on alternative rates that we may choose in accordance with the credit agreement, including a base rate per annum plus an applicable margin of 1.25%, and LIBOR plus an applicable margin of 2.25%. At September 30, 2017, the tranche B term loan interest rate was approximately 3.49%.

Our obligations under the credit agreement are jointly and severally and fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a senior basis by all of our existing and certain future domestic subsidiaries. The credit agreement is secured by substantially all of our and our domestic subsidiaries’ assets except our and our domestic subsidiaries’ real property. The credit agreement contains customary restrictive covenants, subject to certain permitted amounts and exceptions, including covenants limiting our ability to incur additional indebtedness, pay dividends and make other restricted payments, repurchase shares of our outstanding stock and create certain liens.

The credit agreement also contains certain financial maintenance covenants, which, among other things, specify a maximum consolidated leverage ratio and a minimum interest coverage ratio, each ratio as defined in the credit agreement. Our consolidated leverage ratio (defined as the ratio of our consolidated net debt, as of the last day of any period of four consecutive fiscal quarters to our adjusted EBITDA for such period), may not exceed 6.50 to 1.00.  We are also required to maintain a consolidated interest coverage ratio of at least 1.75 to 1.00 as of the last day of any period of four consecutive fiscal quarters.  As of September 30, 2017, we were in compliance with all of the covenants, including the financial covenants, in the credit agreement.

The credit agreement also provides for an incremental term loan and revolving loan facility, pursuant to which we may request that the lenders under the credit agreement, and potentially other lenders, provide unlimited additional amounts of term loans or revolving loans or both on terms substantially consistent with those provided under the credit agreement.  Among other things, the utilization of the incremental facility is conditioned on our ability to meet a maximum senior secured leverage ratio of 4.00 to 1.00, and a sufficient number of lenders or new lenders agreeing to participate in the facility.

4.625% S enior Notes due 2021.     On June 4, 2013, we issued $700.0 million aggregate principal amount of 4.625% senior notes due 2021 at a price to the public of 100% of their face value.

Interest on the 4.625% senior notes is payable on June 1 and December 1 of each year.  The 4.625% senior notes will mature on June 1, 2021, unless earlier retired or redeemed.  We may redeem some or all of the 4.625% senior notes at a redemption price of 103.469% beginning June 1, 2016 and thereafter at prices declining annually to 100% on or after June 1, 2019, in each case plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of redemption.  In addition, if we undergo a change of control or upon certain asset sales, we may be required to offer to repurchase the 4.625% senior notes at the repurchase price set forth in the indenture plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of repurchase.

We may also, from time to time, seek to retire the 4.625% senior notes through cash repurchases of the 4.625% senior notes and/or exchanges of the 4.625% senior notes for equity securities, in open market purchases, privately negotiated transactions or otherwise.  Such repurchases or exchanges, if any, will depend on prevailing market conditions, our liquidity requirements, contractual restrictions and other factors.  The amounts involved may be material.

(6) Long-Term Debt (Continued)

Our obligations under the 4.625% senior notes are jointly and severally and fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a senior basis by all of our existing and certain future domestic subsidiaries.  The 4.625% senior notes and the subsidiary guarantees are our and the guarantors’ general unsecured obligations and are effectively junior in right of payment to all of our and the guarantors’ secured indebtedness and to all existing and future indebtedness and other liabilities of our non-guarantor subsidiaries; are pari passu in right of payment to all of our and the guarantors’ existing and future unsecured senior debt; and are senior in right of payment to all of our and the guarantors’ future subordinated debt.  Our foreign subsidiaries are not guarantors, and any future foreign or partially owned domestic subsidiaries will not be guarantors, of the 4.625% senior notes.

The indenture governing the 4.625% senior notes contains covenants with respect to us and the guarantors and restricts the incurrence of additional indebtedness and the issuance of capital stock; the payment of dividends or distributions on, and redemption of, capital stock; a number of other restricted payments, including certain investments; creation of specified liens, certain sale-leaseback transactions and sales of certain specified assets; fundamental changes, including consolidation, mergers and transfers of all or substantially all of our assets; and specified transactions with affiliates.  Each of the covenants is subject to a number of important exceptions and qualifications.  As of September 30, 2017, we were in compliance with all of the covenants in the indenture governing the 4.625% senior notes.

5.25% Senior Notes due 2025 .  On April 3, 2017, we issued $500.0 million aggregate principal amount of 5.25% senior notes due 2025 at a price to the public of 100% of their face value.  We used the net proceeds of the offering to repay all of the outstanding borrowings and amounts due under our revolving credit facility and tranche A term loans, and to pay related fees and expenses. We intend to use the remaining net proceeds for general corporate purposes, which could include, among other things, repayment of other long term debt or possible acquisitions.

Interest on the 5.25% senior notes is payable on April 1 and October 1 of each year, commencing October 1, 2017.  The 5.25% senior notes will mature on April 1, 2025, unless earlier retired or redeemed.  On or after April 1, 2020, we may redeem some or all of the 5.25% senior notes at a redemption price of 103.9375% beginning April 1, 2020 and thereafter at prices declining annually to 100% on or after April 1, 2023, in each case plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of redemption.  In addition, if we undergo a change of control or upon certain asset sales, we may be required to offer to repurchase the 5.25% senior notes at the repurchase price set forth in the indenture plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of repurchase.

We may also, from time to time, seek to retire the 5.25% senior notes through cash repurchases of the 5.25% senior notes and/or exchanges of the 5.25% senior notes for equity securities, in open market purchases, privately negotiated transactions or otherwise.  Such repurchases or exchanges, if any, will depend on prevailing market conditions, our liquidity requirements, contractual restrictions and other factors.  The amounts involved may be material.

Our obligations under the 5.25% senior notes are jointly and severally and fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a senior basis by all of our existing and certain future domestic subsidiaries.  The 5.25% senior notes and the subsidiary guarantees are our and the guarantors’ general unsecured obligations and are effectively junior in right of payment to all of our and the guarantors’ secured indebtedness and to all existing and future indebtedness and other liabilities of our non-guarantor subsidiaries; are pari passu in right of payment to all of our and the guarantors’ existing and future unsecured senior debt; and are senior in right of payment to all of our and the guarantors’ future subordinated debt.  Our foreign subsidiaries are not guarantors, and any future foreign or partially owned domestic subsidiaries will not be guarantors, of the 5.25% senior notes.

The indenture governing the 5.25% senior notes contains covenants with respect to us and the guarantors and restricts the incurrence of additional indebtedness and the issuance of capital stock; the payment of dividends or distributions on, and redemption of, capital stock; a number of other restricted payments, including certain investments; creation of specified liens, certain sale-leaseback transactions and sales of certain specified assets; fundamental changes, including consolidation, mergers and transfers of all or substantially all of our assets; and specified transactions with affiliates.  Each of the covenants is subject to a number of important exceptions and qualifications.

(6) Long-Term Debt (Continued)

Subsidiary Guarantees.  We have no assets or operations independent of our direct and indirect subsidiaries.  All of our present domestic subsidiaries jointly and severally and fully and unconditionally guarantee our long-term debt.  There are no significant restrictions on our ability and the ability of our subsidiaries to obtain funds from our respective subsidiaries by dividend or loan.  See Note 15, “Guarantor and Non-Guarantor Financial Information.”

Accrued Interest .  At September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, accrued interest of $23.9 million and $5.0 million, respectively, is included in accrued expenses in the accompanying unaudited consolidated balance sheets.

Deferred Debt Financing Costs .  During the first three quarters of 2017, we capitalized $7.4 million of debt financing costs relating to our issuance of the 5.25% senior notes and $1.2 million of debt financing costs relating to the refinancing of our tranche B term loans.

Loss on Extinguishment of Debt .  During the second quarter of 2017, the repayment of all outstanding borrowings under the tranche A term loans resulted in a loss on extinguishment of debt, which includes the write-off of deferred debt financing costs of $0.9 million and the write-off of unamortized discount of $0.2 million.  During the first quarter of 2017, we incurred a loss on extinguishment of debt in connection with the refinancing of our tranche B term loans, which includes the write-off of deferred debt financing costs and the write-off of unamortized discount of less than $0.1 million. During the first quarter of 2016, we incurred a loss on extinguishment of debt in connection with the repayment of $40.1 million aggregate principal amount of our tranche A term loans and $109.9 million aggregate principal amount of our tranche B term loans. The loss on extinguishment includes the write-off of deferred debt financing costs of $2.2 million and the write-off of unamortized discount of $0.6 million.

(7) Fair Value Measurements

The authoritative accounting literature relating to fair value measurements defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date (an exit price). The accounting literature outlines a valuation framework and creates a fair value hierarchy in order to increase the consistency and comparability of fair value measurements and the related disclosures. Under generally accepted accounting principles, certain assets and liabilities must be measured at fair value, and the accounting literature details the disclosures that are required for items measured at fair value.

Financial assets and liabilities are measured using inputs from the three levels of the fair value hierarchy under the accounting literature.  The three levels are as follows:

Level 1—Inputs are unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

Level 2—Observable inputs other than Level 1 quoted prices, such as quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active; and model-derived valuations whose inputs are observable or whose significant value driver is observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly.

Level 3—Unobservable inputs that reflect our assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability.

Cash and cash equivalents, trade accounts receivable, income tax receivable, trade accounts payable, accrued expenses, income tax payable and dividends payable are reflected in the consolidated balance sheets at carrying value, which approximates fair value due to the short-term nature of these instruments.

(7) Fair Value Measurements (Continued)

The carrying values and fair values of our revolving credit loans, term loans and senior notes as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 are as follows (in thousands):