investments and charged for participant withdrawals and administrative expenses. The guaranteed investment contract issuer is contractually obligated to repay the principal and a specified interest rate that is guaranteed to the Plan.
The guaranteed rate of interest for 2023 was 2.90% and 2022 was 2.65%. For purposes of crediting interest to participants, the rate for 2023 was 2.70% and 2022 was 2.49%.
As described in Note 2, because the guaranteed insurance contract is fully benefit-responsive, contract value is the relevant measurement attributable for that portion of the net assets available for the benefits attributable to the guaranteed insurance contract. Contract value, as reported to the Plan by Prudential, represents contributions made under the contract, plus earnings, less participant withdrawals and administrative expenses. Participants may ordinarily direct the withdrawal or transfer of all or a portion of the investment at contract value.
There are no reserves against contract value for credit risk of a contract issuer or otherwise. The crediting interest rate is based on a formula agreed upon with the issuer, but it may not be less than 0%. Such interest rates are reviewed on an annual basis for resetting.
Certain events limit the ability of the Plan to transact at contract value with the issuer. Such events include, but are not limited to layoffs, Plan termination, business closings, re-organizations, liquidations, and the failure of the Plan to qualify under Section 401(a) or Section 401(k) of the IRC. The Plan Administrator does not believe that any events which would limit the Plan’s ability to transact at contract value with participants are probable of occurring.
The guaranteed insurance contract does not permit Prudential to terminate the agreement prior to the scheduled maturity date.
| 4. | Fair Value Measurements |
Authoritative guidance establishes a framework for measuring fair value. That framework provides a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The guidance defines fair value as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to 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. The guidance also specifies a fair value hierarchy based upon the observability of inputs used in valuation techniques. Observable inputs (highest level) reflect market data obtained from independent sources, while unobservable inputs (lowest level) reflect internally developed market assumptions. In accordance with authoritative guidance, fair value measurements are classified under the following hierarchy:
Level 1 – Quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets.
Level 2 – 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 in which all significant inputs or significant value-drivers are observable in active markets.
Level 3 – Model-derived valuations in which one or more significant inputs or significant value-drivers are unobservable.
When available, Adtalem uses quoted market prices to determine fair value, and such measurements are classified within Level 1. In some cases where market prices are not available, Adtalem makes use of observable market-based inputs to calculate fair value, in which case the measurements are classified within Level 2. If quoted or observable market prices are not available, fair value is based upon internally developed models that use, where possible, current market-based parameters such as interest rates and yield curves. These measurements are classified within Level 3.
To assess the appropriate classification of investments within the fair value hierarchy, the availability of market data is monitored. Changes in economic conditions or valuation techniques may require the transfer of investment from one fair value level to another. In such instances, the transfer is reported at the end of the reporting period. Management evaluates the significance of transfers between levels based upon the nature of the investment and size of the transfer