Fair Value Measurements

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2014

5. Fair Value Measurements

Under GAAP, fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability (i.e., “the exit price”) in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. GAAP also establishes a hierarchy for inputs used in measuring fair value that maximizes the use of observable inputs and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs by requiring that the most observable inputs be used when available. Observable inputs are obtained from independent sources and can be validated by a third party, whereas unobservable inputs reflect assumptions regarding what a third party would use in pricing an asset or liability. The fair value hierarchy is broken down into three levels based on the reliability of inputs as follows:

—

Level 1 – Valuations based on quoted prices in active markets for identical instruments that the Company is able to access. Since valuations are based on quoted prices that are readily and regularly available in an active market, valuation of these products does not entail a significant degree of judgment.

—

Level 2 – Valuations based on quoted prices in active markets for instruments that are similar, or quoted prices in markets that are not active for identical or similar instruments, and model-derived valuations in which all significant input and significant value drivers are observable in active markets.

—	Level 3 – Valuations based on inputs that are unobservable and significant to the overall fair value measurement.

The financial assets for which the Company performs recurring fair value remeasurements are cash equivalents and short-term investments.

As of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the Company had cash equivalents of $8,354 and $5,349, respectively, which consist of money market accounts. As of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the Company had short-term investments of $15,105 and $15,105, respectively, which consist of variable rate demand notes that are invested in corporate and municipal bonds. These variable rate demand notes have final maturities between 2017 and 2042, but are puttable by the Company at any time with seven days notice. These cash equivalents and short-term investments are classified within Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy since they are valued using quoted market prices. As of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the Company did not have any financial assets or liabilities with observable inputs not quoted on active markets (Level 2), or without observable market values that would require a high level of judgment to determine fair value (Level 3).

The fair value measurements of the Company’s financial assets at March 31, 2014 are as follows:

	Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Cash equivalents	$	8,354	$	8,354	$	—	$	—
Short-term investments		15,105		15,105		—		—
Total	$	23,459	$	23,459	$	—	$	—

The fair value measurements of the Company’s financial assets at December 31, 2013 are as follows:

	Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Cash equivalents	$	5,349	$	5,349	$	—	$	—
Short-term investments		15,105		15,105		—		—
Total	$	20,454	$	20,454	$	—	$	—

- 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.

+ References+ Details