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Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures about the Fair Value of Financial Instruments

3 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2011

Fair Value Measurements And Disclosures About Fair Value Of Financial Instruments [Abstract]

Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures about the Fair Value of Financial Instruments

NOTE 9 - Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures about the Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures Topic of the FASB ASC establishes a framework for measuring fair value and requires certain disclosures about fair value measurements. Its provisions do not apply to fair value measurements for purposes of lease classification and measurement, which is addressed in the Leases Topic of the FASB ASC.

Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability at the measurement date (exit price). A three-level valuation hierarchy is required for disclosure of fair value measurements based upon the transparency of inputs to the valuation of an asset or liability as of the measurement date. The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3). The level in the fair value hierarchy within which the fair value measurement in its entirety falls is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the measurement in its entirety.

The three levels are defined as follows:

Level 1 – Inputs to the valuation are unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
Level 2 – Inputs to the valuation may include quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active or inactive markets, and inputs other than quoted prices, such as interest rates and yield curves, which are observable for the asset or liability for substantially the full term of the financial instrument.
Level 3 – Inputs to the valuation are unobservable and significant to the fair value measurement. Level 3 inputs shall be used to measure fair value only to the extent that observable inputs are not available.

The Company uses derivative financial instruments to manage exposure to the effects of changes in market interest rates and to fulfill certain covenants in our borrowing arrangements. All derivatives are recorded on the Consolidated Balance Sheets at their fair value as either assets or liabilities using measurements classified as Level 2. Because the Company's derivatives are not listed on an exchange, the Company values these instruments using a valuation model with pricing inputs that are observable in the market or that can be derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data. These inputs include the forward London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) curve on which the variable payments are based and the applicable interest-rate swap market curve. The Company's methodology also incorporates the impact of both the Company's and the counterparty's credit standing.

All of the Company's derivatives are measured at fair value on a recurring basis, computed using fair value measurements classified as Level 2. The fair value of securities available for sale is computed using fair value measurements classified as Level 1, since prices are obtained from quoted prices in an active market. The Company's balances measured at fair value on a recurring basis include the following:

		June 30, 2011				December 31, 2010
		Fair Value Measurements Using				Fair Value Measurements Using
		Level 1		Level 2		Level 1		Level 2

		(Dollars in thousands)

Assets
	Securities available for sale	$	1,715	$	—	$	1,534	$	—
	Interest-rate caps purchased		—		16		—		14

At this time, the Company has not elected to report any assets and liabilities using the fair value option available under the Financial Instruments Topic of the FASB ASC.

Disclosures about the Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The Financial Instruments Topic of the FASB ASC requires the disclosure of the estimated fair value of financial instruments, including those financial instruments not measured at fair value on a recurring basis. This requirement excludes certain instruments, such as the net investment in leases and all nonfinancial instruments.

The fair values shown below have been derived, in part, by management's assumptions, the estimated amount and timing of future cash flows and estimated discount rates. Valuation techniques involve uncertainties and require assumptions and judgments regarding prepayments, credit risk and discount rates. Changes in these assumptions will result in different valuation estimates. The fair values presented would not necessarily be realized in an immediate sale. Derived fair value estimates cannot necessarily be substantiated by comparison to independent markets or to other companies' fair value information.

The following summarizes the carrying amount and estimated fair value of the Company's financial instruments:

		June 30, 2011				December 31, 2010
		Carrying		Fair		Carrying		Fair
		Amount		Value		Amount		Value

		(Dollars in thousands)

Assets
	Cash and cash equivalents	$	51,904	$	51,904	$	37,026	$	37,026
	Restricted interest-earning deposits with banks		30,910		30,910		47,107		47,107
	Securities available for sale		1,715		1,715		1,534		1,534
	Loans		686		686		1,040		1,025
	Interest-rate caps purchased		16		16		14		14

Liabilities
	Long-term borrowings		143,794		146,519		178,650		183,088
	Deposits		124,522		126,111		92,919		94,602
	Accounts payable and accrued
	expenses ⁽¹⁾		12,558		12,558		9,997		9,997

__________________

(1) Includes sales and property taxes payable.

The paragraphs which follow describe the methods and assumptions used in estimating the fair values of financial instruments.

(a) Cash and Cash Equivalents

The carrying amounts of the Company's cash and cash equivalents approximate fair value as of June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, because they bear interest at market rates and have maturities of less than 90 days.

(b) Restricted Interest-Earning Deposits with Banks

The Company maintains various interest-earning trust accounts related to our secured debt facilities. The book value of such accounts is included in restricted interest-earning deposits with banks on the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheet. These accounts earn a floating market rate of interest which results in a fair value approximating the carrying amount at June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010.

The fair value of securities available for sale is recorded using prices obtained from quoted prices in an active market.

(d) Loans

The fair value of loans is estimated by discounting contractual cash flows, using interest rates currently being offered by the Company for loans with similar terms and remaining maturities to borrowers with similar credit risk characteristics. Estimates utilized were based on the original credit status of the borrowers combined with the portfolio delinquency statistics.

(e) Interest-Rate Caps

Interest-rate caps are measured at fair value on a recurring basis in accordance with the requirements of the Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures Topic of the FASB ASC, using the inputs and methods described previously in the first section of this Note 9.

(f) Long-Term Borrowings

The fair value of the Company's debt and secured borrowings is estimated by discounting cash flows at indicative market rates applicable to the Company's debt and secured borrowings of the same or similar remaining maturities.

(g) Deposits

The fair value of the Company's deposits is estimated by discounting cash flows at current rates paid by the Company for similar certificates of deposit of the same or similar remaining maturities.

(h) Accounts Payable and Accrued Expenses

The carrying amount of the Company's accounts payable and accrued expenses approximates fair value as of June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, because of the relatively short timeframe to realization.

- Definition

This item represents the complete disclosure regarding the fair value of financial instruments (as defined), including financial assets and financial liabilities (collectively, as defined), and the measurements of those instruments, 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 Company 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 risk is 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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