Fair Value Measurements

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Fair Value Measurements [Abstract]

Fair Value Measurements

6. Fair Value Measurements

Fair value is based on 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. In order to increase consistency and comparability in fair value measurements, the Codification establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes observable and unobservable inputs used to measure fair value into three broad levels, which are described below:

Level 1: Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for assets or liabilities. The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to Level 1 inputs.

Level 2: Other inputs that are observable directly or indirectly, such as quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities or market corroborated inputs.

Level 3: Unobservable inputs are used when little or no market data is available and requires the Company to develop its own assumptions about how market participants would price the assets or liabilities. The fair value hierarchy gives the lowest priority to Level 3 inputs.

In determining fair value, the Company utilizes valuation techniques that maximize the use of observable inputs and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs to the extent possible as well as considers counterparty credit risk in its assessment of fair value.

The following table presents our financial assets and liabilities that are carried at fair value, classified according to the three categories described above (in thousands):

	Fair Value Measurement at March 31, 2012
	Total		Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Assets:
Cash equivalents—money market funds	$	500	$	500	$	—	$	—
Cash equivalents—commercial paper		8,047		—		8,047		—
Cash equivalents—corporate bonds		3,141		—		3,141		—
Cash equivalents—municipal bonds		1,750		—		1,750		—
Derivatives—currency swap, current		594		—		594		—
Total assets	$	14,032	$	500	$	13,532	$	—
Liabilities:
Derivatives—interest rate swap, current	$	147	$	—	$	147	$	—
Total liabilities	$	147	$	—	$	147	$	—

The Company's recurring fair value measures relate to short-term investments, which are classified as cash equivalents and derivative instruments. The fair value of our cash equivalents are either based on quoted prices for similar assets or other observable inputs such as yield curves at commonly quoted intervals and other market corroborated inputs. The fair value of our derivatives is based on quoted market prices of similar instruments from various banking institutions or an independent third party provider for similar instruments. In determining the fair value, we consider our non-performance risk and that of our counterparties. At March 31, 2012 the fair value of our long-term debt approximated its carrying value of $52.3 million. The Company's non-financial assets and non-financial liabilities subject to non-recurring measures include goodwill and intangible assets.