XML 15 R13.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.3.0.15
Financial Instruments
6 Months Ended
Aug. 31, 2011
Notes to Financial Statements 
Financial Instruments

8              Financial Instruments

Fair Value of Financial Instruments Hierarchy

ASC Topic-820 establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs used to measure fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level l) and  the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3). The three levels are as follows:

Level l - Quoted prices are available in active markets for identical assets or liabilities as of the reporting date. Active markets are those in which transactions for the asset or liability occur in sufficient frequency and volume to provide pricing information on an ongoing basis. Level 1 includes marketable securities such as listed equities and U.S. government treasury securities.

Level 2 - Pricing inputs are other than quoted prices in active markets included in Level 1, which are either directly or indirectly observable as of the reporting date. Level 2 includes those financial instruments that are valued using industry standard models or other valuation methodologies. These models consider various assumptions, including quoted forward prices for commodities, time value, volatility factors, current market and contractual prices for the underlying instruments as well as other relevant economic measures. Substantially all of these assumptions are observable in the marketplace throughout the term of the instrument, can be derived from observable data or are supported by observable levels at which transactions are executed in the marketplace. Instruments in this category include over the counter forwards, options and repurchase agreements.

Level 3 - Pricing inputs include significant inputs that are generally less observable from objective sources. These inputs may be used with internally developed methodologies that result in management's best estimate of fair value from the perspective of a market participant. Level 3 instruments include those that may be more structured or otherwise tailored to customers' needs. At each balance sheet date, the Company performs an analysis of all instruments subject to ASC Topic-820 and includes in Level 3 all of those whose fair value is based on significant unobservable inputs.