FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2011

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:

ASC 820-10, Fair Value Measurements, clarifies that fair value is an exit price, representing the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. As such, fair value is a market-based measurement that should be determined based on assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability. As a basis for considering such assumptions, ASC 820-10 establishes a three-tier value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value as follows: (Level 1) observable inputs such as quoted prices for identical assets in active markets; (Level 2) inputs other than the quoted prices in active markets that are observable either directly or indirectly; and (Level 3) unobservable inputs in which there is little or no market data, which requires the Company to develop its own assumptions. This hierarchy requires the Company to use observable market data, when available, and to minimize the use of unobservable inputs when determining fair value.

The Company's cash and investment instruments are classified within Level 1 or Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy because they are valued using quoted market prices, broker or dealer quotations, or alternative pricing sources with reasonable levels of price transparency. The type of instrument valued based on quoted market prices in active markets primarily includes money market securities. This type of instrument is generally classified within Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy. The types of instruments valued based on other observable inputs (Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy) include investment-grade corporate bonds and government, state, municipal and provincial obligations. Such types of investments are valued by using a multi-dimensional relational model, the inputs, when available, are primarily benchmark yields, reported trades, broker/dealer quotes, issuer spreads, two-sided markets, benchmark securities, bids, offers, and reference data including market research publications. The Company's investments classified as Level 1 and Level 2 are held-to-maturity investments, and were valued using the amortized-cost method, which approximates fair market value.

On October 22, 2010, the Company entered into an agreement with SemiSouth Laboratories, pursuant to which, among other things, the Company may be obligated to acquire SemiSouth if SemiSouth meets certain financial performance conditions on or before June 30, 2013. At September 30, 2011, the Company determined the fair value of this potential obligation to be zero. The Company used Level 2 inputs in its fair market valuation using a market approach valuation technique and determined the fair value of this obligation to be zero. The Company derived the Level 2 inputs principally from corroborated observable market data (i.e., correlation values). See Note 15, Investment in Third Party, below for further details on the valuation method used. The Company updates the estimated fair value of this potential obligation quarterly. Any changes are recorded in its unaudited condensed consolidated statements of income.

The fair value hierarchy of the Company's marketable securities and investments at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, was as follows (in thousands):



	Fair Value Measurement at
	September 30, 2011
Description	September 30, 2011		Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Commercial paper	$	7,000	$	—	$	7,000
Money market funds	33,827		33,827		—
Certificates of deposit	10,000		—		10,000
Corporate securities	63,954		—		63,954
Total	$	114,781	$	33,827	$	80,954



	Fair Value Measurement at
	December 31, 2010
Description	December 31, 2010		Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Commercial paper	$	7,135	$	—	$	7,135
Money market funds	52,951		52,951		—
U.S. Government debt securities	6,100		—		6,100
Corporate securities	54,523		—		54,523
Total	$	120,709	$	52,951	$	67,758

The Company did not transfer any investments between level 1 and level 2 of the fair value hierarchy in the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and the twelve months ended December 31, 2010.

The Company was issued a $3.0 million note from SemiSouth in the second quarter of 2011, which was classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy. The note was classified as Level 3 as there was no market data for this instrument. The Company held the note to maturity, which occurred on August 15, 2011. The following table presents the changes in Level 3 investments for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 (in thousands):



	Fair Value Measurement Using Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
	Note Receivable
Beginning balance at January 1, 2011	$	—
Purchases and issuances	3,000
Settlements	(3,000		)
Ending balance at September 30, 2011	$	—

- 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

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Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

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+ Details