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Fair Value

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2014

Note 13 – Fair Value

Fair value is defined as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. A three-tier fair value hierarchy of inputs is employed to determine fair value measurements. Level 1 inputs are quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets and liabilities. Level 2 inputs are observable prices that are not quoted on active exchanges, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in markets that are not active; and model-derived valuations whose inputs are observable or whose significant value drivers are observable. Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs employed for measuring the fair value of assets or liabilities. 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 carrying amounts of cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accrued liabilities, accounts payable and capital lease obligations approximate fair value. As of March 31, 2014, $11.3 million (par value) of long-term investments were recorded at fair value. The long-term investments consist of auction rate securities, primarily secured by guaranteed student loans backed by a U.S. government agency, and are classified as available-for-sale. The contractual maturity of these securities is over ten years.

These long-term investments were valued using Level 3 inputs as of March 31, 2014, as the assets were subject to valuation using significant unobservable inputs. The Company estimated the fair value of each security with the assistance of an independent valuation firm using a discounted cash flow model to calculate the present value of projected cash flows based on a number of inputs and assumptions, including the security structure and terms, the current market conditions and the related impact on the expected weighted-average life, interest rate estimates and default risk of the securities.

As of March 31, 2014, the Company had recorded an unrealized loss of $1.4 million on the long-term investments based upon this valuation. This unrealized loss reduced the fair value of the Company's auction rate securities as of March 31, 2014 to $9.9 million. These investments have been in an unrealized loss position for greater than 12 months. The Company determined that there was no credit loss associated with its auction rate securities as of March 31, 2014 as shown by the cash flows expected to be received over the remaining life of the securities.

The following table provides a reconciliation of the beginning and ending balance of the Company's auction rate securities classified as long-term investments measured at fair value using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3 inputs):

(in thousands)		2014		2013
Balance as of January 1	$	9,921	$	10,324
Net unrealized losses included in other comprehensive loss		(9)		(8)
Sales of investments at par value		(6)		(25)
Balance as of March 31	$	9,906	$	10,291

Unrealized losses still held as of March 31	$	1,442	$	1,859

The cumulative unrealized loss is included as a component of accumulated other comprehensive loss within shareholders' equity in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet. As of March 31, 2014, there were no long-term investments measured at fair value using Level 1 or Level 2 inputs. All income generated from these investments is recorded as interest income.

- 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.

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