FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2014

FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL ASSETS AND LIABILITIES [Abstract]

FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

NOTE 4 - FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

Authoritative guidance for financial assets and liabilities measured on a recurring basis applies to all financial assets and financial liabilities that are being measured and reported on a fair value basis. Fair value, as defined in the authoritative guidance, is 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. The authoritative guidance affects the fair value measurement of an investment with quoted market prices in an active market for identical instruments, which must be classified in one of the following categories:

Level 1 Inputs

Level 1 inputs come from quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

Level 2 Inputs

Level 2 inputs are other than quoted prices that are observable for an asset or liability. These inputs include: quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active; inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability; and inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means.

Level 3 Inputs

Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs for the asset or liability which require the Company’s own assumptions.

Financial assets and liabilities are classified based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. Our assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement requires judgment and may affect the valuation of the fair value of assets and liabilities and their placement within the fair value hierarchy levels.

The following table presents the changes in Level 1 assets for the period indicated (in thousands):

	Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2014	2013

Fair value at beginning of period	$ 1,837	$ 2,413
Investment during the period	-	68
Realized and unrealized gains (losses) included in other comprehensive income	(149)	(1,258)
Proceeds on sale of investment	(1,688)	-
Fair value at end of period	$ -	$ 1,223

The Company paid a total of $1.7 million for an investment with quoted market prices in an active market. At December 31, 2013, the market value of this investment was $1.8 million. During the nine months ended September 30, 2014, the Company sold this investment for $1.7 million. The Company recognized a $0.1 million loss in 2014 on the sale of this investment, which is included in other income within our condensed consolidated statements of 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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