Securities and Equity Investments

3 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract]

9. SECURITIES AND EQUITY INVESTMENTS

Investment in EnerTech

In April 2000, we committed to invest up to $5,000 in EnerTech. As of September 30, 2009, we fulfilled our $5,000 investment under this commitment. As our investment is 2.21% of the overall ownership in EnerTech at December 31, 2013 and September 30, 2013, we account for this investment using the cost method of accounting. EnerTech’s investment portfolio from time to time results in unrealized losses reflecting a possible, other-than-temporary, impairment of our investment. The carrying value of our investment in EnerTech at December 31, 2013 and September 30, 2013 was $919.

The following table presents the reconciliation of the carrying value and unrealized gains to the fair value of the investment in EnerTech as of December 31, 2013 and September 30, 2013:

	December 31,		September 30,
	2013		2013
Carrying value	$	919	$	919
Unrealized gains		129		138
Fair value	$	1,048	$	1,057

At each reporting date, the Company performs evaluations of impairment for this investment to determine if any unrealized losses are other-than-temporary. This evaluation considers a number of factors including, but not limited to, the length of time and extent to which the fair value has been less than cost, the financial condition and near term prospects of the issuer and management’s ability and intent to hold the securities until fair value recovers. The assessment of the ability and intent to hold these securities to recovery focuses on liquidity needs, asset and liability management objectives and securities portfolio objectives. Based on the results of this evaluation, we believe the unrealized gain at December 31, 2013 indicated our investment was not impaired.

On December 31, 2013, EnerTech’s general partner, with the consent of the fund’s investors, extended the fund through December 31, 2014. The fund will terminate on this date unless extended by the fund’s valuation committee. The fund may be extended for another one-year period through December 31, 2015 with the consent of the fund’s valuation committee.