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DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
6 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011
DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS [Abstract] 
DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
NOTE 10 – DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

On December 8, 2008, the Company entered into an interest rate swap with a notional amount of $20 million to economically hedge a portion of the cash flows from its floating rate revolving credit facility.  Under the terms of the interest rate swap, the Company pays a fixed rate of 2.4% on the $20 million notional amount and receives payments from a counterparty based on the 1 month LIBOR rate for a term ending December 8, 2011.  Interest rate differentials paid or received under the swap agreement are recognized as adjustments to interest expense.

The fair value of the Company's interest rate derivative instrument is included in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as follows:

   
Interest
 
   
Rate Swap
 
September 30, 2011:
   
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
 $108,975 
Fair value of derivative instrument
 $108,975 
      
March 31, 2011:
    
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
 $319,235 
Fair value of derivative instrument
 $319,235 
 
The interest rate swap is currently in a liability position, and as a result there is no significant risk of loss related to counterparty credit risk.

The gains (losses) recognized in the Company's Consolidated Statements of Operations as a result of the interest rate swap are as follows:

   
Three months ended
  
Six months ended
 
   
September 30,
  
September 30,
 
   
2011
  
2010
  
2011
  
2010
 
Realized losses
            
Interest rate swap - included as a component of interest expense
 $(112,340)  (447,812)  (222,743)  (893,623)
Unrealized gains
                
Interest rate swap - included as a component of other income
 $110,947   346,823   210,260   712,313 
 
The Company does not enter into derivative financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes.  The purpose of these instruments is to reduce the exposure to variability in future cash flows attributable to a portion of its LIBOR-based borrowings.  The Company is currently not accounting for these derivative instruments using the cash flow hedge accounting provisions of FASB ASC Topic 815-10-15; therefore, the changes in fair value of the swaps are included in earnings as other income or expenses.

By using derivative instruments, the Company is exposed to credit and market risk.  Credit risk, which is the risk that a counterparty to a derivative instrument will fail to perform, exists to the extent of the fair value gain in a derivative.  Market risk is the adverse effect on the financial instruments from a change in interest rates.  The Company manages the market risk associated with interest rate contracts by establishing and monitoring limits as to the types and degree of risk that may be undertaken.  The market risk associated with derivatives used for interest rate risk management activities is fully incorporated in the Company's market risk sensitivity analysis.