Fair Value Measurements

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2011

Fair Value Measurements [Abstract]

Fair Value Measurements

3. Fair Value Measurements

Fair value is a market-based measurement that is be determined based on assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability. The authoritative guidance discusses valuation techniques, such as the market approach (comparable market prices), the income approach (present value of future income or cash flow), and the cost approach (cost to replace the service capacity of an asset or replacement cost). These valuation techniques are based upon observable and unobservable inputs. Observable inputs reflect market data obtained from independent sources, while unobservable inputs reflect the Company's market assumptions.

As the basis for evaluating such inputs, a three-tier value hierarchy prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value as follows:

• Level 1: Observable inputs such as quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets.

• Level 2: Observable inputs other than quoted prices that are directly or indirectly observable for the asset or liability, including quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets; quoted prices for similar or identical assets or liabilities in markets that are not active; and model-derived valuations whose inputs are observable or whose significant value drivers are observable.

• Level 3: Unobservable inputs that reflect the reporting entity's own assumptions.

The Company's financial assets and liabilities adjusted to fair value at least quarterly are its money market fund investments, which were included in cash and cash equivalents and its derivative instrument, which was included in accrued expenses. The Company determines the fair value of its money market fund investments based on quoted market prices. There were no financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of September 30, 2011.

Level 2 fair value determinations are derived from directly or indirectly observable (market based) information. Such inputs are the basis for the fair values of the Company's derivative instruments. There were no Level 2 assets which required fair value determinations at September 30, 2011 or December 31, 2010.

Level 3 fair value determinations are derived from the Company's estimate of recovery based on historical collection trends. There were no Level 3 assets or liabilities which required fair value determinations at September 30, 2011 or December 31, 2010.

The following table presents the Company's financial assets and liabilities which are measured at fair value on a recurring basis and that are subject to the disclosure requirements of the authoritative guidance as of December 31, 2010 (in thousands).

Description	Fair Value		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
December 31, 2010
Assets:
Money market fund investments	$	12,634	$	12,634	$	—	$	—
Total	$	12,634	$	12,634	$	—	$	—

The Company's nonfinancial assets which are measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis include property, plant and equipment, goodwill and other intangible assets. As necessary, the Company generally uses projected cash flows, discounted as necessary, to estimate the fair values of the assets using key inputs such as management's projections of cash flows on a held-and-used basis (if applicable), management's projections of cash flows upon disposition and discount rates. Accordingly, these fair value measurements fall in Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy. These assets and certain liabilities are measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis as part of the Company's impairment assessments and as circumstances require.