Note 6 - Fair Value Measurements

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2011

Fair Value Disclosures [Text Block]

6. Fair Value Measurements - In determining fair value, the Company uses quoted market prices in active markets.  GAAP establishes a fair value measurement framework, provides a single definition of fair value, and requires expanded disclosure summarizing fair value measurements.  GAAP emphasizes that fair value is a market-based measurement, not an entity specific measurement.  Therefore, a fair value measurement should be determined based on the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability.

GAAP establishes a hierarchy for inputs used in measuring fair value that maximizes the use of observable inputs and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs by requiring that the most observable input be used when available.  Observable inputs are based on data obtained from sources independent of the Company that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability.  Unobservable inputs are inputs that reflect the Company’s assumptions about the estimates market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed based on the best information available in the circumstances. 

The hierarchy is measured in three levels based on the reliability of inputs:

• Level 1

Valuations based on quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Company has the ability to access.  Valuation adjustments and block discounts are not applied to Level 1 instruments.

• Level 2

Valuations based on quoted prices in less active, dealer or broker markets.  Fair values are primarily obtained from third party pricing services for identical or comparable assets or liabilities.

• Level 3

Valuations derived from other valuation methodologies, including pricing models, discounted cash flow models and similar techniques, and not based on market, exchange, dealer, or broker-traded transactions.  Level 3 valuations incorporate certain assumptions and projections that are not observable in the market and significant professional judgment is needed in determining the fair value assigned to such assets or liabilities.

In instances where the determination of the fair value measurement is based on inputs from different levels of the fair value hierarchy, the level in the fair value hierarchy within which the entire fair value measurement falls is based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety.

The Company’s available-for-sale investments are classified within level 1 of the valuation hierarchy.

The fair value of equity method and cost method investments has not been determined as it was impracticable to do so due to the fact that the investee companies are relatively small, early stage private companies for which there is no comparable valuation data available without unreasonable time and expense.