Financial Instruments and Fair Value Measurement

6 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Financial Instruments and Fair Value Measurement

Financial Instruments and Fair Value Measurement

5.Financial Instruments and Fair Value Measurement

The estimated fair value of our available-for-sale securities, reflected on our Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets as Investments, is based on market quotes.  The following is a summary of available-for-sale securities, which excludes investments in limited partnerships carried at cost and assets held in a Non-qualified Supplemental Savings Plan:

			Gross		Gross		Estimated
			Unrealized		Unrealized		Fair
	Cost		Gains		Losses		Value
	(in thousands)
Equity securities March 31, 2012	$	129,183	$	297,594	$	—	$	426,777
Equity securities September 30, 2011	$	129,183	$	203,486	$	—	$	332,669

On an on-going basis, we evaluate the marketable equity securities to determine if any decline in fair value below original cost is other-than-temporary.  If a decline in fair value is determined to be other-than-temporary, an impairment charge is recorded and a new cost basis established.  We review several factors to determine whether a loss is other-than-temporary.  These factors include, but are not limited to, (i) the length of time a security is in an unrealized loss position, (ii) the extent to which fair value is less than cost, (iii) the financial condition and near term prospects of the issuer and (iv) our intent and ability to hold the security for a period of time sufficient to allow for any anticipated recovery in fair value. The cost of securities used in determining realized gains and losses is based on the average cost basis of the security sold.  We had no sales of marketable equity available-for-sale securities during the first six months of fiscal 2012 and 2011.

Investments in limited partnerships carried at cost were approximately $9.4 million at March 31, 2012 and September 30, 2011.  The estimated fair value of the limited partnerships was $17.9 million and $15.8 million at March 31, 2012 and September 30, 2011, respectively.

Assets held in the Non-qualified Supplemental Savings Plan are carried at fair market value which totaled $8.2 million at March 31, 2012 and $5.9 million at September 30, 2011.

The majority of cash equivalents are invested in taxable and non-taxable money-market mutual funds. The carrying amount of cash and cash equivalents approximates fair value due to the short maturity of those investments.

The carrying value of other assets, accrued liabilities and other liabilities approximated fair value at March 31, 2012 and September 30, 2011.

ASC 820 defines fair value as “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”.  We use the fair value hierarchy established in ASC 820-10 to measure fair value to prioritize the inputs:

·Level 1 — Observable inputs that reflect quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities in active markets.

·Level 2 — Inputs other than Level 1 that are observable, either directly or indirectly, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.

·Level 3 — Valuations based on inputs that are unobservable and not corroborated by market data.

At March 31, 2012, our financial instruments utilizing Level 1 inputs include cash equivalents, equity securities with active markets and money market funds we have elected to classify as restricted assets that are included in other current assets and other assets.  Also included is cash denominated in a foreign currency we have elected to classify as restricted that is included in current assets of discontinued operations and limited to remaining liabilities of discontinued operations.  For these items, quoted current market prices are readily available.

At March 31, 2012, financial instruments utilizing level 2 inputs include a bank certificate of deposit included in other current assets.

Currently, we do not have any financial instruments utilizing Level 3 inputs.

The following table summarizes our assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis presented in our Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheet as of March 31, 2012:

			Quoted Prices
	Total		in Active		Significant
	Measure		Markets for		Other		Significant
	at		Identical		Observable		Unobservable
	Fair		Assets		Inputs		Inputs
	Value		(Level 1)		(Level 2)		(Level 3)
	(in thousands)
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	324,385	$	324,385	$	—	$	—
Equity securities	426,777		426,777		—		—
Other current assets	50,182		49,932		250		—
Other assets	2,000		2,000		—		—
Total assets measured at fair value	$	803,344	$	803,094	$	250	$	—

The following information presents the supplemental fair value information about fixed-rate debt at March 31, 2012 and September 30, 2011:

	March 31,		September 30,
	2012		2011
	(in thousands)
Carrying value of fixed-rate debt	$	350.0	$	350.0
Fair value of fixed-rate debt	$	372.4	$	376.9

The fair value for fixed-rate debt was estimated using cash flows discounted at rates reflecting current interest rates at similar maturities plus a credit spread which was estimated using market information on debt instruments with a similar credit profile to us.  The debt was valued using a Level 2 input.