Fair Value Measurements

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

Fair Value Measurements [Abstract]

Fair Value Measurements

I.Fair Value Measurements

Fair value is defined 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.  Fair value guidance identifies three primary valuation techniques:  the market approach, the income approach and the cost approach.  The market approach uses prices and other relevant information generated by market transactions involving identical or comparable assets or liabilities.  The income approach uses valuation techniques to convert future amounts such as cash flows or earnings, to a single present amount. The measurement is based on the value indicated by current market expectations about those future amounts.  The cost approach is based on the amount that currently would be required to replace the service capacity of an asset.

The fair value hierarchy prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value into three broad levels. The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to observable inputs such as quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3).  The maximization of observable inputs and the minimization of the use of unobservable inputs are required.

Classification within the fair value hierarchy is based upon the objectivity of the inputs that are significant to the valuation of an asset or liability as of the measurement date.  The three levels within the fair value hierarchy are characterized as follows:

Level 1 - Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Company has the ability to access at the measurement date.

Level 2 - Inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. Level 2 inputs include:  quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active; inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability; and inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means.

Level 3 - Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability for which there is little, if any, market activity for the asset or liability at the measurement date. Unobservable inputs reflect the Company's own assumptions about what market participants would use to price the asset or liability. These inputs may include internally developed pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies, as well as instruments for which the fair value determination requires significant management judgment.

Assets

To estimate the market value of its marketable securities, the Company obtains current market pricing from quoted market sources or uses pricing for identical securities. Assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis are summarized below.

	Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)		Total December 31, 2013
Equity securities	$	61	$	–	$	–	$	61
U.S. Treasury securities (cash equivalents)	$	5,589	$	–	$	–	$	5,589

	Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)		Total December 31, 2012
Equity securities	$	44	$	–	$	–	$	44
U.S. Treasury securities (cash equivalents)	$	6,239	$	–	$	–	$	6,239

The Company also has assets that may be subject to measurement at fair value on a non-recurring basis, including goodwill and intangible assets, and other long-lived assets. The Company reviews the carrying value of these assets whenever events and circumstances indicate that the carrying amounts of the assets may not be recoverable. If it is determined that the assets are impaired, the carrying value would be reduced to estimated fair value.

	Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)		Total December 31, 2013		Total Losses
Long-lived assets held and used	$	-	$	-	$	-		-		(249	)

In December 2013, long-lived assets held and used with a carrying amount of $249,000 were written off in connection with the Company's restructuring plan. For additional information see footnote "N. Restructuring Charges."