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FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:
12 Months Ended
Apr. 30, 2013
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]  
Fair Value Disclosures [Text Block]
(10)  
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:

The FASB’s accounting guidance defines fair value and establishes a framework for measuring fair value. That framework provides a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements). The FASB’s guidance classifies the inputs to measure fair value into the following hierarchy:

Level 1
Unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets.

Level 2
Quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in inactive markets; 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. If the asset or liability has a specified (contractual) term, the Level 2 input must be observable for substantially the full term of the asset or liability.

Level 3
Inputs for the asset or liability are unobservable and reflect the reporting entity’s own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability.

The asset’s or liability’s fair value measurement level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of any input that is significant to the fair value measurement. Valuation techniques used need to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs.

Fair value on a non-recurring basis

Certain assets and liabilities are measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis; that is the asset or liability is not measured at fair value on an ongoing basis but is subject to fair value adjustment in certain circumstances (for example, when there is evidence of impairment). The following presents assets by balance sheet caption and by the level within the fair value hierarchy (as described above) as of April 30, 2013, 2012 and 2011, for which a non-recurring change in fair value has been recorded during the years then ended (in thousands):

 
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Impairment
Loss
Recorded
 
2013:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Real estate inventory
 
$
-
 
$
-
 
$
2,390
 
$
1,125
 
Investment assets
 
$
-
 
$
-
 
$
1,076
 
$
386
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2012:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Real estate inventory
 
$
-
 
$
-
 
$
744
 
$
525
 
Investment assets
 
$
-
 
$
-
 
$
430
 
$
45
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2011:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mortgage note receivable
 
$
-
 
$
-
 
$
451
 
$
450
 
Real estate inventory
 
$
-
 
$
-
 
$
10,032
 
$
6,377
 
Goodwill
 
$
-
 
$
-
 
$
-
 
$
3,893
 
 
During 2013, certain real estate inventory and investment assets with carrying amounts of $4,949,000 were written down to their fair value of $3,466,000, less estimated costs to sell, resulting in an impairment charge of $1,511,000. During 2012, certain real estate inventory and investment assets with carrying amounts of $1,734,000 were written down to their fair value of $1,174,000, less estimated costs to sell, resulting in an impairment charge of $570,000. During 2011, certain real estate inventory with a carrying amount of $16,304,000 was written down to their fair value of $10,032,000, less estimated costs to sell, resulting in an impairment charge of $6,377,000.  In addition, during 2011, an impairment reserve of $450,000 was charged against a delinquent mortgage receivable with a face amount of $901,000 as a result of the impairment of the underlying real estate collateral.  Also in 2011, the Company recorded an impairment charge of $3,893,000 related to all of the goodwill of its Newsstand Distribution Services business.  The impairment charges were included in results of operations for each period. For additional detail on valuation techniques and reasons for the measurements, see Note 14.

The Financial Instruments Topic of the FASB Accounting Standards Codification requires disclosure of fair value information about financial instruments, whether or not recognized in the balance sheet, for which it is practicable to estimate that value. Fair value is determined under the framework discussed above. The Topic excludes all nonfinancial instruments from its disclosure requirements. Accordingly, the aggregate fair value amounts presented do not represent the underlying value of the Company. The following methods and assumptions are used in estimating fair value disclosure for financial instruments.

The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, Media Services trade receivables and trade payables approximate fair value because of the short maturity of these financial instruments. Debt that bears variable interest rates indexed to prime or LIBOR also approximates fair value as it re-prices when market interest rates change. These financial assets and liabilities are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy (as described above).

The estimated fair value of the Company’s long-term, fixed-rate mortgage receivables was $35,000 and $54,000 at April 30, 2013 and 2012 and is the approximate carrying amount at those dates. The estimated fair value of the Company’s long-term, fixed-rate notes payable was $17,000,000 and $4,839,000 versus carrying amounts of $20,358,000 and $4,486,000 at April 30, 2013 and 2012. These financial assets and liabilities are categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy (as described above).