FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:

12 Months Ended

Apr. 30, 2016

(12)

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, 2016 and 2015, 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
2016:

Real estate inventory	$	-	$	-	$	21,251	$	2,506
Property, plant and equipment	$	-	$	-	$	9,302	$	3,094
Intangible and other assets	$	-	$	-	$	7	$	4,806

	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Impairment Loss Recorded
2015:

Real estate inventory	$	-	$	-	$	2,048	$	1,504
Investment assets	$	-	$	-	$	1,439	$	305
Property, plant and equipment	$	-	$	-	$	-	$	771

During 2016 and 2015, certain real estate inventory and investment assets were adjusted to their fair values, less estimated costs to sell, resulting in pretax, non-cash impairment charges of $2,506,000 and $1,809,000. In addition, the Fulfillment Services business recorded pretax, non-cash impairment charges of $7,900,000 in 2016 as a result of a review of the recoverability of long-lived assets and $771,000 in 2015 due to the discontinuance of the development of certain software. The impairment charges were included in results of operations for each period. For additional detail on the impairment charges, valuation techniques and reasons for the measurements, see Note 16.

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. The Topic excludes all nonfinancial instruments from its disclosure requirements. Fair value is determined under the hierarchy discussed above. 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, trade receivables and trade payables approximate fair value because of the short maturity of these financial instruments; and other receivables or debt that bear 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 described above.

The Company did not have any long-term, fixed-rate mortgage receivables at April 30, 2016 and 2015. The estimated fair value of the Company’s long-term, fixed-rate notes payable was $11,102,000 and $16,365,000 versus carrying amounts of $12,384,000 and $18,090,000 at April 30, 2016 and 2015. These financial assets and liabilities are categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy described above.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for the fair value of financial instruments (as defined), including financial assets and financial liabilities (collectively, as defined), and the measurements of those instruments as well as disclosures related to the fair value of non-financial assets and liabilities. Such disclosures about the financial instruments, assets, and liabilities would include: (1) the fair value of the required items together with their carrying amounts (as appropriate); (2) for items for which it is not practicable to estimate fair value, disclosure would include: (a) information pertinent to estimating fair value (including, carrying amount, effective interest rate, and maturity, and (b) the reasons why it is not practicable to estimate fair value; (3) significant concentrations of credit risk including: (a) information about the activity, region, or economic characteristics identifying a concentration, (b) the maximum amount of loss the entity is exposed to based on the gross fair value of the related item, (c) policy for requiring collateral or other security and information as to accessing such collateral or security, and (d) the nature and brief description of such collateral or security; (4) quantitative information about market risks and how such risks are managed; (5) for items measured on both a recurring and nonrecurring basis information regarding the inputs used to develop the fair value measurement; and (6) for items presented in the financial statement for which fair value measurement is elected: (a) information necessary to understand the reasons for the election, (b) discussion of the effect of fair value changes on earnings, (c) a description of [similar groups] items for which the election is made and the relation thereof to the balance sheet, the aggregate carrying value of items included in the balance sheet that are not eligible for the election; (7) all other required (as defined) and desired information.

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