Note 4 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments and Long Term Debt

12 Months Ended

Apr. 30, 2014

Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]

Fair Value Disclosures [Text Block]

4.     FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS AND LONG-TERM DEBT

A summary of the fair value of the Company’s financial instruments follows.

Cash and cash equivalents, receivables, and accounts payable The carrying amount approximates fair value due to the short maturity of these instruments or the recent purchase of the instruments at current rates of interest.

Long-term debt The fair value of the Company’s long-term debt and capital lease obligations is estimated based on the current rates offered to the Company for debt of the same or similar issues. The fair value of the Company’s long-term debt and capital lease obligations was approximately $841,000 and $721,000, respectively, at April 30, 2014 and 2013.

The Company’s long-term debt at carrying amount by issuance is as follows:

	As of April 30,
	2014		2013
Capitalized lease obligations discounted at 5.22% to 7.09% due in various monthly installments through 2048 (Note 8)	$	10,195		9,891
5.72% Senior notes due in 14 installments beginning September 30, 2012 and ending March 30, 2020		75,000		90,000
5.22% Senior notes due August 9, 2020		569,000		569,000
3.67% Senior notes (Series A) due in 7 installments beginning June 17, 2022, and ending June 15, 2028		150,000		—
3.75% Senior notes (Series B) due in 7 installments beginning December 17, 2022 and ending December 18, 2028		50,000		—
		854,195		668,891
Less current maturities		553		15,810
	$	853,642		653,081

At April 30, 2014, the Company had a bank line of credit arrangement consisting of two Promissory Notes, in the principal amount of $50,000 each (together, the “Notes”). The Notes evidenced a revolving line of credit in the aggregate principal amount of $100,000 and bear interest at variable rates subject to change from time to time based on changes in an independent index referred to in the Notes as the Federal Funds Offered Rate (the “Index”). On December 17, 2013 the Company cancelled a $25,000 Promissory Note that was part of its line of credit. The interest rate to be applied to the unpaid principal balance of the first Note was at a rate of 0.750% over the Index. The interest rate applicable to the second note is 1.000% over the Index. There was a $0 balance at April 30, 2014 and a $59,100 balance owed at April 30, 2013

Interest expense is net of interest income of $214, $211, and $208 for the years ended April 30, 2014, 2013, and 2012, respectively. Interest expense is also net of interest capitalized of $1,177, $894, and $674 during the years ended April 30, 2014, 2013, and 2012, respectively.

The agreements relating to the above long-term debt contain certain operating and financial covenants. At April 30, 2014, the Company was in compliance with all such covenants. Listed below are the aggregate maturities of long-term debt, including capitalized lease obligations, for the 5 years commencing May 1, 2014 and thereafter:

Years ended April 30,	Capital Leases		Senior Notes		Total
2015	$	553		—		553
2016		398		15,000		15,398
2017		375		15,000		15,375
2018		396		15,000		15,396
2019		417		15,000		15,417
Thereafter		8,056		784,000		792,056
	$	10,195		844,000	$	854,195