Fair Value Measurements

9 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2013

Fair value is defined as the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants as of the measurement date. This standard also establishes a hierarchy for inputs used in measuring fair value. This standard maximizes the use of observable inputs and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs by requiring that the most observable inputs be used when available. Observable inputs are inputs market participants would use in valuing the asset or liability based on market data obtained from independent sources. Unobservable inputs are inputs that reflect our assumptions about the factors market participants would use in valuing the asset or liability based upon the best information available in the circumstances. The categorization of financial assets and liabilities within the valuation hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement.

The hierarchy is broken down into the following three levels:


•	Level 1 — Inputs are quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.


•	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, and inputs (other than quoted prices) that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly.

•

Level 3 — Inputs are unobservable for the asset or liability and their fair values are determined using pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies or similar techniques and at least one significant model assumption or input is unobservable. Level 3 may also include certain investment securities for which there is limited market activity or a decrease in the observability of market pricing for the investments, such that the determination of fair value requires significant judgment or estimation.

Fair value is applied to financial assets such as our marketable securities, which are classified and accounted for as available-for-sale. These items are stated at fair value at each reporting period using the above guidance.

6. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS (CONTINUED)

The following tables provide information by level for financial assets that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis (in thousands):



			Fair Value Measurements at June 30, 2013 using:
	Total carrying value at June 30, 2013		Quoted price in active markets (Level 1)		Significant other observable inputs (Level 2)		Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3)
Cash equivalents:
Money market	$	13,894	$	13,894	$	—	$	—
Available-for-sale marketable securities:
Corporate bonds	36,147		—		36,147		—
Certificates of deposit	10,969		—		10,969		—
Government municipal bonds	10,798		—		10,798		—
Total cash equivalents and marketable securities measured at fair value	$	71,808	$	13,894	$	57,914	$	—



			Fair Value Measurements at September 30, 2012 using:
	Total carrying value at September 30, 2012		Quoted price in active markets (Level 1)		Significant other observable inputs (Level 2)		Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3)
Cash equivalents:
Money market	$	28,355	$	28,355	$	—	$	—
Available-for-sale marketable securities:
Corporate bonds	41,317		—		41,317		—
Commercial paper	2,000		—		2,000		—
Certificates of deposit	7,258		—		7,258		—
Government municipal bonds	9,813		—		9,813		—
Total cash equivalents and marketable securities measured at fair value	$	88,743	$	28,355	$	60,388	$	—

Cash equivalents are measured at fair value using quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets and are therefore classified as Level 1 assets. We value our Level 2 assets using inputs that are based on market indices of similar assets within an active market. There were no transfers into or out of our Level 2 financial assets during the nine months ended June 30, 2013.

We had no financial assets valued with Level 3 inputs as of June 30, 2013 nor did we purchase or sell any Level 3 financial assets during the nine months ended June 30, 2013.

The use of different assumptions, applying different judgment to matters that inherently are subjective and changes in future market conditions could result in different estimates of fair value of our securities, currently and in the future. If market conditions deteriorate, we may incur impairment charges for securities in our investment portfolio.

- 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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