6. Other Assets

Other assets consisted of the following (in thousands):

	September 30,		March 31,
	2016		2016
	(unaudited)
Marketable equity securities	$	1,153	$	1,749
Auction rate preferred securities		350		350
Long-term equity method investments		11,457		10,977
Other items, including cost method investments		3,006		686
Total	$	15,966	$	13,762

Available-for-Sale Investments

Marketable equity securities and auction rate preferred securities are designated as available-for-sale that are reported at fair value with unrealized gains and losses, net of income taxes, recorded in other comprehensive income (loss). Realized gains and losses (calculated as proceeds less specifically identified costs) and declines in value of these investments judged by management to be other than temporary, if any, are included in other income (expense), net.

We review any impairment to determine whether it is other than temporarily impaired. This review is based on factors such as length of time of impairment, extent to which the fair value is below the cost basis, financial conditions of the issuer of the security, our expectations of future recoveries and our ability and intent to hold or sell the securities. Based on our review, we recognized an impairment loss of $0 and $151,000 in marketable equity securities during the three and six months ended September 30, 2016, respectively, and $454,000 during both the three and six months ended September 30, 2015.

Equity Method Investments

We have equity interests in Powersem GmbH, or Powersem, a semiconductor manufacturer based in Germany, EB Tech Ltd., or EB Tech, a radiation services provider based in South Korea and Automated Technology, Inc., or ATEC, an assembly and test services provider in the Philippines. These investments are accounted for using the equity method.

For the three and six months ended September 30, 2016, we recorded an immaterial amount of our proportionate share of the affiliates’ gains and losses under the equity method of accounting.

The carrying values of our investments in Powersem, EB Tech and ATEC at September 30, 2016 were $2.6 million, $2.7 million and $5.9 million, respectively. The carrying values of our investments in Powersem, EB Tech and ATEC at March 31, 2016 were $2.5 million, $2.7 million and $5.7 million, respectively.

Cost Method Investments

During the quarter ended September 30, 2016, we made investments in privately-held companies. Those investments are accounted for under the cost method as they do not qualify for the fair value or another accounting method. As of September 30, 2016, the carrying value of those investments was $2.0 million. We do not estimate the fair value of those cost method investments because determining the fair value is not practicable.

No impairment losses on the investments accounted for under the equity method or the cost method were recognized as of September 30, 2016, as there have not been any events or changes in circumstances that we believe would have had a significant adverse effect on the fair value of those investments.