Other Assets

Other assets consisted of the following (in thousands):

	March 31,
	2017		2016
Marketable equity securities	$	1,771	$	1,749
Auction rate preferred securities		350		350
Long-term equity method investments		11,589		10,977
Other items, including cost method investments		4,265		686
Total	$	17,975	$	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. Available-for-sale investment securities have been stated at their fair value as of

March 31, 2017

and include an unrealized loss, net of tax benefits, of

$219,000

March 31, 2017,

and an unrealized loss, net of tax benefits, of

$82,000

March 31, 2016.

See Note

“Fair Value” for further information on the fair value measurements and other than temporary impairment losses recognized.

Available-for-sale investments as of

March 31, 2017

and

2016

were as follows (in thousands):

	Fiscal Year 2017									Fiscal Year 2016
	Cost		Gross Unrealized Gains		Gross Unrealized (Losses)			Fair Value		Cost		Gross Unrealized Gains		Gross Unrealized (Losses)			Fair Value

Marketable equity securities	$	2,116	$	254	$	(599	)	$	1,771	$	1,875	$	46	$	(172	)	$	1,749
Auction rate preferred securities	$	350	$	-	$	-		$	350	$	350	$	-	$	-		$	350

The available-for-sale investments that were in a continuous unrealized loss position as of

March 31, 2017

and

March 31, 2016,

aggregated by length of time that individual securities have been in a continuous loss position, were as follows (in thousands):

	Less than 12 Months				12 Months or Greater				Total
Period	Gross Unrealized Losses		Fair Value		Gross Unrealized Losses		Fair Value		Gross Unrealized Losses		Fair Value
March 31, 2017	$	552	$	469	$	47	$	263	$	599	$	732
March 31, 2016	$	29	$	581	$	143	$	932	$	172	$	1,513

Gross unrealized losses on our available-for-sale portfolio were immaterial to the consolidated balance sheets at

March 31, 2017

and

March 31, 2016.

During fiscal

2017,

we recognized a gain of approximately

$201,000

on the sale of available-for-sale investment securities. In respect of those securities, there was an unrealized loss of

$28,000

included in accumulated other comprehensive income as of

March 31, 2016.

Equity Method Investments

We have equity interests in Powersem, a semiconductor manufacturer based in Germany, EB Tech, a radiation services provider based in South Korea and ATEC, an assembly and test services provider in the Philippines. All of these companies are private limited companies. These investments are accounted for using the equity method and are included in “Other assets” on our audited consolidated balance sheet.

As of

March 31, 2017,

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

March 31, 2017

were

$2.5

million,

$2.6

million and

$6.5

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.

We acquired approximately

24%

of the outstanding common shares of ATEC for a purchase price of

$5.9

million on

December 12, 2014.

The investment was initially recorded at cost. Subsequent periodic adjustments to cost are made to record our share in the operating results of ATEC, cash contributions and distributions and the differences between the fair value and carrying cost of assets acquired and liabilities assumed. In fiscal

2017,

we recognized gain of

$765,000

on our investment in ATEC. In fiscal

2016

and

2015,

we recognized losses of

$9,000

and

$140,000,

respectively, on our investment in ATEC.

See Note

“Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” and Note

13,

“Related Party Transactions” for further information on these investments.

Cost Method Investments

During fiscal

2017,

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. At

March 31, 2017,

the carrying value of those investments was

$3.1

million. We do

not

estimate the fair value of those cost method investments because determining the fair value is

not

practicable.