FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
The accounting guidance for fair value, among other things, establishes a consistent framework for measuring fair value and expands disclosure for each major asset and liability category measured at fair value on either a recurring or nonrecurring basis. Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in an orderly transaction between market participants at the reporting date. The framework for measuring fair value consists of a three-level valuation hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value based upon whether such inputs are observable or unobservable. Observable inputs reflect market data obtained from independent sources, while unobservable inputs reflect market assumptions made by the reporting entity. The three-level hierarchy for the inputs to valuation techniques is briefly summarized as follows:
Level 1 —Inputs are unadjusted, quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities at the measurement date;
Level 2 —Inputs are observable, unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities, unadjusted quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the related assets or liabilities; and
Level 3 —Unobservable inputs that are significant to the measurement of the fair value of the assets or liabilities that are supported by little or no market data.
An 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.
Assets and liabilities measured at fair value are based on one or more of the following three valuation techniques:
A.Market approach: Prices and other relevant information generated by market transactions involving identical or comparable assets or liabilities.
B.Cost approach: Amount that would be required to replace the service capacity of an asset (replacement cost).
C.Income approach: Techniques to convert future amounts to a single present amount based upon market expectations, including present value techniques, option-pricing and excess earnings models.
Financial Instruments Not Carried at Fair Value
The carrying amounts of our financial instruments, including accounts payable and accrued liabilities, approximate fair value due to their short maturities. The fair value of investments approximates cost due to their short-term nature and fixed interest rates. The estimated fair value of the long-term debt, not recorded at fair value, are recorded at cost or amortized cost, which was deemed to estimate fair value.