net asset value and is valued based on the underlying investments in the Fund. The Fund holds synthetic and other fully benefit-responsive guaranteed investment contracts, which are recorded at contract value because they guarantee a minimum rate of return and provide for benefit responsiveness. Contract value represents contributions made to the Fund, plus earnings, less participant withdrawals and administrative expenses. While there are certain Fund and Plan level restrictions that may affect the Fund’s ability to transact at contract value, Plan management believes that the occurrence of events that would cause the Fund to transact at less than contract value are not probable of occurring.
The Plan’s investments in common collective trust funds are divided into units of participation, as determined daily by the Trustee. The daily value of each unit of participation, or net asset value (“NAV”), is determined by dividing the total fair market value of all assets in the fund by the total number of fund units. Under provisions of the Plan, interest and dividend income and net appreciation or depreciation of the fair value of each investment option are allocated to each Participant’s account based on the change in unit value. There are no restrictions on redemptions or unfunded commitments as of December 31, 2020 and 2019.
See the supplemental schedule of assets (held at end of year) for the title (investment strategy) of each investment held by the Plan as of December 31, 2020.
Purchases and sales of investments are recorded on a trade date basis. Dividends are recorded on the ex-dividend date.
(c) Notes Receivable from Participants
Notes receivable from participants are measured at their unpaid principal balance plus any accrued but unpaid interest. Net appreciation includes the Plan’s gains and losses on investments bought and sold as well as held during the year.
(d) Payment of Benefits
Benefit payments are recorded upon distribution. There were no amounts allocated to accounts of persons who had elected to withdraw from the Plan, but had not yet been paid, at December 31, 2020 and 2019.
(e) Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, additions, deductions, and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities in the accompanying financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
(f) Risks and Uncertainties
The Plan provides for various investment options. The underlying investment securities are exposed to various risks, such as interest rate risk, market risk, and credit risk. Due to the level of risk associated with certain investment securities and the level of uncertainty related to changes in the value of investment securities, it is at least reasonably possible that changes in risk factors in the near term could materially affect participants’ account balances and the amounts reported in the statements of net assets available for benefits and the statement of changes in net assets available for benefits.
3. Fair Value Measurements
The Financial Accounting Standards Board has established a single authoritative definition of fair value and has established the following three-tier hierarchy that requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs when measuring fair value:
Level 1: Inputs are unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the reporting entity has the ability to access at the measurement date.
Level 2: Inputs are observable inputs other than quoted (Level 1) prices for similar assets or liabilities, quoted prices 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 assets or liabilities.
Level 3: Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities.