FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS | 3 Months Ended |
Mar. 31, 2014 |
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS | ' |
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS | ' |
4. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS |
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Financial assets and liabilities that are remeasured and reported at fair value at each reporting period are classified and disclosed in one of the following three categories: |
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Level 1 — Observable inputs such as quoted prices in active markets; |
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Level 2 — Other observable inputs available at the measurement date, other than quoted prices included in Level 1, either directly or indirectly, including: |
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· Quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets; |
· Quoted prices for identical or similar assets in less active markets than Level 1 investments; |
· Inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for assets or liabilities; and |
· Inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by other observable market data. |
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Level 3 — Unobservable inputs that cannot be corroborated by observable market data and reflect the use of significant management judgment. These values are generally determined using pricing models for which the assumptions utilize management’s estimate of market participant assumptions. |
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Assets and Liabilities that are Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis |
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The following table sets forth by level within the fair value hierarchy, our financial assets that were accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, (in thousands): |
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| | Fair Value Measurements | |
| | Total | | Level 1 | | Level 2 | | Level 3 | |
Balance as of March 31, 2014 | | | | | | | | | |
Cash and cash equivalents | | $ | 309,717 | | $ | 309,717 | | $ | — | | $ | — | |
Restricted cash | | 3,606 | | 3,606 | | — | | — | |
U.S. government sponsored entities | | 1,993 | | — | | 1,993 | | — | |
Corporate bonds | | 80,163 | | 80,163 | | — | | — | |
Market basis equity investments | | 3,207 | | 3,207 | | — | | — | |
Auction rate securities | | 42,943 | | — | | — | | 42,943 | |
Total assets measured at fair value | | $ | 441,629 | | $ | 396,693 | | $ | 1,993 | | $ | 42,943 | |
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Balance as of December 31, 2013 | | | | | | | | | |
Cash and cash equivalents | | $ | 483,868 | | $ | 483,868 | | $ | — | | $ | — | |
Restricted cash | | 3,560 | | 3,560 | | — | | — | |
Commerical paper | | 9,992 | | 9,992 | | — | | — | |
U.S. government sponsored entities | | 4,000 | | — | | 4,000 | | — | |
Corporate bonds | | 101,660 | | 101,660 | | — | | — | |
Market basis equity investments | | 3,549 | | 3,549 | | — | | — | |
Auction rate securities | | 41,993 | | — | | — | | 41,993 | |
Total assets measured at fair value | | $ | 648,622 | | $ | 602,629 | | $ | 4,000 | | $ | 41,993 | |
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There were no transfers of assets between levels of the hierarchy during the periods ended March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013. |
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The following table is a reconciliation of assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3 inputs) (in thousands): |
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| | Fair Value Measurements Using | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Significant Unobservable Inputs | | | | | | | | | | |
| | (Level 3) | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Auction rate securities | | | | | | | | | | |
Balance as of December 31, 2012 | | $ | 37,001 | | | | | | | | | | |
Total unrealized gains (losses) included in other comprehensive income | | 5,092 | | | | | | | | | | |
Settlements | | (100 | ) | | | | | | | | | |
Balance as of December 31, 2013 | | $ | 41,993 | | | | | | | | | | |
Total unrealized gains (losses) included in other comprehensive income | | 950 | | | | | | | | | | |
Settlements | | — | | | | | | | | | | |
Balance as of March 31, 2014 | | $ | 42,943 | | | | | | | | | | |
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The following methods and assumptions were used to estimate the fair value of each class of financial instrument. There have been no changes in the valuation techniques used by the Company to fair value our financial instruments: |
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Cash and Cash equivalents. Consist of cash on hand in bank deposits, highly liquid investments and money market accounts. The fair value was measured using quoted market prices and is classified as Level 1. The carrying amount approximates fair value. |
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Restricted Cash. Consist of cash and cash equivalents that are held in escrow accounts and restricted by agreements with third parties for a particular purpose. The carrying amount approximates fair value and is classified as Level 1. |
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Commercial Paper. Consist of primarily high grade commercial paper. The fair value of these investments was measured using quoted market prices and is classified as Level 1. As of December 31, 2013, the contractual maturities of these investments were within one year. |
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U.S government sponsored entities. Consist of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and Federal Home Loan Bank investment grade bonds that are traded in less active markets than Level 1 investments. The fair value of these bonds is classified as Level 2. The contractual maturities of these investments are within four years. |
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Corporate Bonds. Consist of investment grade corporate bonds that trade with sufficient frequency and volume to enable us to obtain pricing information on an ongoing basis. The fair value of these bonds was measured using quoted market prices and is classified as Level 1. The contractual maturities of these investments are within three years. |
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Market Basis Equity Investments. Consist of available-for-sale equity securities that trade with sufficient frequency and volume to enable us to obtain pricing information on an ongoing basis. The fair value of these investments was measured using quoted market prices and is classified as Level 1. |
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Auction Rate Securities. As of March 31, 2014, we held $45.7 million of auction rate securities (ARS) at par value which we have recorded at $42.9 million fair value. As of December 31, 2013, we held $45.7 million of ARS at par value which was recorded at $42.0 million fair value. As of March 31, 2014 the ARS are 107— 140% over-collateralized and the underlying student loans are guaranteed by the U.S. government. |
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Due to the illiquid market conditions, the fair value of our ARS is $2.8 million, 6.1%, less than par value as of March 31, 2014. This reduction from par value is considered temporary and is recorded in “Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)”. The temporary reduction from par value recorded in “Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)” was $3.7 million, 8.2%, as of December 31, 2013. For the periods ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, unrealized gains on our ARS of $0.9 million and $3.1 million, respectively, are recorded in “Unrealized gain (loss) on investments” in our Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss). |
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In evaluating our ARS portfolio, we note sustained performance of our securities, strong parity levels, observed market redemption activity, continued receipt of interest and penalty payments, and an increase in fair value at March 31, 2014 compared to December 31, 2013. As we expect to receive all contractual cash flows, we do not believe the unrealized losses to be credit related. We continue to believe that we will be able to liquidate at par over time. We also anticipate we will have sufficient cash flow from operations to execute our business strategy and fund our operational needs. We do not intend to sell, or believe we will be required to sell, these investments prior to recovery of their amortized cost basis. Accordingly, we treated the fair value decline as temporary. |
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The discounted cash flow model we used to value these securities included the following assumptions: |
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| | March 31, | | December 31, | | | | | | | | | |
| | 2014 | | 2013 | | | | | | | | | |
Unobservable inputs | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Redemption period (in years) | | 6 | | 7 | | | | | | | | | |
Credit ratings | | BB+ to AAA | | BB+ to AAA | | | | | | | | | |
Penalty coupon rate | | 1.0% to 1.5% | | 1.0% to 1.5% | | | | | | | | | |
Weighted average annualized yield | | 1.50% | | 1.60% | | | | | | | | | |
Risk adjusted discount rate | | 4.3% to 6.0% | | 4.7% to 7.8% | | | | | | | | | |
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Management makes estimates and assumptions about the ARS, which can be sensitive to changes and effect the determination of fair value. An increase in the length of redemption period or an increase in the discount rate assumption would decrease our fair value. Also, a decrease in the securities’ credit ratings would decrease our fair value. In the first quarter of 2014 we decreased the redemption period from 7 years to 6 years to align the valuation model with our internal expectations regarding holding period and prevailing pricing in secondary markets for our ARS. This change resulted in a $0.7 million increase in the fair value of our ARS. |
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The portfolio had a weighted average maturity of 29.6 years and 29.8 years as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively. |
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We classify our ARS as Level 3 long-term investments until we receive a call or partial call on the securities. As of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, our entire ARS portfolio was classified as Level 3 long-term investments. In the three months ended March 31, 2014, no ARS were liquidated. During the year ended December 31, 2013, we liquidated $0.1 million of ARS due to a partial call at par. The amount of Level 3 assets as a percentage of total assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis was 9.7% and 6.5% as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively. |
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Assets and Liabilities that are Measured at Fair Value on a Nonrecurring Basis |
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Certain assets and liabilities are measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis; that is, they are not measured at fair value on an ongoing basis but are subject to fair value adjustments only in certain circumstances like evidence of impairment. For the quarters ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, other than the goodwill impairment recorded during the quarter ended March 31, 2013, as further discussed in Note 6 — Goodwill, we had no significant fair value adjustments of assets or liabilities on a nonrecurring basis subsequent to their initial recognition. The inputs used in goodwill impairment fair value calculations fall within Level 3 inputs due to the significant unobservable inputs used to determine fair value. |