Separate Accounts”) are valued at the net asset value (NAV) of units of the respective funds. The NAV, as provided by the respective fund trustees, is used as a practical expedient to estimate fair value. The NAV is based on the fair value of the underlying investments held by the fund less its liabilities. This practical expedient is not used when it is determined to be probable that the fund will sell the investment for an amount different than the reported NAV.
The Common/Collective Trusts and Pooled Separate Accounts are designed to provide the highest total return over time consistent with an emphasis on both capital growth and income by pursuing an asset allocation strategy that promotes asset accumulation prior to retirement, but it is intended to also serve as a post-retirement investment vehicle with allocations designed to support an income stream made up of regular withdrawals throughout retirement along with some portfolio growth that exceeds inflation. Redemption frequency for the Common/Collective Trusts and Pooled Separate Accounts is immediate, the Common/Collective Trusts and Pooled Separate Accounts contain no unfunded commitments, and have no redemption restrictions.
The Common Trust is designed to provide long-term capital growth by investing in the common stocks of large and medium sized blue chip companies that have the potential for above-average earnings growth and are well established in their respective industries. Redemption frequency for the Common Trust is immediate, the Common Trust contains no unfunded commitments, and has no redemption restrictions. The Common Trust is classified in the above fair value measurements table with Common/Collective Trusts and Pooled Separate Accounts.
The Stable Value Fund is designed to provide safety of principal with consistency of returns with minimal volatility by employing a strategy of investing in investment contracts and security-backed contracts while employing broad diversification among contract issuers and underlying securities. The Plan Sponsor is able to redeem the investment in the Stable Value Fund by providing a 12-month notice. Although the notice requirement is 12 months, T. Rowe Price has indicated the ability to redeem the investment sooner. Redemption frequency for the Stable Value Fund is immediate, and the Stable Value Fund contains no unfunded commitments. There are no other significant restrictions on the ability to redeem the investment.
The SkyWest, Inc. Common Stock Fund (the “Common Stock Fund”) includes SkyWest, Inc. common stock and a small cash equivalents balance. The Common Stock Fund is a unitized fund, which means the participants do not own shares of SkyWest, Inc. common stock but rather own an interest in the unitized fund. The fund consists of common stock and a small cash equivalents balance to meet the fund's daily cash needs. The Plan owns the underlying common stock and cash equivalents. Unitizing the fund allows for daily trades of the fund's units. The value of a unit of the unitized fund reflects the combined value of the SkyWest, Inc. common stock, at quoted market prices, and cash held by the fund. The Plan held 545,658 and 341,717 shares of SkyWest, Inc. common stock in the Common Stock Fund with a fair value, at quoted market prices, of $21,995,474 and $22,085,170 as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The SkyWest, Inc. Common Stock Fund also held cash equivalents of $697,544 and $639,924 as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. Redemption frequency for the Common Stock Fund is immediate, the Common Stock Fund contains no unfunded commitments, and has no redemption restrictions.
(6) Plan Amendments
Effective January 1, 2020, the Plan was amended to update matching contribution schedules under the Plan.
Effective May 15, 2020, the Plan was restated, incorporating all previous amendments, under the IRS pre-approved Schwab defined contribution volume submitter plan.
Effective May 22, 2020, the Company updated Plan operations to adopt temporary changes allowed under the CARES Act, including the suspension of Plan loan repayments, the increase in the maximum Plan loan amount, the authorization of coronavirus distributions, and the suspension of required minimum distributions, as described above in Vesting and Payment of Benefits, Notes Receivable from Participants, and Distributions to Participants.