v2.3.0.15
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Short-term Investments and Fair Value of Financial Instruments
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Short-term Investments and Fair Value of Financial Instruments 
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Short-term Investments and Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Note 4.  Cash and Cash Equivalents, Short-term Investments and Fair Value of Financial Instruments

 

Cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments consist of the following significant investment asset classes, with disclosure of amortized cost, gross unrealized gains and losses, and fair value as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010 (in thousands):

 

 

 

September 30, 2011

 

 

 

 

 

Amortized
Cost

 

Unrealized
Gains

 

Unrealized
Losses

 

Fair Value

 

Cash / Cash
Equivalents

 

Short-term
Investments

 

Security
Classification (1)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash

 

$

13,039

 

$

 

$

 

$

13,039

 

$

13,039

 

$

 

N/A

 

Money market funds

 

166,264

 

 

 

166,264

 

166,264

 

 

Available for sale

 

Non-U.S. Government securities

 

8,098

 

3

 

 

8,101

 

 

8,101

 

Available for sale

 

Total cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments

 

$

187,401

 

$

3

 

$

 

$

187,404

 

$

179,303

 

$

8,101

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 31, 2010

 

 

 

 

 

Amortized
Cost

 

Unrealized
Gains

 

Unrealized
Losses

 

Fair Value

 

Cash / Cash
Equivalents

 

Short-term
Investments

 

Security
Classification (1)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash

 

$

25,593

 

$

 

$

 

$

25,593

 

$

25,593

 

$

 

N/A

 

Money market funds

 

150,042

 

 

 

150,042

 

150,042

 

 

Available for sale

 

Non-U.S. government securities

 

8,074

 

 

12

 

 

8,086

 

 

 

8,074

 

Held-to-maturity

 

Total cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments

 

$

183,709

 

$

12

 

$

 

$

183,721

 

$

175,635

 

$

8,074

 

 

 

 

 

(1)           For Available-for-sale securities, fair value is the asset’s carrying value, equal to the amortized cost plus any unrealized gains/losses. For Held-to-maturity securities, the amortized cost is the asset’s carrying value (since there are no other-than-temporary impairments) and the fair value gains/losses are not only unrealized, but also unrecorded.

 

The money market fund is a daily-traded cash equivalent with price of $1.00, making it a Level 1 asset class, and its carrying cost closely approximates fair value. As the demand deposit (cash) balances vary with the timing of collections and payments, the money market fund can cover any surplus or deficit, and thus is considered Available-for-sale.

 

The short term investments purchased in November 2010 were comprised of California revenue anticipation notes, which matured in June 2011. In previous periods, these were recorded at their carrying cost as Held-to-maturity as we had both the ability and intent to keep these investments until they mature.  The notes were considered a Level 2 asset class, because their pricing is drawn from multiple market-related inputs, but in general not from same-day, same-security trades.

 

The short term investments purchased in September 2011 are comprised of California revenue anticipation notes, which mature in June 2012. As this is the initial investment in a broader portfolio strategy for yield management, these are considered Available-for-sale.  The notes are considered a Level 2 asset class, because their pricing is drawn from multiple market-related inputs, but in general not from same-day, same-security trades.

 

The following table displays the financial assets measured at fair value, on a recurring basis, with money market funds recorded within cash and cash equivalents and non-U.S Government securities in short-term investments (in thousands):

 

 

 

Quoted Prices in Active
Markets for Identical
Instruments

(Level 1)

 

Significant Other
Observable Inputs
(Level 2)

 

Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)

 

Total Fair
Value

 

At September 30, 2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Money market funds

 

$

166,264

 

$

 

 

$

166,264

 

Non U.S. Government securities

 

 

8,101

 

 

8,101

 

Total

 

$

166,264

 

$

8,101

 

 

$

174,365

 

At December 31, 2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Money market funds

 

$

150,042

 

 

 

$

150,042

 

Total

 

$

150,042

 

 

 

$

150,042

 

 

Current assets and current liabilities are recorded at amortized cost, which approximates fair value due to the short maturities implied.

 

The following table displays the financial assets measured at carrying cost, recorded in Short-term investments, for which disclosure of fair value is required on a recurring basis (in thousands):

 

 

 

Quoted Prices in Active
Markets for Identical
Instruments

(Level 1)

 

Significant Other
Observable Inputs
(Level 2)

 

Significant
Unobservable
Inputs

(Level 3)

 

Total Fair
Value

 

At December 31, 2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-U.S. Government securities

 

 

$

8,086

 

 

$

8,086

 

Total

 

 

$

8,086

 

 

$

8,086