Fair value measurements

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

22.

Fair value measurements

Effective January 1, 2008, the Group adopted ASC 820-10, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures, which defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value and expands financial statement disclosures about fair value measurements. Although adoption did not impact the Group’s consolidated financial statements, ASC 820-10 requires additional disclosures to be provided on fair value measurements.

ASC 820-10 establishes a three-tier fair value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value as follows:

Level 1—Observable inputs that reflect quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets

Level 2—Include other inputs that are directly or indirectly observable in the marketplace or based on quoted price in markets that are not active

Level 3—Unobservable inputs which are supported by little or no market activity and are significant to the overall fair value measurement

ASC 820-10 describes three main approaches to measuring the fair value of assets and liabilities: (1) market approach; (2) income approach and (3) cost approach. The market approach uses prices and other relevant information generated from market transactions involving identical or comparable assets or liabilities. The income approach uses valuation techniques to convert future amounts to a single present value amount. The measurement is based on the value indicated by current market expectations about those future amounts. The cost approach is based on the amount that would currently be required to replace an asset.

The following table sets forth the financial instruments, measured at fair value, by level within the fair value hierarchy as of December 31, 2016 and 2017.

	Fair value measurements as at December 31, 2016
(In thousands)	Total		Quoted prices in active market for identical assets (Level 1)		Significant other observable inputs (Level 2)		Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3)
Cash equivalents: time deposits with original maturities less than three months		115,944		—		115,944		—
Short term investments:
Investments in financial instruments		143,131		—		143,131		—
		259,075		—		259,075		—

	Fair value measurements as at December 31, 2017
(In thousands)	Total		Quoted prices in active market for identical assets (Level 1)		Significant other observable inputs (Level 2)		Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3)
Cash equivalents: time deposits with original maturities less than three months		115,534		—		115,534		—
Short term investments:
Investments in financial instruments		138,915		—		138,915		—
		254,449		—		254,449		—

- Definition

The entire disclosure for the fair value of financial instruments (as defined), including financial assets and financial liabilities (collectively, as defined), and the measurements of those instruments as well as disclosures related to the fair value of non-financial assets and liabilities. Such disclosures about the financial instruments, assets, and liabilities would include: (1) the fair value of the required items together with their carrying amounts (as appropriate); (2) for items for which it is not practicable to estimate fair value, disclosure would include: (a) information pertinent to estimating fair value (including, carrying amount, effective interest rate, and maturity, and (b) the reasons why it is not practicable to estimate fair value; (3) significant concentrations of credit risk including: (a) information about the activity, region, or economic characteristics identifying a concentration, (b) the maximum amount of loss the entity is exposed to based on the gross fair value of the related item, (c) policy for requiring collateral or other security and information as to accessing such collateral or security, and (d) the nature and brief description of such collateral or security; (4) quantitative information about market risks and how such risks are managed; (5) for items measured on both a recurring and nonrecurring basis information regarding the inputs used to develop the fair value measurement; and (6) for items presented in the financial statement for which fair value measurement is elected: (a) information necessary to understand the reasons for the election, (b) discussion of the effect of fair value changes on earnings, (c) a description of [similar groups] items for which the election is made and the relation thereof to the balance sheet, the aggregate carrying value of items included in the balance sheet that are not eligible for the election; (7) all other required (as defined) and desired information.

+ References + Details