FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

9 Months Ended

Sep. 26, 2015

Financial instruments are categorized as Level 1, Level 2 or Level 3 based upon the method by which their fair value is computed. An investment is categorized as Level 1 when its fair value is based on unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets that the Company has the ability to access at the measurement date. An investment is categorized as Level 2 if its fair market value is based on quoted market prices for similar assets in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets in markets that are not active, based on observable inputs such as interest rates, yield curves, or derived from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means. An investment is categorized as Level 3 if its fair value is based on assumptions developed by the Company about what a market participant would use in pricing the assets.

The following table details the fair value measurements of the Company’s financial assets:



			Fair Value Measurement September 26, 2015 Using:
	Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Cash and Equivalents	$	14,977,484	$	14,977,484	$	—	$	—
U.S. Government Securities	53,507,040		19,012,542		34,494,498		—
Corporate Debt	6,485,226		—		6,485,226		—
Certificates of Deposit	12,369,708		—		12,369,708		—
Vuzix Corporation	1,288,070		1,288,070		—		—
GCS Holdings	196,889		196,889		—		—
	$	88,824,417	$	35,474,985	$	53,349,432	$	—


			Fair Value Measurement December 27, 2014 Using:
	Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Cash and Equivalents	$	14,635,802	$	14,635,802	$	—	$	—
U.S. Government Securities	57,697,142		21,218,340		36,478,802		—
Corporate Debt	5,970,983		—		5,970,983		—
Certificates of Deposit	12,555,010		—		12,555,010		—
Vuzix Corporation	1,500,777		1,500,777		—		—
GCS Holdings	180,347		180,347		—		—
	$	92,540,061	$	37,535,266	$	55,004,795	$	—

The corporate debt consists of floating rate notes with a maturity that is over multiple years but has interest rates which are reset every three months based on the then current three month London Interbank Offering Rate (three month Libor). The Company validates the fair market values of the financial instruments above by using discounted cash flow models, obtaining independent pricing of the securities or through the use of a model which incorporates the three month Libor, the credit default swap rate of the issuer and the bid and ask price spread of the same or similar investments which are traded on several markets.

The carrying amounts of cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued liabilities approximate fair value because of their short-term nature. If accrued liabilities were carried at fair value, these would be classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.

- 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.

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