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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)
12 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2013
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Segment Reporting
Segment Reporting

Pursuant to the guidance provided under the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC"), the Company has two reportable segments, rotating electrical and undercar product line, based on the way the Company manages, evaluates and internally reports its business activities.

Principles of Consolidation
Principles of Consolidation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Motorcar Parts of America, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All significant inter-company accounts and transactions have been eliminated. The assets and liabilities of the Company's undercar product line segment, which filed for bankruptcy on June 10, 2013, are included in the Company's consolidated financial statements as the Company had effective control of this subsidiary as of and during the year ended March 31, 2013. (See Note 23 Subsequent Events)

Reclassifications
Reclassifications

Certain items in the consolidated balance sheet for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2012 have been reclassified to conform to fiscal 2013 classifications.

Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash primarily consists of cash on hand and bank deposits. Cash equivalents consist of money market funds. The Company considers all highly liquid investments purchased with an original or remaining maturity of less than three months at the date of purchase to be cash equivalents. Cash and cash equivalents are maintained with various financial institutions.

Accounts Receivable
Accounts Receivable

The allowance for doubtful accounts is developed based upon several factors including customer credit quality, historical write-off experience and any known specific issues or disputes which exist as of the balance sheet date. Accounts receivable are written off only when all collection attempts have failed. The Company does not require collateral for accounts receivable.

The Company has receivable discount programs that have been established with certain customers and their respective banks. Under these programs, the Company has the option to sell those customers' receivables to those banks at a discount to be agreed upon at the time the receivables are sold. Once the customer chooses which outstanding invoices are going to be made available for discounting, the Company can accept or decline the bundle of invoices provided. The receivable discount programs are non-recourse, and funds cannot be reclaimed by the customer or its bank after the related invoices have been discounted.

Inventory
Inventory

Non-core Inventory

Non-core inventory is comprised of non-core raw materials, the non-core value of work in process and the non-core value of finished goods. Used Cores, the Used Core value of work in process and the Remanufactured Core portion of finished goods are classified as long-term core inventory as described below under the caption "Long-term Core Inventory."

Non-core inventory is stated at the lower of cost or market. The cost of non-core inventory approximates average historical purchase prices paid, and is based upon the direct costs of material and an allocation of labor and variable and fixed overhead costs. The cost of non-core inventory is evaluated at least quarterly during the fiscal year and adjusted as necessary to reflect current lower of cost or market levels. These adjustments are determined for individual items of inventory within each of the three classifications of non-core inventory as follows:

Non-core raw materials are recorded at average cost, which is based on the actual purchase price of raw materials on hand. The average cost is updated quarterly. This average cost is used in the inventory costing process and is the basis for allocation of materials to finished goods during the production process.

Non-core work in process is in various stages of production and is valued at the average cost of materials issued to open work orders. Historically, non-core work in process inventory has not been material compared to the total non-core inventory balance.

Finished goods cost includes the average cost of non-core raw materials and allocations of labor and variable and fixed overhead. The allocations of labor and variable and fixed overhead costs are determined based on the average actual use of the production facilities over the prior twelve months which approximates normal capacity. This method prevents the distortion in allocated labor and overhead costs that would occur during short periods of abnormally low or high production. In addition, the Company excludes certain unallocated overhead such as severance costs, duplicative facility overhead costs, and spoilage from the calculation and expenses these unallocated overhead as period costs. For the fiscal years ended March 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011, costs of approximately $1,561,000, $1,410,000, and $1,378,000, respectively, were considered unallocated overhead and thus excluded from the finished goods cost calculation and charged directly to cost of sales for the Company's rotating electrical product line.

The Company records an allowance for potentially excess and obsolete inventory based upon recent sales history, the quantity of inventory on-hand, and a forecast of potential use of the inventory. The Company periodically reviews inventory to identify excess quantities and part numbers that are experiencing a reduction in demand. Any part numbers with quantities identified during this process are reserved for at rates based upon management's judgment, historical rates, and consideration of possible scrap and liquidation values which may be as high as 100% of cost if no liquidation market exists for the part.

The quantity thresholds and reserve rates are subjective and are based on management's judgment and knowledge of current and projected industry demand. The reserve estimates may, therefore, be revised if there are changes in the overall market for the Company's products or market changes that in management's judgment, impact its ability to sell or liquidate potentially excess or obsolete inventory. The Company had recorded $24,993,000 and $11,308,000 for excess and obsolete inventory at March 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. This increase was primarily recorded in the Company's undercar product line segment in connection with a major customer with whom Fenco discontinued its relationship during the third quarter of fiscal 2013.

The Company records vendor discounts as a reduction of inventories that are recognized as a reduction to cost of sales as the inventories are sold.

Inventory Unreturned

Inventory unreturned represents the Company's estimate, based on historical data and prospective information provided directly by the customer, of finished goods shipped to customers that the Company expects to be returned after the balance sheet date. Because all cores are classified separately as long-term assets, the inventory unreturned balance includes only the added unit value of finished goods. The return rate is calculated based on expected returns within the normal operating cycle of one year. As such, the related amounts are classified in current assets.

Inventory unreturned is valued in the same manner as the Company's finished goods inventory.

Long-term Core Inventory

Long-term core inventory consists of:

Used Cores purchased from core brokers and held in inventory at the Company's facilities,

Used Cores returned by the Company's customers and held in inventory at the Company's facilities,

Used Cores returned by end-users to customers but not yet returned to the Company are classified as Remanufactured Cores until they are physically received by the Company,

Remanufactured Cores held in finished goods inventory at the Company's facilities; and

Remanufactured Cores held at customer locations as a part of finished goods sold to the customer. For these Remanufactured Cores, the Company expects the finished good containing the Remanufactured Core to be returned under the Company's general right of return policy or a similar Used Core to be returned to the Company by the customer, in each case, for credit.

Long-term core inventory is recorded at average historical purchase prices determined based on actual purchases of inventory on hand. The cost and market value of Used Cores for which sufficient recent purchases have occurred are deemed the same as the purchase price for purchases that are made in arm's length transactions.

Long-term core inventory recorded at average historical purchase prices is primarily made up of Used Cores for newer products related to more recent automobile models or products for which there is a less liquid market. The Company must purchase these Used Cores from core brokers because its customers do not have a sufficient supply of these newer Used Cores available for the core exchange program.

Used Cores obtained in core broker transactions are valued based on average purchase price. The average purchase price of Used Cores for more recent automobile models is retained as the cost for these Used Cores in subsequent periods even as the source of these Used Cores shifts to the core exchange program.

Long-term core inventory is recorded at the lower of cost or market value. In the absence of sufficient recent purchases, the Company uses core broker price lists to assess whether Used Core cost exceeds Used Core market value on an item by item basis. The primary reason for the insufficient recent purchases is that the Company obtains most of its Used Core inventory from the customer core exchange program.

The Company classifies all of its core inventories as long-term assets. The determination of the long-term classification is based on its view that the value of the cores is not consumed or realized in cash during the Company's normal operating cycle, which is one year for most of the cores recorded in inventory. According to guidance provided under the FASB ASC, current assets are defined as "assets or resources commonly identified as those which are reasonably expected to be realized in cash or sold or consumed during the normal operating cycle of the business." The Company does not believe that core inventories, which the Company classifies as long-term, are consumed because the credits issued upon the return of Used Cores offset the amounts invoiced when the Remanufactured Cores included in finished goods were sold. The Company does not expect the core inventories to be consumed, and thus the Company does not expect to realize cash, until its relationship with a customer ends, a possibility that the Company considers remote based on existing long-term customer agreements and historical experience.

However, historically for certain finished goods sold, the Company's customer will not send the Company a Used Core to obtain the credit the Company offers under its core exchange program. Therefore, based on the Company's historical estimate, the Company derecognizes the core value for these finished goods upon sale, as the Company believes they have been consumed and the Company has realized cash.

The Company realizes cash for only the core exchange program shortfall. This shortfall represents the historical difference between the number of finished goods shipped to customers and the number of Used Cores returned to the Company by customers. The Company does not realize cash for the remaining portion of the cores because the credits issued upon the return of Used Cores offset the amounts invoiced when the Remanufactured Cores included in finished goods were sold. The Company does not expect to realize cash for the remaining portion of these Remanufactured Cores until its relationship with a customer ends, a possibility that the Company considers remote based on existing long-term customer agreements and historical experience.

For these reasons, the Company concluded that it is more appropriate to classify core inventory as long-term assets.

Long-term Core Inventory Deposit

The long-term core inventory deposit account represents the value of Remanufactured Cores the Company purchased from customers, which are held by the customers and remain on the customers' premises. The purchase is made through the issuance of credits against that customer's receivables either on a one-time basis or over an agreed-upon period. The credits against the customer's receivable are based upon the Remanufactured Core purchase price previously established with the customer. At the same time, the Company records the long-term core inventory deposit for the Remanufactured Cores purchased at its cost, determined as noted under Long-term Core Inventory. The long-term core inventory deposit is stated at the lower of cost or market. The cost is established at the time of the transaction based on the then current cost, determined as noted under Long-term Core Inventory. The difference between the credit granted and the cost of the long-term core inventory deposit is treated as a sales allowance reducing revenue. When the purchases are made over an agreed-upon period, the long-term core inventory deposit is recorded at the same time the credit is issued to the customer for the purchase of the Remanufactured Cores.

At least annually, and as often as quarterly, reconciliations and confirmations are performed to determine that the number of Remanufactured Cores purchased, but retained at the customer locations, remains sufficient to support the amounts recorded in the long-term core inventory deposit account. At the same time, the mix of Remanufactured Cores is reviewed to determine that the aggregate value of Remanufactured Cores in the account has not changed during the reporting period. The Company evaluates the cost of cores supporting the aggregate long-term core inventory deposit account each quarter. If the Company identifies any permanent reduction in either the number or the aggregate value of the Remanufactured Core inventory mix held at the customer location, the Company will record a reduction in the long-term core inventory deposit account resulting in a corresponding increase to cost of sales during that period.

Customer Core Returns Accrual
Customer Core Returns Accrual

The estimated fair value of the customer core return liabilities assumed by the Company in connection with the Fenco acquisition is included in customer core returns accrual. The Company classifies the portion of core liability related to the core inventory purchased and on the shelves of its customers as long-term liabilities. Upon the sale of a Remanufactured Core, a core liability is created to record the obligation to provide its customer with a credit upon the return of a like core by the customer. Since the return of a core is based on the sale of a remanufactured automobile part to an end user of its customer, the offset to this core liability generated by its return to the Company by its customer is usually followed by the sale of a replacement remanufactured auto part, and thus a portion of the core liability is continually outstanding and is recorded as long-term. The amount the Company has classified as long-term is the portion that management projects will remain outstanding for an uninterrupted period extending one year from the balance sheet.

Income Taxes
Income Taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes using the liability method, which measures deferred income taxes by applying enacted statutory rates in effect at the balance sheet date to the differences between the tax basis of assets and liabilities and their reported amounts in the financial statements. The resulting asset or liability is adjusted to reflect changes in the tax laws as they occur. A valuation allowance is provided to reduce deferred tax assets when it is more likely than not that a portion of the deferred tax asset will not be realized.

The primary components of the Company's income tax provision are (i) the current liability or refund due for federal, state and foreign income taxes and (ii) the change in the amount of the net deferred income tax asset, including the effect of any change in the valuation allowance.

Realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the Company's ability to generate sufficient future taxable income. Management reviews the Company's deferred tax assets on a jurisdiction by jurisdiction basis to determine whether it is more likely than not that the deferred tax assets will be realized. As a result of Fenco's cumulative losses in certain jurisdictions, a determination was made to establish a valuation allowance against the related deferred tax assets as it is not more likely than not that such assets will be realized. For all other jurisdictions, management believes that it is more likely than not that future taxable income will be sufficient to realize the recorded deferred tax assets. In evaluating this ability, management considers the Company's long-term agreements and Remanufactured Core purchase obligations with each of its major customers that expire at various dates through March 2019. Management periodically compares its forecasts to actual results. Even though there can be no assurance that the forecasted results will be achieved, the history of income in all other jurisdictions provides sufficient positive evidence that no valuation allowance is needed.

Plant and Equipment
Plant and Equipment

Plant and equipment are stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation and amortization. The cost of additions and improvements are capitalized, while maintenance and repairs are charged to expense when incurred. Depreciation and amortization are provided on a straight-line basis in amounts sufficient to relate the cost of depreciable assets to operations over their estimated service lives. Machinery and equipment are amortized over a range from five to ten years. Office equipment and fixtures are amortized over a range from three to ten years. Buildings are amortized over 20 years. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the lives of the respective leases or the service lives of the leasehold improvements, whichever is shorter. Amortization of assets recorded under capital leases is included in depreciation expense.

Goodwill
Goodwill

Goodwill is the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of identifiable net assets acquired in business combinations. Goodwill is not amortized, but rather is tested for impairment at least annually or more frequently if there are indicators of impairment present.

The Company performs the annual goodwill impairment analysis in the fourth quarter of each fiscal year. The Company evaluates whether goodwill has been impaired at the reporting unit level by first determining whether the estimated fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying value and, if so, by determining whether the implied fair value of goodwill within the reporting unit is less than the carrying value. As of March 31, 2013, the Company identified the following impairment indicators related to the undercar product line reporting unit: (i) continued losses from Fenco operations, (ii) lower forecasted future revenues, (iii) negative working capital position, (iv) additional financing needs, and (v) the anticipated filing for bankruptcy.

The Company determined the fair value of the undercar product line reporting unit using a liquidation scenario. For determining the fair value under the liquidation scenario, the Company used total assets minus estimated liquidation expenses to arrive to the proceeds available for senior secured creditors. Based on the results of the goodwill impairment test, the reporting unit's carrying value exceeded its fair value, indicating an impairment of goodwill at March 31, 2013. The Company determined that goodwill was fully impaired as the implied fair value of goodwill within the reporting unit was zero and recorded a non-cash goodwill impairment charge of $68,356,000 as disclosed in the consolidated statement of operations. After recording the impairment charge, the undercar product line segment had no goodwill remaining in the consolidated balance sheet at March 31, 2013.
Intangible Assets
Intangible Assets

The Company's intangible assets other than goodwill are finite–lived and amortized on a straight line basis over their respective useful lives, and are analyzed for impairment when and if indicators of impairment exist. As of March 31, 2013, there were no indicators of impairment for the Company's rotating electrical product line. However, the Company noted impairment indicators for its undercar product line segment as described above. Therefore, the Company performed an impairment test of the undercar product line segment's intangible assets and concluded that such intangible assets were fully impaired as of March 31, 2013.

Deferred Financing Costs
Deferred Financing Costs

Deferred financing costs include fees and costs incurred to obtain financing. These fees and costs are amortized using the straight-line method over the terms of the related loans and are included in interest expense in the Company's consolidated statements of operations.

Foreign Currency Translation
Foreign Currency Translation

For financial reporting purposes, the functional currency of the foreign subsidiaries is the local currency with the exception of the Company's subsidiary in Canada for which the U.S. dollar is the functional currency since a substantial portion of the purchases and sales are denominated in U.S. dollars. The assets and liabilities of foreign operations for which the local currency is the functional currency are translated into the U.S. dollar at the exchange rate in effect at the balance sheet date, while revenues and expenses are translated at average exchange rates during the year. The accumulated foreign currency translation adjustment is presented as a component of comprehensive income or loss in the consolidated statement of shareholders' equity. For the Company's subsidiary in Canada, for which the U.S. dollar is the functional currency, monetary assets and liabilities are translated at exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet date and nonmonetary items are translated at historical rates. Revenue and expenses are translated at average rates in effect during the year, except for depreciation and cost of product sales which are translated at historical rates. Gains and losses from changes in exchange rates are recognized in income in the year of occurrence.

Revenue Recognition
Revenue Recognition

The Company recognizes revenue when performance by the Company is complete and all of the following criteria have been met:

Persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists,

Delivery has occurred or services have been rendered,

The seller's price to the buyer is fixed or determinable, and

Collectability is reasonably assured.

For products shipped free-on-board ("FOB") shipping point, revenue is recognized on the date of shipment. For products shipped FOB destination, revenues are recognized on the estimated or actual date of delivery. The Company includes shipping and handling charges in its gross invoice price to customers and classifies the total amount as revenue. Shipping and handling costs are recorded as cost of sales.

The price of a finished product sold to customers is generally comprised of separately invoiced amounts for the Remanufactured Core included in the product ("Remanufactured Core value") and for the value added by remanufacturing ("unit value").  Unit value revenue is recorded based on the Company's price list, net of applicable discounts and allowances. The Company allows customers to return slow moving and other inventory. The Company provides for such returns of inventory by reducing revenue and cost of sales for the unit value of goods sold that are expected to be returned based on a historical return analysis and information obtained from customers about current stock levels.

The Company accounts for revenues and cost of sales on a net-of-core-value basis. Management has determined that the Company's business practices and contractual arrangements result in a significant portion of the remanufactured automobile parts sold being replaced by similar Used Cores sent back for credit by customers under the Company's core exchange program. Accordingly, the Company excludes the value of Remanufactured Cores from revenue.

When the Company ships a product, it recognizes an obligation to accept a similar Used Core sent back under the core exchange program by recording a contra receivable account based upon the Remanufactured Core price agreed upon by the Company and its customer. Upon receipt of a Used Core, the Company grants the customer a credit based on the Remanufactured Core price billed and restores the Used Core to on-hand inventory.

When the Company ships a product, it invoices certain customers for the Remanufactured Core portion of the product at full Remanufactured Core sales price. For these Remanufactured Cores, the Company recognizes core revenue based upon an estimate of the rate at which the Company's customers will pay cash for Remanufactured Cores in lieu of sending back similar Used Cores for credits under the Company's core exchange program.

In addition, the Company recognizes revenue related to Remanufactured Cores originally sold at a nominal price and not expected to be replaced by a similar Used Core under the core exchange program. Unlike the full price Remanufactured Cores, the Company only recognizes revenue from nominally priced Remanufactured Cores not expected to be replaced by a similar Used Core sent back under the core exchange program when the Company believes it has met all of the following criteria:

The Company has a signed agreement with the customer covering the nominally priced Remanufactured Cores not expected to be replaced by a similar Used Core sent back under the core exchange program. This agreement must specify the number of Remanufactured Cores its customer will pay cash for in lieu of sending back a similar Used Core and the basis on which the nominally priced Remanufactured Cores are to be valued (normally the average price per Remanufactured Core stipulated in the agreement).

The contractual date for reconciling the Company's records and customer's records of the number of nominally priced Remanufactured Cores not expected to be replaced by a similar Used Core sent back under the core exchange program must be in the current or a prior period.

The reconciliation of the nominally priced Remanufactured Cores must be completed and agreed to by the customer.

The amount must be billed to the customer.

The Company has agreed in the past and may in the future agree to buy back Remanufactured Cores. The difference between the credit granted and the cost of the Remanufactured Cores bought back is treated as a sales allowance reducing revenue. As a result of the increasing level of Remanufactured Core buybacks, the Company now defers core revenue from these customers until there is no expectation that the sales allowances associated with Remanufactured Core buybacks from these customers will offset Remanufactured Core revenues that would otherwise be recognized once the criteria noted above have been met. At March 31, 2013 and 2012, Remanufactured Core revenue of $12,014,000 and $9,775,000, respectively, was deferred.

Marketing Allowances
Marketing Allowances

The Company records the cost of all marketing allowances provided to its customers. Such allowances include sales incentives and concessions. Voluntary marketing allowances related to a single exchange of product are recorded as a reduction of revenues at the time the related revenues are recorded or when such incentives are offered. Other marketing allowances, which may only be applied against future purchases, are recorded as a reduction to revenues in accordance with a schedule set forth in the relevant contract. Sales incentive amounts are recorded based on the value of the incentive provided. See "Commitments and Contingencies" note for a description of all marketing allowances.

Advertising Costs
Advertising Costs

The Company expenses all advertising costs as incurred. Advertising expenses for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 were $1,331,000, $1,678,000 and $368,000, respectively.

Net (Loss) Income Per Share
Net (Loss) Income Per Share

Basic net (loss) income per share is computed by dividing net (loss) income by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Diluted net (loss) income per share includes the effect, if any, from the potential exercise or conversion of securities, such as stock options and warrants, which would result in the issuance of incremental shares of common stock.

The following presents a reconciliation of basic and diluted net (loss) income per share.
 
 
 
Years Ended March 31,
 
 
 
2013
 
 
2012
 
 
2011
 
Net (loss) income
 
$
(91,511,000
)
 
$
(48,514,000
)
 
$
12,220,000
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic shares
 
 
14,327,310
 
 
 
12,442,684
 
 
 
12,042,428
 
Effect of dilutive stock options and warrants
 
 
-
 
 
 
-
 
 
 
291,903
 
Diluted shares
 
 
14,327,310
 
 
 
12,442,684
 
 
 
12,334,331
 
Net (loss) income per share:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
 
$
(6.39
)
 
$
(3.90
)
 
$
1.01
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Diluted
 
$
(6.39
)
 
$
(3.90
)
 
$
0.99
 
 
The effect of dilutive options and warrants excludes (i) 1,549,683 shares subject to options and 735,484 shares subject to warrants with exercise prices ranging from $1.80 to $15.06 per share for the year ended March 31, 2013, (ii) 1,447,284 shares subject to options and 546,283 shares subject to warrants with exercise prices ranging from $1.80 to $15.06 per share for the year ended March 31, 2012, and (iii) 771,084 shares subject to options and 546,283 shares subject to warrants with exercise prices ranging from $9.90 to $15.00 per share for the year ended March 31, 2011— all of which were anti-dilutive.

Use of Estimates
Use of Estimates

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("GAAP") requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates. On an on-going basis, the Company evaluates its estimates, including those related to the carrying amount of plant and equipment; valuation of goodwill and acquisition-related intangible assets, impairment of long-lived assets, including goodwill and acquisition-related intangible assets, valuation and return allowances for receivables, inventories, and deferred income taxes; accrued liabilities; share-based compensation; and litigation and disputes.

The Company uses significant estimates in the calculation of sales returns. These estimates are based on the Company's historical return rates and an evaluation of estimated sales returns from specific customers.

The Company uses significant estimates in the calculation of the lower of cost or market value of long-term core inventory.

The Company's calculation of inventory reserves involves significant estimates. The basis for the inventory reserve is a comparison of inventory on hand to historical production usage or sales volumes.

The Company records its liability for self-insured workers' compensation by including an estimate of the liability associated with total claims incurred and reported as well as an estimate of the liabilities associated with incurred, but not reported, claims determined by applying the Company's historical claims development factor to its estimate of the liabilities associated with incurred and reported claims.

The Company uses significant estimates in the calculation of its income tax provision or benefit by using forecasts to estimate whether it will have sufficient future taxable income to realize its deferred tax assets. There can be no assurances that the Company's taxable income will be sufficient to realize such deferred tax assets.

The Company uses significant estimates in the ongoing calculation of potential liabilities from uncertain tax positions that are more likely than not to occur.

A change in the assumptions used in the estimates for sales returns, inventory reserves and income taxes could result in a difference in the related amounts recorded in the Company's consolidated financial statements.

Financial Instruments
Financial Instruments

The carrying amounts of cash, short-term investments, accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued liabilities approximate their fair value due to the short-term nature of these instruments. The carrying amounts of the revolving loans, term loans and other long-term liabilities approximate their fair value based on current rates for instruments with similar characteristics.

Stock Options and Share-Based Payments
Stock Options and Share-Based Payments

In accounting for share-based compensation awards, the Company follows the accounting guidance for equity-based compensation, which requires that the Company measure the cost of employee services received in exchange for an award of equity instruments based on the grant-date fair value of the award. The cost associated with stock options is estimated using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The cost of equity instruments is recognized in the consolidated statements of operations on a straight-line basis (net of estimated forfeitures) over the period during which an employee is required to provide service in exchange for the award. Also, excess tax benefits realized are reported as a financing cash inflow.

The Black-Scholes option pricing model requires the input of subjective assumptions including the expected volatility of the underlying stock and the expected holding period of the option. These subjective assumptions are based on both historical and other information. Changes in the values assumed and used in the model can materially affect the estimate of fair value. Options to purchase 635,800, 15,000 and 18,000 shares of common stock were granted during the years ended March 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

The table below summarizes the Black-Scholes option pricing model assumptions used to derive the weighted average fair value of the stock options granted during the periods noted.

 
Years Ended March 31,
 
 
 
2013
 
 
2012
 
 
2011
 
Weighted average risk free interest rate
 
 
1.17
%
 
 
1.74
%
 
 
2.09
%
Weighted average expected holding period (years)
 
 
6.60
 
 
 
6.29
 
 
 
5.73
 
Weighted average expected volatility
 
 
44.25
%
 
 
40.28
%
 
 
38.87
%
Weighted average expected dividend yield
 
 
-
 
 
 
-
 
 
 
-
 
Weighted average fair value of options granted
 
$
2.92
 
 
$
4.21
 
 
$
3.82
 
 
Credit Risk
Credit Risk

The majority of the Company's sales are to leading automotive aftermarket parts suppliers. Management believes the credit risk with respect to trade accounts receivable is limited due to the Company's credit evaluation process and the nature of its customers. However, should the Company's customers experience significant cash flow problems, the Company's financial position and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected, and the maximum amount of loss that would be incurred would be the outstanding receivable balance, Used Cores expected to be returned by customer, and the value of the Remanufactured Cores held at customers location at March 31, 2013.

Deferred Compensation Plan
Deferred Compensation Plan

The Company has a deferred compensation plan for certain members of management. The plan allows participants to defer salary, bonuses and commissions. The assets of the plan are held in a trust and are subject to the claims of the Company's general creditors under federal and state laws in the event of insolvency. Consequently, the trust qualifies as a Rabbi trust for income tax purposes. The plan's assets consist primarily of mutual funds and are classified as "available for sale." The investments are recorded at market value, with any unrealized gain or loss recorded as other comprehensive income or loss in shareholders' equity. Adjustments to the deferred compensation obligation are recorded in operating expenses. The Company did not redeem any of its short-term investments for the payment of deferred compensation liabilities during the years ended March 31, 2013 and 2012. The carrying value of plan assets was $411,000 and $342,000, and deferred compensation obligation was $411,000 and $342,000 at March 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. During the years ended March 31, 2013 and 2012 an expense of $8,000 was recorded for each year related to the deferred compensation plan.

Comprehensive Income or Loss
Comprehensive Income or Loss

Comprehensive income or loss is defined as the change in equity during a period resulting from transactions and other events and circumstances from non-owner sources. The Company's total comprehensive income or loss consists of net unrealized income or loss from foreign currency translation adjustments and unrealized gains or losses on short-term investments.

New Accounting Pronouncements
New Accounting Pronouncements

Comprehensive Income

In June 2011, the FASB issued guidance which requires an entity to present the total of comprehensive income, the components of net income, and the components of other comprehensive income either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income, or in two separate but consecutive statements. This guidance eliminates the option to present components of other comprehensive income as a part of the statement of equity. This guidance should be applied, retrospectively, for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2011. Other than the change in presentation, the Company has determined the changes from the adoption of this guidance on April 1, 2012 did not have an impact on its consolidated financial position and the results of operations.

Testing Goodwill for Impairment

In September 2011, the FASB issued an amendment which gives an entity the option to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether the existence of events or circumstances leads to a determination that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. If an entity determines that it is not more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, then performing the two-step goodwill impairment test is unnecessary. If an entity determines that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, then it is required to perform the first step of the two-step goodwill impairment test. If the carrying value of the reporting unit exceeds its fair value, then the entity is required to perform the second step of the goodwill impairment test to measure the amount of the impairment loss, if any. The amendments are effective for annual and interim goodwill impairment tests performed for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011. The adoption of this guidance on April 1, 2012 did not have any impact on the Company's consolidated financial position and the results of operations.