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Investments
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2013
Investments [Abstract]  
Cost and Equity Method Investments Disclosure [Text Block]
4.     Investments
 
As noted in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012, all of the Company’s municipal bond investments are classified as held-to-maturity securities and reported at amortized cost pursuant to Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 320, Investments – Debt and Equity Securities (“ASC 320”) as the Company has the intent and ability to hold all bond investments to maturity.
 
Below is a summary of the amortized cost and estimated market values of the Company’s investment securities as of as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012.
 
 
 
September 30, 2013
 
December 31, 2012
 
 
 
Amortized
 
Market
 
Amortized
 
Market
 
 
 
Cost
 
Value
 
Cost
 
Value
 
 
 
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Municipal bonds:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Current
 
$
5,875
 
$
5,949
 
$
8,004
 
$
8,117
 
Due from one through five years
 
 
19,941
 
 
20,900
 
 
25,384
 
 
26,620
 
Due from six through ten years
 
 
8,344
 
 
8,797
 
 
10,832
 
 
11,756
 
Total
 
$
34,160
 
$
35,646
 
$
44,220
 
$
46,493
 
 
The unrealized gains and losses on investment securities as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012 were as follows:
 
 
 
September 30, 2013
 
December 31, 2012
 
 
 
Unrealized
 
Unrealized
 
Unrealized
 
Unrealized
 
 
 
Gains
 
Losses
 
Gains
 
Losses
 
 
 
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Municipal bonds
 
$
1,486
 
$
-
 
$
2,473
 
$
200
 
 
The estimated market values provided are level 2 valuations as defined by ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (“ASC 820”).
 
The Company regularly reviews its investments to determine whether a decline in fair value below the cost basis is other-than-temporary. To determine if a decline in value is other-than-temporary, the Company considers all available evidence, including the issuer’s financial condition, the severity and duration of the decline in fair value, and the Company’s intent and ability to hold the investment for a reasonable period of time sufficient for any forecasted recovery. If a decline in value is deemed other-than-temporary, the Company records a reduction in the carrying value to the estimated fair value. In the third quarter of 2013, the Company reviewed its investments and concluded that the unrealized loss on one of its municipal bonds was other-than-temporary. The Company had been monitoring the status of the bond. In September 2013, a public notice was issued by the municipality that caused the Company to doubt the ultimate collectability of the bond. Considering this, all prior public information regarding the bond, and the duration of the loss, the Company determined the unrealized loss on the bond was other-than-temporary. Accordingly, the Company wrote the bond down to fair value and recorded an impairment loss of $200,000. The loss was included within other income and expense, net in the Consolidated Condensed Statements of Earnings and Comprehensive Income (Unaudited). 
 
On May 1, 2013, the Company purchased a 50% interest in a building in Montreal, Canada for approximately $3.2 million. This building serves as the Company’s Canadian office and distribution center. This real estate investment is accounted for as an equity-method investment under ASC 323, Investments – Equity Method and Joint Ventures (“ASC 323”) and is included within other assets in the Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets (Unaudited).