Fair Value Measurements

3 Months Ended

Mar. 25, 2012

Fair Value Measurements [Abstract]

Fair Value Measurements

9. Fair Value Measurements

Fair value measurements enable the reader of the financial statements to assess the inputs used to develop those measurements by establishing a hierarchy for ranking the quality and reliability of the information used to determine fair values.

The Company classifies and discloses assets and liabilities carried at fair value in one of the following three categories:

Level 1: Quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

Level 2: Observable market based inputs or unobservable inputs that are corroborated by market data.

Level 3: Unobservable inputs that are not corroborated by market data.

The fair values of the Company's cash equivalents and investments in marketable securities are based on quoted prices in active markets for identical assets. The following tables summarize the carrying amounts and fair values of certain assets at March 25, 2012 and January 1, 2012:

	At March 25, 2012
			Fair Value Estimated Using
	Carrying Amount		Level 1 Inputs		Level 2 Inputs		Level 3 Inputs
Cash equivalents	$	208,918	$	208,918	$	—	$	—
Restricted cash equivalents		38,671		38,671		—		—
Investments in marketable securities		1,907		1,907		—		—

	At January 1, 2012
			Fair Value Estimated Using
	Carrying Amount		Level 1 Inputs		Level 2 Inputs		Level 3 Inputs
Cash equivalents	$	41,699	$	41,699	$	—	$	—
Restricted cash equivalents		34,117		34,117		—		—
Investments in marketable securities		1,538		1,538		—		—

At March 25, 2012, management estimates that the approximately $1.575 billion in principal amount of outstanding Fixed Rate Notes had a fair value of approximately $1.605 billion. The Company estimated the fair value amount by using available market information. The Company obtained broker quotes from two separate brokerage firms that are knowledgeable about the Company's fixed rate notes and, at times, trade these notes. Further, the Company performs its own internal analysis based on the information it gathers from public markets, including information on notes that are similar to that of the Company. However, considerable judgment is required in interpreting market data to develop estimates of fair value. Accordingly, the fair value estimates presented herein are not necessarily indicative of the amount that the Company or the debtholders could realize in a current market exchange. The use of different assumptions and/or estimation methodologies may have a material effect on the estimated fair value.