CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Oct. 02, 2015	Sep. 26, 2014
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 845,468	$ 849,275
Short-term investment	0	66,176
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $21,218 at October 2, 2015 and $20,317 at September 26, 2014	770,920	731,929
Inventories	612,607	572,261
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	163,984	148,562
Deferred tax assets	132,066	125,962
Total current assets	2,525,045	2,494,165
Property, plant and equipment, net	379,215	337,999
Goodwill	283,452	240,626
Other assets	413,036	284,500
Total assets	3,600,748	3,357,290
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	202,918	187,377
Deferred revenues	489,775	421,845
Advance payments from customers	178,265	170,724
Accrued liabilities	353,500	371,708
Short term borrowings	108,446	0
Current maturities of long-term debt	50,000	50,000
Total current liabilities	1,382,904	1,201,654
Long-term debt	337,500	387,500
Other long-term liabilities	154,000	151,716
Total liabilities	$ 1,874,404	$ 1,740,870
Commitments and contingencies (Note 9)
Equity:
Preferred stock of $1 par value: 1,000 shares authorized; none issued and outstanding	$ 0	$ 0
Common stock of $1 par value: 189,000 shares authorized; 98,070 and 100,942 shares issued and outstanding at October 2, 2015 and at September 26, 2014, respectively	98,070	100,942
Capital in excess of par value	682,167	642,848
Retained earnings	1,017,826	931,241
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(86,463)	(58,611)
Total Varian stockholders' equity	1,711,600	1,616,420
Noncontrolling interests	14,744	0
Total equity	1,726,344	1,616,420
Total liabilities and equity	$ 3,600,748	$ 3,357,290