Fair Value

12 Months Ended

Sep. 28, 2012

Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]

FAIR VALUE

FAIR VALUE

Fair value is the price that would be received from selling an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants as of the measurement date. Applicable accounting guidance provides a hierarchy for inputs used in measuring fair value that prioritize the use of observable inputs over the use of unobservable inputs, when such observable inputs are available. The three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value are as follows:

• Level 1 - Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

• Level 2 - Observable inputs other than Level 1 prices, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities, quoted prices in markets with insufficient volume or infrequent transactions (less active markets), or model-driven valuations in which all significant inputs are observable or can be derived principally from, or corroborated with, observable market data.

• Level 3 - Fair value is derived from valuation techniques in which one or more significant inputs are unobservable, including assumptions and judgments made by the Company.

Assets and liabilities are classified based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurements. The Company reviews the fair value hierarchy classification on a quarterly basis. Changes in the observable inputs may result in a reclassification of assets and liabilities within the three levels of the hierarchy outlined above.

Assets and Liabilities Measured and Recorded at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis

The Company measures certain assets and liabilities at fair value on a recurring basis such as our financial instruments, marketable securities and contingent consideration related to business combinations and recognizes transfers within the fair value hierarchy at the end of the fiscal quarter in which the change in circumstances that caused the transfer occurred. There have been no transfers between Level 1, 2 or 3 assets or liabilities during the fiscal year ended September 28, 2012.

Due to the illiquid markets for the Company's ARS, these securities are appropriately classified as a Level 3 asset.

The Company has classified its contingent consideration, which was primarily related to the acquisition of SiGe Semiconductor Inc. ("SiGe") in fiscal 2011, as a Level 3 liability. The fair value of the contingent consideration liabilities were primarily computed based on expected revenue to be generated by the acquired enterprises using a weighted probability income approach. Revenue and other assumptions used in the calculation require significant management judgment. Accordingly, the contingent consideration liabilities were classified as Level 3. The Company reassessed the fair value of the contingent consideration liabilities on a quarterly basis. Based on that assessment, the Company recognized a reduction of approximately $5.4 million related to the actual calculation of the earn-out obligations during the fiscal year ended September 28, 2012. The resulting gain was recorded in the selling, general and administrative line item on the Consolidated Statement of Operations. The Company paid $52.9 million in cash during the fourth fiscal quarter to settle the contingent consideration liability associated with the acquisition of SiGe.

As of September 28, 2012, assets and liabilities recorded at fair value on a recurring basis consist of the following (in thousands):                         

			Fair Value Measurements
	Total		Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1)		Significant other observable inputs (Level 2)		Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3)
Assets
Money market	$	141,480	$	141,480	$	—	$	—
Auction rate securities	3,093		—		—		3,093
Total	$	144,573	$	141,480	$	—	$	3,093
Liabilities
Contingent consideration liability recorded for business combinations	$	1,046	$	—	$	—	$	1,046

The following table summarizes changes to the fair value of the ARS, which is a Level 3 asset (in thousands):

	Auction rate securities
Balance at September 30, 2011	$	2,288
Acquisition related additions (see Notes 3 and 4 for further detail)	805
Balance at September 28, 2012	$	3,093

The following table summarizes changes to the fair value of the contingent consideration, which is a Level 3 liability (in thousands):

	Contingent consideration
Balance at September 30, 2011	$	59,400
Changes in fair value	(5,414		)
Payments	(52,940		)
Balance at September 28, 2012	$	1,046

Assets Measured and Recorded at Fair Value on a Nonrecurring Basis

The Company's non-financial assets and liabilities, such as goodwill, intangible assets, and other long lived assets resulting from business combinations are measured at fair value using income approach valuation methodologies at the date of acquisition and subsequently re-measured if there are indicators of impairment. There were no indicators of impairment identified during the fiscal year ended September 28, 2012.