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Fair Value Measurements
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011
Fair Value Measurements [Abstract] 
Fair Value Measurements

(12) Fair Value Measurements

GAAP defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. GAAP establishes a fair value hierarchy that distinguishes between (1) market participant assumptions developed based on market data obtained from independent sources (observable inputs) and (2) an entity's own assumptions about market participant assumptions developed based on the best information available in the circumstances (unobservable inputs). The fair value hierarchy consists of three broad levels, which gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3). The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are:

 

   

Level 1 - Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical assets or liabilities.

 

   

Level 2 - Inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly, including quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active; inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability (e.g., interest rates); and inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means.

 

   

Level 3 - Inputs that are both significant to the fair value measurement and unobservable.

The valuation methodologies we used to measure financial assets and liabilities were limited to the derivative financial instruments described in Note 10. We estimate the fair value of these financial instruments, consisting of foreign currency forward contracts, based upon valuation models with inputs that generally can be verified by observable market conditions and do not involve significant management judgment. Accordingly, the fair values of these financial instruments are classified within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.