Derivative Financial Instruments

6 Months Ended

Apr. 04, 2015

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]

Derivative Financial Instruments

Derivative Financial Instruments

Our foreign currency risk management strategy is principally designed to mitigate the future potential financial impact of changes in the value of transactions and balances denominated in foreign currency resulting from changes in foreign currency exchange rates. We enter into derivative transactions, specifically foreign currency forward contracts with maturities of up to approximately three months, to manage our exposure to fluctuations in foreign exchange rates that arise primarily from our foreign currency-denominated receivables and payables.

Generally, we do not designate foreign currency forward contracts as hedges for accounting purposes, and changes in the fair value of these instruments are recognized immediately in earnings. Because we enter into forward contracts only as an economic hedge, any gain or loss on the underlying foreign-denominated balance would be offset by the loss or gain on the forward contract. Gains and losses on forward contracts and foreign denominated receivables and payables are included in other income (expense), net.

As of April 4, 2015 and September 30, 2014, we had outstanding forward contracts with notional amounts equivalent to the following:

Currency Hedged	April 4, 2015		September 30, 2014
	(in thousands)
Canadian Dollar / U.S. Dollar	$	21,283	25,583
Euro / U.S. Dollar	35,007		61,751
British Pound / Euro	9,196		14,259
Israeli New Sheqel / U.S. Dollar	2,713		6,144
All other	12,424		9,251
Total	$	80,623	$	116,988

As of April 4, 2015 and September 30, 2014, the accompanying consolidated balance sheets include a net asset of $0.0 million and $0.3 million, respectively, in prepaid expenses and other current assets, and a net liability of $0.3 million and $0.9 million, respectively, in accrued expenses related to the fair value of our forward contracts.

Net gains and losses on foreign currency exposures are recorded in other income (expense), net and include realized and unrealized gains and losses on forward contracts. Net gains and losses on foreign currency exposures for the three and six months ended April 4, 2015 and March 29, 2014 were as follows:

	Three months ended					Six months ended
	April 4, 2015		March 29, 2014			April 4, 2015		March 29, 2014
	(in thousands)
Net foreign currency losses	$	675	$	1,129		$	912	$	1,993
Net realized and unrealized loss (gain) on forward contracts (excluding the underlying foreign currency exposure being hedged)	$	678	$	(69	)	$	381	$	(1,697	)