Fair Value Measurements

9 Months Ended

Oct. 26, 2014

Instruments Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis

Financial assets measured and recorded at fair value on a recurring basis consisted of the following types of instruments:



	Fair Value as of October 26, 2014								Fair Value as of January 26, 2014
(in thousands)	Total		(Level 1)		(Level 2)		(Level 3)		Total		(Level 1)		(Level 2)		(Level 3)
Financial Assets:
Agency securities	$	550	$	—	$	550	$	—	$	3,674	$	—	$	3,674	$	—
Total available-for-sale securities	550		—		550		—		3,674		—		3,674		—
Interest rate cap	65		—		65		—		316		—		316		—
Total financial assets	$	615	$	—	$	615	$	—	$	3,990	$	—	$	3,990	$	—

Available-for-sale securities included in Level 2 are valued utilizing inputs obtained from an independent service (the “Service”), which uses quoted market prices for identical or comparable instruments rather than direct observations of quoted prices in active markets. The Service gathers observable inputs for all of our fixed income securities from a variety of industry data providers, for example, large custodial institutions and other third-party sources. Once the observable inputs are gathered by the Service, all data points are considered and an average price is determined. The Service’s providers utilize a variety of inputs to determine their quoted prices. The Company reviews and evaluates the values provided by the Service and agrees with the valuation methods and assumptions used in determining the fair value of investments. The Company believes this method provides a reasonable estimate for fair value.

The fair value of the interest rate cap at October 26, 2014 is estimated as described in Note 10 and is included in “Other assets” within the condensed consolidated balance sheets.

Financial assets measured and recorded at fair value on a recurring basis were presented on the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheets as follows:



	Fair Value as of October 26, 2014								Fair Value as of January 26, 2014
(in thousands)	Total		(Level 1)		(Level 2)		(Level 3)		Total		(Level 1)		(Level 2)		(Level 3)
Financial assets:
Long-term investments	$	550	$	—	$	550	$	—	$	3,674	$	—	$	3,674	$	—
Other assets	65		—		65		—		316		—		316		—
Total financial assets	$	615	$	—	$	615	$	—	$	3,990	$	—	$	3,990	$	—

During the nine months ended October 26, 2014, the Company had no transfers of financial assets or liabilities between Level 1, Level 2 or Level 3. As of October 26, 2014 and January 26, 2014, the Company had not elected the fair value option for any financial assets and liabilities for which such an election would have been permitted.

Instruments Not Recorded at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis

Some of the Company’s financial instruments are not measured at fair value on a recurring basis but are recorded at amounts that approximate fair value due to their liquid or short-term nature. Such financial assets and financial liabilities include cash and cash equivalents, receivables, net, certain other assets, accounts payable, accrued expenses, accrued personnel costs, and other current liabilities.

The Company’s long-term debt is not recorded at fair value on a recurring basis, but is measured at fair value for disclosure purposes. The fair value of the Company’s Term Loans (as defined in Note 9) is $100.6 million and $114.3 million and Revolving Commitments (as defined in Note 9) is $153.0 million and $177.5 million at October 26, 2014 and January 26, 2014, respectively. These are based on Level 2 inputs which are derived from transactions with similar amounts, maturities, credit ratings and payment terms.

Assets and Liabilities Recorded at Fair Value on a Non-Recurring Basis

The Company reduces the carrying amounts of its goodwill, intangible assets, long-lived assets and non-marketable equity securities to fair value when held for sale or determined to be impaired.

For its investment in equity interests, the Company has not identified events or changes in circumstances that may have a significant adverse effect on the fair value of its cost method investments during the first nine months of fiscal year 2015.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for the fair value of financial instruments (as defined), including financial assets and financial liabilities (collectively, as defined), and the measurements of those instruments as well as disclosures related to the fair value of non-financial assets and liabilities. Such disclosures about the financial instruments, assets, and liabilities would include: (1) the fair value of the required items together with their carrying amounts (as appropriate); (2) for items for which it is not practicable to estimate fair value, disclosure would include: (a) information pertinent to estimating fair value (including, carrying amount, effective interest rate, and maturity, and (b) the reasons why it is not practicable to estimate fair value; (3) significant concentrations of credit risk including: (a) information about the activity, region, or economic characteristics identifying a concentration, (b) the maximum amount of loss the entity is exposed to based on the gross fair value of the related item, (c) policy for requiring collateral or other security and information as to accessing such collateral or security, and (d) the nature and brief description of such collateral or security; (4) quantitative information about market risks and how such risks are managed; (5) for items measured on both a recurring and nonrecurring basis information regarding the inputs used to develop the fair value measurement; and (6) for items presented in the financial statement for which fair value measurement is elected: (a) information necessary to understand the reasons for the election, (b) discussion of the effect of fair value changes on earnings, (c) a description of [similar groups] items for which the election is made and the relation thereof to the balance sheet, the aggregate carrying value of items included in the balance sheet that are not eligible for the election; (7) all other required (as defined) and desired information.

+ References+ Details