Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Fair Value Measurements

v3.3.1.900
Fair Value Measurements
12 Months Ended
Sep. 26, 2015
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]  
Fair Value Measurements

2. Fair Value Measurements

Generally accepted accounting principles require financial assets and liabilities to be categorized based on the inputs used to calculate their fair values as follows:

Level 1 – Quoted prices in active markets 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.

Level 3 – Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability, which reflect the Company’s own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability (including assumptions about risk).

The Company’s financial instruments include cash and equivalents, restricted cash and equivalents, short term investments, accounts receivable and payable, derivative instruments, short-term borrowings, and accrued liabilities. The carrying amount of these instruments approximates fair value because of their short-term nature.

 

Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis

The following table presents the Company’s financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis based upon the level within the fair value hierarchy in which the fair value measurements fall, as of September 26, 2015 (in thousands):

 

         Level 1              Level 2              Level 3              Total      

Liabilities:

           

Liability for contingent consideration (b)

   $         0       $         0       $ 3,625       $ 3,625   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total liabilities

   $ 0       $ 0       $ 3,625       $ 3,625   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

The following table presents our financial assets and liabilities at fair value on a recurring basis based upon the level within the fair value hierarchy in which the fair value measurements fall, as of September 27, 2014 (in thousands):

 

         Level 1              Level 2              Level 3              Total      

Assets:

           

Short-term investments (a)

   $ 9,990       $         0       $ 0       $ 9,990   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 9,990       $ 0       $ 0       $ 9,990   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Liabilities:

           

Liability for contingent consideration (b)

   $ 0       $ 0       $ 4,414       $ 4,414   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total liabilities

   $ 0       $ 0       $ 4,414       $ 4,414   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(a) The fair value of short-term investments are based on quoted prices in active markets for identical assets.
(b) The liability for contingent consideration relates to an earn-out for B2E, acquired in December 2012 – See Note 4. The fair value of the contingent consideration arrangement is determined based on the Company’s evaluation as to the probability and amount of any earn-out that will be achieved based on expected future performance by the acquired entity. This is presented as part of long-term liabilities in our consolidated balance sheets.

The following table provides a summary of changes in fair value of our Level 3 financial instruments for the years ended September 26, 205 and September 27, 2014 (in thousands):

 

     Amount  

Balance as of September 27, 2014

   $ 4,414   

Performance-based payments made

     (688

Changes in the fair value of contingent performance-based payments established at the time of acquisition

     (101
  

 

 

 

Balance as of September 26, 2015

   $ 3,625   
  

 

 

 

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

The Company measures certain non-financial assets and liabilities, including long-lived assets, goodwill and intangible assets, at fair value on a non-recurring basis. Fair value measurements of non-financial assets and non-financial liabilities are used primarily in the impairment analyses of long-lived assets, goodwill and other intangible assets using discounted cash flows with Level 3 inputs in the fair value hierarchy. During the fiscal year ended September 26, 2015, the carrying values of $22.3 million of indefinite-lived intangible assets were written down to their estimated fair value of $15.0 million, resulting in an impairment charge of $7.3 million, which was included in earnings for the period. See Note 10 – Other Intangible Assets.

During the fiscal year ended September 28, 2013, the Company recognized a non-cash charge of $7.7 million, as the carrying value of its Garden segment goodwill exceeded the implied fair value of the goodwill. The fair market value of these non-financial assets was determined using an income approach and Level 3 inputs, which required management to make significant estimates about future cash flows. See Note 9 – Goodwill.

Fair Value of Other Financial Instruments

In January 2015, the Company called $50 million aggregate principal amount of the 2018 Notes for redemption on March 1, 2015 at a price of 102.063%. The estimated fair value of the Company’s remaining $400.0 million aggregate principal amount of the 2018 Notes as of September 26, 2015 was $410.5 million, compared to a carrying value of $399.7 million. The estimated fair value of the Company’s $450 million principal amount of 2018 Notes as of September 27, 2014 was $459.5 million, compared to a carrying value of $449.5 million. The estimated fair value is based on quoted market prices for these notes, which are Level 1 inputs within the fair value hierarchy.