Fair Value

Fair value is defined 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. Depending on the nature of the asset or liability, various techniques and assumptions can be used to estimate fair value. The definition of the fair value hierarchy is as follows:

Level 1 – Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities.

Level 2 – Observable inputs other than quoted prices in active markets for similar assets and liabilities.

Level 3 – Inputs for which significant valuation assumptions are unobservable in a market and therefore value is based on the best available data, some of which is internally developed and considers risk premiums that a market participant would require.

Our derivatives are valued using various pricing models or discounted cash flow analyses that incorporate observable market data, such as interest rate yield curves and currency rates, and are classified as Level 2 within the valuation hierarchy. Our Level 3 fair value liabilities represent contingent consideration recorded for acquisitions to be paid if various financial targets are met. The amounts recorded were calculated for each payment scenario in each period using an estimate of the probability of the future cash outflows. The varying contingent payments were then discounted to the present value at the weighted average cost of capital. Fair value is assessed on a quarterly basis, or whenever events or circumstances change that indicates an adjustment is required. The assessment includes an evaluation of the performance of the acquired business compared to previous expectations, changes to future projections and the probability of achieving the earn out targets.

The following table presents the fair values and classification of our financial assets and liabilities measured on a recurring basis as of January 3, 2015:



	Classification	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
Foreign currency forwards	Other assets	$	—	$	1,283	$	—	$	1,283
Interest rate swaps	Other assets	—		1		—		1
	Total assets	$	—	$	1,284	$	—	$	1,284
Foreign currency forwards	Other accrued liabilities	$	—	$	3,325	$	—	$	3,325
Foreign currency forwards	Other long-term liabilities	—		326		—		326
Interest rate swaps	Other accrued liabilities	—		145		—		145
Interest rate swaps	Other long-term liabilities	—		68		—		68
	Total liabilities	$	—	$	3,864	$	—	$	3,864

There were no financial liabilities classified as Level 3 within the fair value hierarchy for the three months ended January 3, 2015. The changes in financial liabilities classified as Level 3 within the fair value hierarchy are as follows:



	Three Months Ended
	December 28, 2013
Balance at beginning of period	$	4,007
Increase in discounted future cash flows recorded as interest expense	97
Increase in earn out provisions recorded as other expense	576
Balance at end of period	$	4,680