Fair Value Measurements

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2014

13.

Fair Value Measurements

The following table presents information about Mattel’s assets and liabilities measured and reported in the financial statements at fair value and indicates the fair value hierarchy of the valuation techniques utilized to determine such fair value. The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are as follows:

•

Level 1—Valuations based on unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the entity has the ability to access.

•

Level 2—Valuations based on quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities, quoted prices in markets that are not active, or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.

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Level 3—Valuations based on inputs that are unobservable, supported by little or no market activity, and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities.

Mattel’s financial assets and liabilities measured and reported at fair value on a recurring basis include the following:


	September 30, 2014
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
	(In thousands)
Assets:
Foreign currency forward exchange contracts (a)	$	—	$	33,902	$	—	$	33,902
Auction rate security (b)		—		—		31,142		31,142

Total assets	$	—	$	33,902	$	31,142	$	65,044

Liabilities:
Foreign currency forward exchange contracts (a)	$	—	$	12,596	$	—	$	12,596


	September 30, 2013
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
	(In thousands)
Assets:
Foreign currency forward exchange contracts (a)	$	—	$	3,370	$	—	$	3,370
Auction rate security (b)		—		—		26,758		26,758

Total assets	$	—	$	3,370	$	26,758	$	30,128

Liabilities:
Foreign currency forward exchange contracts (a)	$	—	$	15,108	$	—	$	15,108


	December 31, 2013
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
	(In thousands)
Assets:
Foreign currency forward exchange contracts (a)	$	—	$	2,310	$	—	$	2,310
Auction rate security (b)		—		—		28,895		28,895

Total assets	$	—	$	2,310	$	28,895	$	31,205

Liabilities:
Foreign currency forward exchange contracts (a)	$	—	$	14,613	$	—	$	14,613

(a)

The fair value of the foreign currency forward exchange contracts is based on dealer quotes of market forward rates and reflects the amount that Mattel would receive or pay at their maturity dates for contracts involving the same notional amounts, currencies, and maturity dates.

(b)

The fair value of the auction rate security is estimated using a discounted cash flow model based on (i) estimated interest rates, timing, and amount of cash flows, (ii) credit spreads, recovery rates, and credit quality of the underlying securities, (iii) illiquidity considerations, and (iv) market correlation.

The following table presents information about Mattel’s auction rate security measured and reported at fair value on a recurring basis using significant Level 3 inputs:


	Level 3
	(In thousands)
Balance at December 31, 2013	$	28,895
Unrealized gain		2,247

Balance at September 30, 2014	$	31,142

Other Financial Instruments

Mattel’s financial instruments include cash and equivalents, accounts receivable and payable, short-term borrowings, and accrued liabilities. The fair values of these instruments approximate their carrying values because of their short-term nature and are classified as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

The estimated fair value of Mattel’s long-term debt, including the current portion, was $2.19 billion (compared to a carrying value of $2.10 billion) as of September 30, 2014, $1.69 billion (compared to a carrying value of $1.65 billion) as of September 30, 2013, and $1.62 billion (compared to a carrying value of $1.60 billion) as of December 31, 2013. The estimated fair values have been calculated based on broker quotes or rates for the same or similar instruments and are classified as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

- 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.

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