Fair Value of Financial Instruments

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Note 14.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The carrying value of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, and short-term debt approximates fair value because of the short-term maturity of the instruments. Notes receivable are entered into in connection with the purchase of independent distributors’ distribution rights by independent distributors. These notes receivable are recorded in the Consolidated Balance Sheet at carrying value, which represents the closest approximation of 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. As a result, the appropriate interest rate that should be used to estimate the fair value of the distribution rights notes is the prevailing market rate at which similar loans would be made to independent distributors with similar credit ratings and for the same maturities. However, the company financed approximately 3,600 and 3,700 independent distributors’ distribution rights as of December 31, 2016 and January 2, 2016, respectively, all with varied financial histories and credit risks. Considering the diversity of credit risks among the independent distributors, the company has no method to accurately determine a market interest rate to apply to the notes. The distribution rights are generally financed for up to ten years and the distribution rights notes are collateralized by the independent distributors’ distribution rights. The company maintains a wholly-owned subsidiary to assist in financing the distribution rights purchase activities if requested by new independent distributors, using the distribution rights and certain associated assets as collateral. These notes receivable earn interest at a fixed rate.

At December 31, 2016 and January 2, 2016, respectively, the carrying value of the distribution rights notes receivable was as follows (amounts in thousands):

	December 31, 2016		January 2, 2016
Distribution rights notes receivable	$	175,984	$	174,904
Current portion recorded in accounts and notes receivable, net		21,060		20,593
Long-term portion of distribution rights notes receivable	$	154,924	$	154,311

Interest income for the distribution rights notes receivable was as follows (amounts in thousands):

	Interest Income
Fiscal 2016	$	20,552
Fiscal 2015	$	21,967
Fiscal 2014	$	20,947

At December 31, 2016 and January 2, 2016, the company has evaluated the collectability of the distribution rights notes receivable and determined that a reserve is not necessary. Payments on these notes are collected by the company weekly in conjunction with the settlement process.

The fair value of the company’s variable rate debt at December 31, 2016 approximates the recorded value. The fair value of the company’s notes, as discussed in Note 12, Debt, Lease and Other Commitments, are estimated using yields obtained from independent pricing sources for similar types of borrowing arrangements and are considered a Level 2 valuation. The fair value of the notes are presented in the table below (amounts in thousands, except level classification):

	Carrying Value		Fair Value		Level
3.5% senior notes due 2026	$	394,406	$	377,972	2
4.375% senior notes due 2022	$	397,458	$	421,756	2

For fair value disclosure information about our derivative assets and liabilities see Note 9, Derivative Financial Instruments. For fair value disclosure information about our pension plan net assets see Note 19, Postretirement Plans.

- 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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