Long-Lived Assets

12 Months Ended

Apr. 27, 2013

Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]

Goodwill and other intangible assets: We account for goodwill and intangible assets in accordance with ASC 350, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets. Under these provisions, goodwill is not amortized but is tested for impairment on at least an annual basis. Impairment testing is required more often than annually if an event or circumstance indicates an impairment or a decline in value may have occurred. Such circumstances could include, but are not limited to, a worsening trend of orders and sales without a corresponding way to preserve future cash flows or a significant decline in our stock price. In conducting our impairment testing, we compare the fair value of each of our business units (reporting unit) to the related carrying value. If the fair value of a reporting unit exceeds its carrying value, goodwill is not impaired. If the carrying value of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value, an impairment loss is measured and recognized.

We utilize an income approach to estimate the fair value of each reporting unit. We selected this method because we believe it most appropriately measures our income producing assets. We considered using the market approach and cost approach, but concluded they were not appropriate in valuing our reporting units given the lack of relevant and available market comparisons. The income approach is based on the projected cash flows, which are discounted to their present value using discount rates which consider the timing and risk of the forecasted cash flows. We believe that this approach is appropriate because it provides a fair value estimate based upon the reporting units’ expected long-term operating cash performance. This approach also mitigates the impact of the cyclical trends occurring in the industry. Fair value is estimated using internally-developed forecasts and assumptions. The discount rate used is the average estimated value of a market participant’s cost of capital and debt, derived using customary market metrics. Other significant assumptions include terminal value margin rates, future capital expenditures, and changes in future working capital requirements. We also compare and reconcile our overall fair value to our market capitalization. Although there are inherent uncertainties related to the assumptions used and to our application of these assumptions to this analysis, we believe the income approach provides a reasonable estimate of the fair value of our reporting units. The foregoing assumptions to a large degree were consistent with our long-term performance, with limited exceptions. We believe our future investments for capital expenditures as a percent of revenue will remain similar to the historical rates as a percentage of sales in future years with investments related to equipment replacements, new product line manufacturing equipment needs, and to keep our information technology infrastructure robust, and we believe long-term receivables will decrease as we grow. We also have assumed through the recent economic downturn, our markets have not contracted for the long term; however, it may be a number of years before they fully recover. These assumptions could deviate materially from actual results.

We perform an analysis of goodwill on an annual basis. We completed this annual analysis during our third quarter of each fiscal year, based on the goodwill amount as of the first business day of our third quarter in fiscal 2013, 2012, and 2011. The result of our analysis indicated that no goodwill impairment existed for each fiscal year.

The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill related to each reportable segment for the fiscal year ended April 27, 2013 were as follows:



	Live Events			Commercial			Transportation			Total
Balance as of April 28, 2012:	$	2,435		$	741		$	171		$	3,347
Foreign currency translation	(18		)	(16		)	(7		)	(41		)
Balance as of April 27, 2013:	$	2,417		$	725		$	164		$	3,306

As required by ASC 350, intangibles with finite lives are amortized. We evaluate indefinite lived assets for impairment annually and whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate their carrying value may not be recoverable. The net value of intangible assets is shown on our consolidated balance sheets. Estimated amortization expense based on intangibles as of April 27, 2013 is $228 for each of the fiscal years 2014 through 2016 and $95 for fiscal 2017.

The following table sets forth the gross carrying amount and accumulated amortization of intangible assets by major intangible class as of April 27, 2013 and April 28, 2012:



	April 27, 2013						April 28, 2012
	Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization		Net Value		Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization		Net Value
Definite-lived:
Patents	$	2,282	$	1,502	$	780	$	2,282	$	1,274	$	1,008

Indefinite-lived:
Registered trademarks	401		—		401		401		—		401
	$	2,683	$	1,502	$	1,181	$	2,683	$	1,274	$	1,409

Impairment of long-lived assets: We recorded a pretax asset impairment charge of $64, $538 and $355 for the fiscal years ended April 27, 2013, April 28, 2012 and April 30, 2011, respectively for other long-lived assets including property and equipment. The impairment charges related to technology or equipment obsoleted due to technology improvements or to custom demo equipment with no re-sale value. Impairment charges during fiscal 2013 were included primarily in selling expense.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for the aggregate amount of goodwill and a description of intangible assets, which may include (a) for amortizable intangible assets (also referred to as finite-lived intangible assets), the carrying amount, the amount of any significant residual value, and the weighted-average amortization period, (b) for intangible assets not subject to amortization (also referred to as indefinite-lived intangible assets), the carrying amount, and (c) the amount of research and development assets acquired and written off in the period, including the line item in the income statement in which the amounts written off are aggregated, if not readily apparent from the income statement. Also discloses (a) for amortizable intangibles assets in total and by major class, the gross carrying amount and accumulated amortization, the total amortization expense for the period, and the estimated aggregate amortization expense for each of the five succeeding fiscal years, (b) for intangible assets not subject to amortization the carrying amount in total and by major class, and (c) for goodwill, in total and for each reportable segment, the changes in the carrying amount of goodwill during the period (including the aggregate amount of goodwill acquired, the aggregate amount of impairment losses recognized, and the amount of goodwill included in the gain (loss) on disposal of a reporting unit). If any part of goodwill has not been allocated to a reportable segment, discloses the unallocated amount and the reasons for not allocating. For each impairment loss recognized related to an intangible asset (excluding goodwill), discloses: (a) a description of the impaired intangible asset and the facts and circumstances leading to the impairment, (b) the amount of the impairment loss and the method for determining fair value, (c) the caption in the income statement or the statement of activities in which the impairment loss is aggregated, and (d) the segment in which the impaired intangible asset is reported. For each goodwill impairment loss recognized, discloses: (a) a description of the facts and circumstances leading to the impairment, (b) the amount of the impairment loss and the method of determining the fair value of the associated reporting unit, and (c) if a recognized impairment loss is an estimate not finalized and the reasons why the estimate is not final. May also disclose the nature and amount of any significant adjustments made to a previous estimate of an impairment loss.

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