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Fair Value Measurements - Notes to Financial Statements
3 Months Ended
Oct. 27, 2012
Fair Value Measurements [Abstract]  
Fair Value Disclosures Text Block

NOTE 7 – FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS:

 

The following tables set forth information regarding the Company's financial assets that are measured at fair value (in thousands) as of October 27, 2012, January 28, 2012 and October 29, 2011.

      Quoted      
      Prices in      
      Active  Significant   
      Markets for  Other  Significant
      Identical  Observable  Unobservable
   October 27, 2012  Assets  Inputs  Inputs
Description    Level 1  Level 2  Level 3
             
State/Municipal Bonds $ 177,774 $ - $ 177,774 $ -
Corporate Bonds   15,414   -   15,414   -
Auction Rate Securities (ARS)   3,450   -   -   3,450
Variable Rate Demand Notes (VRDN)   10,495   10,495   -   -
US Treasury Notes   3,203   3,203   -   -
Privately Managed Funds   767   -   -   767
Corporate Equities   462   462   -   -
Certificates of Deposit   100   100   -   -
             
Total $211,665 $14,260 $ 193,188 $ 4,217

             
      Quoted      
      Prices in      
      Active  Significant   
      Markets for  Other  Significant
      Identical  Observable  Unobservable
   January 28, 2012  Assets  Inputs  Inputs
Description    Level 1  Level 2  Level 3
             
State/Municipal Bonds $ 152,650  $ - $ 152,650  $ -
Corporate Bonds   27,732    -   27,732    -
Auction Rate Securities (ARS)   3,450    -   -   3,450 
Variable Rate Demand Notes (VRDN)   26,472    26,472    -   -
U.S. Treasury Notes   3,174    3,174    -   -
Privately Managed Funds   1,604    -   -   1,604 
Corporate Equities   443    443    -   -
Certificates of Deposit   100    100    -   -
             
Total $215,625 $ 30,189  $ 180,382  $ 5,054 
             

             
NOTE 7 – FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS (CONTINUED):
             
             
      Quoted      
      Prices in      
      Active  Significant   
      Markets for  Other  Significant
      Identical  Observable  Unobservable
   October 29, 2011  Assets  Inputs  Inputs
Description    Level 1  Level 2  Level 3
             
State/Municipal Bonds $146,936 $ - $146,936 $ -
Corporate Bonds  29,670   -  29,670   -
Auction Rate Securities (ARS)  3,450   -   -  3,450
Variable Rate Demand Notes (VRDN)  30,439  30,439   -   -
US Treasury Notes  1,421  1,421   -   -
Privately Managed Funds  1,910   -   -  1,910
Corporate Equities  481  481   -   -
Certificates of Deposit  100  100   -   -
             
Total $214,407 $32,441 $176,606 $5,360
             

The Company's investment portfolio was primarily invested in tax exempt variable rate demand notes (“VRDN”), corporate bonds, and governmental debt securities held in managed funds with underlying ratings of A or better at October 27, 2012, January 28, 2012 and October 29, 2011. The underlying securities have contractual maturities which range from 34 days to 16 years. Although the Company's investments in VRDN's have underlying securities with contractual maturities longer than one year, the VRDN's themselves have interest rate resets of 7 days and are considered short-term investments. These securities are classified as available-for-sale and are recorded as Short-term investments, Restricted investments and Other assets on the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at estimated fair value, with unrealized gains and losses reported net of taxes in Accumulated other comprehensive income.

 

Additionally, at October 27, 2012, the Company had $0.8 million of privately managed funds, $0.5 million of corporate equities and a single auction rate security (“ARS”) of $3.5 million which continues to fail its auction. At January 28, 2012, the Company had $1.6 million of privately managed funds, $0.4 million of corporate equities and a single ARS of $3.5 million. At October 29, 2011, the Company had $1.9 million of privately managed funds, $0.5 million of corporate equities and a single ARS of $3.5 million. All of these assets are recorded within Other assets in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NOTE 7 – FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS (CONTINUED):

 

Level 1 category securities are measured at fair value using quoted active market prices. Level 2 investment securities include corporate and municipal bonds for which quoted prices may not be available on active exchanges for identical instruments. Their fair value is principally based on market values determined by management with assistance of a third party pricing service. Since quoted prices in active markets for identical assets are not available, these prices are determined by the pricing service using observable market information such as quotes from less active markets and/or quoted prices of securities with similar characteristics, among other factors.

 

The Company's failed ARS is recorded at par value which approximates fair value using Level 3 inputs at each reporting period. Because there is no active market for this particular ARS, its fair value was determined through the use of a discounted cash flow analysis. The terms used in the analysis were based on management's estimate of the timing of future liquidity, which assumes that the security will be called or refinanced by the issuer or settled with a broker dealer prior to maturity. The discount rates used in the discounted cash flow analysis were based on market rates for similar liquid tax exempt securities with comparable ratings and maturities. Due to the uncertainty surrounding the timing of future liquidity, the Company also considered a liquidity/risk value reduction. In estimating the fair value of this ARS, the Company also considered the financial condition and near-term prospects of the issuer, the probability that the Company will be unable to collect all amounts due according to the contractual terms of the security and whether the security has been downgraded by a rating agency. The Company's valuation is sensitive to market conditions and management's judgment and can change significantly based on the assumptions used.

 

The Company's privately managed funds consist of two types of funds. The privately managed funds cannot be redeemed at net asset value at a specific date without advance notice. As a result, the Company has classified the investments as Level 3.

NOTE 7 – FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS (CONTINUED):

 

The following tables summarize the change in the fair value of the Company's financial assets measured using Level 3 inputs during the first nine months of fiscal 2012 and fiscal 2011 (dollars in thousands):

          
  Fair Value Measurements Using Significant
  Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
 Available-For-Sale      
 Debt Securities Other Investments   
 ARS  Private Equity Total
Beginning Balance at January 28, 2012$ 3,450  $1,604 $5,054
Redemptions  -   (831)  (831)
Total gains or (losses)         
Included in earnings (or changes in net assets)  -    (6)  (6)
Included in other comprehensive income  -    -   -
Ending Balance at October 27, 2012$3,450  $767 $4,217
          
          
          
  Fair Value Measurements Using Significant
  Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
 Available-For-Sale      
 Debt Securities Other Investments   
 ARS  Private Equity Total
Beginning Balance at January 29, 2011$ 3,450  $1,925 $5,375
Total gains or (losses)         
Included in earnings (or changes in net assets)  -    (15)  (15)
Ending Balance at October 29, 2011$3,450  $1,910 $5,360

        
NOTE 7 – FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS (CONTINUED):
        
Quantitative information regarding the significant unobservable inputs related to the ARS as of October 27, 2012 were as follows:
        
Fair Value Valuation Technique Unobservable Inputs 
$3,450 Net present value Total Term 9.9 Years 
  of cash flows Yield 0.35% 
    Comparative bond discount rate 0.20% 
        
Significant increases or decreases in certain of the inputs could result in a lower fair value measurement. For example, a decrease in the yield, or an increase to the comparative bond discount rate could result in a lower fair value.