XML 43 R11.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.4.0.8
Fair Value
12 Months Ended
Aug. 31, 2013
Fair Value [Abstract]  
Fair Value

3. FAIR VALUE

Fair value accounting standards define fair value 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. The following fair value hierarchy prioritizes the inputs used to measure fair value into three levels, with Level 1 being of the highest priority. The three levels of inputs used to measure fair value are as follows:

Level 1 — Observable inputs that reflect quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets.

Level 2 — Include other inputs that are directly or indirectly observable in the marketplace.

Level 3 — Unobservable inputs which are supported by little or no market activity.

As of August 31, 2013 and September 1, 2012, the Company measured cash equivalents consisting of money market funds at fair value on a recurring basis for which market prices are readily available (Level 1) and that invest primarily in United States government and government agency securities and municipal bond securities, which aggregated $2,529 and $104,529, respectively.

The Company's financial instruments, other than those presented in the disclosure above, include cash, receivables, accounts payable, and accrued liabilities. Management believes the carrying amount of the aforementioned financial instruments is a reasonable estimate of fair value as of August 31, 2013 and September 1, 2012 due to the short-term maturity of these items.

In connection with the construction of the Company's new customer fulfillment center in Columbus, Ohio, the Company entered into an arrangement with the Columbus-Franklin County Finance Authority ("Finance Authority") which provides savings on state and local sales taxes imposed on construction materials to entities that finance the transactions through them. This arrangement consists of the Finance Authority issuing taxable bonds to finance the structure and site improvements of the Company's customer fulfillment center. At August 31, 2013, the taxable bonds were approximately $2,000. The taxable bonds are classified as available for sale securities in accordance with ASC Topic 320. The securities are recorded at fair value in the Consolidated Balance Sheet. The fair values of these securities are based on observable inputs in non-active markets, which are therefore classified as Level 2 in the hierarchy. The Company did not record any significant gains or losses on these securities during fiscal year 2013. The outstanding principal amount of each bond bears interest at the rate of 2.4% a year. Interest is payable on a semiannual basis in arrears on each interest payment date.

In addition, based on borrowing rates currently available to the Company for borrowings with similar terms, the carrying values of the Company's capital lease obligations also approximate fair value. The fair value of the Company's long-term debt, including current maturities are estimated based on quoted market prices for the same or similar issues or on current rates offered to the Company for debt of the same remaining maturities. The carrying amount of the Company's debt at August 31, 2013, approximates its fair value.

During the fiscal years ended August 31, 2013 and September 1, 2012, the Company had no significant measurements of non-financial assets or liabilities at fair value on a non-recurring basis subsequent to their initial recognition.