FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

9 Months Ended

Oct. 06, 2012

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

NOTE 15—FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

Dole’s financial instruments primarily consist of short-term trade and grower receivables, trade payables, notes receivable and notes payable, as well as long-term grower receivables, derivatives, capital lease obligations, term loans, a revolving loan, and notes and debentures. For short-term instruments, the carrying amount approximates fair value because of the short maturity of these instruments. For long-term financial instruments, excluding Dole’s secured and unsecured notes and debentures, and term loans, the carrying amount approximates fair value since they bear interest at variable rates or fixed rates which approximate market.

The inputs used to measure fair value are based on a hierarchy that prioritizes observable and unobservable inputs used in valuation techniques. These levels, in order of highest to lowest priority are described below:

Level 1: Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical assets or liabilities.

Level 2: Observable prices that are based on inputs not quoted on active markets, but corroborated by market data.

Level 3: Unobservable inputs that are not corroborated by market data.

The following table provides a summary of the assets (liabilities) measured at fair value on a recurring basis:

	Fair Value Measurements Using Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
	October 6, 2012			December 31, 2011
	(In thousands)
Assets:
Foreign currency exchange contracts	$	3,312		$	5,632
Bunker fuel contracts		385			1,563
	$	3,697		$	7,195
Liabilities:
Foreign currency exchange contracts	$	(124,374	)	$	(194,034	)

For Dole, the assets and liabilities that are required to be recorded at fair value on a recurring basis are the derivative instruments. The fair values of Dole’s derivative instruments are determined using Level 2 inputs, which are defined as “significant other observable inputs.” The fair values of the foreign currency exchange contracts and bunker fuel contracts were estimated using internal discounted cash flow calculations based upon forward foreign currency exchange rates, bunker fuel futures, interest-rate yield curves or quotes obtained from brokers for contracts with similar terms less any credit valuation adjustments. Dole recorded a credit valuation adjustment at October 6, 2012 which reduced the derivative liability balances. The credit valuation adjustment was $0.6 million at October 6, 2012 and $10.5 million at December 31, 2011.

The following table shows the change in the credit valuation adjustment in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations and the portion that is reflected in OCI:

	Quarter Ended					Three Quarters Ended
	October 6, 2012			October 8, 2011		October 6, 2012			October 8, 2011
	(In thousands)
Unrealized gain (loss) recorded in other income (expense), net	$	(1,739	)	$	2,561	$	(8,020	)	$	8,562
Unrealized gain (loss) recorded in OCI		(228	)		2,195		(1,866	)		2,195
	$	(1,967	)	$	4,756	$	(9,886	)	$	10,757

The fair value of goodwill and the intangible assets recorded in connection with the acquisition of Mrs. May’s was determined using discounted cash flow models based on an internal estimate of future cash flows based on unobservable inputs, and as such, are considered to be Level 3 non-recurring fair values within the fair value hierarchy.

During the second quarter of 2012, $1 million of long-term trade receivables were written down to their estimated fair values based on Level 3 inputs.

The goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible asset impairment analysis was performed in the second quarter of 2012 using a combination of discounted cash flow models and market multiples. The discounted cash flow models used estimates and assumptions including pricing and volume data, anticipated growth rates, profitability levels, tax rates and discount rates.

Credit Risk

The counterparties to the foreign currency and bunker fuel forward contracts and the interest rate and cross currency swaps consist of a number of major international financial institutions. Dole has established counterparty guidelines and regularly monitors its positions and the financial strength of these institutions. While counterparties to hedging contracts expose Dole to credit-related losses in the event of a counterparty’s non-performance, the risk would be limited to the unrealized gains on such affected contracts. Dole does not anticipate any such losses.