FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

12 Months Ended

Oct. 31, 2012

Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]

Fair Value Disclosures [Text Block]

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

The following tables set forth by level within the fair value hierarchy, the Company’s assets and liabilities that were measured at fair value on a recurring basis (in thousands):

	As of October 31, 2012
	Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)		Total
Assets:
Deferred compensation plans:
Corporate owned life insurance		$—		$37,086		$—		$37,086
Mutual funds	1,154		—		—		1,154
Money market funds and cash	1,122		—		—		1,122
Equity securities	991		—		—		991
Other	—		442		538		980
Total assets		$3,267		$37,528		$538		$41,333
Liabilities:
Contingent Consideration		$—		$—		$10,897		$10,897

	As of October 31, 2011
	Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)		Total
Assets:
Deferred compensation plans:
Corporate owned life insurance		$—		$26,989		$—		$26,989
Mutual funds	1,004		—		—		1,004
Money market funds and cash	920		—		—		920
Equity securities	1,150		—		—		1,150
Other	—		451		573		1,024
Total assets		$3,074		$27,440		$573		$31,087
Liabilities		$—		$—		$—		$—

The Company maintains two non-qualified deferred compensation plans.  The assets of the HEICO Corporation Leadership Compensation Plan (the “LCP”) principally represent cash surrender values of life insurance policies, which derive their fair values from investments in mutual funds that are managed by an insurance company and are classified within Level 2 and are valued using a market approach.  Certain other assets of the LCP represent investments in money market funds that are classified within Level 1.  The majority of the assets of the Company’s other deferred compensation plan are principally invested in equity securities, mutual funds and money market funds that are classified within Level 1.  A portion of the assets within the other deferred compensation plan is currently invested in a fund that invests in future and forward contracts; most of which are privately negotiated with counterparties without going through a public exchange, and that use trading methods that are proprietary and confidential.  These assets are therefore classified within Level 3 and are valued using a market approach with corresponding gains and losses reported within other income in the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Operations.  The assets of both plans are held within irrevocable trusts and classified within other assets in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets.  The related liabilities of the two deferred compensation plans are included within other long-term liabilities in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets and have an aggregate value of $40.8 million as of October 31, 2012 and $30.8 million as of October 31, 2011.

As part of the agreement to acquire a subsidiary by the ETG in March 2012, the Company may be obligated to pay contingent consideration of up to $14.6 million in aggregate should the acquired entity meet certain earnings objectives during each of the first five years following the acquisition. The $10.8 million estimated fair value of the contingent consideration as of the acquisition date is classified within Level 3 and was determined using a probability-based scenario analysis approach. Under this method, a set of discrete potential future subsidiary earnings was determined using internal estimates based on various revenue growth rate assumptions for each scenario that ranged from a compound annual growth rate of (8%) to 20%. A probability of likelihood was assigned to each discrete potential future earnings estimate and the resultant contingent consideration was calculated. The resulting probability-weighted contingent consideration amounts were discounted using a weighted average discount rate of 3.5% reflecting the credit risk of a market participant. Significant changes to either the revenue growth rates, related earnings or the discount rate could result in a material change to the amount of contingent consideration accrued and such changes will be recorded in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations. Changes in the fair value of this contingent consideration were not material during the period ended October 31, 2012. As of October 31, 2012, the estimated amount of such contingent consideration to be paid within the next twelve months of $1.7 million is included in accrued expenses and other current liabilities and the remaining $9.2 million is included in other long-term liabilities in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheet.

Changes in the Company’s assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis using unobservable inputs (Level 3) for the fiscal years ended October 31, 2012 and 2011 are as follows (in thousands):

	Assets			Liabilities
Balances as of October 31, 2010		$—			$1,150
Reduction in value of contingent consideration	—			(1,150		)
Purchases	550			—
Total unrealized gains	23			—
Balances as of October 31, 2011	573			—
Contingent consideration related to acquisition	—			10,778
Increase in value of contingent consideration	—			119
Total unrealized losses	(35		)	—
Balances as of October 31, 2012		$538			$10,897

The Company did not have any transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 fair value measurements during fiscal 2012.

As part of the agreement to acquire a subsidiary by the ETG in fiscal 2010, the Company may have been obligated to pay contingent consideration of up to $2.0 million in fiscal 2013 should the acquired entity meet certain earnings objectives during the second and third years following the acquisition.  As of the acquisition date, the Company recorded $1.2 million as the fair value of the contingent consideration, which was determined using a discounted cash flow model and probability adjusted internal estimates of the subsidiary’s future earnings and was classified in Level 3.  Based on the Company’s estimate that this contingent consideration had a fair value of $0 as of October 31, 2011, the $1.2 million accrued additional purchase consideration was reversed with a corresponding reduction recorded to selling, general and administrative expenses within the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations. The Company continues to estimate that this contingent consideration has a fair value of $0 as of October 31, 2012. The fair value reduction was primarily attributed to a lower forecast of the subsidiary’s earnings during the second and third years following the acquisition relative to such projections as of the time of acquisition.

The carrying amounts of the Company’s cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, trade accounts payable and accrued expenses and other current liabilities approximate fair value as of October 31, 2012 due to the relatively short maturity of the respective instruments.  The carrying value of long-term debt approximates fair value due to its variable interest rates.

During fiscal 2011 certain intangible assets within the ETG were measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis, resulting in the recognition of impairment losses aggregating $5.0 million (see Note 4, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets).  The fair value of each asset was determined using a discounted cash flow model and internal estimates of each asset’s future cash flows.

The following table sets forth as of October 31, 2011 the fair values of the Company’s nonfinancial assets and liabilities that were measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis, all of which are classified in Level 3, and related impairment losses recognized during fiscal 2011 (in thousands):

	2011
	Carrying Amount		Impairment Loss			Fair Value (Level 3)
Assets:
Customer relationships		$7,848		($4,351	)		$3,497
Intellectual property	2,369		(459		)	1,910
Trade names	3,400		(177		)	3,223
Total				($4,987	)