Fair Value Measurements

3 Months Ended

Jul. 30, 2016

Note 12: Fair Value Measurements

Accounting standards require that we put financial assets and liabilities into one of three categories based on the inputs we use to value them:

Level 1 — Financial assets and liabilities the values of which are based on unadjusted quoted market prices for identical assets and liabilities in an active market that we have the ability to access.

Level 2 — Financial assets and liabilities the values of which are based on quoted prices in markets that are not active or on model inputs that are observable for substantially the full term of the asset or liability.

Level 3 — Financial assets and liabilities the values of which are based on prices or valuation techniques that require inputs that are both unobservable and significant to the overall fair value measurement.

In making fair value measurements, accounting standards require that we use observable market data when available. When inputs used to measure fair value fall within different levels of the hierarchy, we categorize the fair value measurement as being in the lowest level that is significant to the measurement. We recognize transfers between levels of the fair value hierarchy at the end of the reporting period in which they occur.

In addition to assets and liabilities that we record at fair value on a recurring basis, we are required to record assets and liabilities at fair value on a non-recurring basis. We measure non-financial assets such as trade names, goodwill, and other long-lived assets at fair value when there is an indicator of impairment, and we record them at fair value only when we recognize an impairment loss.

The following table presents the fair value hierarchy for those assets we measured at fair value on a recurring basis at July 30, 2016, and April 30, 2016:

At July 30, 2016

	Fair Value Measurements
(Unaudited, amounts in thousands)	Level 1(a)		Level 2(a)		Level 3
Assets
Available-for-sale investments	$	1,058	$	35,886	$	—
Trading securities	—		50		—
Held-to-maturity investments	1,829		—		—

Total	$	2,887	$	35,936	$	—

(a)

There were no transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 during fiscal 2017.

At April 30, 2016

	Fair Value Measurements
(Unaudited, amounts in thousands)	Level 1(b)		Level 2(b)		Level 3
Assets
Available-for-sale investments	$	1,177	$	36,802	$	—
Held-to-maturity investments	1,826		—		—

Total	$	3,003	$	36,802	$	—

(b)

There were no transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 during fiscal 2016.

The fair value measurements for our Level 1 and Level 2 securities are based on quoted prices in active markets, as well as through broker quotes and independent valuation providers, multiplied by the number of shares owned exclusive of any transaction costs.

We hold certain available-for-sale investments that are measured at fair value using net asset value per share under the practical expedient. In accordance with recently issued accounting standards, we no longer include these investments in our asset leveling using the fair value hierarchy. Adoption of this standard had no effect on our consolidated financial statements but as a result of this updated standard, we have reclassified the fiscal 2016 table above to conform to the fiscal 2017 presentation by removing our available-for-sale securities that are measured using net asset value. These investments are still included in the total fair value column of the table in our investment footnote (see Note 4). The fair value of the investments measured using net asset value at July 30, 2016, and April 30, 2016, was $7.5 million and $7.2 million, respectively.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for the fair value of financial instruments (as defined), including financial assets and financial liabilities (collectively, as defined), and the measurements of those instruments as well as disclosures related to the fair value of non-financial assets and liabilities. Such disclosures about the financial instruments, assets, and liabilities would include: (1) the fair value of the required items together with their carrying amounts (as appropriate); (2) for items for which it is not practicable to estimate fair value, disclosure would include: (a) information pertinent to estimating fair value (including, carrying amount, effective interest rate, and maturity, and (b) the reasons why it is not practicable to estimate fair value; (3) significant concentrations of credit risk including: (a) information about the activity, region, or economic characteristics identifying a concentration, (b) the maximum amount of loss the entity is exposed to based on the gross fair value of the related item, (c) policy for requiring collateral or other security and information as to accessing such collateral or security, and (d) the nature and brief description of such collateral or security; (4) quantitative information about market risks and how such risks are managed; (5) for items measured on both a recurring and nonrecurring basis information regarding the inputs used to develop the fair value measurement; and (6) for items presented in the financial statement for which fair value measurement is elected: (a) information necessary to understand the reasons for the election, (b) discussion of the effect of fair value changes on earnings, (c) a description of [similar groups] items for which the election is made and the relation thereof to the balance sheet, the aggregate carrying value of items included in the balance sheet that are not eligible for the election; (7) all other required (as defined) and desired information.

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