Fair Value Measurements

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2018

FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

The following methods and assumptions are used to estimate the fair value of each class of financial instruments for which it is practicable to estimate value.

The carrying amounts of cash equivalents, accounts receivable and accounts payable approximate fair value because of the short maturity of those instruments. Investments totaling $6,318,000, including our 17% ownership of the non-voting common stock of TCT and a private equity investment, are carried at cost. As of September 30, 2018, the approximate fair value of the private equity investment is $9,118,000, which is a level 3 fair value measurement.

The fair value of floating rate debt, which consists of our 1^st Lien Term Loan, is $6,299,060, based on an average of private market price quotations. Our fixed rate debt consists of $385,000,000 principal amount of the Notes and, $93,556,000 principal amount under the 2^nd Lien Term Loan. At September 30, 2018, based on an average of private market price quotations, the fair values were $399,206,500 and $95,427,120 for the Notes and 2nd Lien Term Loan, respectively. These represent Level 2 fair value measurements.

As discussed more fully in Notes 4 and 8, we recorded a liability for the Warrants issued in connection with the Warrant Agreement. The liability was initially measured at its fair value and we will remeasure the liability to fair value each reporting period, with changes reported in other non-operating income (expense). The initial fair value of the Warrants was $16,930,000. The fair value of the Warrants at September 30, 2018, September 24, 2017 and September 25, 2016 are $1,807,000, $1,580,000 and $11,760,000, respectively. In other, net in the Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income, we recognized expense of $226,000 in 2018, income of $10,181,000 in 2017 and expense of $7,519,000 in 2016, for adjustments in the fair value of the Warrants.

The following assumptions were used to estimate the fair value of the Warrants:



	2018	2017	2016

Volatility (Percent)	31	37	63
Risk-free interest rate (Percent)	2.91	1.81	1.25
Expected term (Years)	3.5	4.5	5.5
Estimated fair value (Dollars)	0.30	0.26	1.96

- 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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