Fair Value Measurements

6 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2015

Note 3 — Fair Value Measurements

In accordance with the authoritative guidance for financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis (ASC 820), the Company prioritizes the inputs used to measure fair value from market-based assumptions to entity specific assumptions:

•

Level 1 — Inputs based on quoted market prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets at the measurement date.

•

Level 2 — Observable inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1, such as quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar assets and liabilities in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data.

•

Level 3 — Inputs which reflect management’s best estimate of what market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability at the measurement date. The inputs are unobservable in the market and significant to the instruments valuation.

The following tables present the Company’s hierarchy for its assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of September 30, 2015 and April 3, 2015:


	Fair Value as of September 30, 2015		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
	(In thousands)
Assets:
Cash equivalents	$	2,003	$	2,003	$	—	$	—
Foreign currency forward contracts		152		—		152		—

Total assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis	$	2,155	$	2,003	$	152	$	—


	Fair Value as of April 3, 2015		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
	(In thousands)
Assets:
Cash equivalents	$	2,033	$	2,033	$	—	$	—

Total assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis	$	2,033	$	2,033	$	—	$	—

The following section describes the valuation methodologies the Company uses to measure financial instruments at fair value:

Cash equivalents — The Company’s cash equivalents consist of money market funds. Money market funds are valued using quoted prices for identical assets in an active market with sufficient volume and frequency of transactions (Level 1).

Foreign currency forward contracts — The Company uses derivative financial instruments to manage foreign currency risk relating to foreign exchange rates. The Company does not use these instruments for speculative or trading purposes. The Company’s objective is to reduce the risk to earnings and cash flows associated with changes in foreign currency exchange rates. Derivative instruments are recognized as either assets or liabilities in the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements and are measured at fair value. Gains and losses resulting from changes in the fair values of those derivative instruments are recorded to earnings or other comprehensive income (loss) depending on the use of the derivative instrument and whether it qualifies for hedge accounting. The Company’s foreign currency forward contracts are valued using standard calculations/models that are primarily based on observable inputs, such as foreign currency exchange rates, or can be corroborated by observable market data (Level 2).

Long-term debt — The Company’s long-term debt consists of borrowings under its revolving credit facility (the Revolving Credit Facility) and its direct loan facility with the Export-Import Bank of the United States for ViaSat-2 (the Ex-Im Credit Facility and, together with the Revolving Credit Facility, the Credit Facilities), as well as $575.0 million in aggregate principal amount of 2020 Notes. The Revolving Credit Facility is reported at the outstanding principal amount of borrowings, while the Ex-Im Credit Facility and 2020 Notes are reported at amortized cost. However, for disclosure purposes, the Company is required to measure the fair value of outstanding debt on a recurring basis. As of September 30, 2015 and April 3, 2015, the fair value of the Company’s outstanding long-term debt related to the 2020 Notes was determined using quoted prices in active markets (Level 1) and was $603.8 million and $610.9 million, respectively. The fair value of the Company’s long-term debt related to the Revolving Credit Facility approximates its carrying amount due to its variable interest rate, which approximates a market interest rate. As of September 30, 2015, the fair value of the Company’s long-term debt related to the Ex-Im Credit Facility was approximately $125.4 million and was determined based on a discounted cash flow analysis using observable market interest rates for instruments with similar terms (Level 2).

Satellite performance incentives obligation — The Company’s contract with the manufacturer of ViaSat-1 requires the Company to make monthly in-orbit satellite performance incentive payments, including interest at 7.0%, over a fifteen-year period from December 2011 to December 2026, subject to the continued satisfactory performance of the satellite. The Company recorded the net present value of these expected future payments as a liability and as a component of the cost of the satellite. However, for disclosure purposes, the Company is required to measure the fair value of outstanding satellite performance incentives on a recurring basis. The fair value of the Company’s outstanding satellite performance incentives is estimated to approximate their carrying value based on current rates (Level 2). As of each of September 30, 2015 and April 3, 2015, the Company’s estimated satellite performance incentives obligation and accrued interest was $22.1 million and $22.4 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.

+ References + Details