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Fair Value Measurements
9 Months Ended
Nov. 26, 2011
Fair Value Measurements

3. Fair Value Measurements

Fair value measurements are determined based upon the exit price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants exclusive of any transaction costs. The Company utilizes a fair value hierarchy based upon the observability of inputs used in valuation techniques as follows:

 

Level 1: Observable inputs such as quoted prices in active markets;

 

Level 2: Inputs, other than quoted prices in active markets, that are observable either directly or indirectly; and

 

Level 3: Unobservable inputs in which there is little or no market data, which require the reporting entity to develop its own assumptions.

The Company has cash equivalents in short-term money market funds invested primarily in high-quality tax-exempt municipal instruments. The primary objective of our short-term investment activity is to preserve our capital for the purpose of funding operations and we do not enter into short-term investments for trading or speculative purposes. The fair values are based on unadjusted quoted market prices for the funds in active markets with sufficient volume and frequency (Level 1). Also included in Level 1 assets are mutual fund investments under the non-qualified deferred compensation plan. The Company estimates the fair value of these investments on a recurring basis using market prices that are readily available.

As of November 26, 2011, the Company had no non-financial assets or non-financial liabilities requiring measurement at fair value, other than the fair value measurement of the Company’s preliminary purchase price allocation.