COGNIZANT TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS CORP | 2013 | FY | 3


Fair Value Measurements
We measure our cash equivalents, investments and foreign exchange forward contracts at fair value. The authoritative guidance defines fair value as the exit price, or the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants as of the measurement date. The authoritative guidance also establishes a fair value hierarchy that is intended to increase consistency and comparability in fair value measurements and related disclosures. The fair value hierarchy is based on inputs to valuation techniques that are used to measure fair value that are either observable or unobservable. Observable inputs reflect assumptions market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability based on market data obtained from independent sources while unobservable inputs reflect a reporting entity’s pricing based upon their own market assumptions.
The fair value hierarchy consists of the following three levels:
Level 1 – Inputs are quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
Level 2 – Inputs are quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in an active market, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, inputs other than quoted prices that are observable and market-corroborated inputs which are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data.
Level 3 – Inputs are derived from valuation techniques in which one or more significant inputs or value drivers are unobservable.

The following table summarizes our financial assets and (liabilities) measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2013:
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Total
Cash equivalents:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Money market funds
$
694,416

 
$

 
$

 
$
694,416

Time deposits
 
 
128,654

 
 
 
128,654

Commercial paper

 
22,000

 
 
 
22,000

Total cash equivalents
694,416

 
150,654

 

 
845,070

Short-term investments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Time deposits

 
329,783

 

 
329,783

Available-for-sale investment securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. Treasury and agency debt securities
423,051

 
83,234

 

 
506,285

Corporate and other debt securities

 
401,800

 

 
401,800

Asset-backed securities

 
160,267

 

 
160,267

Municipal debt securities

 
115,196

 

 
115,196

Mutual funds

 
21,136

 

 
21,136

Total available-for-sale investment securities
423,051

 
781,633

 

 
1,204,684

Total short-term investments
423,051

 
1,111,416

 

 
1,534,467

Derivative financial instruments - foreign exchange forward contracts:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other current assets

 
11,105

 

 
11,105

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

 
(191,584
)
 

 
(191,584
)
Other noncurrent liabilities

 
(164,490
)
 

 
(164,490
)
Total
$
1,117,467

 
$
917,101

 
$

 
$
2,034,568

The following table summarizes our financial assets and (liabilities) measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2012:
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Total
Cash equivalents:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Money market funds
$
411,512

 
$

 
$

 
$
411,512

Time deposits

 
300,770

 

 
300,770

Commercial paper

 
7,918

 

 
7,918

Total cash equivalents
411,512

 
308,688

 

 
720,200

Short-term investments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Time deposits

 
282,335

 

 
282,335

Available-for-sale investment securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. Treasury and agency debt securities
392,067

 
159,169

 

 
551,236

Corporate and other debt securities

 
294,556

 

 
294,556

Asset-backed securities

 
97,112

 

 
97,112

Municipal debt securities

 
47,292

 

 
47,292

Mutual funds

 
21,150

 

 
21,150

Total available-for-sale investment securities
392,067

 
619,279

 

 
1,011,346

Total short-term investments
392,067

 
901,614

 

 
1,293,681

Derivative financial instruments - foreign exchange forward contracts:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other current assets

 
1,344

 

 
1,344

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

 
(130,923
)
 

 
(130,923
)
Other noncurrent assets

 
3,436

 

 
3,436

Other noncurrent liabilities

 
(175,628
)
 

 
(175,628
)
Total
$
803,579

 
$
908,531

 
$

 
$
1,712,110



We measure the fair value of money market funds and U.S. Treasury securities based on quoted prices in active markets for identical assets. The fair value of commercial paper, certificates of deposit, U.S. government agency securities, municipal debt securities, U.S. and international corporate bonds and foreign government debt securities is measured based on relevant trade data, dealer quotes, or model driven valuations using significant inputs derived from or corroborated by observable market data, such as yield curves and credit spreads. We measure the fair value of our asset-backed securities using model driven valuations based on significant inputs derived from or corroborated by observable market data such as dealer quotes, available trade information, spread data, current market assumptions on prepayment speeds and defaults and historical data on deal collateral performance. The value of the mutual funds invested in fixed income securities is based on the net asset value, or NAV, of the fund, with appropriate consideration of the liquidity and any restrictions on disposition of our investment in the fund.
We estimate the fair value of each foreign exchange forward contract by using a present value of expected cash flows model. This model calculates the difference between the current market forward price and the contracted forward price for each foreign exchange contract and applies the difference in the rates to each outstanding contract. The market forward rates include a discount and credit risk factor. The amounts are aggregated by type of contract and maturity.
During the year ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, there were no transfers among Level 1, Level 2, or Level 3 financial assets and liabilities.

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