Financial Instruments and Fair Value Measurement

6 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2017

Financial Instruments and Fair Value Measurement

Financial Instruments and Fair Value Measurement

4.Financial Instruments and Fair Value Measurement

The estimated fair value of our available-for-sale securities, reflected on our Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets as Investments, is based on market quotes. The following is a summary of available-for-sale securities, which excludes assets held in a Non-qualified Supplemental Savings Plan:


			Gross		Gross		Estimated
			Unrealized		Unrealized		Fair
	Cost		Gains		Losses		Value
	(in thousands)
Equity Securities:
March 31, 2017	$	38,473	$	36,159	$	—	$	74,632
September 30, 2016	$	38,473	$	33,051	$	—	$	71,524

On an ongoing basis we evaluate the marketable equity securities to determine if any decline in fair value below cost is other-than-temporary. If a decline in fair value below cost is determined to be other-than-temporary, an impairment charge is recorded and a new cost basis established. We review several factors to determine whether a loss is other-than-temporary. These factors include, but are not limited to, (i) the length of time a security is in an unrealized loss position, (ii) the extent to which fair value is less than cost, (iii) the financial condition and near-term prospects of the issuer and (iv) our intent and ability to hold the security for a period of time sufficient to allow for any anticipated recovery in fair value. The cost of securities used in determining realized gains and losses is based on the average cost basis of the security sold.

The assets held in the Non-qualified Supplemental Savings Plan are carried at fair value which totaled $13.7 million at March 31, 2017 and $13.4 million September 30, 2016. The assets are comprised of mutual funds that are measured using Level 1 inputs.

Short-term investments include securities classified as trading securities. Both realized and unrealized gains and losses on trading securities are included in other income (expense) in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. The securities are recorded at fair value.

The majority of cash equivalents are invested in highly liquid money-market mutual funds invested primarily in direct or indirect obligations of the U.S. Government. The carrying amount of cash and cash equivalents approximates fair value due to the short maturity of those investments.

Fair value is defined as the exchange price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. We use the fair value hierarchy established in ASC 820-10 to measure fair value to prioritize the inputs:

Level 1 — Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the reporting entity can access at the measurement date.

Level 2 — Observable inputs, other than quoted prices included in Level 1, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets; quoted prices for 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 — Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities. This includes pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies and similar techniques that use significant unobservable inputs.

At March 31, 2017, our financial instruments utilizing Level 1 inputs include cash equivalents, equity securities with active markets, money market funds we have elected to classify as restricted assets that are included in other current assets and other assets. Also included is cash denominated in a foreign currency that we have elected to classify as restricted to be used to settle the remaining liabilities of discontinued operations. For these items, quoted current market prices are readily available.

At March 31, 2017, Level 2 inputs include U.S. Agency issued debt securities, municipal bonds and corporate bonds measured using broker quotations that utilize observable market inputs. Also included in level 2 inputs are bank certificate of deposits included in short-term investments or current assets.

Currently, we do not have any financial instruments utilizing Level 3 inputs.

The following table summarizes our assets measured at fair value presented in our Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheet as of March 31, 2017:


	Fair Value		(Level 1)		(Level 2)		(Level 3)
	(in thousands)
Recurring fair value measurements:
Short-term investments:
Certificate of deposit	$	3,099	$	—	$	3,099	$	—
Corporate and municipal debt securities		15,727		—		15,727		—
U.S. government and federal agency securities		29,185		25,195		3,990		—
Total short-term investments		48,011		25,195		22,816		—

Cash and cash equivalents		741,746		741,746		—		—
Investments		74,632		74,632		—		—
Other current assets		28,344		28,094		250		—
Other assets		2,000		2,000		—		—
Total assets measured at fair value	$	894,733	$	871,667	$	23,066	$	—

The following information presents the supplemental fair value information about long-term fixed-rate debt at March 31, 2017 and September 30, 2016:


	March 31,		September 30,
	2017		2016
	(in millions)
Carrying value of long-term fixed-rate debt	$	492.4	$	491.8
Fair value of long-term fixed-rate debt	$	523.7	$	529.6

The fair value for the $500 million fixed-rate debt was based on broker quotes at March 31, 2017. The notes are classified within Level 2 as they are not actively traded in markets.

- 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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