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Derivative Financial Instruments | 12 Months Ended
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Sep. 30, 2017
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract] |
Derivative Financial Instruments | Note 11—Derivative and Non-derivative Financial Instruments Derivative Financial Instruments Designated derivative financial instrument hedges. The aggregate notional amount of the Company's derivative contracts outstanding in its hedge program was $1.8 billion at September 30, 2017 and $1.6 billion at September 30, 2016. As of September 30, 2017, the Company’s cash flow hedges in an asset position totaled $8 million and were classified in prepaid expenses and other current assets on the consolidated balance sheet, while cash flow hedges in a liability position totaled $64 million and were classified in accrued liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet. These amounts are subject to master netting agreements, which provide the Company with a legal right to net settle multiple payable and receivable positions with the same counterparty, in a single currency through a single payment. However, the Company presents fair values on a gross basis on the consolidated balance sheets. See Note 1—Summary of Significant Accounting Policies. The Company uses regression analysis to assess hedge effectiveness prospectively and retrospectively. The effectiveness tests are performed on the foreign exchange forward contracts based on changes in the spot rate of the derivative instrument compared to changes in the spot rate of the forecasted hedged transaction. Forward points are excluded for effectiveness testing and measurement purposes. The excluded forward points are reported in earnings. For fiscal 2017, 2016 and 2015, the amounts by which earnings were reduced relating to excluded forward points were $18 million, $30 million and $29 million, respectively. The effective portion of changes in the fair value of derivative contracts is recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income or loss on the consolidated balance sheets. When the forecasted transaction occurs and is recognized in earnings, the amount in accumulated other comprehensive income or loss related to that hedge is reclassified to operating revenue or expense. The Company expects to reclassify $49 million of pre-tax losses to earnings during fiscal 2018. Non-designated derivative financial instrument hedges. Subsequent to the acquisition of Visa Europe, the Company entered into currency forward contracts to offset Visa Europe hedges outstanding at the date of the acquisition that did not qualify for cash flow hedge accounting treatment in accordance with U.S. GAAP or the Company’s accounting policy. The Company utilizes foreign exchange derivative contracts to hedge against foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations related to certain monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currency held by Visa Europe. As of September 30, 2017 and 2016, the aggregate notional amount of these balance sheet hedges was $1.0 billion and $1.1 billion, respectively. Credit and market risks. The Company's derivative financial instruments are subject to both credit and market risk. The Company monitors the credit-worthiness of the financial institutions that are counterparties to its derivative financial instruments and does not consider the risks of counterparty nonperformance to be significant. The Company mitigates this risk by entering into master netting agreements, and except for derivative instruments entered into by Visa Europe, such agreements require each party to post collateral against its net liability position with the respective counterparty. As of September 30, 2017, the Company has received collateral of $2 million, from counterparties, which is included in accrued liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet, and posted collateral of $51 million, which is included in other assets in the consolidated balance sheet. Notwithstanding the Company’s efforts to manage foreign exchange risk, there can be no absolute assurance that its hedging activities will adequately protect against the risks associated with foreign currency fluctuations. Credit and market risks related to derivative instruments were not considered significant at September 30, 2017. Non-derivative Financial Instrument Designated as a Net Investment Hedge As of September 30, 2017, the Company had designated $1.2 billion of its euro-denominated deferred cash consideration liability, a non-derivative financial instrument, as a hedge against a portion of the foreign currency exchange rate exposure of the Company's euro-denominated net investment of $18.8 billion in Visa Europe. During fiscal 2017, changes in the euro exchange rate against the U.S. dollar resulted in net foreign currency translation adjustments of $1.1 billion.

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- Definition The entire disclosure for derivative instruments and hedging activities including, but not limited to, risk management strategies, non-hedging derivative instruments, assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses, and methodologies and assumptions used in determining the amounts. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/topic&trid=2229140 + Details
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