Note 5 - Derivative Instruments

12 Months Ended

Aug. 31, 2014

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Text Block]

5. DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS

Cash Flow Hedges

FactSet conducts business outside the U.S. in several currencies including the British Pound Sterling, Euro, Japanese Yen, Indian Rupee and Philippine Peso. As such, it is exposed to movements in foreign currency exchange rates compared to the U.S. dollar. To manage the exposures related to the effects of foreign exchange rate fluctuations, the Company utilizes derivative instruments (foreign currency forward contracts). The Company’s primary objective in holding derivatives is to reduce the volatility of earnings and cash flows associated with changes in foreign currency. The Company does not enter into foreign exchange forward contracts for trading or speculative purposes. In designing a specific hedging approach, FactSet considered several factors, including offsetting exposures, significance of exposures, forecasting risk and potential effectiveness of the hedge. The gains and losses on foreign currency forward contracts offset the variability in operating expenses associated with currency movements. The changes in fair value for these foreign currency forward contracts are initially reported as a component of accumulated other comprehensive loss (“AOCL”) and subsequently reclassified into operating expenses when the hedged exposure affects earnings. There was no discontinuance of cash flow hedges during fiscal 2014 or fiscal 2013, and as such, no corresponding gains or losses related to changes in the value of our contracts were reclassified into earnings prior to settlement.

As of August 31, 2014, FactSet maintained foreign currency forward contracts to hedge approximately 75% of its Indian Rupee exposure through the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016 and approximately 50% of its Philippines Peso exposure through the second quarter of fiscal 2015. As of August 31, 2014, the notional principal and fair value of foreign exchange contracts to purchase Indian Rupees with U.S. dollars was Rs.2.5 billion and $0.7 million, respectively. As of August 31, 2014, the notional principal and fair value of foreign exchange contracts to purchase Philippine Pesos with U.S. dollars was Php 288.6 million and $0.1 million, respectively.

The following is a summary of all hedging positions and corresponding fair values (in thousands):

	Gross Notional Value				Fair Value Asset (Liability)
Currency Hedged (in U.S. dollars)	Aug 31, 2014		Aug 31, 2013		Aug 31, 2014		Aug 31, 2013
Indian Rupee	$	38,479	$	47,388	$	700	$	(7,693	)
Philippine Peso		6,500		11,700		115		(178	)
British Pound		0		10,436		0		131
Total	$	44,979	$	69,524	$	815	$	(7,740	)

Counterparty Credit Risk

As a result of the use of derivative instruments, the Company is exposed to counterparty credit risk. FactSet has incorporated counterparty risk into the fair value of its derivative assets and its own credit risk into the value of the Company’s derivative liabilities. FactSet calculates credit risk from observable data related to credit default swaps (“CDS”) as quoted by publicly available information. Counterparty risk is represented by CDS spreads related to the senior secured debt of the respective bank with whom FactSet has executed these derivative transactions. Because CDS spread information is not available for FactSet, the Company’s credit risk is determined based on using a simple average of CDS spreads for peer companies. To mitigate counterparty credit risk, FactSet enters into contracts with large financial institutions. The Company regularly reviews its credit exposure balances as well as the creditworthiness of the counterparties. The Company does not expect any losses as a result of default of its counterparties.

Fair Value of Derivative Instruments

The following tables provide a summary of the fair value amounts of derivative instruments and gains and losses on derivative instruments (in thousands):

Designation of Derivatives	Balance Sheet Location	Aug 31, 2014		Aug 31, 2013
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments	Assets: Foreign Currency Forward Contracts
	Prepaid expenses and other current assets	$	114	$	0
	Other assets	$	1,292		0
	Liabilities: Foreign Currency Forward Contracts
	Accounts payable and accrued expenses	$	591	$	3,085
	Deferred rent and other non-current liabilities	$	0	$	4,655

All derivatives were designated as hedging instruments as of August 31, 2014 and August 31, 2013, respectively.

Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging Relationships

The following table provides the pre-tax effect of derivative instruments in cash flow hedging relationships for the each of the three fiscal years ended August 31, 2014 (in thousands):

	Gain (Loss) Recognized in AOCL on Derivatives (Effective Portion)								Location of Gain (Loss)Reclassified from AOCL into Income (Effective	(Loss) Reclassifiedfrom AOCL into Income(Effective Portion)
Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging Relationships	2014		2013			2012			Portion)	2014			2013			2012
Foreign currency forward contracts	$	8,294	$	(6,258	)	$	(4,450	)	SG&A	$	(260	)	$	(1,000	)	$	(1,031	)

No amount of ineffectiveness was recorded in the Consolidated Statements of Income for these designated cash flow hedges and all components of each derivative’s gain or loss was included in the assessment of hedge effectiveness. As of August 31, 2014, FactSet estimates that $0.5 million of net derivative losses related to its cash flow hedges included in AOCL will be reclassified into earnings within the next 12 months.

Offsetting of Derivative Instruments

FactSet’s master netting and other similar arrangements with its respective counterparties allow for net settlement under certain conditions. As of August 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, information related to these offsetting arrangements was as follows (in thousands):

	Derivatives Offset in Consolidated Balance Sheets
August 31, 2014	Gross Derivative Amounts			Gross Derivative Amounts Offset in Balance Sheet		Net Amounts
Fair value of assets	$	1,406		$	0	$	1,406
Fair value of liabilities		(626	)		35		(591	)
Total	$	780		$	35	$	815

	Derivatives Offset in Consolidated Balance Sheets
August 31, 2013	Gross Derivative Amounts			Gross Derivative Amounts Offset in Balance Sheet		Net Amounts
Fair value of assets	$	131		$	0	$	131
Fair value of liabilities		(7,871	)		0		(7,871	)
Total	$	(7,740	)	$	0	$	(7,740	)