Basis of Presentation and Accounting Policies (Policies)

6 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2014

Receivables are stated net of allowances for doubtful accounts of $22.9 million at March 31, 2014 and $22.5 million at September 30, 2013. In addition, receivables are stated net of an allowance for certain customer returns, rebates and incentives of $8.2 million at March 31, 2014 and $8.9 million at September 30, 2013.

Product warranty obligations

We record a liability for product warranty obligations at the time of sale to a customer based upon historical warranty experience. Most of our products are covered under a warranty period that runs for twelve months from either the date of sale or installation. We also record a liability for specific warranty matters when they become probable and reasonably estimable. Our product warranty obligations are included in other current liabilities in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet.

Derivative instruments and fair value measurement

We use foreign currency forward exchange contracts to manage certain foreign currency risks. We enter into these contracts to hedge our exposure to foreign currency exchange rate variability in the expected future cash flows associated with certain third-party and intercompany transactions denominated in foreign currencies expected to occur within the next two years (cash flow hedges). Certain of our locations have assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than their functional currencies resulting from intercompany loans and other transactions with third parties denominated in foreign currencies. We also enter into foreign currency forward exchange contracts that we do not designate as hedging instruments to offset the transaction gains or losses associated with some of these assets and liabilities.

We value our forward exchange contracts using a market approach. We use a valuation model based on inputs including forward and spot prices for currency and interest rate curves. We did not change our valuation techniques during the six months ended March 31, 2014. The notional values of our forward exchange contracts outstanding at March 31, 2014 were $885.5 million, of which $638.5 million were designated as cash flow hedges. Currency pairs (buy/sell) comprising the most significant contract notional values were United States dollar (USD)/euro, USD/Canadian dollar, Swiss franc/euro, Mexican peso/USD, USD/Brazilian real, Singapore dollar/USD, and Swiss franc/Canadian dollar.

We also use foreign currency denominated debt obligations to hedge portions of our net investments in non-U.S. subsidiaries. The currency effects of the debt obligations are reflected in accumulated other comprehensive loss within shareholders’ equity where they offset gains and losses recorded on our net investments globally. At March 31, 2014 we had $14.9 million of foreign currency denominated debt designated as net investment hedges.

U.S. GAAP defines fair value as the price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (exit price) in an orderly transaction between market participants in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability. U.S. GAAP also classifies the inputs used to measure fair value into the following hierarchy:



Level 1:	Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.



Level 2:	Quoted prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, or inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability.



Level 3:	Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability.

Income Taxes

At the end of each interim period, we estimate a base effective tax rate that we expect for the full fiscal year based on our most recent forecast of pre-tax income, permanent book and tax differences and global tax planning strategies. We use this base rate to provide for income taxes on a year-to-date basis, excluding the effect of significant unusual or extraordinary items and items that are reported net of their related tax effects. We record the tax effect of significant unusual or extraordinary items and items that are reported net of their tax effects in the period in which they occur.

- Definition

Disclosure of accounting policy for its derivative instruments and hedging activities.

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- Definition

Disclosure of accounting policy for income taxes, which may include its accounting policies for recognizing and measuring deferred tax assets and liabilities and related valuation allowances, recognizing investment tax credits, operating loss carryforwards, tax credit carryforwards, and other carryforwards, methodologies for determining its effective income tax rate and the characterization of interest and penalties in the financial statements.

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- Definition

Disclosure of accounting policy for trade and other accounts receivable, and finance, loan and lease receivables, including those classified as held for investment and held for sale. This disclosure may include (1) the basis at which such receivables are carried in the entity's statements of financial position (2) how the level of the valuation allowance for receivables is determined (3) when impairments, charge-offs or recoveries are recognized for such receivables (4) the treatment of origination fees and costs, including the amortization method for net deferred fees or costs (5) the treatment of any premiums or discounts or unearned income (6) the entity's income recognition policies for such receivables, including those that are impaired, past due or placed on nonaccrual status and (7) the treatment of foreclosures or repossessions (8) the nature and amount of any guarantees to repurchase receivables.

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