Contingencies (Policies)

6 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2013

Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]

ASC 450-20 recognition guidelines

Given the uncertain nature of litigation generally, the Company is not able in all cases to estimate the amount or range of loss that could result from an unfavorable outcome of the litigation to which the Company is a party. In accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, the Company establishes accruals to the extent probable future losses are estimable (in the case of environmental matters, without considering possible third-party recoveries). In view of the uncertainties discussed below, the Company could incur charges in excess of any currently established accruals and, to the extent available, excess liability insurance. In the opinion of management, any such future charges, individually or in the aggregate, could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated results of operations and consolidated cash flows.

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities

Foreign Currency Risks and Related Strategies

The Company has foreign currency exposures throughout Europe, Asia Pacific, Canada, Japan and Latin America. Transactional currency exposures that arise from entering into transactions, generally on an intercompany basis, in non-hyperinflationary countries that are denominated in currencies other than the functional currency are mitigated primarily through the use of forward contracts and currency options. Hedges of the transactional foreign exchange exposures resulting primarily from intercompany payables and receivables are undesignated hedges. As such, the gains or losses on these instruments are recognized immediately in income. The offset of these gains or losses against the gains and losses on the underlying hedged items, as well as the hedging costs associated with the derivative instruments, is recognized in Other income (expense).

The total notional amounts of the Company’s outstanding foreign exchange contracts as of March 31, 2013 and September 30, 2012 were $1,696,651 and $2,020,698, respectively.

From time to time, the Company may partially hedge forecasted export sales denominated in foreign currencies using forward and option contracts, generally with one-year terms. The Company’s hedging program has been designed to mitigate exposures resulting from movements of the U.S. dollar, from the beginning of a reporting period, against other foreign currencies. The Company’s strategy is to offset the changes in the present value of future foreign currency revenue resulting from these movements with either gains or losses in the fair value of foreign currency derivative contracts. The Company did not enter into contracts to hedge cash flows for fiscal year 2012 and, as of March 31, 2013, the Company had not entered into such contracts to hedge cash flows for fiscal year 2013.

Interest Rate Risks and Related Strategies

The Company’s primary interest rate exposure results from changes in U.S. dollar interest rates. The Company’s policy is to manage interest cost using a mix of fixed and variable rate debt. The Company periodically uses interest rate swaps to manage such exposures. Under these interest rate swaps, the Company exchanges, at specified intervals, the difference between fixed and floating interest amounts calculated by reference to an agreed-upon notional principal amount. These swaps are designated as either fair value or cash flow hedges.

For interest rate swaps designated as fair value hedges (i.e., hedges against the exposure to changes in the fair value of an asset or a liability or an identified portion thereof that is attributable to a particular risk), changes in the fair value of the interest rate swaps offset changes in the fair value of the fixed rate debt due to changes in market interest rates.

Changes in the fair value of the interest rate swaps designated as cash flow hedges (i.e., hedging the exposure to variability in expected future cash flows that is attributable to a particular risk) are offset by amounts recorded in Other comprehensive income (loss). If interest rate derivatives designated as cash flow hedges are terminated, the balance in Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to those derivatives is reclassified into earnings over the remaining life of the hedged debt. The amount, related to terminated interest rate swaps, expected to be reclassified and recorded in Interest expense within the next 12 months is $5,418, net of tax.

The total notional amounts of the Company’s outstanding interest rate swaps designated as fair value hedges were $200,000 at both March 31, 2013 and September 30, 2012. The outstanding swap represents a fixed-to-floating rate swap agreement that was entered into to convert the interest payments on $200,000 in 4.55% notes, due April 15, 2013, from the fixed rate to a floating interest rate based on LIBOR. This swap was terminated, concurrent with the maturity of the underlying notes, in April 2013.

The Company had no outstanding interest rate swaps designated as cash flow hedges as of March 31, 2013 or as of September 30, 2012.

Other Risk Exposures

The Company purchases resins, which are oil-based components used in the manufacture of certain products. Significant increases in world oil prices that lead to increases in resin purchase costs could impact future operating results. From time to time, the Company has managed price risks associated with these commodity purchases. In July 2012, the Company entered into cash-settled forward contracts to hedge approximately 16% of its expected global resin purchase volumes in fiscal year 2013. These contracts were designated as cash flow hedges and the total notional amount of these contracts at March 31, 2013 and September 30, 2012 was $11,412 and $22,534, respectively.

ASC 820 fair value disclosures

The Company measures the fair value of forward exchange contracts and currency options using an income approach with significant observable inputs, specifically spot currency rates, market designated forward currency prices and a discount rate. The fair value of interest rate swaps is provided by the financial institutions that are counterparties to these arrangements.

Long-term debt is recorded at amortized cost. The fair value of long-term debt is measured based upon quoted prices in active markets for similar instruments, which are considered Level 2 inputs in the fair value hierarchy. The fair value of long-term debt was $4,228,699 and $4,317,059 at March 31, 2013 and September 30, 2012, respectively. The fair value of $200,000 of 4.55% notes due on April 15, 2013, that were reclassified from long-term debt to short-term debt during the third quarter of fiscal year 2012, was $200,282 and $206,452 at March 31, 2013 and September 30, 2012, respectively.

The Company’s policy is to recognize any transfers into fair value measurement hierarchy levels and transfers out of levels at the beginning of each reporting period. There were no transfers in and out of Level 1, Level 2 or Level 3 measurements for the three and six months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012.