Accounting Developments

6 Months Ended

May. 31, 2015

New Accounting Pronouncements and Changes in Accounting Principles [Abstract]

Accounting Developments

Accounting Developments

Accounting Standards to be Adopted in Future Periods

Debt Issuance Costs. In April 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") No. 2015-03, Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs. The accounting guidance requires that debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability be reported in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability. The guidance is effective retrospectively beginning in the first quarter of fiscal 2017 and early adoption is permitted. The adoption of this accounting guidance is not expected to have a material impact on our Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition.

Consolidation. In February 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-02, Consolidation (Topic 810): Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis. The amendment eliminates the deferral of certain consolidation standards for entities considered to be investment companies and modifies the consolidation analysis performed on certain types of legal entities. The guidance is effective beginning in the first quarter of fiscal 2017 and early adoption is permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact of the new guidance on our consolidated financial statements.

Repurchase Agreements. In June 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-11, Repurchase-to-Maturity Transactions, Repurchase Financings, and Disclosures. The accounting guidance changes the accounting for repurchase-to-maturity transactions and linked repurchase financings to secured borrowing accounting, which is consistent with the accounting for other repurchase agreements. This accounting change was effective in the second quarter of fiscal 2015. The guidance also requires new disclosures about certain transfers of financial assets accounted for as sales as well as increased transparency about the types of collateral pledged and remaining maturity of repurchase and securities lending agreements. The disclosure guidance related to certain transactions accounted for as sales was effective prospectively in the second quarter of fiscal 2015. The disclosure guidance related to the types of collateral pledged and remaining maturity of repurchase and securities lending agreements is effective prospectively in the third quarter of fiscal 2015. This guidance did not have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements and we will provide the additional disclosures in our consolidated financial statements.

Revenue Recognition. In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASU No. 2014-09”). The accounting guidance defines how companies report revenues from contracts with customers, and also requires enhanced disclosures. The guidance, as stated in ASU No. 2014-09, is effective beginning in the first quarter of fiscal 2018. In July 2015, the FASB confirmed a deferral of the effective date by one year, with early adoption on the original effective date permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact of the new guidance on our consolidated financial statements.

Adopted Accounting Standards

Investments in Certain Entities That Calculate Net Asset Value. In May 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-07, “Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820) - Disclosures for Investments in Certain Entities That Calculate Net Asset Value per Share (or Its Equivalent)” ("ASU No. 2015-07"). The guidance removes the requirement to include investments in the fair value hierarchy for which the fair value is measured at net asset value ("NAV") using the practical expedient under “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (Topic 820).” The guidance also removes the requirement to make certain disclosures for all investments that are eligible to be measured at fair value using the net asset value practical expedient. Rather, those disclosures are limited to investments for which we have elected to measure the fair value using that practical expedient. The guidance is effective retrospectively beginning in the first quarter of fiscal 2017. Early adoption is permitted and we have early adopted this guidance during the second quarter of fiscal 2015. Since the guidance only impacts our disclosures, adoption did not affect our consolidated financial statements. The adjustments had the impact of reducing Level 3 assets by $72.6 million at February 28, 2015, $97.1 million at November 30, 2014, $94.9 million at May 31, 2014, $95.6 million at February 28, 2014 and $91.6 million at November 30, 2013. For further information on the adoption of ASU No. 2015-07, refer to Note 4, Fair Value Disclosures.

Discontinued Operations. In April 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-08, Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity. The guidance changes the criteria for disposals to qualify as discontinued operations and requires new disclosures about disposals of both discontinued operations and certain other disposals that do not meet the new definition. The guidance was effective beginning in the first quarter of 2015. The adoption of this guidance did not have a significant impact on our consolidated financial statements.

Income Taxes. In July 2013, the FASB issued ASU No. 2013-11, Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists. The guidance requires an entity to net their unrecognized tax benefit, or a portion of an unrecognized tax benefit, in the financial statements against a deferred tax asset for a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss or tax credit carryforward, unless such tax loss or credit carryforward is not available at the reporting date under the tax law of the applicable jurisdiction to settle any additional income taxes resulting from the disallowance of a tax position. In the event that the tax position is disallowed or the tax law of the applicable jurisdiction does not require the entity to use, and the entity does not intend to use, the deferred tax asset for such purpose, the unrecognized tax benefit shall be presented in the financial statements as a liability and shall not be combined with deferred tax assets. The guidance was effective for fiscal years and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2013, and is applied prospectively to all unrecognized tax benefits that exist at the effective date. The adoption of this update, effective December 1, 2014, did not have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.