Fair Value Measurements

6 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2024

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

The following table presents the Company’s assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis and the basis for that measurement according to the levels in the fair value hierarchy in ASC Topic 820, “Fair Value Measurement.”


	March 31, 2024						September 30, 2023
	Total		Level 1		Level 2			Total		Level 1		Level 2
Assets:
Deferred compensation investments	$	15.5	$	15.5	$	—		$	13.0	$	13.0	$	—
Derivative assets	13.8		—		13.8			25.6		—		25.6


	$	29.3	$	15.5	$	13.8		$	38.6	$	13.0	$	25.6
Liabilities:
Deferred compensation liabilities	$	45.6	$	—	$	45.6		$	36.8	$	—	$	36.8
Derivative liabilities	16.2		—		16.2			16.1		—		16.1
	$	61.8	$	—	$	61.8		$	52.9	$	—	$	52.9

Deferred Compensation

The deferred compensation investments are primarily invested in mutual funds, and their fair value is measured using the market approach. These investments are in the same funds, or funds that employ a similar investment strategy, and are purchased in substantially the same amounts, as the participants’ selected notional investment options (excluding Post common stock equivalents), which represent the underlying liabilities to participants in the Company’s deferred compensation plans. Deferred compensation liabilities are recorded at amounts due to participants in cash, based on the fair value of participants’ selected notional investment options (excluding certain Post common stock equivalents to be distributed in shares) using the market approach.

Derivatives

The Company utilizes the income approach to measure fair value for its commodity and energy derivatives. The income approach uses pricing models that rely on market observable inputs such as yield curves and forward prices. FX contracts are valued using the spot rate less the forward rate multiplied by the notional amount. The Company’s calculation of the fair value of interest rate swaps is derived from a discounted cash flow analysis based on the terms of the contract and the interest rate curve. Refer to Note 11 for the classification of changes in fair value of derivative assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis within the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Equity Securities and Other Fair Value Measurements

The Company uses the market approach to measure the fair value of its equity securities, which were immaterial as of both March 31, 2024 and September 30, 2023. The Company’s financial assets and liabilities also include cash and cash equivalents, receivables and accounts payable for which the carrying value approximates fair value due to their short maturities (less than 12 months). The Company does not record its current portion of long-term debt and long-term debt at fair value on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. The fair values of any outstanding borrowings under the municipal bond and the Revolving Credit Facility (as defined in Note 13) as of March 31, 2024 and September 30, 2023 approximated their carrying values. Based on current market rates, the fair value (Level 2) of the Company’s debt, excluding any outstanding borrowings under the municipal bond and the Revolving Credit Facility, was $5,960.1 and $5,491.5 as of March 31, 2024 and September 30, 2023, respectively, which included $649.2 and $572.6 related to the Company’s convertible senior notes, respectively.

Certain assets and liabilities, including property, goodwill and other intangible assets, are measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis using Level 3 inputs.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for the fair value of financial instruments (as defined), including financial assets and financial liabilities (collectively, as defined), and the measurements of those instruments as well as disclosures related to the fair value of non-financial assets and liabilities. Such disclosures about the financial instruments, assets, and liabilities would include: (1) the fair value of the required items together with their carrying amounts (as appropriate); (2) for items for which it is not practicable to estimate fair value, disclosure would include: (a) information pertinent to estimating fair value (including, carrying amount, effective interest rate, and maturity, and (b) the reasons why it is not practicable to estimate fair value; (3) significant concentrations of credit risk including: (a) information about the activity, region, or economic characteristics identifying a concentration, (b) the maximum amount of loss the entity is exposed to based on the gross fair value of the related item, (c) policy for requiring collateral or other security and information as to accessing such collateral or security, and (d) the nature and brief description of such collateral or security; (4) quantitative information about market risks and how such risks are managed; (5) for items measured on both a recurring and nonrecurring basis information regarding the inputs used to develop the fair value measurement; and (6) for items presented in the financial statement for which fair value measurement is elected: (a) information necessary to understand the reasons for the election, (b) discussion of the effect of fair value changes on earnings, (c) a description of [similar groups] items for which the election is made and the relation thereof to the balance sheet, the aggregate carrying value of items included in the balance sheet that are not eligible for the election; (7) all other required (as defined) and desired information.

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