NOTE 4. SALES OF ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE

For added flexibility with the Company's liquidity, we may sell certain trade accounts receivable both in the U.S. and internationally. CMC has a $200.0 million U.S. sale of trade accounts receivable program which expires in August 2019. Under the program, CMC contributes, and certain of its subsidiaries sell without recourse, certain eligible trade accounts receivable to CMC Receivables, Inc. ("CMCRV"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of CMC. CMCRV is structured to be a bankruptcy-remote entity formed for the sole purpose of buying and selling trade accounts receivable generated by the Company. CMCRV sells the trade accounts receivable in their entirety to two financial institutions. Under the U.S. sale of trade accounts receivable program, with the consent of both CMCRV and the program's administrative agent, the amount advanced by the financial institutions can be increased to a maximum of $300.0 million for all trade accounts receivable sold. The remaining portion of the purchase price of the trade accounts receivable takes the form of subordinated notes from the respective financial institutions. These notes will be satisfied from the ultimate collection of the trade accounts receivable after payment of certain fees and other costs. The Company accounts for sales of the trade accounts receivable as true sales, and the trade accounts receivable balances that are sold are removed from the consolidated balance sheets. The cash advances received are reflected as cash from operating activities on the Company's unaudited condensed consolidated statements of cash flows. Additionally, the U.S. sale of trade accounts receivable program contains certain cross-default provisions whereby a termination event could occur if the Company defaulted under certain of its credit arrangements. The covenants contained in the receivables purchase agreement are consistent with the Credit Agreement described in Note 7, Credit Arrangements.

At February 28, 2018 and August 31, 2017, under its U.S. sale of trade accounts receivable program, the Company had sold

$246.7 million and $226.9 million of trade accounts receivable, respectively, to the financial institutions. At February 28, 2018, the Company had no advance payments outstanding on the sale of its U.S. trade accounts receivable. At August 31, 2017, the Company had $90.0 million in advance payments outstanding on the sale of its U.S. trade accounts receivable.

In addition to the U.S. sale of trade accounts receivable program described above, the Company's international subsidiaries in Poland sell, and previously in Australia have sold, trade accounts receivable to financial institutions without recourse. These arrangements constitute true sales, and once the trade accounts receivable are sold, they are no longer available to the Company's creditors in the event of bankruptcy and are removed from the consolidated balance sheets. The Polish program has a facility limit of 220.0 million Polish zloty ("PLN") ($64.2 million as of February 28, 2018) and allows the Company's Polish subsidiaries to obtain an advance of up to 90% of eligible trade accounts receivable sold under the terms of the arrangement. Under the Polish and Australian programs, the cash advances received were reflected as cash from operating activities on the Company's unaudited condensed consolidated statements of cash flows. During the first quarter of fiscal 2017, the Company's Australian program expired, and the Company did not enter into a new program.

At February 28, 2018 and August 31, 2017, under its Polish program, the Company sold $91.3 million and $79.5 million of trade accounts receivable, respectively, to the third-party financial institution. At both February 28, 2018 and August 31, 2017, the Company had no advance payments outstanding on the sales of its Polish trade accounts receivable.

During the six months ended February 28, 2018 and 2017, cash proceeds from the U.S. and international sale of trade accounts receivable programs were $1.4 million and $178.8 million, respectively, and cash payments to the owners of trade accounts receivable were $91.4 million and $183.9 million, respectively. For a nominal servicing fee, the Company is responsible for servicing the trade accounts receivable for the U.S. program. Discounts on U.S. and international sales of trade accounts receivable were $0.2 million and $0.5 million for the three and six months ended February 28, 2018, respectively, and $0.2 million and $0.4 million for the three and six months ended February 28, 2017, respectively, and are included in selling, general and administrative expenses in the Company's unaudited condensed consolidated statements of earnings.

As of February 28, 2018 and August 31, 2017, the deferred purchase price on the Company's U.S. and international sale of trade accounts receivable programs was included in accounts receivable on the Company's unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets. The following tables summarize the activity of the deferred purchase price receivables for the U.S. and international sale of trade accounts receivable programs.



	Three Months Ended February 28, 2018
(in thousands)	Total			U.S.*			Poland
Beginning balance	$	293,376		$	221,034		$	72,342
Transfers of accounts receivable	689,004			551,757			137,247
Collections	(646,168		)	(527,907		)	(118,261		)
Ending balance	$	336,212		$	244,884		$	91,328

*Includes the sale of trade accounts receivable activities related to the U.S.-based operations of International Marketing and Distribution that are in discontinued operations, including transfers of trade accounts receivable of $40.6 million and collections of $105.8 million for the three months ended February 28, 2018.



	Six Months Ended February 28, 2018
(in thousands)	Total			U.S.*			Poland
Beginning balance	$	215,123		$	135,623		$	79,500
Transfers of accounts receivable	1,345,646			1,087,650			257,996
Collections	(1,224,557		)	(978,389		)	(246,168		)
Ending balance	$	336,212		$	244,884		$	91,328

*Includes the sale of trade accounts receivable activities related to the U.S.-based operations of International Marketing and Distribution that are in discontinued operations, including transfers of trade accounts receivable of $136.7 million and collections of $196.0 million for the six months ended February 28, 2018.



	Three Months Ended February 28, 2017
(in thousands)	Total			U.S.*			Poland
Beginning balance	$	261,521		$	215,717		$	45,804
Transfers of accounts receivable	643,478			561,010			82,468
Collections	(592,553		)	(518,008		)	(74,545		)
Ending balance	$	312,446		$	258,719		$	53,727

*Includes the sale of trade accounts receivable activities related to the U.S.-based operations of International Marketing and Distribution that are in discontinued operations, including transfers of trade accounts receivable of $128.8 million and collections of $104.5 million for the three months ended February 28, 2017.



	Six Months Ended February 28, 2017
(in thousands)	Total			U.S.*			Australia**			Poland
Beginning balance	$	289,748		$	212,762		$	26,662		$	50,324
Transfers of accounts receivable	1,200,442			1,031,155			16,914			152,373
Collections	(1,143,827		)	(985,198		)	(9,659		)	(148,970		)
Program termination	(33,917		)	—			(33,917		)	—
Ending balance	$	312,446		$	258,719		$	—		$	53,727

_________________

* Includes the sale of trade accounts receivable activities related to the U.S.-based operations of International Marketing and Distribution that are in discontinued operations, including transfers of trade accounts receivable of $221.3 million and collections of $201.9 million for the six months ended February 28, 2017.


**	All Australia trade accounts receivable activities are related to discontinued operations as of February 28, 2017.