Fair Value Measurements

6 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2017


9.	FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

Fair value is defined as an exit price, i.e., the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date.

The fair value hierarchy prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value into three broad levels as follows:


Level 1	— Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.


Level 2	— Inputs that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly through market corroboration, for substantially the full term of the asset or liability.


Level 3	— Inputs that are unobservable for the asset or liability based on our own assumptions (about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability).

The methods and assumptions used to measure the fair value of financial instruments are as follows:

Short-term Investments

Short-term investments include time deposits, certificates of deposit, and repurchase agreement funds with original maturities greater than 90 days and less than one year. The estimated fair value of the short-term investments, which approximates carrying value as of 31 March 2017 and 30 September 2016, was determined using level 1 or level 2 inputs within the fair value hierarchy. Level 1 measurements were based on observed net asset values, and level 2 measurements were based on current interest rates for similar investments with comparable credit risk and time to maturity.

Derivatives

The fair value of our interest rate management contracts and forward exchange contracts are quantified using the income approach and are based on estimates using standard pricing models. These models take into account the value of future cash flows as of the balance sheet date, discounted to a present value using discount factors that match both the time to maturity and currency of the underlying instruments. The computation of the fair values of these instruments is generally performed by the Company. These standard pricing models utilize inputs which are derived from or corroborated by observable market data such as interest rate yield curves and currency spot and forward rates. Therefore, the fair value of our derivatives is classified as a level 2 measurement. On an ongoing basis, we randomly test a subset of our valuations against valuations received from the transaction’s counterparty to validate the accuracy of our standard pricing models. Counterparties to these derivative contracts are highly rated financial institutions.

Refer to Note 8, Financial Instruments, for a description of derivative instruments, including details on the balance sheet line classifications.

Long-term Debt

The fair value of our debt is based on estimates using standard pricing models that take into account the value of future cash flows as of the balance sheet date, discounted to a present value using discount factors that match both the time to maturity and currency of the underlying instruments. These standard valuation models utilize observable market data such as interest rate yield curves and currency spot rates. Therefore, the fair value of our debt is classified as a level 2 measurement. We generally perform the computation of the fair value of these instruments.

The carrying values and fair values of financial instruments were as follows:



	31 March 2017				30 September 2016
	Carrying Value		Fair Value		Carrying Value		Fair Value
Assets
Derivatives
Forward exchange contracts	$	129.2	$	129.2	$	193.8	$	193.8
Interest rate management contracts	196.3		196.3		179.9		179.9
Liabilities
Derivatives
Forward exchange contracts	$	91.0	$	91.0	$	82.6	$	82.6
Interest rate management contracts	23.7		23.7		12.7		12.7
Long-term debt, including current portion	3,720.9		3,823.0		4,275.1		4,450.5

The carrying amounts reported in the balance sheet for cash and cash items, short-term investments, trade receivables, payables and accrued liabilities, accrued income taxes, and short-term borrowings approximate fair value due to the short-term nature of these instruments. Accordingly, these items have been excluded from the above table.

The following table summarizes assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis in the consolidated balance sheets:



	31 March 2017								30 September 2016
	Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Assets at Fair Value
Derivatives
Forward exchange contracts	$	129.2	$	—	$	129.2	$	—	$	193.8	$	—	$	193.8	$	—
Interest rate management contracts	196.3		—		196.3		—		179.9		—		179.9		—
Total Assets at Fair Value	$	325.5	$	—	$	325.5	$	—	$	373.7	$	—	$	373.7	$	—
Liabilities at Fair Value
Derivatives
Forward exchange contracts	$	91.0	$	—	$	91.0	$	—	$	82.6	$	—	$	82.6	$	—
Interest rate management contracts	23.7		—		23.7		—		12.7		—		12.7		—
Total Liabilities at Fair Value	$	114.7	$	—	$	114.7	$	—	$	95.3	$	—	$	95.3	$	—

The following is a tabular presentation of nonrecurring fair value measurements along with the level within the fair value hierarchy in which the fair value measurement in its entirety falls:



	31 December 2016								2017 Loss
	Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		2017 Loss
Plant and Equipment – Continuing operations^(A)	$	1.4	$	—	$	—	$	1.4	$	45.7
Plant and Equipment – Discontinued operations^(A)	$	11.0	$	—	$	—	$	11.0	$	6.3

^(A)

We assessed the recoverability of the carrying value of assets associated with the EfW discontinued operation, including the air separation unit within continuing operations of our Industrial Gases – EMEA segment. We based our estimates primarily on an orderly liquidation valuation which resulted in losses for the difference between the orderly liquidation value and net book value of the assets as of 31 December 2016. There have been no significant updates to our estimates as of 31 March 2017. For additional information, see Note 3, Discontinued Operations and Note 5, Cost Reduction and Asset Actions.

- 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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