Accounting Changes (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2011

Accounting Changes [Abstract]

Revenue Recognition

In October 2009, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued revised revenue recognition guidance affecting the accounting for software-enabled devices and multiple-element arrangements. The revisions expand the scope of multiple-element arrangement guidance to include revenue arrangements containing certain nonsoftware elements and related software elements. Additionally, the revised guidance changes the manner in which separate units of accounting are identified within a multiple-element arrangement and modifies the manner in which transaction consideration is allocated across the separately identified deliverables. The Company adopted the revised revenue recognition guidance for new arrangements the Company entered into on or after October 1, 2010. The adoption of these new requirements did not significantly impact the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Adoption of revised variable interest entity accounting rules

In June 2009, the FASB issued guidance amending the variable interest consolidation model. The revised model amends certain guidance for determining whether an entity is a variable interest entity and requires a qualitative, rather than quantitative, analysis to determine the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity. The Company’s adoption of the amended variable interest consolidation model on October 1, 2010 did not significantly impact the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

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.

Allocation of gain/loss of foreign currency translation hedges on a segment basis

The Company evaluates segment performance based upon operating income. Segment operating income represents revenues reduced by product costs and operating expenses. From time to time, the Company hedges against certain forecasted sales of U.S.-produced products sold outside the United States. Gains and losses associated with these foreign currency translation hedges are reported in segment revenues based upon their proportionate share of these international sales of U.S.-produced products.

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities

The Company has foreign currency exposures throughout Europe, Asia Pacific, Canada, Japan and Latin America. 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. Forward contracts were used to hedge forecasted sales in fiscal year 2010. As of June 30, 2011, the Company has not entered into contracts to hedge cash flows in fiscal year 2011.

The Company designates forward contracts used to hedge these certain forecasted sales denominated in foreign currencies as cash flow hedges. Changes in the effective portion of the fair value of the Company’s forward contracts that are designated and qualify as cash flow hedges (i.e., hedging the exposure to variability in expected future cash flows that is attributable to a particular risk) are included in Other comprehensive income (loss) until the hedged transactions are reclassified in earnings. These changes result from the maturity of derivative instruments as well as the commencement of new derivative instruments. The changes also reflect movements in the period-end foreign exchange rates against the forward rates at the time the Company enters into any given derivative instrument contract. Once the hedged revenue transaction occurs, the recognized gain or loss on the contract is reclassified from Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to Revenues. The Company records the premium or discount of the forward contracts, which is included in the assessment of hedge effectiveness, to Revenues.

In the event that the revenue transactions underlying a derivative instrument are no longer probable of occurring, accounting for the instrument under hedge accounting is discontinued. Gains and losses previously recognized in Other comprehensive income (loss) are reclassified into Other income (expense). If only a portion of the revenue transaction underlying a derivative instrument is no longer probable of occurring, only the portion of the derivative relating to those revenues would no longer be eligible for hedge accounting.

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, are recognized in Other income (expense).

The total notional amounts of the Company’s outstanding foreign exchange contracts as of June 30, 2011 and September 30, 2010 were $1,690,611 and $1,776,046, respectively.

Interest Rate Risks and Related Strategies

The Company’s primary interest rate exposure results from changes in short-term 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 $996, net of tax.

As of both June 30, 2011 and September 30, 2010, the total notional amount of the Company’s outstanding interest rate swaps designated as fair value hedges was $200,000. The current year’s 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. The Company had no outstanding interest rate swaps designated as cash flow hedges as of June 30, 2011.

Risk Exposures Not Hedged

The Company purchases resins, which are oil-based components used in the manufacture of certain products. While the Company has been able to hedge certain purchases of polyethylene, the Company does not currently use any hedges to manage the risk exposures related to other resins. 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 other commodity purchases. The Company had no commodity forward contracts outstanding as of June 30, 2011.

ASC 820 fair value disclosure

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. The fair value of long-term debt is based upon quoted prices in active markets for similar instruments.

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 nine months ended June 30, 2011.