Accounting Changes (Policies)

6 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2016

Accounting Changes and Error Corrections [Abstract]

New Accounting Principle Adopted

New Accounting Principle Adopted

In November 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued amended guidance that requires entities to present deferred tax assets and liabilities as noncurrent on the balance sheet instead of separating deferred taxes into current and noncurrent amounts. Early adoption is permitted under the amendments. The Company has retrospectively adopted the guidance effective October 1, 2015 and as such, the condensed consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2015 reflects the reclassification of current deferred tax assets of $387 million as noncurrent amounts, after giving effect to jurisdictional netting requirements.

New Accounting Principle Not Yet Adopted

In February 2016, the FASB issued a new lease accounting standard which requires lessees to recognize lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet. The new standard also requires expanded disclosures regarding leasing arrangements. The Company is currently evaluating the impact that this new lease accounting standard will have on its consolidated financial statements upon its adoption of the standard on October 1, 2019.

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, 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.

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities

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, is recognized in Other income (expense), net.

The Company uses derivative instruments to mitigate certain exposures. The effects these derivative instruments and hedged items have on financial position, financial performance, and cash flows are provided below.

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.

ASC 820 Fair Value Disclosures

The Company measures the fair value of forward exchange contracts and interest rate swaps based upon the present value of expected future cash flows using market-based observable inputs including credit risk, interest rate yield curves, foreign currency spot prices and forward prices.

Long-term debt is recorded at amortized cost. The fair value of long-term debt is measured based upon quoted prices in active markets for similar instruments, which are considered Level 2 inputs in the fair value hierarchy. The fair value of long-term debt was $11.5 billion and $11.6 billion at March 31, 2016 and September 30, 2015, respectively. During the first quarter of fiscal year 2016, the Company reclassified $500 million of 1.75% notes due on November 8, 2016 from Long-Term Debt to Short-term debt. During the third quarter of fiscal year 2015, the Company reclassified $750 million of floating rates due on June 15, 2016 from Long-Term Debt to Short-term debt. The fair value of reclassified notes was $1.3 billion and $750 million at March 31, 2016 and September 30, 2015, respectively.

The contingent consideration liabilities were recognized as part of the consideration transferred by the Company for certain acquisitions. The fair values of the contingent consideration liabilities were estimated using probability-weighted discounted cash flow models that were based upon the probabilities assigned with regard to achievement of the contingent events. The estimated fair values of the contingent consideration liabilities are remeasured each reporting period based upon increases or decreases in the probability of the contingent payments. The change to the contingent consideration liability as of March 31, 2016 reflected the impact of a net decrease recorded in the second quarter of $22 million in the fair value of contingent consideration liabilities associated with certain product development milestones.

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.