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Debt
6 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2014
Debt [Abstract]  
Debt [Text Block]

Note 5. Debt

 

Debt consisted of the following (in thousands):

  March 31, September 30,
  2014 2013
       
   
       
 Multi-currency revolving credit facility due 2018$ - $ -
 Receivables securitization facility due 2016  -   -
 Revolving credit note  -   -
 $500,000, 5 7/8% senior notes due 2015  499,526   499,377
 $400,000, 4 7/8% senior notes due 2019  397,960   397,803
 $500,000, 3 1/2% senior notes due 2021  499,462   499,426
  Total debt$ 1,396,948 $ 1,396,606

The Company has a $1.4 billion multi-currency senior unsecured revolving credit facility, which is scheduled to expire in July 2018 (the “Multi-Currency Revolving Credit Facility”), with a syndicate of lenders. Interest on borrowings under the Multi-Currency Revolving Credit Facility accrues at specified rates based on the Company's debt rating and ranges from 68 basis points to 130 basis points over LIBOR / EURIBOR / Bankers Acceptance Stamping Fee, as applicable (90 basis points over LIBOR / EURIBOR / Bankers Acceptance Stamping Fee at March 31, 2014). Additionally, interest on borrowings denominated in Canadian dollars may accrue at the greater of the Canadian prime rate or the CDOR rate. The Company pays facility fees to maintain the availability under the Multi-Currency Revolving Credit Facility at specified rates based on its debt rating, ranging from 7 basis points to 20 basis points, annually, of the total commitment (10 basis points at March 31, 2014). The Company may choose to repay or reduce its commitments under the Multi-Currency Revolving Credit Facility at any time. The Multi-Currency Revolving Credit Facility contains covenants, including compliance with a financial leverage ratio test, as well as others that impose limitations on, among other things, indebtedness of excluded subsidiaries and asset sales, with which the Company was compliant as of March 31, 2014.

The Company has a commercial paper program whereby it may from time to time issue short-term promissory notes in an aggregate amount of up to $1.4 billion at any one time. Amounts available under the program may be borrowed, repaid, and re-borrowed from time to time. The maturities on the notes will vary, but may not exceed 365 days from the date of issuance. The notes will bear interest rates, if interest bearing, or will be sold at a discount from their face amounts. The commercial paper program does not increase the Company's borrowing capacity as it is fully backed by the Company's Multi-Currency Revolving Credit Facility.

The Company has a $950 million receivables securitization facility (“Receivables Securitization Facility”), which is scheduled to expire in June 2016. The Company has available to it an accordion feature whereby the commitment on the Receivables Securitization Facility may be increased by up to $250 million, subject to lender approval, for seasonal needs during the December and March quarters. During December 2013, the Company increased the availability of the Receivables Securitization Facility by $250 million under the accordion feature. During March 2014, the Company elected to decrease the availability of the Receivables Securitization Facility back to $950 million. Interest rates are based on prevailing market rates for short-term commercial paper or LIBOR plus a program fee of 75 basis points. The Company pays an unused fee of 40 basis points, annually, to maintain the availability under the Receivables Securitization Facility. The Receivables Securitization Facility contains similar covenants to the Multi-Currency Revolving Credit Facility, with which the Company was compliant as of March 31, 2014.

The Company has an uncommitted, unsecured line of credit available to it pursuant to a revolving credit note (“Revolving Credit Note”). The Revolving Credit Note provides the Company with the ability to request short-term unsecured revolving credit loans from time to time in a principal amount not to exceed $45 million. In April 2014, the Company entered into an amendment to the Revolving Credit Note to increase its maximum capacity to $75 million. The Revolving Credit Note may be decreased or terminated by the bank or the Company at any time without prior notice.