Financial Instruments and Fair Value Measurements

12 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2019

Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]

Financial Instruments and Fair Value Measurements

NOTE 11. FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS AND FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

In accordance with ASC 820, fair value measurements are required to be disclosed using a three-tiered fair value hierarchy which distinguishes market participant assumptions into the following categories:

• Level 1—Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

• Level 2—Observable inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1. The Company could value assets and liabilities included in this level using dealer and broker quotations, certain pricing models, bid prices, quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data.

• Level 3—Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities. For the Company, this primarily includes the use of forecasted financial information and other valuation related assumptions such as discount rates and long term growth rates in the income approach as well as the market approach which utilizes certain market and transaction multiples.

Under ASC 820, certain assets and liabilities are required to be remeasured to fair value at the end of each reporting period. The following table summarizes those assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis:

	June 30, 2019								June 30, 2018
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
	(in millions)
Assets:
Foreign currency derivatives—cash flow hedges	$	—	$	1	$	—	$	1	$	—	$	3	$	—	$	3
Cross-currency interest rate derivatives—fair value hedges		—		29		—		29		—		29		—		29
Cross-currency interest rate derivatives—economic hedges		—		12		—		12		—		10		—		10
Cross-currency interest rate derivatives—cash flow hedges		—		116		—		116		—		76		—		76
Equity securities(a)		74		—		113		187		93		—		—		93
Total assets	$	74	$	158	$	113	$	345	$	93	$	118	$	—	$	211
Liabilities:
Interest rate derivatives—cash flow hedges	$	—	$	20	$	—	$	20	$	—	$	20	$	—	$	20
Mandatorily redeemable noncontrolling interests		—		—		11		11		—		—		12		12
Cross-currency interest rate derivatives—cash flow hedges		—		18		—		18		—		12		—		12
Total liabilities	$	—	$	38	$	11	$	49	$	—	$	32	$	12	$	44

(a) See Note 6—Investments.

There have been no transfers between levels of the fair value hierarchy during the periods presented.

Equity securities

The fair values of equity securities with quoted prices in active markets are determined based on the closing price at the end of each reporting period. These securities are classified as Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy outlined above. The fair values of equity securities without readily determinable fair market values are determined based on cost, less any impairment, plus or minus changes in fair value resulting from observable price changes in orderly transactions for an identical or similar investment of the same issuer. These securities are classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy outlined above.

A rollforward of the Company’s equity securities classified as Level 3 is as follows:

	For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2019
	(in millions)
Balance—beginning of period(a)	$	127
Purchases		8
Sales		(10	)
Measurement adjustments		(2	)
Foreign exchange and other		(10	)
Balance—end of period	$	113

(a) Includes impact from the adoption of ASU 2016-01. See Note 1—Description of Business and Basis of Presentation.

Mandatorily redeemable noncontrolling interests

The Company has liabilities recorded in its Balance Sheets for its mandatorily redeemable noncontrolling interests. These liabilities represent management’s best estimate of the amounts expected to be paid in accordance with the contractual terms of the underlying acquisition agreements. The fair values of these liabilities are based on the contractual payout formulas included in the acquisition agreements taking into account the expected performance of the business. Any remeasurements or accretion related to the Company’s mandatorily redeemable noncontrolling interests are recorded through Interest (expense) income, net in the Statements of Operations. As the fair value does not rely on observable market inputs, the Company classifies these liabilities as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy.

A rollforward of the Company’s mandatorily redeemable noncontrolling interest liabilities classified as Level 3 is as follows:

	For the fiscal year ended June 30,
	2019			2018
	(in millions)
Balance—beginning of year	$	12		$	79
Additions		—			12
Payments		—			(81	)
Measurement adjustments		(4	)		—
Accretion		4			3
Foreign exchange movements		(1	)		(1	)
Balance—end of year	$	11		$	12

Derivative Instruments

The Company is directly and indirectly affected by risks associated with changes in certain market conditions. When deemed appropriate, the Company uses derivative instruments to mitigate the potential impact of these market risks. The primary market risks managed by the Company through the use of derivative instruments include:

• foreign currency exchange rate risk: arising primarily through Foxtel Debt Group borrowings denominated in U.S. dollars; and

• interest rate risk: arising from fixed and floating rate Foxtel Debt Group borrowings.

The Company formally designates qualifying derivatives as hedge relationships (“hedges”) and applies hedge accounting when considered appropriate. For economic hedges where no hedge relationship has been designated, changes in fair value are included as a component of net income in each reporting period within Other, net in the Statements of Operations. The Company does not use derivative financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes.

Hedges are classified as current or non-current in the Consolidated Balance Sheets based on their maturity dates. Refer to the table below for further details:

			Fair value as of June 30,
	Balance Sheet Location		2019			2018
			(in millions)
Foreign currency derivatives—cash flow hedges		Other current assets	$	1		$	3
Cross-currency interest rate derivatives—fair value hedges		Other current assets		8			—
Cross-currency interest rate derivatives—economic hedges		Other current assets		12			—
Cross-currency interest rate derivatives—cash flow hedges		Other current assets		33			—
Cross-currency interest rate derivatives—fair value hedges		Other non-current assets		21			29
Cross-currency interest rate derivatives—cash flow hedges		Other non-current assets		83			76
Cross-currency interest rate derivatives—economic hedges		Other non-current assets		—			10
Interest rate derivatives—cash flow hedges		Other current liabilities		(2	)		—
Interest rate derivatives—cash flow hedges		Other non-current liabilities		(18	)		(20	)
Cross-currency interest rate derivatives—cash flow hedges		Other non-current liabilities		(18	)		(12	)

Cash flow hedges

The Company utilizes a combination of foreign currency derivatives, interest rate derivatives and cross-currency interest rate derivatives to mitigate currency exchange and interest rate risk in relation to future interest payments and payments for license fees.

The total notional value of foreign exchange contract derivatives designated for hedging was $9 million as of June 30, 2019. The maximum hedge term over which the Company is hedging exposure to foreign currency fluctuations is to July 2019. As of June 30, 2019, the Company estimates that approximately $1 million of net derivative gains related to its foreign currency contract derivative cash flow hedges included in Accumulated other comprehensive loss will be reclassified into the Statement of Operations within the next 12 months.

The total notional value of interest rate swap derivatives designated as cash flow hedges was approximately A$700 million as of June 30, 2019. The maximum hedged term over which the Company is hedging exposure to variability in interest payments is to September 2022. As of June 30, 2019, the Company estimates that approximately $5 million of net derivative gains related to its interest rate swap derivative cash flow hedges included in Accumulated other comprehensive loss will be reclassified into the Statement of Operations within the next 12 months.

The total notional value of cross-currency interest rate swaps that were designated as cash flow hedges was approximately A$400 million as of June 30, 2019. The maximum hedged term over which the Company is hedging exposure to variability in interest payments is to July 2024. As of June 30, 2019, the Company estimates that approximately $2 million of net derivative gains related to its cross-currency interest rate swap derivative cash flow hedges included in Accumulated other comprehensive loss will be reclassified into the Statement of Operations within the next 12 months.

The following table presents the impact that changes in the fair values of derivatives designated as cash flow hedges had on Accumulated other comprehensive loss and the Statement of Operations during the fiscal years ended June 30, 2019 and 2018. The Company did not have any such hedges in fiscal 2017.

	Gain (loss) recognized in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss for the Fiscal year ended June 30,					(Gain) loss reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss for the Fiscal year ended June 30,						Income statement location
	2019			2018		2019			2018
	(in millions)
Derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges:
Foreign currency derivatives—cash flow hedges	$	2		$	3	$	(3	)	$	1		Operating expenses
Cross-currency interest rate derivatives—cash flow hedges		9			8		(4	)		(9	)	Interest (expense) income, net
Interest rate derivatives—cash flow hedges		(9	)		—		8			1		Interest (expense) income, net
Total	$	2		$	11	$	1		$	(7	)

During fiscal 2019 and 2018, the amount recognized in the Statements of Operations for the ineffective portion of derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges was approximately $4 million and nil, respectively, and the Company did not exclude any component of the changes in fair value of the derivative instruments from the assessment of hedge effectiveness.

Fair value hedges

The Company’s primary interest rate risk arises from its borrowings acquired as a part of the Transaction. Borrowings issued at fixed rates and in U.S. dollars expose Foxtel to fair value interest rate risk and currency exchange rate risk. The Company manages fair value interest rate risk and currency exchange rate risk through the use of cross-currency interest rate swaps under which the Company exchanges fixed interest payments equivalent to the interest payments on the U.S. dollar denominated debt for floating rate Australian dollar denominated interest payments. The changes in fair value of derivatives designated as fair value hedges and the offsetting changes in fair value of the hedged items are recognized in Other, net. As of June 30, 2019, such adjustments increased the carrying value of borrowings by approximately $4 million.

The total notional value of the fair value hedges was approximately A$100 million as of June 30, 2019. The maximum hedged term over which the Company is hedging exposure to variability in interest payments is to July 2024.

During fiscal 2019 and 2018, the amount recognized in the Statement of Operations on derivative instruments designated as fair value hedges related to the ineffective portion was nil and the Company did not exclude any component of the changes in fair value of the derivative instruments from the assessment of hedge effectiveness.

Economic (non-designated) hedges

In addition to derivative instruments that are designated and qualify for hedge accounting, the Company also uses certain derivatives not designated as accounting hedges to mitigate foreign currency and interest rate risk. These are referred to as economic hedges. The changes in fair value of economic hedges are immediately recognized into the Statement of Operations. The total notional value of cross-currency interest rate derivatives classified as economic hedges was $75 million as of June 30, 2019, which relate to the U.S. private placement 2009 debt.

Nonrecurring Fair Value Measurements

In addition to assets and liabilities that are remeasured at fair value on a recurring basis, the Company has certain assets, primarily goodwill, intangible assets, equity method investments and property, plant and equipment, that are not required to be remeasured to fair value at the end of each reporting period. On an ongoing basis, the Company monitors whether events occur or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair values of these assets below their carrying amounts. If the Company determines that these assets are impaired, the Company would write down these assets to fair value. These nonrecurring fair value measurements are considered to be Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy.

During the third quarter of fiscal 2018, the Company recognized a $957 million non-cash write-down of the carrying value of its investment in Foxtel from $1,588 million to $631 million. In the second quarter of fiscal 2018, the Company recognized non-cash write-downs of certain equity method investments of approximately $13 million. During the second quarter of fiscal 2017, the Company recognized a $227 million non-cash write-down of the carrying value of its investment in Foxtel from $1,432 million to $1,205 million. See Note 6—Investments.

During the third quarter of fiscal 2018, the Company recognized non-cash impairment charges of $120 million and $45 million to goodwill and intangible assets, respectively, at the News America Marketing reporting unit. The carrying value of goodwill decreased from $301 million to $181 million and the carrying value of intangible assets decreased from $391 million to $346 million. See Note 8—Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets.

During the third quarter of fiscal 2018, the Company recognized a $41 million non-cash impairment charge to goodwill at the FOX SPORTS Australia reporting unit. The carrying value of goodwill decreased from $490 million to $449 million. See Note 8—Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets.

During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017, the Company recognized a non-cash impairment charge of approximately $360 million related to the write-down of fixed assets at the U.K. newspapers. The carrying value of fixed assets decreased from $731 million to $371 million. See Note 7—Property, Plant and Equipment.

During the second quarter of fiscal 2017, the Company recognized a non-cash impairment charge of approximately $310 million primarily related to the write-down of fixed assets at News Corp Australia. The carrying value of fixed assets decreased from $667 million to $375 million and the carrying value of the intangible assets decreased from $48 million to $30 million. See Note 7—Property, Plant and Equipment.

Other Fair Value Measurements

As of June 30, 2019, the carrying value of the Company’s outstanding borrowings approximates the fair value. The U.S. private placement borrowings are classified as Level 2 and the remaining borrowings are classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy.