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Financial instruments
12 Months Ended
Aug. 31, 2018
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]  
Financial instruments
Financial instruments
The Company uses derivative instruments to manage its exposure to interest rate and foreign currency exchange risks.

The notional amount and fair value of derivative instruments outstanding were as follows (in millions):
August 31, 2018
 
Notional
 
Fair value
 
Location in Consolidated
Balance Sheets
Derivatives designated as hedges:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate swaps
 
$
250


$
1

 
Other current liabilities
Foreign currency forwards
 
15

 

 
Other current assets
Derivatives not designated as hedges:
 
 

 
 

 
 
Foreign currency forwards
 
3,273


52

 
Other current assets
Foreign currency forwards
 
825


4

 
Other current liabilities

August 31, 2017
 
Notional
 
Fair value
 
Location in Consolidated
Balance Sheets
Derivatives designated as hedges:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate swaps
 
$
250

 
$

 
Other non-current assets
Foreign currency forwards
 
24

 

 
Other current assets
Derivatives not designated as hedges:
 
 

 
 

 
 
Foreign currency forwards
 
221

 

 
Other current assets
Foreign currency forwards
 
2,816

 
19

 
Other current liabilities

The Company uses interest rate swaps to manage the interest rate exposure associated with some of its fixed-rate borrowings and designates them as fair value hedges. From time to time, the Company uses forward starting interest rates swaps to hedge its interest rate exposure of some of its anticipated debt issuance.

The Company utilizes foreign currency forward contracts and other foreign currency derivatives to hedge significant committed and highly probable future transactions and cash flows denominated in currencies other than the functional currency of the Company or its subsidiaries. The Company has significant non-US dollar denominated net investments and uses foreign currency denominated financial instruments, specifically foreign currency derivatives and foreign currency denominated debt, to hedge its foreign currency risk.

Fair value hedges
The Company holds an interest rate swap converting $250 million of its 5.250% fixed rate notes to a floating interest rate based on the six-month LIBOR in arrears plus a constant spread. All swap termination dates coincide with the notes’ maturity date, January 15, 2019. These swaps were designated as fair value hedges.

The gains and losses due to changes in fair value on the swaps and on the hedged notes attributable to interest rate risk did not have a material impact on the Company’s Financial Statements. The changes in fair value of the Company’s debt that was swapped from fixed to variable rate and designated as fair value hedges are included in long-term debt on the Consolidated Balance Sheets (see note 7, debt). No material gain or losses were recorded for ineffectiveness during fiscal 2018, 2017, or 2016.                                                        

Derivatives not designated as hedges
The Company enters into derivative transactions that are not designated as accounting hedges. These derivative instruments are economic hedges of foreign currency risks. The income and (expense) due to changes in fair value of these derivative instruments were recognized in earnings as follows (in millions):
 
 
Location in Consolidated Statements of Earnings
 
2018
 
2017
 
2016
Foreign currency forwards
 
Selling, general and administrative expense
 
$
17

 
$
11

 
$
19

Foreign currency forwards
 
Other income (expense)
 
22

 
(48
)
 
(12
)


Warrants
On March 18, 2016, the Company exercised warrants to purchase 22,696,912 shares of AmerisourceBergen common stock at an exercise price of $51.50 per share for an aggregate exercise price payment of $1.17 billion. On August 25, 2016, the Company exercised additional warrants to purchase 22,696,912 shares of AmerisourceBergen common stock at an exercise price of $52.50 per share for an aggregate exercise price payment of $1.19 billion. See note 5, equity method investments, for further information.

The Company reported its warrants at fair value. The income and (expense) due to changes in fair value of the warrants recognized in earnings were as follows (in millions):
 
 
Location in Consolidated Statements of Earnings
 
2018
 
2017
 
2016
Warrants
 
Other income (expense)
 
$

 
$

 
$
(546
)


The Company held no warrants to purchase AmerisourceBergen common stock on August 31, 2018 and 2017.

Derivatives credit risk
Counterparties to derivative financial instruments expose the Company to credit-related losses in the event of counterparty nonperformance, and the Company regularly monitors the credit worthiness of each counterparty.

Derivatives offsetting
The Company does not offset the fair value amounts of derivative instruments subject to master netting agreements in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.