Leases, Codification Topic 842 (Policies)

6 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

Leases [Abstract]

Lessee, Leases

Lessee arrangements

Certain of the properties Valvoline utilizes, including quick-lube service center stores, offices, blending and warehouse facilities, in addition to certain equipment, are leased. Valvoline determines if an arrangement contains a lease at inception primarily based on whether or not the Company has the right to control the asset during the contract period. For all agreements where it is determined that a lease exists, including those with an initial term of 12 months or less, the related lease assets and liabilities are recognized on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as either operating or finance leases at the commencement date. The lease liability is measured at the present value of future lease payments over the lease term, and the right-of-use asset is measured at the lease liability amount, adjusted for prepaid lease payments, lease incentives and the lessee’s initial direct costs (e.g., commissions). The lease term includes options to extend or terminate the lease when it is reasonably certain that the option will be exercised.

Fixed payments, including variable payments based on a rate or index, are included in the determination of the lease liability, while other variable payments are recognized in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income in the period in which the obligation for those payments is incurred. Many leases contain lease components requiring rental payments and other components that require payment for taxes, insurance, operating expenses and maintenance. In instances where these other components are fixed, they are included in the measurement of the lease liability due to Valvoline's election to combine lease and non-lease components. Otherwise, these other components are expensed as incurred and comprise the majority of Valvoline's variable lease costs. As most leases do not provide the rate implicit in the lease, the Company estimates its incremental borrowing rate to best approximate the rate of interest that Valvoline would have to pay to borrow on a collateralized basis over a similar term an amount equal to the lease payments in a similar economic environment. Valvoline applies the incremental borrowing rate to groups of leases with similar lease terms in determining the present value of future payments. In determining the incremental borrowing rate, the Company considers information available at commencement date, including lease term, interest rate yields for specific interest rate environments and the Company's credit spread.