Basis of Presentation and Major Accounting Policies

6 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Basis of Presentation and Major Accounting Policies

BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND MAJOR ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The interim consolidated financial statements of Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. and its subsidiaries (“we,” “our,” “us,” the “Company,” “Air Products,” or “registrant”) included herein have been prepared by us, without audit, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. In our opinion, the accompanying statements reflect adjustments necessary to present fairly the financial position, results of operations, and cash flows for those periods indicated and contain adequate disclosures to make the information presented not misleading. Adjustments included herein are of a normal, recurring nature unless otherwise disclosed in the notes. The notes to the interim consolidated financial statements, unless otherwise indicated, are on a continuing operations basis.

To fully understand the basis of presentation, the consolidated financial statements and related notes included herein should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended 30 September 2019 ( the "2019 Form 10-K"). Results of operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations for a full year.

Refer to our 2019 Form 10-K for a description of major accounting policies. In fiscal year 2020, these policies were impacted by the implementation of certain new accounting guidance, including the adoption of Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") Topic 842, Leases, and all related amendments (the "new lease standard”). We adopted the new lease standard as of 1 October 2019 under the modified retrospective approach. Comparative prior year information has not been restated and continues to be reported under the accounting standards in effect for those periods. Our updated lease policy is discussed below.

Other than the adoption of new accounting guidance as discussed in Note 2, New Accounting Guidance, and presentation changes discussed below, there were no notable changes to our accounting policies during the first six months of fiscal year 2020.

Leases

As lessee, we recognize a right-of-use ("ROU") asset and lease liability on the balance sheet for all leases with a term in excess of 12 months. We determine if an arrangement contains a lease at inception. The arrangement contains a lease when there is an identifiable asset, we obtain substantially all of the economic benefits from that asset, and we direct how and for what purpose the asset is used during the term of the arrangement. If the initial term of an arrangement is 12 months or less, we have made an accounting election to not assess if these arrangements contain a lease for inclusion on our balance sheet.

ROU assets represent our right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent our obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. ROU assets and lease liabilities are recognized at the commencement date based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term. Since our leases generally do not provide an implicit discount rate, we use our incremental borrowing rates based on the information available at the commencement date in determining the present value of lease payments. To determine the incremental borrowing rate, we consider our unsecured borrowings and published market rates, and then adjust those rates to assume full collateralization and to factor in the individual lease term, geography, and payment structure.

Our lease term includes periods covered by options to extend or terminate the lease when it is reasonably certain that we will exercise an option to extend or not exercise an option to terminate. Lease payments consider our practical expedient to combine amounts for lease and related non-lease components for all classes of underlying assets in which we are lessee. Fixed payments and payments associated with escalation clauses based on an index are included in the ROU asset and lease liability at commencement. Variable lease payments are excluded from the ROU assets and lease liabilities and are recognized in the period in which the obligation for those payments is incurred. Our variable lease payments primarily include the impact from escalation clauses that are not fixed or based on an index. Prepaid lease payments are included in the recognition of ROU assets. Our lease agreements do not contain any material lease incentives, residual value guarantees or restrictions or covenants.

Foreign Currency

As further discussed in Note 2, New Accounting Guidance, we adopted new accounting guidance on hedging activities in fiscal year 2020 that changed the income statement presentation of excluded components (foreign currency forward points and currency swap basis differences) of our cash flow hedges of intercompany loans. This activity is now amortized on a straight-line basis within “Other non-operating income (expense), net" instead of being recognized in "Interest expense." In addition, gains and losses from the foreign currency remeasurement of balances associated with intercompany and third-party financing transactions, related income tax assets and liabilities, and the impact of related hedges are now also reflected within “Other non-operating income (expense), net.” All other gains and losses from foreign currency transactions continue to be reflected within "Other income (expense), net" on our consolidated income statements. Comparative prior year information has not been restated.

COVID-19 Risks and Uncertainties

In March 2020, the World Health Organization declared the novel strain of coronavirus ("COVID-19") a global pandemic and recommended containment and mitigation measures worldwide. The Company is monitoring this, and although operations have not been materially affected by the COVID-19 outbreak as of and for the three and six months ended 31 March 2020, we are unable to predict the impact that COVID-19 will have on our future financial position and operating results due to numerous uncertainties. The duration and severity of the outbreak and its long-term impact on our business are uncertain at this time.