Recently Issued Accounting Standards

3 Months Ended

Jan. 31, 2020

Accounting Changes And Error Corrections [Abstract]

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

2. Recently issued accounting standards

New accounting guidance adopted:

On November 1, 2019, we adopted ASU 2016-02, Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 842, “Leases.” This standard requires a lessee to recognize on the balance sheet the assets and liabilities for the rights and obligations created by those leases with a lease term of more than 12 months. We elected to use the transition option, which allows entities to initially apply the new standard at the adoption date and recognize a cumulative effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings in the period of adoption without restating prior periods. We elected the practical expedient package related to the identification of leases in contracts, lease classification, and accounting for initial direct costs whereby prior conclusions do not have to be reassessed for leases that commenced before the effective date. As we have not reassessed such conclusions, we did not adopt the practical expedient to use hindsight to determine the likelihood of whether a lease will be extended or terminated, to separate non-lease components within our lease portfolios, or whether a purchase option will be exercised.  There was not a material cumulative-effect adjustment to our beginning retained earnings for the adoption of this standard.  We recognized operating right-of-use assets and lease liabilities in our Consolidated Balance Sheet of $130,583 and $134,853 as of November 1, 2019, respectively, and recognized operating right-of-use assets and lease liabilities of $130,059 and $134,271 as of January 31, 2020, respectively.  Adoption of the new standard did not have a material impact on our Consolidated Statements of Income and Cash Flows.  Refer to Note 14 for further discussion of leases.      

New accounting guidance issued and not yet adopted:

In June 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued ASU 2016-13, “Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326),” a new standard that changes the impairment model for most financial instruments. Current guidance requires the recognition of credit losses based on an incurred loss impairment methodology that reflects losses once the losses are probable.  We will be required to use a current expected credit loss model that will immediately recognize an estimate of credit losses that are expected to occur over the life of the financial instruments that are in the scope of this update, including trade receivables.  The standard does not prescribe a specific method to make an estimate so the application will require judgment and should consider historical information, current information, and reasonable and supportable forecasts, and includes estimates of prepayment.  This guidance will become effective for us on November 1, 2020. We are currently assessing the impact this standard will have on the Consolidated Financial Statements.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13, “Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820),” a new standard which removes, modifies, and adds certain disclosure requirements on fair value measurements.  The guidance removes disclosure requirements pertaining to the amount of and reasons for transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy, the policy for timing of transfers between levels, and the valuation processes for Level 3 fair value measurements. For investments in certain entities that calculate net asset value, an entity is required to disclose the timing of liquidation of an investee’s assets and the date when restrictions from redemption might lapse only if the investee has communicated the timing to the entity or announced the timing publicly.  In addition, the amendment clarifies that the measurement uncertainty disclosure is to communicate information about the uncertainty in measurement as of the reporting date. The guidance adds disclosure requirements for changes in unrealized gains and losses for the period included in other comprehensive income for recurring Level 3 fair value

measurements held at the end of the reporting period as well as the range and weighted average of significant unobservable inputs used to develop Level 3 fair value measurements.  It will be effective for us beginning November 1, 2020.  Early adoption is permitted.  We are currently assessing the impact this standard will have on our Consolidated Financial Statements.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-14, “Compensation – Retirement Benefits – Defined Benefit Plans – General (Subtopic 715-20),” a new standard which addresses defined benefit plans.  The amendments modify the following disclosure requirements for employers that sponsor defined benefit pension or other postretirement plans: the amounts in accumulated other comprehensive income expected to be recognized as components of net period benefit cost over the next fiscal year, amount and timing of plan assets expected to be returned to the employer, related party disclosure about the amount of future annual benefits covered by insurance and annuity contracts and significant transactions between the employer or related parties and the plan, and the effects of a one-percentage point change in assumed health care cost trend rates on the (a) aggregate of the service and interest cost components of net periodic benefit costs and (b) benefit obligations for postretirement health care benefits.  A disclosure requirement was added for the explanation of the reasons for significant gains and losses related to changes in the benefit obligation for the period.  Additionally, the standard clarifies disclosure requirement surrounding the projected benefit obligation (PBO) and fair value of plan assets for plans with PBOs in excess of plan assets and the accumulated benefit obligation (ABO) and fair value of plan assets for plans with ABOs in excess of plan assets.  It will be effective for us beginning November 1, 2021.  Early adoption is permitted.  We are currently assessing the impact this standard will have on our Consolidated Financial Statements.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-15, “Intangibles – Goodwill and Other Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40),” a new standard which makes a number of changes meant to help entities evaluate the accounting for fees paid by a customer in a cloud computing arrangement (hosting arrangement), by providing guidance in determining when the arrangement includes a software license. It will be effective for us beginning November 1, 2020.  Early adoption is permitted.  We are currently assessing the impact this standard will have on our Consolidated Financial Statements.

In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12, “Income Taxes (ASC 740) – Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes,” which simplifies the accounting for income taxes by removing certain exceptions to the general principles in ASC 740.  The amendments also improve consistent application of and simplify U.S. GAAP for other areas of ASC 740 by clarifying and amending existing guidance.  It will be effective for us beginning November 1, 2021.  Early adoption is permitted, including adoption in any interim period for which financial statements have not yet been issued.  Depending on the amendment, adoption may be applied on the retrospective, modified retrospective or prospective basis.  We are currently assessing the impact of this standard on our Consolidated Financial Statements.