Derivative Financial Instruments and Hedging Activities

12 Months Ended

Aug. 31, 2017

Derivative Financial Instruments and Hedging Activities [Abstract]

Derivative Financial Instruments and Hedging Activities

14. Derivative Financial Instruments and Hedging Activities

The Company is directly and indirectly affected by changes in certain market conditions. These changes in market conditions may adversely impact the Company’s financial performance and are referred to as market risks. The Company, where deemed appropriate, uses derivatives as risk management tools to mitigate the potential impact of certain market risks. The primary market risks managed by the Company through the use of derivative instruments are foreign currency fluctuation risk and interest rate risk.

Foreign Currency Risk Management

Forward contracts are put in place to manage the foreign currency risk associated with the anticipated foreign currency denominated revenues and expenses. A hedging relationship existed with an aggregate notional amount outstanding of $314.6 million and $323.3 million as ofAugust 31,2017 and August 31, 2016, respectively. The related forward foreign exchange contracts have been designated as hedging instruments and are accounted for as cash flow hedges. The forward foreign exchange contract transactions will effectively lock in the value of anticipated foreign currency denominated revenues and expenses against foreign currency fluctuations. The anticipated foreign currency denominated revenues and expenses being hedged are expected to occur between September 1, 2017 and May 31, 2018.

In addition to derivatives that are designated as hedging instruments and qualify for hedge accounting, the Company also enters into forward contracts to economically hedge transactional exposure associated with commitments arising from trade accounts receivable, trade accounts payable, fixed purchase obligations and intercompany transactions denominated in a currency other than the functional currency of the respective operating entity. The aggregate notional amount of these outstanding contracts as ofAugust 31,2017 and August 31, 2016, was $2.1 billion and $1.7 billion, respectively.

The following table presents the Company’s assets and liabilities related to forward foreign exchange contracts measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of August 31,2017, aggregated by the level in the fair-value hierarchy in which those measurements are classified (in thousands):

	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
Assets:
Forward foreign exchange contracts	$	―		39,660		―	$	39,660
Liabilities:
Forward foreign exchange contracts		―		(10,539)		―		(10,539)
Total	$	―		29,121		―	$	29,121

The Company’s forward foreign exchange contracts are measured on a recurring basis at fair value, based on foreign currency spot rates and forward rates quoted by banks or foreign currency dealers.

The following table presents the fair values of the Company’s derivative instruments located on the Consolidated Balance Sheets utilized for foreign currency risk management purposes as ofAugust 31,2017 and 2016 (in thousands):

		Fair Values of Derivative Instruments
		Asset Derivatives					Liability Derivatives
		Balance Sheet	Fair Value as of		Fair Value as of		Balance Sheet	Fair Value as of		Fair Value as of
		Location	August 31, 2017		August 31, 2016		Location	August 31, 2017		August 31, 2016
Derivatives designated as
	hedging instruments:
		Prepaid expenses
Forward foreign exchange		and other current					Accrued
	contracts	assets	$	8,380	$	420	expenses	$	1,408	$	1,986
Derivatives not designated
	as hedging instruments:
		Prepaid expenses
Forward foreign exchange		and other current					Accrued
	contracts	assets	$	31,280	$	3,850	expenses	$	9,131	$	10,801

The gains and losses recognized in earnings due to hedge ineffectiveness and the amount excluded from effectiveness testing were not material for all periods presented and are included as components of net revenue, cost of revenue and selling, general and administrative expense.

The Company recognized gains and losses in earnings related to changes in fair value of derivatives utilized for foreign currency risk management purposes and not designated as hedging instruments during fiscal years 2017, 2016 and 2015. Theseamounts were not material and were recognized as components of cost of revenue.

Interest Rate Risk Management

The Company periodically enters into interest rate swaps to manage interest rate risk associated with the Company’s borrowings.

Cash Flow Hedges

During the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2016, the Company entered into forward starting swap transactions to hedge the fixed interest rate payments for an anticipated debt issuance. The forward starting swaps have an aggregate notional amount of $200.0 million and have been designated as hedging instruments and accounted for as cash flow hedges. The forward starting swaps are scheduled to expire on March 15, 2018. If the anticipated debt issuance occurs before March 15, 2018, the contracts will be terminated simultaneously with the debt issuance. The contracts will be settled with the respective counterparties on a net basis at the time of termination or expiration. Changes in the fair value of the forward starting swap transactions are recorded on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets as a component of AOCI.

During the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2016, the Company entered into interest rate swap transactions to hedge the variable interest rate payments for the Term Loan Facility. In connection with this transaction, the Company will pay interest based upon a fixed rate as agreed upon with the respective counterparties and receive variable rate interest payments based on the one-month LIBOR. The interest rate swaps have an aggregate notional amount of $200.0 million and have been designated as hedging instruments and accounted for as cash flow hedges. The interest rate swaps were effective on September 30, 2016 and are scheduled to expire on June 30, 2019. The contracts will be settled with the respective counterparties on a net basis at each settlement date. Changes in the fair value of the interest rate swap transactions are recorded on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets as a component of AOCI.