Description of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Aug. 31, 2019

Principles of Consolidation and Basis of Presentation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts and operations of the Company, and its wholly-owned and majority-owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in preparing the consolidated financial statements. The Company has made certain reclassification adjustments to conform prior periods’ Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements to the current presentation.

Use of Accounting Estimates

Management is required to make estimates and assumptions during the preparation of the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”). These estimates and assumptions affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the dates of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ materially from these estimates and assumptions.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash equivalents consist of investments that are readily convertible to cash with original maturities of 90 days or less.

Accounts Receivable

Accounts receivable consist of trade receivables and other miscellaneous receivables. The Company maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts for estimated losses resulting from the inability of its customers to make required payments. Bad debts are charged to this allowance after all attempts to collect the balance are exhausted. Allowances of $17.2 million and $15.2 million were recorded as of August 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. As the financial condition and circumstances of the Company’s customers change, adjustments to the allowance for doubtful accounts are made as necessary.

Contract Balances

Timing of revenue recognition may differ from the timing of invoicing to customers. The Company records an asset when revenue is recognized prior to invoicing a customer (“contract assets”) while a liability is recognized when a customer pays an invoice prior to the Company transferring control of the goods or services (“contract liabilities”). Amounts recognized as contract assets are generally transferred to receivables in the succeeding quarter due to the short-term nature of the manufacturing cycle. Contract assets are classified separately on the Consolidated Balance Sheets and transferred to receivables when right to payment becomes unconditional.

The Company reviews contract assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the asset may not be recoverable after considering factors such as the age of the balances and the financial stability of the customer.

Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost (on a first in, first out (FIFO) basis) and net realizable value. Inventory is valued based on current and forecasted usage, customer inventory-related contractual obligations and other lower of cost and net realizable value considerations. If actual market conditions or customer product demands are less favorable than those projected, additional valuation adjustments may be necessary.

Fulfillment Costs

The Company capitalizes costs incurred to fulfill its contracts that i) relate directly to the contract or anticipated contracts, ii) are expected to generate or enhance the Company’s resources that will be used to satisfy the performance obligation under the contract, and iii) are expected to be recovered through revenue generated from the contract. Capitalized fulfillment costs are amortized to cost of revenue as the Company satisfies the related performance obligations under the contract with approximate lives ranging from 1-3 years. These costs, which are included in prepaid expenses and other current assets and other assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets, generally represent upfront costs incurred to prepare for manufacturing activities.

The Company assesses the capitalized fulfillment costs for impairment at the end of each reporting period. The Company will recognize an impairment loss to the extent the carrying amount of the capitalized costs exceeds the recoverable amount. Recoverability is assessed by considering the capitalized fulfillment costs in relation to the forecasted profitability of the related manufacturing performance obligations.

Property, Plant and Equipment, net

Property, plant and equipment is capitalized at cost and depreciated using the straight-line depreciation method over the estimated useful lives of the respective assets. Estimated useful lives for major classes of depreciable assets are as follows:



Asset Class	Estimated Useful Life
Buildings	Up to 35 years
Leasehold improvements	Shorter of lease term or useful life of the improvement
Machinery and equipment	2 to 10 years
Furniture, fixtures and office equipment	5 years
Computer hardware and software	3 to 7 years
Transportation equipment	3 years

Certain equipment held under capital leases is classified as property, plant and equipment and the related obligation is recorded as accrued expenses and other liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Amortization of assets held under capital leases is included in depreciation expense in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred. The cost and related accumulated depreciation of assets sold or retired is removed from the accounts and any resulting gain or loss is reflected in the Consolidated Statements of Operations as a component of operating income.

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

The Company accounts for goodwill in a business combination as the excess of the cost over the fair value of net assets acquired and is assigned to the reporting unit in which the acquired business will operate. The Company tests goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment during the fourth quarter of each fiscal year or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying amount may not be recoverable.

The recoverability of goodwill is measured at the reporting unit level by comparing the reporting unit’s carrying amount, including goodwill, to the fair value of the reporting unit. The Company determines the fair value of its reporting units based on an average weighting of both projected discounted future results and the use of comparative market multiples. If the carrying amount of the reporting unit exceeds its fair value, goodwill is considered impaired and a second step is performed to measure the amount of loss, if any.

The recoverability of indefinite-lived intangible assets is measured by comparing the carrying amount to the fair value. The Company determines the fair value of its indefinite-lived intangible assets principally based on a variation of the income approach, known as the relief from royalty method. If the carrying amount of the indefinite-lived intangible asset exceeds its fair value, the indefinite-lived intangible asset is considered impaired.

Business combinations can also result in other intangible assets being recognized. Finite-lived intangible assets are amortized on either a straight-line or accelerated basis over their estimated useful life and include contractual agreements and customer relationships, tradenames and intellectual property. No significant residual values are estimated for the amortizable intangible assets.

Long-lived Assets

Long-lived assets, such as property, plant and equipment, and finite-lived intangible assets, are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset or asset group may not be recoverable. Recoverability of the asset or asset group is measured by comparing its carrying amount to the undiscounted future net cash flows the asset is expected to generate. If the carrying amount of an asset or asset group is not recoverable, the Company recognizes an impairment loss based on the excess of the carrying amount of the long-lived asset or asset group over its respective fair value, which is generally determined as the present value of estimated future cash flows or as the appraised value.

Derivative Instruments

All derivative instruments are recorded gross on the Consolidated Balance Sheets at their respective fair values. The accounting for changes in the fair value of a derivative instrument depends on the intended use and designation of the derivative instrument. For derivative instruments that are designated and qualify as a fair value hedge, the gain or loss on the derivative and the offsetting gain or loss on the hedged item attributable to the hedged risk are recognized in current earnings. For derivative instruments that are designated and qualify as a cash flow hedge, the effective portion of the gain or loss on the derivative instrument is initially reported as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”), net of tax, and is subsequently reclassified into the line item within the Consolidated Statements of Operations in which the hedged items are recorded in the same period in which the hedged item affects earnings. The ineffective portion of the gain or loss is recognized immediately in current earnings. For derivative instruments that are not designated as hedging instruments, gains and losses from changes in fair values are recognized in earnings. Cash receipts and cash payments related to derivative instruments are recorded in the same category as the cash flows from the items being hedged on the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

The following table sets forth the changes in AOCI, net of tax, by component during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2019 (in thousands):



	Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment			Derivative Instruments			Actuarial (Loss) Gain			Prior Service (Cost) Credit			Available for Sale Securities			Total
Balance as of August 31, 2018	$	7,431		$	8,116		$	(25,021	)	$	(643	)	$	(9,282	)	$	(19,399	)
Other comprehensive (loss) income before reclassifications	(21,729		)	(67,773		)	(3,753		)	79			(24,508		)	(117,684		)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI	—			20,259			741			(44		)	33,333			54,289
Other comprehensive (loss) income⁽¹⁾	(21,729		)	(47,514		)	(3,012		)	35			8,825			(63,395		)
Balance as of August 31, 2019	$	(14,298	)	$	(39,398	)	$	(28,033	)	$	(608	)	$	(457	)	$	(82,794	)


⁽¹⁾	Amounts are net of tax, which are immaterial.

The following table sets forth the amounts reclassified from AOCI into the Consolidated Statements of Operations, and the associated financial statement line item, net of tax, for the periods indicated (in thousands):



		Fiscal Year Ended August 31,
Comprehensive Income Components	Financial Statement Line Item	2019			2018			2017
Foreign currency translation adjustment	Operating income	$	—		$	—		$	5,947
Realized losses (gains) on derivative instruments:⁽³⁾
Foreign exchange contracts	Cost of revenue	21,982			(9,379		)	4,799
Interest rate contracts	Interest expense	(1,723		)	(13,697		)	3,950
Actuarial loss	⁽¹⁾	741			1,127			1,929
Prior service credit	⁽¹⁾	(44		)	(88		)	(138		)
Available for sale securities	⁽²⁾	33,333			—			10,139
Total amounts reclassified from AOCI⁽⁴⁾		$	54,289		$	(22,037	)	$	26,626


⁽¹⁾	Amounts are included in the computation of net periodic benefit pension cost. Refer to Note 9 – “Postretirement and Other Employee Benefits” for additional information.


⁽²⁾	The portions of AOCI reclassified into earnings during the fiscal years ended August 31, 2019 and 2017 for available for sale securities were due to a restructuring of securities loss and an other than temporary impairments on securities, respectively, and were recorded to restructuring of securities loss and other expense, respectively.


⁽³⁾	The Company expects to reclassify $17.0 million into earnings during the next twelve months, which will primarily be classified as a component of cost of revenue.


⁽⁴⁾	Amounts are net of tax, which are immaterial for the fiscal years ended August 31, 2019 and 2017. The amount for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2018 includes a reduction to income tax expense related to derivative instruments of $14.8 million.

Foreign Currency Transactions

For the Company’s foreign subsidiaries that use a currency other than the U.S. dollar as their functional currency, the assets and liabilities are translated at exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet date, and revenues and expenses are translated at the average exchange rate for the period. The effects of these translation adjustments are reported in accumulated other comprehensive income. Gains and losses arising from transactions denominated in a currency other than the functional currency of the entity involved are included in operating income.

Revenue Recognition

Effective September 1, 2018, the Company’s revenue recognition accounting policies changed in conjunction with the adoption of ASU 2014-09, Revenue Recognition (Topic 606). For further discussion, refer to Note 18 - “Revenue” to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

The Company provides comprehensive electronics design, production and product management services to companies in various industries and end markets. The Company derives substantially all of its revenue from production and product management services (collectively referred to as “manufacturing services”), which encompasses the act of producing tangible products that are built to customer specifications, which are then provided to the customer.

The Company generally enters into manufacturing service contracts with its customers that provide the framework under which business will be conducted and customer purchase orders will be received for specific quantities and with predominantly fixed pricing. As a result, the Company considers its contract with a customer to be the combination of the manufacturing service contract and the purchase order, or any agreements or other similar documents.

The majority of the Company's manufacturing service contracts relate to manufactured products which have no alternative use and for which the Company has an enforceable right to payment for the work completed to date. As a result, revenue is recognized over time when or as the Company transfers control of the promised products or services (known as performance obligations) to its customers. For certain other contracts with customers that do not meet the over time revenue recognition criteria, transfer of control occurs at a point in time which generally occurs upon delivery and transfer of risk and title to the customer.

Most of the Company's contracts have a single performance obligation as the promise to transfer the individual manufactured product or service is capable of being distinct and is distinct within the context of the contract. For the majority of customers, performance obligations are satisfied over time based on the continuous transfer of control as manufacturing services are performed and are generally completed in less than one year.

The Company also derives revenue to a lesser extent from electronic design services to certain customers. Revenue from electronic design services is generally recognized over time as the services are performed.

For the Company’s over time customers, it believes the measure of progress which best depicts the transfer of control is based on costs incurred to date, relative to total estimated cost at completion (i.e., an input method). This method is a faithful depiction of the transfer of goods or services because it results in the recognition of revenue on the basis of the Company's to-date efforts in the satisfaction of a performance obligation relative to the total expected efforts in the satisfaction of the performance obligation. The Company believes that the use of an input method best depicts the transfer of control to the customer, which occurs as the Company incurs costs on its contracts. The transaction price of each performance obligation is generally based upon the contractual stand-alone selling price of the product or service.

Certain contracts with customers include variable consideration, such as rebates, discounts, or returns. The Company recognizes estimates of this variable consideration that are not expected to result in a significant revenue reversal in the future, primarily based on the most likely level of consideration to be paid to the customer under the specific terms of the underlying programs.

Taxes collected from the Company’s customers and remitted to governmental authorities are presented within the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Operations on a net basis and are excluded from the transaction price. The Company has elected to account for shipping and handling activities related to contracts with customers as costs to fulfill the promise to transfer the goods. Accordingly, the Company records customer payments of shipping and handling costs as a component of net revenue, and classifies such costs as a component of cost of revenue.

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company recognizes stock-based compensation expense, reduced for estimated forfeitures, on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period of the award, which is generally the vesting period for outstanding stock awards.

The stock-based compensation expense for time-based and performance-based restricted stock unit awards (“restricted stock units”) is measured at fair value on the date of grant based on the number of shares expected to vest and the quoted market price of the Company’s common stock. For restricted stock units with performance conditions, stock-based compensation expense is originally based on the number of shares that would vest if the Company achieved 100% of the performance goal, which is the intended outcome at the grant date. Throughout the requisite service period, management monitors the probability of achievement of the performance condition. If it becomes probable, based on the Company’s performance, that more or less than the current estimate of the awarded shares will vest, an adjustment to stock-based compensation expense will be recognized as a change in accounting estimate in the period that such probability changes.

The stock-based compensation expense for market-based restricted stock units is measured at fair value on the date of grant. The market conditions are considered in the grant date fair value using a Monte Carlo valuation model, which utilizes multiple input variables to determine the probability of the Company achieving the specified market conditions. Stock-based compensation expense related to an award with a market condition will be recognized over the requisite service period regardless of whether the market condition is satisfied, provided that the requisite service period has been completed.

The Company currently expects to satisfy share-based awards with registered shares available to be issued.

Income Taxes

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax basis. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in the tax rate is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date of the rate change. The Company records a valuation allowance to reduce its deferred tax assets to the amount that is more likely than not to be realized. The Company considers future taxable income and ongoing feasible tax planning strategies in assessing the need for the valuation allowance.

Earnings Per Share

The Company calculates its basic earnings per share by dividing net income attributable to Jabil Inc. by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. The Company’s diluted earnings per share is calculated in a similar manner, but includes the effect of dilutive securities. The difference between the weighted average number of basic shares outstanding and the weighted average number of diluted shares outstanding is primarily due to dilutive unvested restricted stock units and dilutive stock appreciation rights.

Potential shares of common stock are excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share when their effect would be antidilutive. Performance-based restricted stock units are considered dilutive when the related performance criterion have been met assuming the end of the reporting period represents the end of the performance period. All potential shares of common stock are antidilutive in periods of net loss.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Fair value is categorized in one of three levels based on the lowest level of significant input used. Level 1 – quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities; Level 2 – inputs other than quoted market prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly; and Level 3 – unobservable inputs for the asset or liability.

Recently Adopted Accounting Guidance and Recently Issued Accounting Guidance

Recently Adopted Accounting Guidance

During fiscal year 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued an accounting standard, which is a comprehensive new revenue recognition model that requires a company to recognize revenue to depict the transfer of goods or services to a customer at an amount that reflects the consideration it expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. The accounting standard became effective for the Company in the first quarter of fiscal year 2019. The Company implemented changes to its processes, policies and internal controls to meet the impact of the new standard and disclosure requirements. Refer to Note 18 – “Revenue” to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further details.

During fiscal year 2016, the FASB issued a new accounting standard to address certain aspects of recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of financial instruments. This guidance became effective for the Company in the first quarter of fiscal year 2019, and was applied prospectively by means of a cumulative-effect adjustment to the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of September 1, 2018 to equity investments that existed as of the date of adoption of the standard. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements; however, the impact on future periods will depend on the facts and circumstances of future transactions.

During fiscal year 2016, the FASB issued a new accounting standard to address the presentation of certain transactions within the statement of cash flows with the objective of reducing the existing diversity in practice. This standard was adopted on September 1, 2018 on a retrospective basis and resulted in a reclassification of cash flows from operating activities to investing activities in the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows for cash receipts related to collections on the deferred purchase price receivable (i.e. beneficial interest) on asset-backed securitization transactions. The increase in cash flow from investing activities and the corresponding decrease to cash flow from operating activities upon adoption of the standard was $96.8 million, $2.0 billion, and $2.7 billion for the fiscal years ended August 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

During fiscal year 2017, the FASB issued a new accounting standard to improve the accounting for the income tax consequences of intra-entity transfers of assets other than inventory. The new standard eliminates the exception for an intra-entity transfer of an asset other than inventory and requires an entity to recognize the income tax consequences when the transfer occurs. This guidance became effective for the Company beginning in the first quarter of fiscal year 2019. This guidance was adopted on a modified retrospective basis and an immaterial cumulative-effect adjustment was recorded, which reduced retained earnings as of September 1, 2018.

During fiscal year 2017, the FASB issued a new accounting standard which clarifies the scope of accounting for asset derecognition and adds further guidance for recognizing gains and losses from the transfer of non-financial assets in contracts with non-customers. This guidance became effective for the Company beginning in the first quarter of fiscal year 2019 coincident with the new revenue recognition guidance. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements; however, the impact on future periods will depend on the facts and circumstances of future transactions.

During the second quarter of fiscal year 2018, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) staff issued SAB 118, which provides guidance on accounting for the tax effects of the Tax Act. SAB 118 provides a measurement period that should not extend beyond one year from the Tax Act enactment date for companies to complete the accounting under ASC 740. In accordance with SAB 118, a company must reflect the income tax effects of those aspects of the Tax Act for which the accounting under ASC 740 is complete. To the extent that a company’s accounting for certain income tax effects of the Tax Act is incomplete, but it is able to determine a reasonable estimate, it must record a provisional estimate in its financial statements. If a company cannot determine a provisional estimate to be included in the financial statements, it should continue to apply ASC 740 on the basis of the provisions of the tax laws that were in effect immediately before the enactment of the Tax Act. The Company applied SAB 118 and provided required disclosures in Note 4 - “Income Taxes.”

Recently Issued Accounting Guidance

During fiscal year 2016, the FASB issued a new accounting standard revising lease accounting. The new guidance requires organizations to recognize lease assets and lease liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheet and disclose key information regarding leasing arrangements. This guidance is effective for the Company beginning in the first quarter of fiscal year 2020. The standard must be adopted using a modified retrospective approach. The Company intends to elect the package of practical expedients offered, which allows entities to not reassess: i) whether any contracts prior to the adoption date are or contain leases, ii) lease classification, and iii) whether capitalized initial direct costs continue to meet the definition of initial direct costs under the new guidance. In preparation for the adoption, the Company is implementing a new lease accounting system. Upon adoption, the Company expects to recognize right-of-use assets and lease liabilities, respectively, in the range of approximately $350.0 million to $500.0 million. The Company is continuing to assess implementation of changes to its processes, policies and internal controls to meet the requirements of the new standard. The adoption of this standard is not expected to have a material impact on the Consolidated Statements of Operations or the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

During fiscal year 2016, the FASB issued an accounting standard, which replaces the existing incurred loss impairment methodology with a methodology that reflects expected credit losses and requires consideration of a broader range of reasonable and supportable information to inform credit loss estimates. This guidance is effective for the Company beginning in the first quarter of fiscal year 2021. This guidance must be applied using a modified retrospective or prospective transition method, depending on the area covered by this accounting standard. The Company is currently assessing the impact this new standard may have on its Consolidated Financial Statements.

During fiscal year 2017, the FASB issued a new accounting standard to improve the financial reporting of hedging relationships to better portray the economic results of an entity’s risk management activities by simplifying the application of hedge accounting and improving the related disclosures in its financial statements. This guidance is effective for the Company beginning in the first quarter of fiscal year 2020, with early adoption permitted. The guidance must be applied using a modified retrospective approach. The adoption of this standard is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements; however, the impact on future periods will depend on the facts and circumstances of future transactions.

During fiscal year 2018, the FASB issued a new accounting standard which aligns the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software. This guidance is effective for the Company beginning in the first quarter of fiscal year 2021. The Company is currently assessing the impact this new standard may have on its Consolidated Financial Statements.

Recently issued accounting guidance not discussed above is not applicable or did not have, or is not expected to have, a material impact to the Company.