Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

3 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2024

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Basis of Presentation

Basis of Presentation: The condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes are prepared in accordance with United States (“U.S.”) generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) for interim financial reporting and the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and therefore do not include all information and disclosures normally included in the annual consolidated financial statements.

The condensed consolidated financial statements of McKesson include the financial statements of all majority-owned or controlled companies. For those consolidated subsidiaries where the Company’s ownership is less than 100%, the portion of the net income or loss allocable to the noncontrolling interests is reported as “Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests” in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation, including the intercompany portion of transactions with equity method investees.

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests includes third-party equity interests in the Company’s consolidated entities, including ClarusONE Sourcing Services LLP, Vantage Oncology Holdings, LLC, and SCRI Oncology, LLC.

The Company considers itself to control an entity if it is the majority owner of or has voting control over such entity. The Company also assesses control through means other than voting rights and determines which business entity is the primary beneficiary of the variable interest entity (“VIE”). The Company consolidates VIEs when it is determined that it is the primary beneficiary of the VIE. Investments in business entities in which the Company does not have control, but instead has the ability to exercise significant influence over operating and financial policies, are accounted for using the equity method.

Fiscal Period

Fiscal Period: The Company’s fiscal year begins on April 1 and ends on March 31. Unless otherwise noted, all references to a particular year means the Company’s fiscal year.

Reclassifications

Reclassifications: Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation.

Use of Estimates

Use of Estimates: The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires the Company to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities as of the date of these financial statements and income and expenses during the reporting period. Actual amounts could differ from those estimated amounts. In the opinion of management, the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include all normal recurring adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of the results of operations, financial position, and cash flows of McKesson for the interim periods presented.

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements, Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted, and Recent Securities and Exchange Commission Final Rules Not Yet Implemented

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

There were no accounting standards adopted during the first quarter of fiscal 2025 that had a material impact to the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements or disclosures.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted

In December 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures. ASU 2023-09 improves the transparency of income tax disclosures by requiring, on an annual basis, consistent categories, and greater disaggregation of information in the rate reconciliation as well as income taxes paid disaggregated by jurisdiction. ASU 2023-09 is effective for the Company for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. Early adoption is permitted. The amendments in this update should be applied prospectively, however, retrospective application is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact that this guidance will have on its disclosures.

In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures. ASU 2023-07 expands reportable segment disclosures by requiring disclosure, on an annual and interim basis, of significant segment expenses that are regularly provided to the chief operating decision maker (“CODM”) and included within each reported measure of segment profit or loss as well as an amount and description of other segment items. ASU 2023-07 also requires interim disclosures of a reportable segment’s profit or loss and assets, disclosure of the title and position of the CODM, and an explanation of how the CODM uses the reported measure of segment profit or loss in assessing performance and allocating resources. ASU 2023-07 is effective for the Company for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. Early adoption is permitted. The amendments in this update are required to be applied retrospectively to all prior periods presented in the financial statements. The Company is currently evaluating the impact that this guidance will have on its disclosures.

Recent Securities and Exchange Commission Final Rules Not Yet Implemented

In March 2024, the SEC adopted final rules under SEC Release Nos. 33-11275 and 34-99678, The Enhancement and Standardization of Climate-Related Disclosures for Investors, which would have required the Company to provide certain climate-related information in annual reports and registration statements beginning with its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2026. In April 2024, the SEC stayed these rules pending the completion of judicial review of consolidated petitions challenging the validity of the rules. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of these rules in light of those legal challenges and monitoring the status of the stay and judicial review.

Fair Value

The Company measures certain assets and liabilities at fair value in accordance with ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures. The fair value hierarchy consists of three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value as follows:

Level 1 - quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

Level 2 - significant other observable market-based inputs.

Level 3 - significant unobservable inputs for which little or no market data exists and requires considerable assumptions that are significant to the fair value measurement.

Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis

Cash and cash equivalents at June 30, 2024 and March 31, 2024 included investments in money market funds of $627 million and $705 million, respectively, which are reported at fair value. The fair value of money market funds was determined using quoted prices for identical investments in active markets, which are considered to be Level 1 inputs under the fair value measurements and disclosure guidance. The carrying value of all other cash equivalents approximates their fair value due to their relatively short-term nature.

Fair values of the Company’s interest rate swaps, cross-currency swaps, and foreign currency forward contracts were determined using observable inputs from available market information, including quoted interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates, and other observable inputs from available market information. These inputs are considered Level 2 under the fair value measurements and disclosure guidance, and may not be representative of actual values that could have been realized or that will be realized in the future. Refer to Financial Note 7, “Hedging Activities,” for fair values and other information on the Company’s derivatives.

The Company holds investments in equity and debt securities of U.S. growth stage companies that address both current and emerging business challenges in the healthcare industry and which had a carrying value of $189 million and $240 million at June 30, 2024 and March 31, 2024, respectively. These investments primarily consist of equity securities without readily determinable fair values and are included in “Other non-current assets” in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. The carrying value of publicly-traded investments, which was not material for the periods presented, was determined using quoted prices for identical investments in active markets and are considered to be Level 1 inputs. The net realized and unrealized gains and losses as well as impairment charges related to these investments were a net gain of $110 million for the three months ended June 30, 2024 and an immaterial net loss for the three months ended June 30, 2023 which are included within “Other income, net” in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations. The net gain recognized for the three months ended June 30, 2024 primarily relates to a recapitalization event of one of the Company’s investments in equity securities which resulted in an increase to the carrying value of this investment. The Company recognized a net gain of $97 million related to this event and sold a portion of its investment for proceeds of $89 million.

Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Nonrecurring Basis

In addition to assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis, the Company’s assets and liabilities are also subject to nonrecurring fair value measurements. Generally, assets are recorded at fair value on a nonrecurring basis as a result of impairment charges or as a result of charges to remeasure assets classified as held for sale to fair value less costs to sell.

The aforementioned investments in equity securities of U.S. growth stage companies include the carrying value of investments without readily determinable fair values, which were determined using a measurement alternative and are recorded at cost less impairment, plus or minus any changes in observable price from orderly transactions of the same or similar security of the same issuer. These inputs related to changes in observable price are considered Level 2 under the fair value measurements and disclosure guidance and may not be representative of actual values that could have been realized or that will be realized in the future. Inputs related to impairments of investments are generally considered Level 3 fair value measurements due to their inherently unobservable nature based on significant assumptions by management and use of company-specific information.

Goodwill

Fair value assessments of the reporting unit and the reporting unit's net assets, which are performed for goodwill impairment tests, are considered a Level 3 measurement due to the significance of unobservable inputs developed using company-specific information. The Company considered a market approach as well as an income approach using a discounted cash flow (“DCF”) model to determine the fair value of each reporting unit.

Long-lived Assets

The Company utilizes multiple approaches, including the DCF model and market approaches, for estimating the fair value of intangible assets. The future cash flows used in the analysis are based on internal cash flow projections from its long-range plans and include significant assumptions by management. Accordingly, the fair value assessment of long-lived assets is considered a Level 3 fair value measurement.

The Company measures certain long-lived and intangible assets at fair value on a nonrecurring basis when events occur that indicate an asset group may not be recoverable. If the carrying amount of an asset group is not recoverable, an impairment charge is recorded to reduce the carrying amount by the excess over its fair value.

Hedging Activities

Net Investment Hedges

The Company uses cross-currency swaps to hedge portions of the Company’s net investments denominated in Canadian dollars against the effect of exchange rate fluctuations on the translation of foreign currency balances to the U.S. dollar. The changes in the fair value of these derivatives attributable to the changes in spot currency exchange rates and differences between spot and forward interest rates are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss and offset foreign currency translation gains and losses recorded on the Company’s net investments denominated in Canadian dollars. To the extent cross-currency swaps designated as hedges are ineffective, changes in carrying value attributable to the change in spot rates are recorded in earnings.

In the first quarter of fiscal 2025, the Company entered into cross-currency swaps designated as net investment hedges with a total notional amount of C$2.5 billion to hedge portions of the Company’s net investments denominated in Canadian dollars against the effect of exchange rate fluctuations on the translation of foreign currency balances to the U.S. dollar. These cross-currency swaps mature in April 2025 and June 2026. Further, the Company terminated C$1.5 billion of cross-currency swaps designated as net investment hedges with original maturity dates in November 2024 and extending through March 2025.

Fair Value Hedges

The Company uses cross-currency swaps to hedge the changes in the fair value of its foreign currency notes resulting from changes in benchmark interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates. The Company also uses floating interest rate swaps to hedge the changes in the fair value of its U.S. dollar notes resulting from changes in benchmark interest rates. The changes in the fair value of these derivatives and the offsetting changes in the fair value of the hedged notes are recorded in earnings. Gains and losses from the changes in the Company’s fair value hedges recorded in earnings were largely offset by the gains and losses recorded in earnings on the hedged item. For components excluded from the assessment of hedge effectiveness, the initial value of the excluded component is recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss and then released into earnings over the life of the hedging instrument. The difference between the change in the fair value of the excluded component and the amount amortized into earnings during the period is recorded in other comprehensive income (loss).

Cash Flow Hedges

The Company uses cross-currency swaps to hedge intercompany loans denominated in non-functional currencies to reduce the income statement effects arising from fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates. The Company also uses forward contracts to hedge the variability of future benchmark interest rates on any planned bond issuances and to offset the potential income statement effects from obligations denominated in non-functional currencies. The effective portion of changes in the fair value of these hedges is recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss and reclassified into earnings in the same period in which the hedged transaction affects earnings. Changes in fair values representing hedge ineffectiveness are recognized in current earnings. There were no gains or losses reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss and recorded in “Selling, distribution, general, and administrative expenses” in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three months ended June 30, 2024 or 2023.

In fiscal 2023, the Company entered into forward-starting fixed interest rate swaps designated as cash flow hedges with a combined notional amount of $450 million, and in the first quarter of fiscal 2024 with a notional amount of $50 million, to hedge the variability of future benchmark interest rates on a planned bond issuance. On June 15, 2023, the Company completed a public offering of the 2033 Notes, at which point the $500 million cash flow hedges were terminated and the proceeds are being amortized to interest expense over the life of the 2033 Notes, or 10 years. Refer to Financial Note 6, “Debt and Financing Activities,” for additional information on the public offering of the 2033 Notes.

Derivatives Not Designated as Hedges

Derivative instruments not designated as hedges are marked-to-market at the end of each accounting period with the change in fair value included in earnings. Changes in the fair values for contracts not designated as hedges are recorded directly into earnings in “Selling, distribution, general, and administrative expenses” in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations. The Company did not enter into or have any outstanding derivative instruments not designated as hedges during the periods presented.

Other Information on Derivative Instruments

Gains (losses) from derivatives included in other comprehensive income (loss) in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income were as follows:

	Three Months Ended June 30,
(In millions)	2024		2023
Derivatives designated as net investment hedges:
Cross-currency swaps	$	7	$	(20)
Derivatives designated as cash flow and other hedges:
Cross-currency swaps (1)	$	—	$	(6)
Foreign currency forwards	—		—
Fixed interest rate swaps	—		16

(1)Includes other comprehensive income (loss) related to the excluded component of certain fair value hedges.

Information regarding the fair value of derivatives on a gross basis were as follows:

	Balance Sheet Caption	June 30, 2024						March 31, 2024
		Fair Value of Derivative				U.S. Dollar Notional		Fair Value of Derivative				U.S. Dollar Notional
(In millions)		Asset		Liability				Asset		Liability
Derivatives designated for hedge accounting:
Cross-currency swaps (current)	Prepaid expenses and other/Other accrued liabilities	$	—	$	3	$	1,095	$	13	$	1	$	1,122
Cross-currency swaps (non-current)	Other non-current assets/liabilities	100		3		2,366		108		—		1,638
Interest rate swaps (non-current)	Other non-current liabilities	—		36		1,250		—		35		1,250
Foreign currency forwards (current)	Prepaid expenses and other/Other accrued liabilities	—		—		41		—		—		35
Foreign currency forwards (non-current)	Other non-current assets	—		—		3		—		—		15
Total		$	100	$	42			$	121	$	36

Refer to Financial Note 8, "Fair Value Measurements," for more information on these recurring fair value measurements.

Commitments and Contingencies

In addition to commitments and obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business, the Company is subject to a variety of claims and legal proceedings, including claims from customers and vendors, pending and potential legal actions for damages, governmental investigations, and other matters. The Company and its affiliates are parties to the legal claims and proceedings described below and in Financial Note 17 to the Company’s 2024 Annual Report, which disclosure is incorporated in this footnote by this reference. The Company is vigorously defending itself against those claims and in those proceedings. Significant developments in those matters are described below. If the Company is unsuccessful in defending, or if it determines to settle, any of these matters, it may be required to pay substantial sums, be subject to injunction and/or be forced to change how it operates its business, which could have a material adverse impact on its financial position or results of operations.

Unless otherwise stated, the Company is unable to reasonably estimate the loss or a range of possible loss for the matters described below. Often, the Company is unable to determine that a loss is probable, or to reasonably estimate the amount of loss or a range of loss, for a claim because of the limited information available and the potential effects of future events and decisions by third parties, such as courts and regulators, that will determine the ultimate resolution of the claim. Many of the matters described are at preliminary stages, raise novel theories of liability, or seek an indeterminate amount of damages. It is not uncommon for claims to remain unresolved over many years. The Company reviews loss contingencies at least quarterly to determine whether the likelihood of loss has changed and whether it can make a reasonable estimate of the loss or range of loss. When the Company determines that a loss from a claim is probable and reasonably estimable, it records a liability for an estimated amount. The Company also provides disclosure when it is reasonably possible that a loss may be incurred or when it is reasonably possible that the amount of a loss will exceed its recorded liability. Amounts included within “Claims and litigation charges, net” in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations consist of estimated loss contingencies related to opioid-related litigation matters, as well as any applicable income items or credit adjustments due to subsequent changes in estimates.