Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

v3.23.4
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
9 Months Ended
Nov. 30, 2023
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]  
FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
Authoritative guidance establishes a framework for measuring fair value, including a hierarchy for inputs used in measuring fair value that maximizes the use of observable inputs and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs by requiring that the most observable inputs be used when available. The hierarchy includes three levels:

Level 1 inputs are quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities;
Level 2 inputs include data points that are observable such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical assets or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, and inputs (other than quoted prices) such as volatility, interest rates, and yield curves that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly; and
Level 3 inputs are unobservable data points for the asset or liability, and include situations where there is little, if any, market activity for the asset or liability.

Fair value methodology
The following methods and assumptions are used to estimate the fair value of our financial instruments:

Foreign currency and commodity derivative contracts
The fair value is estimated using market-based inputs, obtained from independent pricing services, entered into valuation models. These valuation models require various inputs, including contractual terms, market foreign exchange prices, market commodity prices, interest-rate yield curves, and currency volatilities, as applicable (Level 2 fair value measurement).

Interest rate swap and Pre-issuance hedge contracts
The fair value is estimated based on quoted market prices from respective counterparties. Quotes are corroborated by using discounted cash flow calculations based upon forward interest-rate yield curves, which are obtained from independent pricing services (Level 2 fair value measurement).

Canopy investment
On November 1, 2023, the initial tranche of the November 2018 Canopy Warrants expired in accordance with its terms. The remaining tranches of the November 2018 Canopy Warrants were conditioned on the exercise, in full, of the expired warrants. As such, there are no longer any outstanding November 2018 Canopy Warrants. In
April 2023, we extended the maturity of the remaining C$100.0 million principal amount of our Canopy Debt Securities by exchanging them for the 2023 Canopy Promissory Note. As such, our investment in Canopy is currently comprised of (i) the Canopy Equity Method Investment and (ii) the 2023 Canopy Promissory Note. The 2023 Canopy Promissory Note is measured at fair value. Effective as of May 31, 2023, we determined that this instrument did not have future economic value given the substantial doubt about Canopy’s ability to continue as a going concern, as disclosed by Canopy, prior to the maturity of the note. Accordingly, the fair value of the remaining balance for this instrument was determined to be zero. This reduction in fair value is included in income (loss) from unconsolidated investments within our consolidated results of operations for the nine months ended November 30, 2023. If the Canopy Amendment is authorized by Canopy’s shareholders, we intend to negotiate an exchange of the 2023 Canopy Promissory Note for Exchangeable Shares, although neither we nor Canopy has any binding obligation to do so.

Short-term borrowings
Our short-term borrowings consist of our commercial paper program and the revolving credit facility under our senior credit facility. The revolving credit facility is a variable interest rate bearing note with a fixed margin, adjustable based upon our debt rating (as defined in our senior credit facility). For these short-term borrowings, the carrying value approximates the fair value.

Long-term debt
The fair value of our fixed interest rate long-term debt is estimated by discounting cash flows using interest rates currently available for debt with similar terms and maturities (Level 2 fair value measurement). As of November 30, 2023, the carrying amount of long-term debt, including the current portion, was $11,239.6 million, compared with an estimated fair value of $10,320.7 million. As of February 28, 2023, the carrying amount of long-term debt, including the current portion, was $11,296.0 million, compared with an estimated fair value of $10,236.0 million.

The carrying amounts of certain of our financial instruments, including cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, and accounts payable, approximate fair value as of November 30, 2023, and February 28, 2023, due to the relatively short maturity of these instruments.

Recurring basis measurements
The following table presents our financial assets and liabilities measured at estimated fair value on a recurring basis:
Fair Value Measurements Using
Quoted
Prices in
Active
Markets
(Level 1)
Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
Total
(in millions)
November 30, 2023
Assets:
Foreign currency contracts $ —  $ 326.9  $ —  $ 326.9 
Commodity derivative contracts $ —  $ 9.5  $ —  $ 9.5 
Liabilities:
Foreign currency contracts $ —  $ 10.4  $ —  $ 10.4 
Commodity derivative contracts $ —  $ 31.3  $ —  $ 31.3 
Pre-issuance hedge contracts
$ —  $ 0.1  $ —  $ 0.1 
Fair Value Measurements Using
Quoted
Prices in
Active
Markets
(Level 1)
Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
Total
(in millions)
February 28, 2023
Assets:
Foreign currency contracts $ —  $ 249.5  $ —  $ 249.5 
Commodity derivative contracts $ —  $ 25.8  $ —  $ 25.8 
November 2018 Canopy Warrants $ —  $ 0.2  $ —  $ 0.2 
Canopy Debt Securities $ —  $ 69.6  $ —  $ 69.6 
Liabilities:
Foreign currency contracts $ —  $ 17.2  $ —  $ 17.2 
Commodity derivative contracts $ —  $ 27.8  $ —  $ 27.8 

Nonrecurring basis measurements
The following table presents our assets and liabilities measured at estimated fair value on a nonrecurring basis for which an impairment assessment was performed for the periods presented:
Fair Value Measurements Using
Quoted
Prices in
Active
Markets
(Level 1)
Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
Total Losses
(in millions)
For the Nine Months Ended November 30, 2023
Equity method investments
$ 94.8  $ 0.6  $ 0.6  $ 136.1 
For the Nine Months Ended November 30, 2022
Equity method investments $ 621.4  $ —  $ —  $ 1,060.3 

Equity method investments
As of November 30, 2023, we evaluated a certain equity method investment, made through our corporate venture capital function within the Corporate Operations and Other segment, and determined there was an other-than-temporary impairment due to business underperformance. The estimated fair value was based largely on the cash flows expected to be generated by the investment using unobservable data points.

As of August 31, 2023, we evaluated certain equity method investments, made through our corporate venture capital function, and determined there were other-than-temporary impairments due to business underperformance. Investments with a carrying value of $14.9 million were written down to an estimated fair value of $2.6 million, resulting in an impairment of $12.3 million. These investments are part of the Corporate Operations and Other segment. This loss from impairment was included in income (loss) from unconsolidated investments within our consolidated results for the nine months ended November 30, 2023. The estimated fair value was based largely on observable prices for similar assets. In October 2023, we exited one of these equity method investments in exchange for a note receivable.

We evaluated the Canopy Equity Method Investment as of May 31, 2023, and determined there was an other-than-temporary impairment. Our conclusion was based on several contributing factors, including: (i) the fair value being less than the carrying value and the uncertainty surrounding Canopy’s stock price recovering in the
near-term, (ii) Canopy recorded significant costs in its fourth quarter of fiscal 2023 results designed to align its Canadian cannabis operations and resources in response to continued unfavorable market trends, (iii) the substantial doubt about Canopy’s ability to continue as a going concern, as disclosed by Canopy, and (iv) Canopy’s identification of material misstatements in certain of its previously reported financial results related to sales in its BioSteel reporting unit that were accounted for incorrectly, including the recording of a goodwill impairment during its restated second quarter of fiscal 2023. As a result, the Canopy Equity Method Investment with a carrying value of $266.2 million was written down to its estimated fair value of $142.7 million, resulting in an impairment of $123.5 million. This loss from impairment was included in income (loss) from unconsolidated investments within our consolidated results for the nine months ended November 30, 2023. The estimated fair value was determined based on the closing price of the underlying equity security as of May 31, 2023.

We evaluated the Canopy Equity Method Investment as of August 31, 2022, and determined there was an other-than-temporary impairment based on several contributing factors, including: (i) the period of time for which the fair value had been less than the carrying value and the uncertainty surrounding Canopy’s stock price recovering in the near-term, (ii) Canopy recording a significant impairment of goodwill related to its cannabis operations during its first quarter of fiscal 2023, and (iii) the uncertainty of U.S. federal cannabis permissibility. As a result, the Canopy Equity Method Investment with a carrying value of $1,695.1 million was written down to its estimated fair value of $634.8 million, resulting in an impairment of $1,060.3 million. This loss from impairment was included in income (loss) from unconsolidated investments within our consolidated results for the nine months ended November 30, 2022. The estimated fair value was determined based on the closing price of the underlying equity security as of August 31, 2022.