Fair Value Measures | FAIR VALUE MEASURES Fair value is defined as the price that would be received from selling an asset or paid to transfer a liability (i.e., the "exit price") in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. In determining fair value, the use of various valuation methodologies, including market, income and cost approaches are permissible. The Company considers the principal or most advantageous market in which it would transact and considers assumptions that market participants would use when pricing the asset or liability. Fair Value Hierarchy The accounting guidance for fair value measurements establishes a fair value hierarchy that requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. There are three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value based on the reliability of inputs. A financial instrument’s categorization within the fair value hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The Company’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement requires judgment and may affect its placement within the fair value hierarchy levels. FactSet has categorized its cash equivalents, investments and derivatives within the fair value hierarchy as follows: Level 1 – applies to assets or liabilities for which there are quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. These Level 1 assets and liabilities include the Company’s corporate money market funds that are classified as cash equivalents. Level 2 – applies to assets or liabilities for which there are inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets; quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in markets with insufficient volume or infrequent transactions (less active markets); or model-derived valuations in which significant inputs are observable or can be derived principally from, or corroborated by, observable market data. The Company’s certificates of deposit, mutual funds and derivative instruments are classified as Level 2. Level 3 – applies to assets or liabilities for which there are unobservable inputs to the valuation methodology that are significant to the measurement of the fair value of the assets or liabilities. There were no Level 3 assets or liabilities held by the Company as of November 30, 2020 or August 31, 2020. (a) Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis The following tables show, by level within the fair value hierarchy, the Company’s assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis at November 30, 2020 and August 31, 2020. The Company did not have any transfers between levels of fair value measurements during the periods presented. Fair Value Measurements at November 30, 2020 (in thousands) Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total Assets Corporate money market funds (1) $ 201,803 $ — $ — $ 201,803 Mutual funds (2) — 18,166 — 18,166 Certificates of deposit (3) — — — — Derivative instruments (4) — 3,027 — 3,027 Total assets measured at fair value $ 201,803 $ 21,193 $ — $ 222,996 Liabilities Derivative instruments (4) $ — $ 5,311 $ — $ 5,311 Total liabilities measured at fair value $ — $ 5,311 $ — $ 5,311 Fair Value Measurements at August 31, 2020 (in thousands) Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total Assets Corporate money market funds (1) $ 276,852 $ — $ — $ 276,852 Mutual funds (2) — 17,257 — 17,257 Certificates of deposit (3) — 2,315 — 2,315 Derivative instruments (4) — 3,644 — 3,644 Total assets measured at fair value $ 276,852 $ 23,216 $ — $ 300,068 Liabilities Derivative instruments (4) $ — $ 5,773 $ — $ 5,773 Total liabilities measured at fair value $ — $ 5,773 $ — $ 5,773 1. The Company’s corporate money market funds are readily convertible into cash and the net asset value of each fund on the last day of the quarter is used to determine its fair value. As such, the Company’s corporate money market funds are classified as Level 1 assets and included in Cash and cash equivalents within the Consolidated Balance Sheets. 2. The Company’s mutual funds have a fair value based on the fair value of the underlying investments held by the mutual funds, allocated to each share of the mutual fund using a net asset value approach. The fair value of the underlying investments is based on observable inputs. As such, the Company’s mutual funds are classified as Level 2 and are classified as Investments (short-term) on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. 3. The Company’s certificates of deposit held for investment are not debt securities and are classified as Level 2 assets. These certificates of deposit have original maturities greater than three months but less than one year and, as such, are classified as Investments (short-term) within the Consolidated Balance Sheets. 4. The Company utilizes the income approach to measure fair value for its foreign exchange forward contracts. The income approach uses pricing models that rely on market observable inputs such as spot, forward and interest rates, as well as credit default swap spreads, and are classified as Level 2 assets. To estimate fair value for the interest rate swap agreement, the Company utilizes a present value of future cash flows, leveraging a model-derived valuation that uses Level 2 observable inputs such as interest rate yield curves. Refer to Note 6 , Derivative Instruments, for more information on the Company's derivative instruments designed as cash flow hedges. (b) Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Non-Recurring Basis Assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis relate primarily to our tangible fixed assets, operating lease assets, goodwill and intangible assets, and investments. The fair values of these non-financial assets and liabilities are determined based on valuation techniques using the best information available, and may include quoted market prices, market comparable information, and discounted cash flow projections. The Company reviews goodwill and intangible assets for impairment annually, during the fourth quarter of each fiscal year, or as circumstances indicate the possibility for impairment. The Company monitors the carrying value of long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying amount may not be recoverable. During the three months ended November 30, 2020, no fair value adjustments or material fair value measurements were required for the Company’s non-financial assets or liabilities. (c) Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value for Disclosure Purposes O nly As of November 30, 2020, and August 31, 2020, the fair value of the Company’s 2019 Revolving Credit Facility (as defined below in Note 11, Debt), included in Long-term debt within the Consolidated Balance Sheets, was $575.0 million, which approximated its carrying amount given the application of a floating interest rate equal to LIBOR plus a spread using a debt leverage pricing grid. As the interest rate is a variable rate, adjusted based on market conditions, it approximates the current market-rate for similar instruments available to companies with comparable credit quality and maturity, and therefore, the long-term debt is categorized as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy. As part of the Truvalue Labs, Inc. ("TVL") acquisition, FactSet assumed an additional $1.1 million in debt included in Long-term debt within the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Refer to Note 7, Acquisition for further discussion on the TVL acquisition. |