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Basis of Presentation Basis of Presentation (Policies)

v3.10.0.1
Basis of Presentation Basis of Presentation (Policies)
3 Months Ended
Nov. 30, 2018
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy [Policy Text Block]
New Accounting Pronouncements
In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. Under ASU 2014-09 and subsequent updates included in ASU 2016-10, ASU 2016-12, ASU 2017-13 and ASU 2017-14 (collectively referred to as Accounting Standards Codification 606 “ASC 606”), an entity will recognize revenue when it transfers promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects what it expects to receive in exchange for the goods or services. It also requires more detailed disclosures to enable users of financial statements to understand the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers. This guidance was adopted by the Company on September 1, 2018 using the modified retrospective method and was applied to contracts that were not completed or substantially complete as of September 1, 2018. Results for the reporting period beginning after September 1, 2018 are presented under ASC 606, while prior year amounts have not been adjusted and continue to be reported in accordance with the Company’s historical accounting policy in accordance with ASC 605 Revenue Recognition. The Company reported a net increase to opening retained earnings of $0.1 million on September 1, 2018 as a result of the cumulative impact of adopting ASC 606. The impact to net sales due to the adoption of ASC 606 for the three months ended November 30, 2018 was a decrease of $0.4 million. See Note 2, “Revenue Recognition,” for further discussion of the adoption of ASC 606.
In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-07, Compensation-Retirement Benefits (Topic 715): Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost, which changes how employers that sponsor defined benefit pension or other postretirement benefit plans present the net periodic benefit cost in the income statement. The new guidance requires the service cost component of net periodic benefit cost to be presented in the same income statement line items as other employee compensation costs arising from services rendered during the period. Other components of the net periodic benefit cost are to be stated separately from service cost and outside of operating income. This guidance was adopted by the Company on September 1, 2018. Due to a majority of the Company's defined benefit pension and other postretirement benefit plans being frozen and the net periodic benefit pension cost not being significant, the adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on the financial statements of the Company.
In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016‑15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230), Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments, to address how certain cash receipts and cash payments are presented and classified in the statement of cash flows. This update addresses eight specific cash flow issues with the objective of reducing the existing diversity in practice. This guidance was adopted on September 1, 2018. The adoption did not have an impact on the financial statements of the Company.
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (and subsequently ASU 2018-01), to increase transparency and comparability among organizations by recognizing all lease transactions (with terms in excess of 12 months) on the balance sheet as a lease liability and a right-of-use asset. This guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018 (fiscal 2020 for the Company), including interim periods within those fiscal years. Upon adoption, certain qualitative and quantitative disclosures are required along with modified retrospective recognition and measurement of impacted leases. The Company is currently gathering, documenting and analyzing lease agreements subject to this guidance, as well as working through system implementation steps. The Company anticipates material additions to the balance sheet (upon adoption) of right-of-use assets, offset by the associated liabilities, due to our routine use of operating leases over time.
In February 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-02, Income Statement-Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, which allows companies to reclassify stranded income tax effects resulting from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings in their consolidated financial statements. This guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018 (fiscal 2020 for the Company), including interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this new standard and whether we will elect to reclassify the stranded income taxes.
Schedule of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Table Text Block]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
The following is a summary of the Company's accumulated other comprehensive loss (in thousands):
 
 
November 30, 2018
August 31, 2018
Foreign currency translation adjustments
 
$
166,673

$
158,497

Pension and other postretirement benefit plans, net of tax
 
15,516

15,748

Accumulated other comprehensive loss
 
$
182,189

$
174,245