FAIR VALUE

3 Months Ended

Nov. 30, 2022

NOTE 9. FAIR VALUE

The Company has established a fair value hierarchy which prioritizes the inputs to the valuation techniques used to measure fair value into three levels. These levels are determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement. Levels within the hierarchy are defined within Note 1, Nature of Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, to the consolidated financial statements in the 2022 Form 10-K.

The following tables summarize information regarding the Company's financial assets and financial liabilities that were measured at fair value on a recurring basis:


			Fair Value Measurements at Reporting Date Using
(in thousands)	November 30, 2022		Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Assets:
Investment deposit accounts (1)	$	492,405	$	492,405	$	—	$	—
Commodity derivative assets (2)	248,261		6,795		—		241,466
Foreign exchange derivative assets (2)	2,748		—		2,748		—
Liabilities:
Commodity derivative liabilities (2)	4,417		4,417		—		—
Foreign exchange derivative liabilities (2)	1,934		—		1,934		—


			Fair Value Measurements at Reporting Date Using
(in thousands)	August 31, 2022		Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Assets:
Investment deposit accounts (1)	$	572,384	$	572,384	$	—	$	—
Commodity derivative assets (2)	160,847		17,347		—		143,500
Foreign exchange derivative assets (2)	1,296		—		1,296		—
Liabilities:
Commodity derivative liabilities (2)	1,260		1,260		—		—
Foreign exchange derivative liabilities (2)	3,126		—		3,126		—

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(1) Investment deposit accounts are short-term in nature, and the value is determined by principal plus interest. The investment portfolio mix can change each period based on the Company's assessment of investment options.

(2) Derivative assets and liabilities classified as Level 1 are commodity futures contracts valued based on quoted market prices in the London Metal Exchange or New York Mercantile Exchange. Amounts in Level 2 are based on broker quotes in the over-the-counter market. Derivatives classified as Level 3 are described below. Further discussion regarding the Company's use of derivative instruments is included in Note 8, Derivatives.

As of August 31, 2022, the Company had one Level 3 commodity derivative. In September 2022, the Company entered into a second Level 3 commodity derivative with the same counterparty. The second Level 3 commodity derivative will begin to settle in January 2025. The fair value estimates of the Level 3 commodity derivatives are based on internally developed discounted cash flow models primarily utilizing unobservable inputs for which there is little or no market data. The Company forecasts future energy rates using a range of historical prices ("floating rate"). The floating rate is the only significant unobservable input used in the Company's discounted cash flow models. The following table summarizes the floating rate used to measure the fair value of the commodity derivatives at November 30, 2022 and 2021:


	Floating rate (PLN)
November 30,	Low	High	Average
2022	532.66	1,298.53	786.58
2021	252.79	540.39	348.99

Below is a reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances of the Level 3 commodity derivatives recognized in the condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive income. The fluctuation in energy rates over time causes volatility in the fair value estimate and is the primary reason for unrealized gains included in other comprehensive income ("OCI") in the three months ended November 30, 2022 and 2021.


(in thousands)	Three Months Ended November 30, 2022
Balance, September 1, 2022	$	143,500
Total gains, realized and unrealized:
Unrealized holding gain before reclassification (1)	104,197
Reclassification for gain included in net earnings (2)	(6,231)
Balance, November 30, 2022	$	241,466








(in thousands)	Three Months Ended November 30, 2021
Balance, September 1, 2021	$	26,413
Total gains, realized and unrealized:
Unrealized holding gain before reclassification (1)	25,208
Reclassification for gain included in net earnings (2)	(3,729)
Balance, November 30, 2021	$	47,892

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(1) Unrealized holding gain, net of foreign currency translation, less amounts reclassified are included in OCI in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income.

(2) Gains included in net earnings are recorded in cost of goods sold in the condensed consolidated statements of earnings.

There were no material, non-recurring fair value remeasurements during the three months ended November 30, 2022 or 2021.

The carrying values of the Company's short-term items, including documentary letters of credit and notes payable, approximate fair value.

The carrying values and estimated fair values of the Company's financial assets and liabilities that are not required to be measured at fair value in the condensed consolidated balance sheets were as follows:


		November 30, 2022				August 31, 2022
(in thousands)	Fair Value Hierarchy	Carrying Value		Fair Value		Carrying Value		Fair Value
2032 Notes (1)	Level 2	$	300,000	$	255,005	$	300,000	$	256,488
2031 Notes (1)	Level 2	300,000		252,169		300,000		249,888
2030 Notes (1)	Level 2	300,000		261,675		300,000		263,372
2023 Notes (1)	Level 2	214,059		214,316		330,000		330,182
Series 2022 Bonds, due 2047 (1)	Level 2	145,060		115,768		145,060		126,652
Poland Term Loan (2)	Level 2	—		—		32,439		32,439
Short-term borrowings (2)	Level 2	—		—		26,390		26,390

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(1) The fair values of the notes and the Series 2022 Bonds were determined based on indicated market values.

(2) The Poland Term Loan and short-term borrowings contain variable interest rates, and as a result, the carrying values approximate fair value.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for the fair value of financial instruments (as defined), including financial assets and financial liabilities (collectively, as defined), and the measurements of those instruments as well as disclosures related to the fair value of non-financial assets and liabilities. Such disclosures about the financial instruments, assets, and liabilities would include: (1) the fair value of the required items together with their carrying amounts (as appropriate); (2) for items for which it is not practicable to estimate fair value, disclosure would include: (a) information pertinent to estimating fair value (including, carrying amount, effective interest rate, and maturity, and (b) the reasons why it is not practicable to estimate fair value; (3) significant concentrations of credit risk including: (a) information about the activity, region, or economic characteristics identifying a concentration, (b) the maximum amount of loss the entity is exposed to based on the gross fair value of the related item, (c) policy for requiring collateral or other security and information as to accessing such collateral or security, and (d) the nature and brief description of such collateral or security; (4) quantitative information about market risks and how such risks are managed; (5) for items measured on both a recurring and nonrecurring basis information regarding the inputs used to develop the fair value measurement; and (6) for items presented in the financial statement for which fair value measurement is elected: (a) information necessary to understand the reasons for the election, (b) discussion of the effect of fair value changes on earnings, (c) a description of [similar groups] items for which the election is made and the relation thereof to the balance sheet, the aggregate carrying value of items included in the balance sheet that are not eligible for the election; (7) all other required (as defined) and desired information.

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