Ford 2012 Annual Report Download - page 129

Ford Motor Company | 2012 Annual Report 127
FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 18. DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES
In the normal course of business, our operations are exposed to global market risks, including the effect of changes in
foreign currency exchange rates, certain commodity prices, and interest rates. To manage these risks, we enter into
various derivatives contracts:
• Foreign currency exchange contracts, including forwards and options, that are used to manage foreign exchange
exposure;
• Commodity contracts, including forwards and options, that are used to manage commodity price risk;
• Interest rate contracts including swaps, caps, and floors that are used to manage the effects of interest rate
fluctuations; and
• Cross-currency interest rate swap contracts that are used to manage foreign currency and interest rate exposures
on foreign-denominated debt.
Our derivatives are over-the-counter customized derivative transactions and are not exchange-traded. We review our
hedging program, derivative positions, and overall risk management strategy on a regular basis.
Derivative Financial Instruments and Hedge Accounting. All derivatives are recognized on the balance sheet at fair
value. We do not net our derivative position by counterparty for purposes of balance sheet presentation and disclosure.
We do, however, consider our net position for determining fair value.
We have elected to apply hedge accounting to certain derivatives. Derivatives that are designated in hedging
relationships are evaluated for effectiveness using regression analysis at the time they are designated and throughout the
hedge period.
Some derivatives do not qualify for hedge accounting; for others, we elect not to apply hedge accounting.
Regardless, we only enter into transactions that we believe will be highly effective at offsetting the underlying economic
risk.
Cash Flow Hedges. Our Automotive sector has designated certain forward contracts as cash flow hedges of
forecasted transactions with exposure to foreign currency exchange risk.
The effective portion of changes in the fair value of cash flow hedges is deferred in Accumulated other comprehensive
income/(loss) and is recognized in Automotive cost of sales when the hedged item affects earnings. The ineffective
portion is reported in Automotive cost of sales in the period of measurement. Our policy is to de-designate cash flow
hedges prior to the time forecasted transactions are recognized as assets or liabilities on the balance sheet and report
subsequent changes in fair value through Automotive cost of sales. If it becomes probable that the originally-forecasted
transaction will not occur, the related amount included in Accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss) is reclassified
and recognized in earnings. The majority of our cash flow hedges mature in 2 years or less.
Fair Value Hedges. Our Financial Services sector uses derivatives to reduce the risk of changes in the fair value of
debt. We have designated certain receive-fixed, pay-float interest rate swaps as fair value hedges of fixed-rate debt. The
risk being hedged is the risk of changes in the fair value of the hedged debt attributable to changes in the benchmark
interest rate. If the hedge relationship is deemed to be highly effective, we record the changes in the fair value of the
hedged debt related to the risk being hedged in Financial Services debt with the offset in Financial Services other income/
(loss), net. The change in fair value of the related derivative (excluding accrued interest) also is recorded in Financial
Services other income/(loss), net. Net interest settlements and accruals on fair value hedges are excluded from the
assessment of hedge effectiveness. We report net interest settlements and accruals on fair value hedges in Interest
expense. The cash flows associated with fair value hedges are reported in Net cash provided by/(used in) operating
activities on our statement of cash flows.
When a fair value hedge is de-designated, or when the derivative is terminated before maturity, the fair value
adjustment to the hedged debt continues to be reported as part of the carrying value of the debt and is amortized over its
remaining life.
Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments. Our Automotive sector reports changes in the fair value of
derivatives not designated as hedging instruments through Automotive cost of sales. Cash flows associated with non-
designated or de-designated derivatives are reported in Net cash provided by/(used in) investing activities in our
statements of cash flows.
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