UPS 2015 Annual Report Download - page 128

UNITED PARCEL SERVICE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
116
NOTE 15. DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND RISK MANAGEMENT
Risk Management Policies
We are exposed to market risk, primarily related to foreign exchange rates, commodity prices and interest rates. These
exposures are actively monitored by management. To manage the volatility relating to certain of these exposures, we enter into a
variety of derivative financial instruments. Our objective is to reduce, where it is deemed appropriate to do so, fluctuations in
earnings and cash flows associated with changes in foreign currency rates, commodity prices and interest rates. It is our policy and
practice to use derivative financial instruments only to the extent necessary to manage exposures. As we use price sensitive
instruments to hedge a certain portion of our existing and anticipated transactions, we expect that any loss in value for those
instruments generally would be offset by increases in the value of those hedged transactions. We do not hold or issue derivative
financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes.
Credit Risk Management
The forward contracts, swaps and options discussed below contain an element of risk that the counterparties may be unable to
meet the terms of the agreements. However, we minimize such risk exposures for these instruments by limiting the counterparties to
banks and financial institutions that meet established credit guidelines and by monitoring counterparty credit risk to prevent
concentrations of credit risk with any single counterparty.
We have agreements with all of our active counterparties (covering the majority of our derivative positions) containing early
termination rights and/or zero threshold bilateral collateral provisions whereby cash is required based on the net fair value of
derivatives associated with those counterparties. Events such as a counterparty credit rating downgrade (depending on the ultimate
rating level) could also allow us to take additional protective measures such as the early termination of trades. At December 31,
2015 and 2014, we held cash collateral of $717 and $548 million, respectively, under these agreements; this collateral is included in
"cash and cash equivalents" on the consolidated balance sheets and its use by UPS is not restricted.
In connection with the agreements described above, we could also be required to provide additional collateral or terminate
transactions with certain counterparties in the event of a downgrade of our credit rating. The amount of collateral required would be
determined by the net fair value of the associated derivatives with each counterparty. At December 31, 2015 and 2014, we were
required to post $0 and $1 million, respectively, in collateral with our counterparties. At December 31, 2015, there were no
instruments in a net liability position that were not covered by the zero threshold bilateral collateral provisions.
We have not historically incurred, and do not expect to incur in the future, any losses as a result of counterparty default.
Accounting Policy for Derivative Instruments
We recognize all derivative instruments as assets or liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets at fair value. The accounting
for changes in the fair value of a derivative instrument depends on whether it has been designated and qualifies as part of a hedging
relationship and, further, on the type of hedging relationship. For those derivative instruments that are designated and qualify as
hedging instruments, a company must designate the derivative, based upon the exposure being hedged, as a cash flow hedge, a fair
value hedge or a hedge of a net investment in a foreign operation.
A cash flow hedge refers to hedging the exposure to variability in expected future cash flows that is attributable to a particular
risk. For derivative instruments that are designated and qualify as a cash flow hedge, the effective portion of the gain or loss on the
derivative instrument is reported as a component of AOCI, and reclassified into earnings in the same period during which the
hedged transaction affects earnings. The remaining gain or loss on the derivative instrument in excess of the cumulative change in
the present value of future cash flows of the hedged item, or hedge components excluded from the assessment of effectiveness, are
recognized in the statements of consolidated income during the current period.
A fair value hedge refers to hedging the exposure to changes in the fair value of an existing asset or liability on the
consolidated balance sheets that is attributable to a particular risk. For derivative instruments that are designated and qualify as a fair
value hedge, the gain or loss on the derivative instrument is recognized in the statements of consolidated income during the current
period, as well as the offsetting gain or loss on the hedged item.
A net investment hedge refers to the use of cross currency swaps, forward contracts or foreign currency denominated debt to
hedge portions of our net investments in foreign operations. For hedges that meet the effectiveness requirements, the net gains or
losses attributable to changes in spot exchange rates are recorded in the cumulative translation adjustment within AOCI. The
remainder of the change in value of such instruments is recorded in earnings.