Ford 2014 Annual Report Download - page 123

FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 4. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
Cash equivalents, marketable securities, and derivative financial instruments are presented on our financial
statements on a recurring basis at fair value, while other assets and liabilities are measured at fair value on a nonrecurring
basis. During 2014, we changed the accounting for our Venezuelan operations from the consolidated method to the cost
method (see Note 1), and impaired our equity in net assets of Ford Sollers Netherlands B.V. (“Ford Sollers”) (see
Note 22).
Fair Value Measurements
In measuring fair value, we use various valuation methodologies and prioritize the use of observable inputs. The use
of observable and unobservable inputs and their significance in measuring fair value are reflected in our fair value
hierarchy assessment.
• Level 1 - inputs include quoted prices for identical instruments and are the most observable
• Level 2 - inputs include quoted prices for similar instruments and observable inputs such as interest rates,
currency exchange rates, and yield curves
• Level 3 - inputs include data not observable in the market and reflect management judgment about the
assumptions market participants would use in pricing the instruments
We review the inputs to the fair value measurements to ensure they are appropriately categorized within the fair value
hierarchy. Transfers into and transfers out of the hierarchy levels are recognized as if they had taken place at the end of
the reporting period.
Valuation Methodologies
Cash and Cash Equivalents. Included in Cash and cash equivalents are highly liquid investments that are readily
convertible to known amounts of cash, and which are subject to an insignificant risk of change in value due to interest
rate, quoted price, or penalty on withdrawal. A debt security is classified as a cash equivalent if it meets these criteria and
if it has a remaining time to maturity of three months or less from the date of acquisition. Amounts on deposit and
available upon demand, or negotiated to provide for daily liquidity without penalty, are classified as Cash and cash
equivalents. Time deposits, certificates of deposit, and money market accounts that meet the above criteria are reported
at par value on our balance sheet and are excluded from the tables below.
Marketable Securities. Investments in securities with a maturity date greater than three months at the date of
purchase and other securities for which there is more than an insignificant risk of change in value due to interest rate,
quoted price, or penalty on withdrawal are classified as Marketable securities. We generally measure fair value using
prices obtained from pricing services. Pricing methodologies and inputs to valuation models used by the pricing services
depend on the security type (i.e., asset class). Where possible, fair values are generated using market inputs including
quoted prices (the closing price in an exchange market), bid prices (the price at which a buyer stands ready to purchase),
and other market information. For fixed income securities that are not actively traded, the pricing services use alternative
methods to determine fair value for the securities, including quotes for similar fixed-income securities, matrix pricing,
discounted cash flow using benchmark curves, or other factors. In certain cases, when market data are not available, we
may use broker quotes to determine fair value.
An annual review is performed on the security prices received from our pricing services, which includes discussion
and analysis of the inputs used by the pricing services to value our securities. We also compare the price of certain
securities sold close to the quarter end to the price of the same security at the balance sheet date to ensure the reported
fair value is reasonable.
Realized and unrealized gains and losses and interest income on our marketable securities are recorded in
Automotive interest income and other income/(expense), net and Financial Services other income/(loss), net. Realized
gains and losses are measured using the specific identification method.
We enter into repurchase agreements from time to time with certain counterparties where we are the transferee.
These agreements allow us to offset our entire gross exposure in the event of default or breach of contract. The gross
value of these assets and liabilities reflected on our balance sheet at December 31, 2014 and 2013 was $15 million and
$228 million, respectively.
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