Ford 2014 Annual Report Download - page 155

FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
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NOTE 15. VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES (Continued)
VIEs of Which We are the Primary Beneficiary
Securitization Entities. Through Ford Credit, we securitize, transfer, and service financial assets associated with
consumer finance receivables, operating leases, and wholesale loans. Our securitization transactions typically involve
the legal transfer of financial assets to bankruptcy remote SPEs. We generally retain economic interests in the asset-
backed securitization transactions, which are retained in the form of senior or subordinated interests, cash reserve
accounts, residual interests, and servicing rights. For accounting purposes, we are precluded from recording the
transfers of assets in securitization transactions as sales.
In most cases, the bankruptcy remote SPEs meet the definition of VIEs for which we have determined we have
both the power to direct the activities of the entity that most significantly impact the entity's performance and the
obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits of the entity that could be significant, and would therefore
also be consolidated. We account for all securitization transactions as if they were secured financing and therefore the
assets, liabilities, and related activity of these transactions are consolidated in our financial results and are included in
amounts presented on the face of our consolidated balance sheet. See Note 13 for additional information on the
accounting for asset-backed debt and the assets securing this debt.
NOTE 16. 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, 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, 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. Derivatives are recorded on the balance sheet at fair value
and presented on a gross basis. Derivative assets are reported in Other assets and derivative liabilities are reported in
Payables and Other liabilities and deferred revenue.
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 and commodity price risks.
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 foreign
currency exchange 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 two years or
less.
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