DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES
We are exposed to market risk, primarily from foreign currency exchange rates, interest rates, commodity prices and investments. We may use derivative financial instruments to hedge some of these risks as described below. We do not use derivatives for trading or speculative purposes.
Foreign Currency Risk. Our foreign currency exchange rate risk relates to receipts from customers, payments to suppliers and inter-company transactions denominated in foreign currencies. To the extent possible, we include terms in our contracts that are designed to protect us from this risk. Otherwise, we enter into derivative financial instruments, principally foreign currency forward purchase and sale contracts, designed to offset and minimize our risk. The one-year average maturity of these instruments matches the duration of the activities that are at risk.
Interest Rate Risk. Our financial instruments subject to interest rate risk include fixed-rate long-term debt obligations and variable-rate commercial paper. However, the risk associated with these instruments is not material.
Commodity Price Risk. We are subject to risk of rising labor and commodity prices, primarily on long-term fixed-price contracts. To the extent possible, we include terms in our contracts that are designed to protect us from this risk. Some of the protective terms included in our contracts are considered derivatives but are not accounted for separately because they are clearly and closely related to the host contract. We have not entered into any material commodity hedging contracts but may do so as circumstances warrant. We do not believe that changes in labor or commodity prices will have a material impact on our results of operations or cash flows.
Investment Risk. Our investment policy allows for purchases of fixed-income securities with an investment-grade rating and a maximum maturity of up to five years. On December 31, 2013, we held $5.3 billion in cash and equivalents, but held no marketable securities.
Hedging Activities. We had $2.5 billion in notional forward exchange contracts outstanding on December 31, 2012, and $1.7 billion on December 31, 2013. We recognize derivative financial instruments on the Consolidated Balance Sheets at fair value (see Note D).
We record changes in the fair value of derivative financial instruments in operating costs and expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings (Loss) or in OCL within the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) depending on whether the derivative is designated and qualifies for hedge accounting. Gains and losses related to derivatives that qualify as cash flow hedges are deferred in OCL until the underlying transaction is reflected in earnings. We adjust derivative financial instruments not designated as cash flow hedges to market value each period and record the gain or loss in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings (Loss). The gains and losses on these instruments generally offset losses and gains on the assets, liabilities and other transactions being hedged. Gains and losses resulting from hedge ineffectiveness are recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings (Loss) for all derivative financial instruments, regardless of designation.
Net gains and losses recognized in earnings and OCL, including gains and losses related to hedge ineffectiveness, were not material to our results of operations in any of the past three years. We do not expect the amount of gains and losses in OCL that will be reclassified to earnings in 2014 to be material.
We had no material derivative financial instruments designated as fair value or net investment hedges on December 31, 2012, or December 31, 2013.
Foreign Currency Financial Statement Translation. We translate foreign currency balance sheets from our international businesses’ functional currency (generally the respective local currency) to U.S. dollars at the end-of-period exchange rates, and statements of earnings at the average exchange rates for each period. The resulting foreign currency translation adjustments are a component of OCL.
We do not hedge the fluctuation in reported revenues and earnings resulting from the translation of these international operations’ results into U.S. dollars. The impact of translating our international operations’ revenues and earnings into U.S. dollars was not material to our results of operations in any of the past three years. In addition, the effect of changes in foreign exchange rates on non-U.S. cash balances was not material in each of the past three years.
