DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES

9 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]

DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES

DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES

NetScout operates internationally and, in the normal course of business, is exposed to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates. The exposures result from costs that are denominated in currencies other than the U.S. Dollar, primarily the Euro, British Pound, Canadian Dollar, and Indian Rupee. The Company manages its foreign cash flow risk by hedging forecasted cash flows for operating expenses denominated in foreign currencies for up to twelve months, within specified guidelines through the use of forward contracts. The Company enters into foreign currency exchange contracts to hedge cash flow exposures from costs that are denominated in currencies other than the U.S. Dollar. These hedges are designated as cash flow hedges at inception.

All of the Company’s derivative instruments are utilized for risk management purposes, and the Company does not use derivatives for speculative trading purposes. These contracts will mature over the next twelve months and are expected to impact earnings on or before maturity.

The notional amounts and fair values of derivative instruments in the consolidated balance sheets at December 31, 2016 and March 31, 2016 were as follows (in thousands):

	Notional Amounts (a)				Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets				Accrued Other
	December 31, 2016		March 31, 2016		December 31, 2016		March 31, 2016		December 31, 2016		March 31, 2016
Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments:
Forward contracts	$	8,621	$	17,490	$	9	$	191	$	391	$	158

(a) Notional amounts represent the gross contract/notional amount of the derivatives outstanding.

The following table provides the effect foreign exchange forward contracts had on other comprehensive income (loss) (OCI) and results of operations for the three months ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 (in thousands):

Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging Relationships	Effective Portion											Ineffective Portion
	Loss Recognized in OCI on Derivative (a)						Gain Reclassified from Accumulated OCI into Income (b)					Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income (Amount Excluded from Effectiveness Testing) (c)
	December 31, 2016			December 31, 2015			Location	December 31, 2016		December 31, 2015		Location	December 31, 2016			December 31, 2015
Forward contracts	$	(488	)	$	(288	)	Research and development	$	12	$	46	Research and development	$	39		$	39
							Sales and marketing	181		113		Sales and marketing	(21		)	—
	$	(488	)	$	(288	)		$	193	$	159		$	18		$	39

(a) The amount represents the change in fair value of derivative contracts due to changes in spot rates.

(b) The amount represents reclassification from other comprehensive income to earnings that occurs when the hedged item affects earnings.

(c) The amount represents the change in fair value of derivative contracts due to changes in the difference between the spot price and forward price that is excluded from the assessment of hedge effectiveness and therefore recognized in earnings. No gains or losses were reclassified as a result of discontinuance of cash flow hedges.

The following table provides the effect foreign exchange forward contracts had on other comprehensive income (loss) (OCI) and results of operations for the nine months ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 (in thousands):

Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging Relationships	Effective Portion												Ineffective Portion
	Loss Recognized in OCI on Derivative (a)						Gain (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated OCI into Income (b)						Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income (Amount Excluded from Effectiveness Testing) (c)
	December 31, 2016			December 31, 2015			Location	December 31, 2016			December 31, 2015		Location	December 31, 2016			December 31, 2015
Forward contracts	$	(626	)	$	(806	)	Research and development	$	(6	)	$	132	Research and development	$	70		$	102
							Sales and marketing	210			1,817		Sales and marketing	(113		)	(21		)
	$	(626	)	$	(806	)		$	204		$	1,949		$	(43	)	$	81

(a) The amount represents the change in fair value of derivative contracts due to changes in spot rates.

(b) The amount represents reclassification from other comprehensive income to earnings that occurs when the hedged item affects earnings.

(c) The amount represents the change in fair value of derivative contracts due to changes in the difference between the spot price and forward price that is excluded from the assessment of hedge effectiveness and therefore recognized in earnings. No gains or losses were reclassified as a result of discontinuance of cash flow hedges.