Derivative Instruments and Fair Value Measurements

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Derivative Instruments and Fair Value Measurements [Abstract]

Derivative Instruments and Fair Value Measurements

Note 9. Derivative Instruments and Fair Value Measurements

We measure fair value at the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. We prioritize the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability into a three-tier fair value hierarchy. This fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority (Level 1) to quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities and the lowest priority (Level 3) to unobservable inputs in which little or no market data exist, requiring companies to develop their own assumptions. Observable inputs that do not meet the criteria of Level 1, and include quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets or quoted prices for identical assets and liabilities in markets that are not active are categorized as Level 2. Level 3 inputs are those that reflect our estimates about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on the best information available in the circumstances. Valuation techniques for assets and liabilities measured using Level 3 inputs may include methodologies such as the market approach, the income approach or the cost approach and may use unobservable inputs such as projections, estimates and management’s interpretation of current market data. These unobservable inputs are utilized only to the extent that observable inputs are not available or cost-effective to obtain.

Assets and Liabilities Recorded at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis

The assets and liabilities that are recorded at fair value on a recurring basis consist primarily of our derivative financial instruments, which are categorized as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy. The fair value amounts of these instruments that are designated as hedging instruments are provided below:

			Asset (Liability)
(In millions)	Borrowing Group	Balance Sheet Location	December 31, 2011	January 1, 2011
Assets
Interest rate exchange contracts*	Finance	Other assets	$            22	$	34
Foreign currency exchange contracts	Manufacturing	Other current assets	9		39
Total			$            31	$	73
Liabilities
Interest rate exchange contracts*	Finance	Other liabilities	$           (7)	$	(6	)
Foreign currency exchange contracts	Manufacturing	Accrued liabilities	(5)		(2	)
Total			$         (12)	$	(8	)

* Interest rate exchange contracts represent fair value hedges.

The Finance group’s interest rate exchange contracts are not exchange traded and are measured at fair value utilizing widely accepted, third-party developed valuation models. The actual terms of each individual contract are entered into a valuation model, along with interest rate and foreign exchange rate data, which is based on readily observable market data published by third-party leading financial news and data providers. Credit risk is factored into the fair value of these assets and liabilities based on the differential between both our credit default swap spread for liabilities and the counterparty’s credit default swap spread for assets as compared with a standard AA-rated counterparty; however, this had no significant impact on the valuation at December 31, 2011. At December 31, 2011 and January 1, 2011, we had interest rate exchange contracts with notional amounts upon which the contracts were based of $0.8 billion and $1.1 billion, respectively.

Foreign currency exchange contracts are measured at fair value using the market method valuation technique. The inputs to this technique utilize current foreign currency exchange forward market rates published by third-party leading financial news and data providers. These are observable data that represent the rates that the financial institution uses for contracts entered into at that date; however, they are not based on actual transactions so they are classified as Level 2. At December 31, 2011 and January 1, 2011, we had foreign currency exchange contracts with notional amounts upon which the contracts were based of $645 million and $635 million, respectively.

The Finance group also has investments in other marketable securities totaling $21 million and $51 million at December 31, 2011 and January 1, 2011, respectively, which are classified as available for sale. These investments are classified as Level 2 as the fair value for these notes was determined based on observable market inputs for similar securitization interests in markets that are relatively inactive compared with the market environment in which they were originally issued.

Fair Value Hedges

Our Finance group enters into interest rate exchange contracts to mitigate exposure to changes in the fair value of its fixed-rate receivables and debt due to fluctuations in interest rates. By using these contracts, we are able to convert our fixed-rate cash flows to floating-rate cash flows. The amount of ineffectiveness on our fair value hedges and the gain (loss) recorded in the Consolidated Statements of Operations were both insignificant in 2011 and 2010.

Cash Flow Hedges

We manufacture and sell our products in a number of countries throughout the world, and, therefore, we are exposed to movements in foreign currency exchange rates. The primary purpose of our foreign currency hedging activities is to manage the volatility associated with foreign currency purchases of materials, foreign currency sales of products, and other assets and liabilities in the normal course of business. We primarily utilize forward exchange contracts and purchased options with maturities of no more than three years that qualify as cash flow hedges and are intended to offset the effect of exchange rate fluctuations on forecasted sales, inventory purchases and overhead expenses. At December 31, 2011, we had a net deferred gain of $8 million in Accumulated other comprehensive loss related to these cash flow hedges. Net gains and losses recognized in earnings and Accumulated other comprehensive loss on these cash flow hedges, including gains and losses related to hedge ineffectiveness, were not material in 2011 and 2010. We do not expect the amount of gains and losses in Accumulated other comprehensive loss that will be reclassified to earnings in the next twelve months to be material.

We hedge our net investment position in major currencies and generate foreign currency interest payments that offset other transactional exposures in these currencies. To accomplish this, we borrow directly in foreign currency and designate a portion of foreign currency debt as a hedge of net investments. We also may utilize currency forwards as hedges of our related foreign net investments. We record changes in the fair value of these contracts in other comprehensive income to the extent they are effective as cash flow hedges. If a contract does not qualify for hedge accounting or is designated as a fair value hedge, changes in the fair value of the contract are recorded in earnings. Currency effects on the effective portion of these hedges, which are reflected in the foreign currency translation adjustment account within OCI, produced a $4 million after-tax gain in 2011, resulting in an accumulated net gain balance of $18 million at December 31, 2011. The ineffective portion of these hedges was insignificant.

Counterparty Credit Risk

Our exposure to loss from nonperformance by the counterparties to our derivative agreements at the end of 2011 is minimal. We do not anticipate nonperformance by counterparties in the periodic settlements of amounts due. We historically have minimized this potential for risk by entering into contracts exclusively with major, financially sound counterparties having no less than a long-term bond rating of A. The credit risk generally is limited to the amount by which the counterparties’ contractual obligations exceed our obligations to the counterparty. We continuously monitor our exposures to ensure that we limit our risks.

Assets Recorded at Fair Value on a Nonrecurring Basis

The table below presents those assets that are measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis that had fair value measurement adjustments during 2011 and 2010. These assets were measured using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) and include the following:

	Balance at				Gain (Loss)
(In millions)	December 31, 2011		January 1, 2011		2011			2010
Finance group
Impaired finance receivables	$	81	$	504	$	(82	)	$	(148	)
Finance receivables held for sale		418		413		(206	)		(22	)
Other assets		128		149		(49	)		(47	)
Manufacturing group
Intangible assets		15		—		(41	)		—

Impaired Finance Receivables — Impaired nonaccrual finance receivables are included in the table above since the measurement of required reserves on our impaired finance receivables is significantly dependent on the fair value of the underlying collateral. Fair values of collateral are determined based on the use of appraisals, industry pricing guides, input from market participants, our recent experience selling similar assets or internally developed discounted cash flow models. Fair value measurements recorded on impaired finance receivables resulted in charges to provision for loan losses and primarily were related to initial fair value adjustments.

Finance Receivables Held for Sale — Finance receivables held for sale are recorded at fair value on a nonrecurring basis during periods in which the fair value is lower than the cost value. As a result of our plan to exit the non-captive finance business certain finance receivables are classified as held for sale. At December 31, 2011, the finance receivables held for sale include the entire Golf Mortgage portfolio, the majority of which was transferred to the finance receivables held for sale classification in the fourth quarter of 2011, and a portion of the Timeshare portfolio. Due to the transfer, these finance receivables were recorded at fair value, resulting in a $186 million charge recorded to Valuation allowance on transfer of Golf Mortgage portfolio to held for sale.

There are no active, quoted market prices for our finance receivables. The estimate of fair value was determined based on the use of discounted cash flow models to estimate the exit price we expect to receive in the principal market for each type of loan in an orderly transaction, which includes both the sale of pools of similar assets and the sale of individual loans. The models we used incorporate estimates of the rate of return, financing cost, capital structure and/or discount rate expectations of current market participants combined with estimated loan cash flows based on credit losses, payment rates and credit line utilization rates. Where available, assumptions related to the expectations of current market participants are compared with observable market inputs, including bids from prospective purchasers of similar loans and certain bond market indices for loans perceived to be of similar credit quality. Although we utilize and prioritize these market observable inputs in our discounted cash flow models, these inputs are not typically derived from markets with directly comparable loan structures, industries and collateral types. Therefore, all valuations of finance receivables held for sale involve significant management judgment, which can result in differences between our fair value estimates and those of other market participants.

Other assets — Other assets include repossessed assets and properties, operating assets received in satisfaction of troubled finance receivables and other investments, which are accounted for under the equity method of accounting and have no active, quoted market prices. The fair value of these assets is determined based on the use of appraisals, industry pricing guides, input from market participants, our recent experience selling similar assets or internally developed discounted cash flow models. For our other investments, the discounted cash flow models incorporate assumptions specific to the nature of the investments’ business and underlying assets and include industry valuation benchmarks such as discount rates, capitalization rates and cash flow multiples.

Intangible assets — In the fourth quarter of 2011, we determined that we had an indicator of potential asset impairment in our Textron Systems segment. As Textron Systems sells many of its products to the U.S. Government, its business environment continues to be shaped by policy and budget decisions determined by the U.S. Government. Recent actions of the President and Congress indicate an ongoing emphasis on federal budget deficit reduction, and budget decisions by the President and Congress may considerably reduce discretionary spending, of which defense constitutes a significant share. Based on the continued deterioration of this environment, the results of our annual operating plan review, which included updated long-range forecast estimates, and the loss of certain contracts, we determined that an indicator of potential asset impairment existed in the fourth quarter, requiring us to perform impairment tests. Based on our analysis, we determined that certain intangible assets were impaired and recorded a $41 million pre-tax impairment charge to write down intangible assets primarily related to customer agreements and contractual relationships associated with AAI-Logistics & Technical Services and AAI-Test & Training businesses. We determined the fair value of these assets using discounted cash flows related to each asset group and a weighted-average cost of capital of approximately 10%. The impairment charge is recorded in cost of sales within segment profit.

Assets and Liabilities Not Recorded at Fair Value

The carrying value and estimated fair values of our financial instruments that are not reflected in the financial statements at fair value are as follows:

	December 31, 2011						January 1, 2011
(In millions)	Carrying Value			Estimated Fair Value			Carrying Value			Estimated Fair Value
Manufacturing group
Long-term debt, excluding leases	$	(2,328	)	$	(2,561	)	$	(2,172	)	$	(2,698	)
Finance group
Finance receivables held for investment, excluding leases		1,997			1,848			3,345			3,131
Debt		(1,974	)		(1,854	)		(3,660	)		(3,528	)

Fair value for the Manufacturing group debt is determined using market observable data for similar transactions. At December 31, 2011 and January 1, 2011, approximately 53% and 33%, respectively, of the fair value of term debt for the Finance group was determined based on observable market transactions. The remaining Finance group debt was determined based on discounted cash flow analyses using observable market inputs from debt with similar duration, subordination and credit default expectations. We utilize the same valuation methodologies to determine the fair value estimates for finance receivables held for investment as used for finance receivables held for sale.