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Fair Value Option
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011
Fair Value Option and Fair Value Measurements [Abstract]  
Fair Value Option

12.    Fair Value Option

 

We have elected FVO reporting for certain of our fixed rate debt issuances. At December 31, 2011, fixed rate debt accounted for under FVO totaled $14.1 billion, of which $13.7 billion is included as a component of long-term debt and $447 million is included as a component of due to affiliates. At December 31, 2011, we had not elected FVO for $11.8 billion of fixed rate long-term debt carried on our balance sheet. Fixed rate debt accounted for under FVO at December 31, 2011 has an aggregate unpaid principal balance of $13.9 billion which included a foreign currency translation adjustment relating to our foreign denominated FVO debt which increased the debt balance by $341 million.

At December 31, 2010, fixed rate debt accounted for under FVO totaled $21.3 billion, of which $20.8 billion is included as a component of long-term debt and $436 million is included as a component of due to affiliates. At December 31, 2010, we had not elected FVO for $16.8 billion of fixed rate long-term debt carried on our balance sheet. Fixed rate debt accounted for under FVO at December 31, 2010 has an aggregate unpaid principal balance of $20.4 billion which included a foreign currency translation adjustment relating to our foreign denominated FVO debt which increased the debt balance by $404 million.

We determine the fair value of the fixed rate debt accounted for under FVO through the use of a third party pricing service. Such fair value represents the full market price (credit and interest rate impact) based on observable market data for the same or similar debt instruments. See Note 22, “Fair Value Measurements,” for a description of the methods and significant assumptions used to estimate the fair value of our fixed rate debt accounted for under FVO.

 

The components of gain (loss) on debt designated at fair value and related derivatives are as follows:

 

                         
Year Ended December 31,   2011     2010     2009  
    (in millions)  

Mark-to-market on debt designated at fair value (1):

                       

Interest rate component

  $ 25     $ (269   $ 1,063  

Credit risk component

    616       109       (3,334
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total mark-to-market on debt designated at fair value

    641       (160     (2,271

Mark-to-market on the related derivatives (1)

    (81     112       (609

Net realized gains on the related derivatives

    604       789       755  
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gain (loss) on debt designated at fair value and related derivatives

  $ 1,164     $ 741     $ (2,125
   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

(1) 

Mark-to-market on debt designated at fair value and related derivatives excludes market value changes due to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates. Foreign currency translation gains (losses) recorded in derivative related income (expense) associated with debt designated at fair value was a gain of $63 million, $84 million and a loss of $75 million during 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively. Offsetting gains (losses) recorded in derivative related income (expense) associated with the related derivatives was a loss of $63 million, $84 million and a gain of $75 million during 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

The movement in the fair value reflected in gain on debt designated at fair value and related derivatives includes the effect of credit spread changes and interest rate changes, including any economic ineffectiveness in the relationship between the related swaps and our debt and any realized gains or losses on those swaps. With respect to the credit component, as credit spreads narrow accounting losses are booked and the reverse is true if credit spreads widen. Differences arise between the movement in the fair value of our debt and the fair value of the related swap due to the different credit characteristics and differences in the calculation of fair value for debt and derivatives. The size and direction of the accounting consequences of such changes can be volatile from period to period but do not alter the cash flows intended as part of the documented interest rate management strategy. On a cumulative basis, we have recorded fair value option adjustments which increased the value of our debt by $232 million and $873 million at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

The change in the fair value of the debt and the change in value of the related derivatives reflect the following:

 

   

Interest rate curve – During 2011, long-term U.S. interest rates decreased. However, while long-term U.S. interest rates were lower during 2011, changes in market movements on certain debt and related derivatives that mature in the near term resulted in a gain in the interest rate component on the mark-to-market of the debt and a loss on the mark-to-market of the related derivative. As these items near maturity, their values are less sensitive to interest rate movements. Interest rates in the U.S. also decreased during 2010 which resulted in a loss in the interest rate component on the mark-to-market of the debt and a gain on the mark-to-market of the related derivative. Changes in the value of the interest rate component of the debt as compared to the related derivative are also affected by differences in cash flows and valuation methodologies for the debt and the derivatives. Cash flows on debt are discounted using a single discount rate from the bond yield curve for each bond’s applicable maturity while derivative cash flows are discounted using rates at multiple points along an interest rate yield curve. The impacts of these differences vary as short-term and long-term interest rates shift and time passes. Furthermore, certain derivatives have been called by the counterparty resulting in certain FVO debt having no related derivatives. Approximately 3 percent and 7 percent of our FVO debt does not have a corresponding derivative at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

 

   

Credit – Our secondary market credit spreads widened in 2011 due to the continuing concerns with the European sovereign debt crisis which has caused spreads to widen throughout the financial services industry as well as the uncertain economic recovery in the United States. During 2010, we experienced an overall gain in the credit component of our debt primarily resulting from widening of credit spreads in our longer-dated debt, which was partially offset by the tightening of credit spreads in our shorter-dated debt.

 

Net income volatility, whether based on changes in the interest rate or credit risk components of the mark-to-market on debt designated at fair value and the related derivatives, impacts the comparability of our reported results between periods. Accordingly, gain (loss) on debt designated at fair value and related derivatives for 2011 should not be considered indicative of the results for any future periods.