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Fair Value Option
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2012
Fair Value Option and Fair Value Measurements [Abstract]  
Fair Value Option

7.    Fair Value Option

 

We have elected to apply fair value option (“FVO”) reporting to certain of our fixed rate debt issuances which also qualify for FVO reporting under International Financial Reporting Standards. At March 31, 2012, fixed rate debt accounted for under FVO totaled $14.6 billion, of which $14.1 billion is included as a component of long-term debt and $461 million is included as a component of due to affiliates. At March 31, 2012, we had not elected FVO for $10.8 billion of fixed rate long-term debt carried on our balance sheet. Fixed rate debt accounted for under FVO at March 31, 2012 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 $401 million.

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.

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 14, “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:

 

                 
Three Months Ended March 31,   2012     2011  
    (in millions)  

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

               

Interest rate component

  $ 79     $ 219  

Credit risk component

    (479     (173
   

 

 

   

 

 

 

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

    (400     46  

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

    (116     (240

Net realized gains on the related derivatives

    120       165  
   

 

 

   

 

 

 

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

  $ (396   $ (29
   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

(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 associated with debt designated at fair value was a loss of $60 million and a loss of $176 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Offsetting gains (losses) recorded in derivative related income associated with the related derivatives was a gain of $60 million and a gain of $176 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

The movement in the fair value reflected in gain (loss) 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 $632 million and $232 million at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, 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 – Rising long-term interest rates during both the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 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, although the impact was more pronounced during the three months ended March 31, 2011. 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.

 

   

Credit – Our secondary market credit spreads tightened during the first three months ended March 31, 2012 on positive economic news in the United States and as concerns with the European sovereign debt crisis eased with the restructuring of Greek government debt. During the same period in 2011, our secondary market credit spreads also tightened due to continued improvement in marketplace liquidity. This tightening of credit spreads resulted in a loss in the credit component of the debt recorded at fair value in both periods. While credit spreads tightened in both periods, the impact was more pronounced during the three months ended March 31, 2012.

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 the three months ended March 31, 2012 should not be considered indicative of the results for any future periods.