Objectives And Strategies For Using Derivatives

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2015

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]

Objectives And Strategies For Using Derivatives

Objectives and Strategies for Using Derivatives

As a multinational enterprise, we are exposed to financial risks, such as changes in foreign currency exchange rates, interest rates, and commodity prices. We employ a number of practices to manage these risks, including operating and financing activities and, where appropriate, the use of derivative instruments. We enter into derivative instruments to hedge a portion of forecasted cash flows denominated in foreign currencies for non-U.S. operations' purchases of raw materials, which are priced in U.S. dollars, and imports of intercompany finished goods and work-in-process priced predominantly in U.S. dollars and euros. The derivative instruments used to manage these exposures are designated and qualify as cash flow hedges. The foreign currency exposure on certain non-functional currency denominated monetary assets and liabilities, primarily intercompany loans and accounts payable, is hedged with primarily undesignated derivative instruments.

Interest rate risk is managed using a portfolio of variable- and fixed-rate debt composed of short- and long-term instruments. Interest rate swap contracts may be used to facilitate the maintenance of the desired ratio of variable- and fixed-rate debt and are designated and qualify as fair value hedges. From time to time, we also hedge the anticipated issuance of fixed-rate debt, using forward-starting swaps, and these contracts are designated as cash flow hedges.

We use derivative instruments, such as forward swap contracts, to hedge a limited portion of our exposure to market risk arising from changes in prices of certain commodities. These derivatives are designated as cash flow hedges of specific quantities of the underlying commodity expected to be purchased in future months.

Translation adjustments result from translating foreign entities' financial statements into U.S. dollars from their functional currencies. The risk to any particular entity's net assets is reduced to the extent that the entity is financed with local currency borrowing. Translation exposure, which results from changes in translation rates between functional currencies and the U.S. dollar, generally is not hedged. However, consistent with other years, a portion of our net investment in our Mexican affiliate has been hedged. At March 31, 2015, we had in place net investment hedges of $138 for a portion of our investment in our Mexican affiliate.

Set forth below is a summary of the total designated and undesignated fair values of our derivative instruments:

	Assets				Liabilities
	March 31, 2015		December 31, 2014		March 31, 2015		December 31, 2014
Foreign currency exchange contracts	$	87	$	54	$	104	$	102
Interest rate contracts	2		—		11		4
Commodity price contracts	—		—		17		10
Total	$	89	$	54	$	132	$	116

The derivative assets are included in the Consolidated Balance Sheet in other current assets and other assets, as appropriate. The derivative liabilities are included in the Consolidated Balance Sheet in accrued expenses and other liabilities, as appropriate.

Derivative instruments that are designated and qualify as fair value hedges are predominantly used to manage interest rate risk. The fair values of these derivative instruments are recorded as an asset or liability, as appropriate, with the offset recorded in current earnings. The offset to the change in fair values of the related hedged items also is recorded in current earnings. Any realized gain or loss on the derivatives that hedge interest rate risk is amortized to interest expense over the life of the related debt. At March 31, 2015, the aggregate notional values of outstanding interest rate contracts designated as fair value hedges were $250. Fair value hedges resulted in no significant ineffectiveness in the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014. For the three month periods ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, gains or losses recognized in interest expense for interest rate swaps were not significant. For the three month periods ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, no gain or loss was recognized in earnings as a result of a hedged firm commitment no longer qualifying as a fair value hedge.

For derivative instruments that are designated and qualify as cash flow hedges, the effective portion of the gain or loss on the derivative instrument is initially recorded in AOCI, net of related income taxes, and recognized in earnings in the same period that the hedged exposure affects earnings. As of March 31, 2015, outstanding commodity forward contracts were in place to hedge a limited portion of our estimated requirements of the related underlying commodities in the remainder of 2015 and future periods. As of March 31, 2015, the aggregate notional values of outstanding foreign exchange and interest rate derivative contracts designated as cash flow hedges were $800 and $200, respectively. Cash flow hedges resulted in no significant ineffectiveness for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014. For the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, no gains or losses were reclassified into earnings as a result of the discontinuance of cash flow hedges due to the original forecasted transaction no longer being probable of occurring. At March 31, 2015, $30 of after-tax gains are expected to be reclassified from AOCI, primarily to cost of products sold, during the next twelve months, consistent with the timing of the recognition of the underlying hedged transactions. The maximum maturity of cash flow hedges in place at March 31, 2015 is December 2017.

Gains or losses on undesignated foreign exchange hedging instruments are immediately recognized in other (income) and expense, net. Losses of $155 and gains of $13 were recorded in the three month periods ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. The effect on earnings from the use of these non-designated derivatives is substantially neutralized by the transactional gains and losses recorded on the underlying assets and liabilities. At March 31, 2015, the notional amount of these undesignated derivative instruments was $2.4 billion.