Foreign Currency Transaction Gains and Losses

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Foreign Currency Transaction Gains and Losses

17. Foreign Currency Transaction Gains and Losses

Currency exchange rate fluctuations may impact Mattel’s results of operations and cash flows. Mattel’s currency transaction exposures include gains and losses realized on unhedged inventory purchases and unhedged receivables and payables balances that are denominated in a currency other than the applicable functional currency. Gains and losses on unhedged inventory purchases and other transactions associated with operating activities are recorded in the components of operating income to which they relate in the consolidated statements of operations. For hedges of intercompany loans and advances, which do not qualify for hedge accounting treatment, the gains or losses on the hedges resulting from changes in fair value as well as the offsetting transaction gains or losses on the related hedged items, along with unhedged items, are recognized in non-operating income (expense), net in the consolidated statements of operations. Inventory purchase and sale transactions denominated in the Mexican peso, Brazilian real, Euro, British pound sterling, and Indonesian rupiah are the primary transactions that cause foreign currency transaction exposure for Mattel.

Currency transaction gains (losses) included in the consolidated statements of operations are as follows:

	For the Three Months Ended					For the Nine Months Ended
	September 30, 2012		September 30, 2011			September 30, 2012		September 30, 2011
	(In thousands)
Operating income	$	20,086	$	(14,098	)	$	42,559	$	4,961
Other non-operating income, net		1,308		(2,123	)		1,713		(1,761	)
Net transaction gains (losses)	$	21,394	$	(16,221	)	$	44,272	$	3,200