Derivative financial instruments

9 Months Ended

Apr. 02, 2016

Derivative financial instruments

Derivative financial instruments

5. Derivative financial instruments

Many of the Company’s subsidiaries purchase and sell products in currencies other than their functional currencies. This subjects the Company to the risks associated with fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates. The Company reduces this risk by utilizing natural hedging (i.e., offsetting receivables and payables in the same foreign currency) as well as by creating offsetting positions through the use of derivative financial instruments, primarily forward foreign currency exchange contracts typically with maturities of less than sixty days (“economic hedges”). The Company continues to have exposure to foreign currency risks to the extent they are not hedged. The Company adjusts any economic hedges to fair value through the consolidated statements of operations primarily within “other income (expense), net.” Therefore, the changes in valuation of the underlying items being economically hedged are offset by the changes in fair value of the forward foreign currency exchange contracts. The fair value of forward foreign currency exchange contracts, which are based upon Level 2 criteria under the ASC 820 fair value hierarchy, are classified in the captions “other current assets” or “accrued expenses and other,” as applicable, in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets as of April 2, 2016, and June 27, 2015, and were not material. The Company’s master netting and other similar arrangements with various financial institutions related to derivative financial instruments allow for the right of offset. Avnet’s policy is to present derivative financial instruments with the same counterparty as either a net asset or liability when the right of offset exists. The Company did not have material net gains or losses related to forward foreign currency exchange contracts in the third quarters and first nine months of fiscal 2016 and 2015, which are recorded as a component of “other income (expense), net” in the consolidated statements of operations.

The Company generally does not hedge its investments in its foreign operations. The Company does not enter into derivative financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes and monitors the financial stability and credit standing of its counterparties.