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DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2018
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]  
DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES
DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES
We operate globally, with manufacturing and distribution facilities in various countries around the world. We may reduce our exposure to fluctuations in the fair value and cash flows associated with changes in interest rates and foreign exchange rates by creating offsetting positions, including through the use of derivative financial instruments. If we use foreign currency-rate sensitive and interest-rate sensitive instruments to hedge a certain portion of our existing and forecasted transactions, we would expect that any gain or loss in value of the hedge instruments generally would be offset by decreases or increases in the value of the underlying forecasted transactions.
We do not enter into derivative financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes, nor are we a party to leveraged derivatives. The master agreements governing our derivative contracts generally contain standard provisions that could trigger early termination of the contracts in certain circumstances, including if we were to merge with another entity and the creditworthiness of the surviving entity were to be "materially weaker" than that of Avon prior to the merger.
Derivatives are recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets at their fair values. The derivative instruments outstanding were immaterial at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017.
Interest Rate Risk
A portion of our borrowings is subject to interest rate risk. In the past we have used interest-rate swap agreements, which effectively converted the fixed rate on long-term debt to a floating interest rate, to manage our interest rate exposure. The agreements were designated as fair value hedges. As of March 31, 2018, we do not have any interest-rate swap agreements. Approximately 14% and 1% of our debt portfolio at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively, was exposed to floating interest rates.
In March 2012, we terminated two of our interest-rate swap agreements previously designated as fair value hedges, with notional amounts totaling $350. As of the interest-rate swap agreements’ termination date, the aggregate favorable adjustment to the carrying value (deferred gain) of our debt was $46.1, which is being amortized as a reduction of interest expense over the remaining term of the underlying debt obligations through March 2019. The net impact of the gain amortization was $1.3 and $1.2 for three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. At March 31, 2018, the unamortized deferred gain associated with the March 2012 interest-rate swap termination was $4.7, and was classified within long-term debt in our Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Foreign Currency Risk
We may use foreign exchange forward contracts to manage a portion of our foreign currency exchange rate exposures. At March 31, 2018, we had outstanding foreign exchange forward contracts with notional amounts totaling approximately $83 for various currencies.
We may use foreign exchange forward contracts to manage foreign currency exposure of certain intercompany loans. These contracts are not designated as hedges. The change in fair value of these contracts is immediately recognized in earnings and substantially offsets the foreign currency impact recognized in earnings relating to the associated intercompany loans. During the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, we recorded gains of $.9 and $.5, respectively, in other expense, net in our Consolidated Statements of Operations related to these undesignated foreign exchange forward contracts. Also during three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, we recorded losses of $1.3 and $1.2, respectively, related to the associated intercompany loans, caused by changes in foreign currency exchange rates.