Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2014

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities

The Company is exposed to certain risks relating to its ongoing business operations. The primary risks managed by using derivative instruments are foreign currency exchange rate risk, commodity price risk and interest rate risk. Forward contracts on various foreign currencies are entered into in order to manage the foreign currency exchange rate risk on forecasted revenue denominated in foreign currencies. Other forward exchange contracts on various foreign currencies are entered into in order to manage the foreign currency exchange rate risk associated with certain of the Company’s commitments denominated in foreign currencies. Forward contracts on various commodities are entered into in order to manage the price risk associated with forecasted purchases of natural gas used in the Company’s manufacturing process. Interest rate swaps are entered into to manage interest rate risk associated with the Company’s fixed and floating-rate borrowings.

The Company designates certain foreign currency forward contracts as cash flow hedges of forecasted revenues and certain interest rate hedges as fair value hedges of fixed-rate borrowings. The majority of the Company’s natural gas forward contracts are not subject to any hedge designation as they are considered within the normal purchases exemption.

The Company does not purchase or hold any derivative financial instruments for trading purposes. As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, the Company had approximately $194 million and $517 million, respectively, of outstanding foreign currency forward contracts at notional value. Refer to Note 17 – Fair Value for the fair value disclosure of derivative financial instruments.

Cash Flow Hedging Strategy:

For certain derivative instruments that are designated as and qualify as cash flow hedges (i.e., hedging the exposure to variability in expected future cash flows that is attributable to a particular risk), the effective portion of the gain or loss on the derivative instrument is reported as a component of other comprehensive income and reclassified into earnings in the same line item associated with the forecasted transaction and in the same period or periods during which the hedged transaction affects earnings. The remaining gain or loss on the derivative instrument in excess of the cumulative change in the present value of future cash flows of the hedged item, if any (i.e., the ineffective portion), or hedge components excluded from the assessment of effectiveness, are recognized in the Consolidated Statement of Income during the current period.

To protect against a reduction in the value of forecasted foreign currency cash flows resulting from export sales over the next year, the Company has instituted a foreign currency cash flow hedging program. The Company hedges portions of its forecasted intra-group revenue or expense denominated in foreign currencies with forward contracts. When the dollar strengthens significantly against foreign currencies, the decline in the present value of future foreign currency revenue is offset by gains in the fair value of the forward contracts designated as hedges. Conversely, when the dollar weakens, the increase in the present value of future foreign currency cash flows is offset by losses in the fair value of the forward contracts.

Fair Value Hedging Strategy:

For derivative instruments that are designated and qualify as fair value hedges (i.e., hedging the exposure to changes in the fair value of an asset or a liability or an identified portion thereof that is attributable to a particular risk), the gain or loss on the derivative instrument as well as the offsetting loss or gain on the hedged item attributable to the hedged risk are recognized in the same line item associated with the hedged item (i.e., in “interest expense” when the hedged item is fixed-rate debt).