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This excerpt taken from the PBI 10-K filed Feb 26, 2009. Derivatives In the normal course of business, we are exposed to the impact of interest rate changes and foreign currency fluctuations. The company limits these risks by following established risk management policies and procedures, including the use of derivatives. We use derivatives to manage the related cost of debt and to limit the effects of foreign exchange rate fluctuations on financial results. We do not use derivatives for trading or speculative purposes. As required by SFAS 157, we have incorporated counterparty risk into the fair value of our derivative assets and our credit risk into the value of our derivative liabilities. We derive credit risk from observable data related to credit default swaps. In light of the current market events, we have not seen a material change in the creditworthiness of those banks acting as derivative counterparties. 84 PITNEY BOWES INC. The valuation of our interest rate swaps is based on the income approach using a model with inputs that are observable or that can be derived from or corroborated by observable market data. Our foreign exchange derivatives are measured at fair value using observable market inputs, such as forward rates. Interest Rate Swaps Derivatives designated as fair value hedges include interest rate swaps related to fixed rate debt. Changes in the fair value of both the derivative and item being hedged are recognized in income. In April 2003, we entered into an interest rate swap for an aggregate notional amount of $350 million. The interest rate swap effectively converted the fixed rate of 4.75% on $350 million of our notes, due 2018, into variable interest rates. The variable rates payable by us were based on six month LIBOR less a spread of 22.8 basis points. At December 31, 2007, the fair value of the derivative was an asset of $6.8 million and long-term debt was increased by the same amount. In November 2008, we unwound this interest rate swap. As a result of this transaction, we received a total payment of $44.2 million, including accrued interest. After adjusting for interest, we recorded $44.0 million as an increase in long-term debt to reflect the fair value hedge basis adjustment. The $44.0 million will be recognized as a reduction in interest expense over the remaining term of the notes and results in an effective interest rate of 3.2%. In March 2008, we entered into two interest rate swaps for an aggregate notional amount of $250 million to effectively convert the fixed rate of 5.60% on $250 million of our notes, due 2018, into variable interest rates. The variable rates payable by us are based on six month LIBOR plus 111.5 basis points. At December 31, 2008, the fair value of the derivatives was an asset of $32.5 million. Long-term debt was increased by $32.5 million as of December 31, 2008. Foreign Exchange Contracts We enter into foreign exchange contracts to minimize the impact of exchange rate fluctuations on inter-company loans and related interest that are denominated in a foreign currency. The revaluation of the short-term inter-company loans and interest and the mark-to-market on the derivatives are both recorded to income. At December 31, 2008, we had 24 outstanding foreign exchange contracts to buy or sell various currencies with a net liability value of $0.1 million. The contracts will expire by April 29, 2009. At December 31, 2007, the asset value of these derivatives was $1.9 million. We also enter into foreign currency exchange contracts arising from the anticipated purchase of inventory between affiliates. These contracts are designated as cash flow hedges. The effective portion of the gain or loss on the cash flow hedges is included in other comprehensive income in the period that the change in fair value occurs and is reclassified to income in the same period that the hedged item is recorded in income. We had no outstanding contracts at December 31, 2008 and 2007. Certain foreign currency derivatives have been entered into to manage foreign currency transactional exposures associated with the transactions between affiliates. These derivatives have no specific hedging designation so gains or losses are recorded in income in the period that changes in fair value occur together with the offsetting foreign exchange gains or losses on the underlying assets and liabilities. The fair value of these derivatives was a liability of $0.2 million and $1.9 million at December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively. Treasury Lock & Forward Starting Swap Agreements We utilize forward starting swap agreements (forward swaps) in order to hedge the interest rate risk on the forecasted issuance of fixed-rate debt. These derivatives are treated as cash flow hedges, protecting against the risk of changes in future interest payments resulting from changes in LIBOR rates between the date of hedge inception and the date of the debt issuance. We consider counterparty credit risk in the hedge assessments and continue to expect the forward-starting swaps to be effective in protecting against the risk of changes in future interest payments. Net Investment Hedges A portion of our intercompany loans denominated in a foreign currency is designated as a hedge of net investment. The revaluation of these loans is reflected as a deferred translation gain or loss and thereby offsets a portion of the translation adjustment of the applicable foreign subsidiaries’ net assets. At December 31, 2008, we had one intercompany loan with an outstanding value of $119.2 85 PITNEY BOWES INC. million designated as a net investment hedge. At December 31, 2007, we had two intercompany loans with an outstanding value of $126.4 million associated with net investment hedges. Net deferred translation gains of $41.7 million and $37.4 million for 2008 and 2007, respectively, were included in accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income in stockholders’ (deficit) equity on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The estimated fair value of our financial instruments follows:
(1) Carrying value includes accrued interest and deferred fee income, where applicable. The fair value of long-term debt is estimated based on quoted dealer prices for the same or similar issues. The carrying value for cash, cash equivalents, accounts receivable, loans receivable, accounts payable and notes payable approximate fair value because of the short maturity of these instruments. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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