6. Derivative Financial Instruments

Financial Instruments and Market Risk
We conduct business on a global basis in U.S. and foreign currencies, so our financial results are subject to risks associated with fluctuating foreign exchange rates. To mitigate these risks, we have a foreign currency exposure management program which uses derivative foreign exchange contracts to address nonfunctional currency exposures that are expected to be settled in one year or less. We enter into derivative foreign exchange contracts only to the extent necessary to meet our goal of mitigating nonfunctional foreign currency exposures. We do not enter into hedging transactions for speculative purposes. The derivative foreign exchange contracts consist of foreign currency forward and option contracts.

Derivative financial contracts involve elements of market and credit risk not recognized in the financial statements. The market risk that results from these contracts relates to changes in foreign currency exchange rates, which generally are offset by changes in the value of the underlying assets or liabilities being held. Credit risk relates to the risk of nonperformance by a counterparty to one of our derivative contracts. We do not believe there is a significant credit risk associated with our hedging activities because the counterparties are all large international financial institutions. We monitor the counterparties' credit ratings and other market data to minimize our credit risk. In addition, we also limit the aggregate notional amount of agreements entered into with any one financial institution to mitigate credit risk.

 

Non-designated Hedges
We use derivative contracts to manage overall foreign currency exposures that are remeasured through income. We record these contracts on the balance sheet at fair value. Changes in the fair value of these contracts are included in earnings as part of Other expense, net. We had a net gain of $2.2 million in 2007, a net gain of $7.5 million in 2006 and a net loss of $23.3 million in 2005. Receivables resulting from the contracts are included in Miscellaneous receivables and other current assets, while payables from the contracts are included as part of Other accrued liabilities. We do not engage in hedging specific individual transactions.

 

Cash Flow Hedges
We use derivative contracts designated as cash flow hedges to mitigate currency risk related to an imbalance of nonfunctional currency denominated costs and related revenue. We conducted monthly effectiveness tests of our derivative contracts on a spot-to-spot basis, which excludes the time value related to forward points. In 2007, we recorded a loss of $0.4 million related to time value in Other expense, net. Effective gains and losses from our derivative contracts are recorded in Accumulated other comprehensive income until the underlying transactions are realized, at which point they are reclassified to either Operating expense, Other expense, net or Other cost of revenue, depending on the nature of the underlying transaction. Ineffectiveness of our derivative contracts is recorded to Other expense, net. We recorded nominal ineffectiveness in 2007. If it becomes probable that an anticipated transaction, which is hedged, will not occur, we immediately reclassify the gains or losses related to that hedge from Accumulated other comprehensive income to Other expense, net. At year-end 2007, we had a balance of $0.4 million remaining in Accumulated other comprehensive income, which is expected to be reclassified to income within the next twelve months.

Our net foreign currency exposure is diversified among a broad number of currencies. The notional amounts reflected in the following table represent the U.S. dollar values of the agreed-upon amounts that will be delivered to a third party on the agreed-upon date: