DERIVATIVES AND HEDGING Clause Samples

DERIVATIVES AND HEDGING. At January 1, 2001 the Company adopted SFAS 133 Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities as amended by SFAS 137 and SFAS 138. SFAS 133 established accounting and reporting standards for derivative instruments, including certain derivative instruments embedded in other contracts, and hedging activities. It requires the recognition at fair value of all derivative instruments as assets or liabilities in the Company's balance sheet. The accounting treatment of changes in fair value is dependent upon whether or not a derivative instrument is designated a hedge and if so, the type of hedge and its effectiveness as a hedge. For derivatives, which are not designated as hedges, changes in fair value are recorded immediately in earnings. ▇▇▇ derivatives designated as cash flow hedges, changes in fair value on the effective portion of the hedg▇▇▇ ▇▇strument are recorded within other comprehensive income ("OCI") until the hedged transaction occurs and are then recorded within earnings. Changes in the ineffective portion of a hedge are recorded in earnings. For derivatives designated as fair value hedges, changes in fair value are recorded in earnings. The Group ▇▇▇ ▇▇t, however, had any fair value hedges since the adoption of SFAS 133. 3 SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED) DERIVATIVES AND HEDGING (CONTINUED) The Group discontinues hedge accounting for derivative financial instruments when it is determined that the derivative instrument is no longer effective in offsetting changes in the cash flows of the hedged item; the derivative instrument expires or is sold; the derivative instrument is no longer designated as a hedging instrument, because it is unlikely that a forecasted transaction will occur; a hedged firm commitment no longer meets the definition of a firm commitment; or its management determines that designation of the derivative instrument as a hedging instrument is no longer appropriate. The tests for determining the effectiveness of a cash flow hedge compare on a strict basis the amount and timing of cash flows on the underlying economic exposure with the cash flows of the derivative instrument. Upon discontinuation of cash flow hedge accounting, the net gain or loss attributable to the hedging instrument, which has been reported in OCI to the date of discontinuation, continues to be reported in OCI until the date the hedged transaction impacts earnings. This occurs unless it is probable that the hedged transaction wi...