Notes  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19  20  21  22  23  24  > 

17  DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS

We use derivative instruments as part of our overall strategy to manage our exposure to market risks associated with fluctuations in interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates. As a matter of policy, we do not use derivatives for trading or speculative purposes.

During 2007, we entered into interest rate swap agreements to manage the volatility of the U.S. Treasury component of the interest rate risk associated with the forecasted issuance of our Series I and Series J Senior Notes. During 2006, we entered into an interest rate swap agreement to manage the volatility of the U.S. Treasury component of the interest rate risk associated with the forecasted issuance of our Series H Notes. All three swaps were designated as cash flow hedges under FAS No. 133, "Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities" ("FAS No. 133") and were terminated upon pricing of the notes. All three swaps were highly effective in offsetting fluctuations in the U.S. Treasury component. Thus, there was no net gain or loss reported in earnings during 2007, or 2006. The net losses for these swaps were $4 million in 2007 associated with the Series I and Series J Senior Notes, and zero in 2006 associated with the Series H notes. The net losses were recorded in other comprehensive income and are being amortized to interest expense using the interest method over the life of the notes.

At year-end 2008, we had four outstanding interest rate swap agreements to manage interest rate risk associated with the residual interests we retain in conjunction with our timeshare note sales. Historically, we were required by purchasers and/or rating agencies to utilize interest rate swaps to protect the excess spread within our sold note pools. The aggregate notional amount of the swaps is $111 million, and they expire through 2022. These swaps are not accounted for as hedges under FAS No. 133. The fair value of the swaps was a net liability of $2 million at year-end 2008 and a net asset of $2 million at year-end 2007. For the outstanding interest rate swaps, we recorded a $4 million net loss during 2008, a $3 million net loss during 2007, and a $1 million net loss during 2006.

During 2008, 2007, and 2006, we entered into interest rate swaps to manage interest rate risk associated with forecasted timeshare note sales. During 2008, eleven swaps were designated as cash flow hedges under FAS No. 133. The swaps were highly effective in offsetting interest rate fluctuations through the third quarter. In 2008, we terminated nine of those eleven swaps and recognized a $6 million loss in Timeshare sales and services revenue. During the fourth quarter, two of the hedges became ineffective and we recorded a $12 million charge in Timeshare sales and services revenue. The aggregate notional amount of the remaining two swaps is $149 million at year-end 2008 and they expire in 2012. The fair value of the remaining two swaps was a net liability of $13 million at year-end 2008. During 2007, five swaps were designated as cash flow hedges under FAS No. 133 and were highly effective in offsetting interest rate fluctuations. The amount of the ineffectiveness was immaterial. In 2007, we terminated two of those five swaps and recognized no gain or loss from the sales of Timeshare segment notes receivable. The fair value of the remaining three swaps was a net liability of $7 million at year-end 2007. For the outstanding interest rate swaps, we recorded in 2007 a $7 million net loss in other comprehensive income. During 2006, two swaps (the "2006 swaps") were designated as cash flow hedges under FAS No. 133 and were highly effective in offsetting interest rate fluctuations. In 2006, we terminated the 2006 swaps and recognized a net gain of $1 million in the gains from the sales of Timeshare segment notes receivable.

During 2008, 2007, and 2006, we entered into forward foreign exchange contracts to manage the foreign currency exposure related to certain monetary assets. The aggregate dollar equivalent of the notional amount of the contracts was $190 million at year-end 2008 and they expire in 2009. The forward exchange contracts do not qualify as hedges in accordance with FAS No. 133. The fair value of the forward contracts to hedge monetary assets was zero at year-end 2008 and an asset of $2 million at year-end 2007. We recorded a $7 million gain during 2008, a $10 million loss during 2007, and a $34 million loss in 2006, relating to these forward foreign exchange contracts. The net gains and losses for all years were recorded as general, administrative, and other expense and were offset by income and losses recorded from translating the related monetary assets denominated in foreign currencies into U.S. dollars.

During 2007 and 2006, we entered into foreign exchange option contracts to hedge the potential volatility of earnings and cash flows associated with variations in foreign exchange rates. These contracts have terms of less than one year and are classified as cash flow hedges. Changes in their fair values are recorded as a component of other comprehensive income. The fair value of the option contracts was approximately $1 million at year-end 2007. During 2008, we recognized a $1 million loss related to the termination of contracts that we entered into during prior years. The hedges were highly effective and there was no net gain or loss reported in earnings for 2007 and 2006 due to ineffectiveness.

During 2008 and 2007, we entered into forward foreign exchange contracts to hedge forecasted transactions for contracts and fees denominated in foreign currencies. The aggregate dollar equivalent of the notional amounts of the contracts was $89 million at year-end 2008. These contracts have terms of less than three years and are classified as cash flow hedges. Changes in their fair value are recorded as a component of other comprehensive income. The fair value of the forward contracts was $4 million at year-end 2008 and zero at year-end 2007. The hedges were highly effective and there was no gain or loss, impacting our general, administrative, and other expenses, reported in earnings for 2008 or 2007 due to ineffectiveness. During 2008, we recorded a $1 million loss, impacting general, administrative, and other expenses, related to points paid to enter into these contracts. As of year-end 2008, the deferred gains and losses on existing contracts accumulated in other comprehensive income that we expect to reclassify into earnings over future periods is $6 million.

During 2008, 2007, and 2006, we entered into forward foreign exchange contracts to manage currency exchange rate volatility associated with certain investments in foreign operations. The contracts offset the gains and losses associated with translation adjustments for various investments in foreign operations. Certain contracts were designated as hedges in the net investment of a foreign operation under FAS No. 133. These hedges were highly effective and resulted in a net gain of $1 million for 2008, a net loss of $1 million for 2007, and no net gain or loss for 2006 in the foreign currency translation adjustment section of other comprehensive income. Due to contract terminations in 2008, $1 million that was originally recorded in other comprehensive income was recognized through earnings as a loss. The investments remaining at year-end 2008 had an aggregate dollar equivalent of the notional amount of $15 million and a fair value of zero. No contracts remained at year-end 2007. One contract remained at year-end 2006, which had an aggregate dollar equivalent of the notional amount of $43 million and a fair value of zero. Certain other contracts did not qualify as hedges under FAS No. 133 and resulted in no gain or loss for 2007 and a loss of $17 million for 2006, impacting our general, administrative, and other expenses.

During 2007 and 2006, in response to high oil prices and uncertainty surrounding the potential phase out of tax credits, we entered into oil price hedges in conjunction with our synthetic fuel operation. These hedges do not qualify as cash flow hedges under FAS No. 133. Therefore, changes in the fair values of these instruments are marked-to-market through interest income at each reporting period. Correspondingly, we recorded a net loss of $8 million during 2007 and a net loss of $2 million during 2006. At year-end 2007, hedges with a total fair value of $4 million remained outstanding.

During 2003, we entered into an interest rate swap agreement under which we receive a floating rate of interest and pay a fixed rate of interest. The swap modifies our interest rate exposure by effectively converting a note receivable with a fixed rate to a floating rate. The aggregate notional amount of the swap is $92 million and it matures in 2010. The swap is classified as a fair value hedge under FAS No. 133 and we recognize the change in the fair value of the swap, as well as the change in the fair value of the underlying note receivable, in interest income. The fair value of the swap was a $5 million liability at year-end 2008, a $2 million liability at year-end 2007, and a $1 million asset at year-end 2006. The hedge is highly effective and, therefore, no net gain or loss was reported during 2008, 2007, and 2006.

> Back to top of page

> Go to next page