NOTE 9: Derivative Financial Instruments

The Company may use derivative financial instruments in the form of foreign currency forward exchange contracts and interest rate swap contracts for the purpose of minimizing exposure to changes in foreign currency exchange rates on business transactions and interest rates, respectively. The Company’s policy is to execute such instruments with banks the Company believes to be credit worthy and not to enter into derivative financial instruments for speculative purposes. These derivative financial instruments do not subject the Company to undue risk, as gains and losses on these instruments generally offset gains and losses on the underlying assets, liabilities, or anticipated transactions that are being hedged.

All derivative financial instruments are recorded at fair value in the Consolidated Balance Sheet. For a derivative that has not been designated as an accounting hedge, the change in the fair value is recognized immediately through earnings. For a derivative that has been designated as an accounting hedge of an existing asset or liability (a fair value hedge), the change in the fair value of both the derivative and underlying asset or liability is recognized immediately through earnings. For a derivative designated as an accounting hedge of an anticipated transaction (a cash flow hedge), the change in the fair value is recorded on the Consolidated Balance Sheet in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (AOCI) to the extent the derivative is effective in mitigating the exposure related to the anticipated transaction. The change in the fair value related to the ineffective portion of the hedge, if any, is immediately recognized in earnings. The amount recorded within AOCI is reclassified into earnings in the same period during which the underlying hedged transaction affects earnings.

The fair values of derivative instruments are presented on a gross basis, as the Company does not have any derivative contracts which are subject to master netting arrangements. The Company does not have any derivative instruments with credit-risk-related contingent features or that required the posting of collateral as of September 29, 2017. The cash flows from derivative contracts are recorded in operating activities in the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows.

Foreign Currency Forward Exchange Contracts

The Company transacts business in various foreign currencies which subjects the Company’s cash flows and earnings to exposure related to changes in foreign currency exchange rates. These exposures arise primarily from purchases or sales of products and services from third parties. Foreign currency forward exchange contracts provide for the purchase or sale of foreign currencies at specified future dates at specified exchange rates, and are used to offset changes in the fair value of certain assets or liabilities or forecasted cash flows resulting from transactions denominated in foreign currencies. As of September 29, 2017, and September 30, 2016, the Company had outstanding foreign currency forward exchange contracts principally to sell U.S. dollars with notional amounts of $406.9 million and $450.9 million, respectively. These notional values consist primarily of contracts for the British pound sterling, Canadian dollar and European euro, and are stated in U.S. dollar equivalents at spot exchange rates at the respective dates.

Interest Rate Swaps

The Company manages its exposure to interest rate risk by maintaining an appropriate mix of fixed and variable rate debt, which over time should moderate the costs of debt financing. When considered necessary, the Company may use financial instruments in the form of interest rate swaps to help meet this objective.

Embedded Derivative Instruments

The Company’s embedded derivatives are the result of entering into sales or purchase contracts that are denominated in a currency other than the Company’s functional currency or the supplier’s or customer’s functional currency.

Net Investment Hedge

In April 2015 the Company issued €330.0 million in 3.625% Senior Notes due April 2023 (2023 Notes) and requiring semi-annual interest payments in April and October each year until maturity. The Company designated the 2023 Notes and accrued interest as a hedge of the investment in certain foreign business units. The foreign currency gain or loss that is effective as a hedge is reported as a component of other comprehensive income (loss) in shareholders’ equity. To the extent that this hedge is ineffective, the foreign currency gain or loss is recorded in earnings. There was no ineffectiveness since inception of the hedge.

Fair Value of Derivative Instruments

Fair values of derivative instruments in the Consolidated Balance Sheet at the end of fiscal 2017 and 2016 consisted of:

In Thousands		Fair Value
	Classification	2017		2016
Foreign Currency Forward Exchange Contracts:
	Other current assets	$	11,433	$	1,757
	Other assets		2,783		1,334
	Accrued liabilities		2,506		11,168
	Other liabilities		398		3,380

Embedded Derivative Instruments:
	Other current assets	$	604	$	1,864
	Other assets		142		621
	Accrued liabilities		1,657		866
	Other liabilities		582		119

The effect of derivative instruments on the Consolidated Statement of Operations for fiscal 2017 and 2016 consisted of:

Fair Value Hedges

The Company recognized the following gains (losses) on contracts designated as fair value hedges:

In Thousands	2017			2016

Embedded derivatives:
Gain (loss) recognized in sales	$	(1,709	)	$	(3,552	)

Cash Flow Hedges

The Company recognized the following gains (losses) on contracts designated as cash flow hedges:

In Thousands	2017			2016

Foreign currency forward exchange contracts:
Gain (loss) recognized in AOCI (effective portion)	$	26,326		$	37,969
Gain (loss) reclassified from AOCI into sales		(8,310	)		(19,575	)

Net Investment Hedges

The Company recognized the following gains (losses) on contracts designated as net investment hedges:

In Thousands	2017			2016

2023 Notes and Accrued Interest:
Gain (loss) recognized in AOCI	$	(19,016	)	$	(1,256	)

During fiscal 2017 and 2016, the Company recorded a gain of $5.8 million and a loss of $6.1 million, respectively, on foreign currency forward exchange contracts that have not been designated as an accounting hedge. These foreign currency exchange gains (losses) are included in selling, general and administrative expense.

There was no significant impact to the Company’s earnings related to the ineffective portion of any hedging instruments during fiscal 2017 and 2016. In addition, there was no significant impact to the Company’s earnings when a hedged firm commitment no longer qualified as a fair value hedge or when a hedged forecasted transaction no longer qualified as a cash flow hedge during fiscal 2017 and 2016.

Amounts included in AOCI are reclassified into earnings when the hedged transaction settles. The Company expects to reclassify approximately $10.9 million of net gain into earnings in fiscal year 2018. The maximum duration of a foreign currency cash flow hedge contract at September 29, 2017, is 24 months.