Derivatives and Hedging Instruments

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Derivative Instrument Detail [Abstract]

Derivatives and Hedging Instruments

DERIVATIVES AND HEDGING INSTRUMENTS

NCR is exposed to risks associated with changes in foreign currency exchange rates and interest rates. NCR utilizes a variety of measures to monitor and manage these risks, including the use of derivative financial instruments. NCR has exposure to approximately 50 functional currencies. Since a substantial portion of our operations and revenues occur outside the United States (U.S.), and in currencies other than the U.S. Dollar, our results can be significantly impacted, both positively and negatively, by changes in foreign currency exchange rates.

Foreign Currency Exchange Risk The accounting guidance for derivatives and hedging requires companies to recognize all derivative instruments as either assets or liabilities at fair value in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Company designates foreign exchange contracts as cash flow hedges of forecasted inter-company inventory purchases when they are determined to be highly effective at inception.

Our risk management strategy includes hedging, on behalf of certain subsidiaries, a portion of our forecasted, non-functional currency denominated cash flows for a period of up to 15 months. As a result, some of the impact of currency fluctuations on non-functional currency denominated transactions (and hence on subsidiary operating income, as stated in the functional currency), is mitigated in the near term. The amount we hedge and the duration of hedge contracts may vary significantly. In the longer term (greater than 15 months), the subsidiaries are still subject to the effect of translating the functional currency results to U.S. Dollars. To manage our exposures and mitigate the impact of currency fluctuations on the operations of our foreign subsidiaries, we hedge our main transactional exposures through the use of foreign exchange forward and option contracts. This is primarily done through the hedging of foreign currency denominated inter-company inventory purchases by NCR’s marketing units and the foreign currency denominated inputs to our manufacturing units. As these transactions are firmly committed and forecasted, the related foreign exchange contracts are designated as highly effective cash flow hedges. The gains or losses on these hedges are deferred in AOCI and reclassified to income when the underlying hedged transaction has been completed and is recorded in earnings. As of December 31, 2011, the balance in AOCI related to foreign exchange derivative transactions was a gain of $5 million, net of tax, all of which related to instruments expiring in 2012. The gains or losses from derivative contracts related to inventory purchases are recorded in cost of products when the inventory is sold to an unrelated third party.

We also utilize foreign exchange contracts to hedge our exposure of assets and liabilities denominated in non-functional currencies. We recognize the gains and losses on these types of hedges in earnings as exchange rates change. We do not enter into hedges for speculative purposes.

Interest Rate Risk The Company is party to an interest rate swap agreement that fixes the interest rate on a portion of the Company's LIBOR indexed floating rate borrowings under its Secured Credit Facility through August 22, 2016.  The notional amount of the interest rate swap starts at $560 million and amortizes to $341 million over the term. The Company designates the interest rate swap as a cash flow hedge of forecasted quarterly interest payments made on three-month LIBOR indexed borrowings under the secured credit facility. The interest rate swap was determined to be highly effective at inception.

Our risk management strategy includes hedging a portion of our forecasted interest payments. These transactions are firmly committed and forecasted and the related interest rate swap agreement is designated as a highly effective cash flow hedge. The gains or losses on this hedge are deferred in AOCI and reclassified to income when the underlying hedged transaction has been completed and is recorded in earnings. As of December 31, 2011, the balance in AOCI related to the interest rate swap agreement was a loss of $5 million, net of tax, which relates to an interest rate swap instrument expiring in 2016. The gains or losses from this derivative contract related to interest payments are recorded in interest expense when the interest is accrued and affects earnings.

The following tables provide information on the location and amounts of derivative fair values in the Consolidated Balance Sheets:

	Fair Values of Derivative Instruments
	December 31, 2011					December 31, 2011
In millions	Balance Sheet Location	Notional Amount		Fair Value		Balance Sheet Location	Notional Amount		Fair Value
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments
Interest rate swap	Other assets	$	—	$	—	Other liabilities	$	560	$	9
Foreign exchange forward and option contracts	Accounts receivable, net	$	166	$	6	Other current liabilities	$	58	$	—
Total derivatives designated as hedging instruments				$	6				$	9
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments
Foreign exchange forward contracts	Accounts receivable, net	$	114	$	—	Other current liabilities	$	148	$	3
Total derivatives not designated as hedging instruments				$	—				$	3
Total derivatives				$	6				$	12
	Fair Values of Derivative Instruments
	December 31, 2010					December 31, 2010
In millions	Balance Sheet Location	Notional Amount		Fair Value		Balance Sheet Location	Notional Amount		Fair Value
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments
Foreign exchange forward contracts	Accounts receivable, net	$96		$7		Other current liabilities	$105		$2
Total derivatives designated as hedging instruments				$7					$2
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments
Foreign exchange forward contracts	Accounts receivable, net	$79		$2		Other current liabilities	$70		$1
Total derivatives not designated as hedging instruments				$2					$1
Total derivatives				$9					$3

The effect of derivative instruments on the Consolidated Statement of Operations for the years ended December 31 were as follows:

In millions	Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income (OCI) on Derivative  (Effective Portion)					Amount of Gain (Loss) Reclassified from  AOCI into the Consolidated Statement of Operations (Effective Portion)						Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in the Consolidated Statement of Operations (Ineffective Portion and Amount Excluded from Effectiveness Testing)
Derivatives in  Cash Flow Hedging Relationships	For the year ended December 31, 2011	For the year ended December 31, 2010	For the year ended December 31, 2009		Location of  Gain (Loss) Reclassified from AOCI into the Consolidated Statement of Operations (Effective Portion)	For the year ended December 31, 2011	For the year ended December 31, 2010	For the year ended December 31, 2009			Location of  Gain (Loss) Recognized in the Consolidated Statement of  Operations (Ineffective Portion and Amount Excluded from Effectiveness Testing)	For the year ended December 31, 2011	For the year ended December 31, 2010	For the year ended December 31, 2009
Interest rate swap	$(9)	$—	$	—	Interest expense	$1	$—	$	—		Interest expense	$—	$—	$—
Foreign exchange forward and option contracts	$(3)	$5	$	8	Cost of Products	$(3)	$3	$	(9	)	Other (expense)  income	$1	$—	$1

In millions		Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in the Consolidated Statement of Operations
Derivatives not Designated as Hedging Instruments	Location of Gain (Loss) Recognized in the Consolidated Statement of Operations	For the year ended December 31, 2011	For the year ended December 31, 2010	For the year ended December 31, 2009
Foreign exchange forward contracts	Other (expense) income	$3	$—	$(6)
Foreign exchange forward contracts	Cost of Products	$3	$(1)	$6

Refer to Note 11, "Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities," for further information on derivative assets and liabilities recorded at fair value on a recurring basis.

Concentration of Credit Risk NCR is potentially subject to concentrations of credit risk on accounts receivable and financial instruments such as hedging instruments and cash and cash equivalents. Credit risk includes the risk of nonperformance by counterparties. The maximum potential loss may exceed the amount recognized on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Exposure to credit risk is managed through credit approvals, credit limits, selecting major international financial institutions (as counterparties to hedging transactions) and monitoring procedures. NCR’s business often involves large transactions with customers, and if one or more of those customers were to default on its obligations under applicable contractual arrangements, the Company could be exposed to potentially significant losses. However, management believes that the reserves for potential losses are adequate. As of December 31, 2011 and 2010, NCR did not have any major concentration of credit risk related to financial instruments.