XML 23 R11.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.8.0.1
Financial Derivatives
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2018
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]  
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure
FINANCIAL DERIVATIVES

Farmer Mac enters into financial derivative transactions principally to protect against risk from the effects of market price or interest rate movements on the value of certain assets, future cash flows, or debt issuance, and not for trading or speculative purposes.  Certain financial derivatives are designated as fair value hedges of fixed rate assets, primarily classified as available-for-sale, to protect against fair value changes in the assets related to a benchmark interest rate (e.g.., LIBOR). Other financial derivatives are designated as cash flow hedges to mitigate the volatility of future interest rate payments on floating rate debt. Farmer Mac manages the interest rate risk related to loans it has committed to acquire, but has not yet permanently funded, through the use of forward sale contracts on the debt of other GSEs and futures contracts involving U.S. Treasury securities. Farmer Mac uses forward sale contracts on GSE securities to reduce its interest rate exposure to changes in both U.S. Treasury rates and spreads on Farmer Mac debt.  The notional amounts of these contracts are determined based on a duration-matched hedge ratio between the hedged item and the hedge instrument. Gains or losses generated by these hedge transactions are expected to offset changes in funding costs. All financial derivatives are recorded on the balance sheet at fair value as a freestanding asset or liability.

Effective first quarter 2018, Farmer Mac adopted ASU 2017-12, "Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities." This ASU reduces the complexity of hedge accounting by eliminating the requirement to separately measure and report hedge ineffectiveness and by requiring the entire change in the fair value of a hedging instrument to be presented in the same income statement line as the income or expense effect from the hedged item. Upon the adoption of the ASU, Farmer Mac elected to retrospectively designate the hedged risk of its fair value hedges as the risk of changes in fair value resulting from changes in the benchmark interest rate component of the contractual coupon cash flows. Farmer Mac made this election for its fair value hedges designated upon the inception of the hedging instruments. For fair value hedges designated subsequent to the inception of the hedging instruments, Farmer Mac continues to designate the hedged risk as the risk of changes in fair value based on total contractual coupon cash flows. The adoption of the new guidance did not have a material effect on Farmer Mac's financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.
















The following tables summarize information related to Farmer Mac's financial derivatives on a gross basis without giving consideration to master netting arrangements as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017:

Table 4.1
  
As of March 31, 2018
  
 
 
Fair Value
 
Weighted-
Average
Pay Rate
 
Weighted-
Average Receive Rate
 
Weighted-
Average
Forward
Price
 
Weighted-
Average
Remaining
Term (in years)
  
Notional Amount
 
Asset
 
(Liability)
 
 
 
 
  
(dollars in thousands)
Fair value hedges:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate swaps:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pay fixed non-callable
$
2,323,209

 
$
804

 
$
(5,763
)
 
2.09%
 
1.82%
 
 
 
9.01
Receive fixed non-callable
2,121,700

 
444

 
(3,956
)
 
1.77%
 
1.58%
 
 
 
1.76
Cash flow hedges:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate swaps:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pay fixed non-callable
380,500

 
2,878

 
(261
)
 
2.20%
 
2.09%
 
 
 
5.82
No hedge designation:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate swaps:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pay fixed non-callable
330,709

 
1,062

 
(11,725
)
 
3.72%
 
1.81%
 
 
 
6.76
Receive fixed non-callable
3,256,427

 
—

 
—

 
1.73%
 
1.60%
 
 
 
0.86
Basis swaps
1,278,500

 
4

 
(517
)
 
1.75%
 
1.74%
 
 
 
1.21
Treasury futures
43,200

 
—

 
(366
)
 
 
 
 
 
120.29

 
 
Credit valuation adjustment
 
 
(50
)
 
18

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total financial derivatives
$
9,734,245

 
$
5,142

 
$
(22,570
)
 
  
 
  
 
 
 
  
Collateral pledged
 
 
—

 
25,253

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net amount
 
 
$
5,142

 
$
2,683

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
As of December 31, 2017
  

 
Fair Value
 
Weighted-
Average
Pay Rate
 
Weighted-
Average Receive Rate
 
Weighted-
Average
Forward
Price
 
Weighted-
Average
Remaining
Term (in years)
  
Notional Amount
 
Asset
 
(Liability)
 
 
 
 
  
(dollars in thousands)
Fair value hedges:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate swaps:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pay fixed non-callable
$
2,086,347

 
$
5,240

 
$
(5,990
)
 
1.88%
 
1.40%
 
 
 
5.46
Receive fixed non-callable
1,559,700

 
110

 
(4,033
)
 
1.38%
 
1.45%
 
 
 
1.68
Cash flow hedges:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate swaps:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pay fixed non-callable
365,500

 
1,402

 
(138
)
 
2.16%
 
1.74%
 
 
 
5.84
No hedge designation:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate swaps:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pay fixed non-callable
345,333

 
339

 
(16,352
)
 
3.79%
 
1.40%
 
 
 
6.68
Receive fixed non-callable
3,409,916

 
—

 
—

 
1.25%
 
1.24%
 
 
 
0.92
Basis swaps
1,053,500

 
18

 
(106
)
 
1.33%
 
1.42%
 
 
 
0.91
Treasury futures
40,000

 
—

 
(36
)
 
 
 
 
 
123.96

 
 
Credit valuation adjustment
 
 
(16
)
 
56

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total financial derivatives
$
8,860,296

 
$
7,093

 
$
(26,599
)
 
  
 
  
 
 
 
  
Collateral pledged
 
 
—

 
24,926

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net amount
 
 
$
7,093

 
$
(1,673
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Changes in the fair values of financial derivatives not designated as cash flow or fair value hedges are reported in "(Losses)/gains on financial derivatives and hedging activities" in the consolidated statements of operations. For financial derivatives designated in fair value hedge relationships, changes in the fair values of the hedged items, which are primarily fixed rate AgVantage securities and fixed rate medium-term notes, related to the risk being hedged are reported in "Net interest income" in the consolidated statements of operations. Interest accruals on derivatives designated in fair value hedge relationships are also recorded in "Net interest income" in the consolidated statements of operations. For financial derivatives designated in cash flow hedge relationships, the unrealized gain or loss on the derivative is recorded in other comprehensive income. Because the hedging instrument is an interest rate swap and the hedged forecasted transactions are future interest payments on variable rate debt, amounts recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income are reclassified to "Total interest expense" in conjunction with the recognition of interest expense on the debt. As of March 31, 2018, Farmer Mac expects to reclassify $0.9 million after tax, from accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax, to earnings over the next twelve months. This amount could differ from amounts actually recognized due to changes in interest rates, hedge de-designations, and the addition of other hedges subsequent to March 31, 2018. During the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, there were no gains or losses from interest rate swaps designated as cash flow hedges reclassified to earnings because it became probable that the original forecasted transaction would not occur.

The following table summarizes the net income/(expense) recognized in the consolidated statements of operations related to derivatives for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017:

Table 4.2

 
March 31, 2018
 
Net Income/(Expense) Recognized in Consolidated Statement of Operations on Derivatives
 
Net Interest Income
 
Non-Interest Income
 
Total
 
Interest Income
Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities and USDA Securities
 
Interest Income Loans
 
Total Interest Expense
 
(Losses)/gains on financial derivatives and hedging activities
 
 
(in thousands)
For the Three Months Ended:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total amounts presented in the consolidated statement of operations:
$
62,430

 
$
45,653

 
$
(76,317
)
 
$
(3,850
)
 
$
27,916

Income/(expense) related to interest settlements on fair value hedging relationships:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Recognized on derivatives
(1,488
)
 
(297
)
 
294

 
—

 
(1,491
)
Recognized on hedged items
13,597

 
1,414

 
(7,915
)
 
—

 
7,096

Discount amortization recognized on hedged items
—

 
—

 
(155
)
 
—

 
(155
)
Income/(expense) related to interest settlements on fair value hedging relationships
$
12,109

 
$
1,117

 
$
(7,776
)
 
$
—

 
$
5,450

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gains/(losses) on fair value hedging relationships:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Recognized on derivatives
20,449

 
6,419

 
(9,647
)
 
—

 
17,221

Recognized on hedged items
(18,948
)
 
(6,572
)
 
11,137

 
—

 
(14,383
)
Gains/(losses) on fair value hedging relationships
$
1,501

 
$
(153
)
 
$
1,490

 
$
—

 
$
2,838

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Expense related to interest settlements on cash flow hedging relationships:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest settlements reclassified from AOCI into net income on derivatives
—

 
—

 
(267
)
 
—

 
(267
)
Recognized on hedged items
—

 
—

 
(1,780
)
 
—

 
(1,780
)
Discount amortization recognized on hedged items
—

 
—

 
(2
)
 
—

 
(2
)
Expense recognized on cash flow hedges
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
(2,049
)
 
$
—

 
$
(2,049
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(Losses)/gains on financial derivatives not designated in hedge relationships:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate swaps
—

 
—

 
—

 
(4,075
)
 
(4,075
)
Agency forwards
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Treasury futures
—

 
—

 
—

 
225

 
225

(Losses)/gains on financial derivatives not designated in hedge relationships
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
(3,850
)
 
$
(3,850
)


 
March 31, 2017
 
Net Income/(Expense) Recognized in Consolidated Statement of Operations on Derivatives
 
Net Interest Income
 
Non-Interest Income
 
Total
 
 Interest Income Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities and USDA Securities
 
Interest Income Loans
 
Total Interest Expense
 
(Losses)/gains on financial derivatives and hedging activities
 
 
(in thousands)
For the Three Months Ended:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total amounts presented in the consolidated statement of operations
$
42,522

 
$
36,852

 
$
(49,546
)
 
$
2,486

 
$
32,314

Income/(expense) related to interest settlements on fair value hedging relationships:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Recognized on derivatives
(3,158
)
 
(217
)
 
183

 
—

 
(3,192
)
Recognized on hedged items
10,275

 
516

 
(2,277
)
 
—

 
8,514

Discount amortization recognized on hedged items
—

 
—

 
(58
)
 
—

 
(58
)
Income/(expense) related to interest settlements on fair value hedging relationships
$
7,117

 
$
299

 
$
(2,152
)
 
$
—

 
$
5,264

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gains/(losses) on fair value hedging relationships:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Recognized on derivatives(1)


 


 


 
1,526

 
1,526

Recognized on hedged items


 


 


 
(5,404
)
 
(5,404
)
Gains/(losses) on fair value hedging relationships
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
(3,878
)
 
$
(3,878
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Expense related to interest settlements on cash flow hedging relationships:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest settlements reclassified from AOCI into net income on derivatives
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
(512
)
 
$
—

 
$
(512
)
Recognized on hedged items
—

 
—

 
(652
)
 
—

 
(652
)
Discount amortization recognized on hedged items
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Losses recognized in income for hedge ineffectiveness
—

 
—

 
—

 
(29
)
 
(29
)
Expense recognized on cash flow hedges
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
(1,164
)
 
$
(29
)
 
$
(1,193
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gains/(losses) on financial derivatives not designated in hedging relationships:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate swaps
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
6,684

 
$
6,684

Agency forwards
—

 
—

 
—

 
(399
)
 
(399
)
Treasury futures
—

 
—

 
—

 
108

 
108

Gains/(losses) on financial derivatives not designated in hedge relationships
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
6,393

 
$
6,393

(1) 
Included in the assessment of hedge effectiveness as of March 31, 2017, but excluded from the amounts in the table, were gains of $3.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017, attributable to the fair value of the swaps at the inception of the hedging relationship. Accordingly, the amounts recognized as hedge ineffectiveness for the three months ended March 31, 2017 were losses of $0.3 million.

The following table shows the carrying amount and associated cumulative basis adjustment related to the application of hedge accounting that is included in the carrying amount of hedged assets and liabilities in fair value hedging relationships as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017:

Table 4.3

 
Hedged Items in Fair Value Relationship
 
Carrying Amount of Hedged Assets/(Liabilities)
 
Cumulative Amount of Fair Value Hedging Adjustments included in the Carrying Amount of the Hedged Assets/(Liabilities)
 
March 31, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
 
March 31, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
 
(in thousands)
Farmer Mac Guaranteed Securities, Available-for-Sale, at fair value
$
2,135,593

 
$
1,928,220

 
$
(22,367
)
 
$
(22,853
)
Loans held for investment, at amortized cost
161,656

 
149,304

 
(44
)
 
(189
)
Notes Payable, due after one year(1)(2)
(2,114,705
)
 
(1,552,935
)
 
5,805

 
5,836

(1) 
Carrying amount represents amortized cost.
(2) 
Includes $0.4 million of hedging adjustments on a discontinued hedging relationship.

As of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, Farmer Mac's credit exposure to interest rate swap counterparties, excluding netting arrangements and any adjustment for nonperformance risk, but including accrued interest, was $59.5 million and $28.5 million, respectively; however, including netting arrangements and accrued interest, Farmer Mac's credit exposure was $1.6 million and $0.5 million as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively. As of March 31, 2018, Farmer Mac held no cash as collateral for its derivatives in net asset positions resulting in uncollateralized net asset positions of $1.6 million. As of December 31, 2017, Farmer Mac held no cash collateral for its derivatives in net asset positions, resulting in uncollateralized net asset positions of $0.5 million.

As of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the fair value of Farmer Mac's derivatives in a net liability position including accrued interest but excluding netting arrangements and any adjustment for nonperformance risk, was $62.2 million and $58.2 million, respectively; however, including netting arrangements and accrued interest, the fair value of Farmer Mac's derivatives in a net liability position at the counterparty level was $4.8 million and $28.0 million as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively.  Farmer Mac posted cash of $0.4 million and $24.9 million of investment securities as of March 31, 2018 and posted cash of $0.1 million and $24.8 million investment securities as of December 31, 2017.  Farmer Mac records posted cash as a reduction in the outstanding balance of cash and cash equivalents and an increase in the balance of prepaid expenses and other assets. Any investment securities posted as collateral are included in the investment securities balances on the consolidated balance sheets.  If Farmer Mac had breached certain provisions of the derivative contracts as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, it could have been required to settle its obligations under the agreements or post additional collateral of none and $3.1 million, respectively. As of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, there were no financial derivatives in a net payable position where Farmer Mac was required to pledge collateral which the counterparty had the right to sell or repledge.

For certain derivatives, Farmer Mac clears interest rate swaps through a clearinghouse, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange ("CME"). Farmer Mac posts initial and variation margin to this clearinghouse through which centrally-cleared derivatives and futures contracts are traded. These collateral postings expose Farmer Mac to institutional credit risk in the event that either the clearinghouse or the futures commission merchant that Farmer Mac uses to post collateral to the clearinghouse fails to meet its obligations. Conversely, the use of centrally-cleared derivatives mitigates Farmer Mac's credit risk to individual counterparties because clearinghouses assume the credit risk among counterparties in centrally-cleared derivatives transactions. Of Farmer Mac's $9.7 billion notional amount of interest rate swaps outstanding as of March 31, 2018, $8.6 billion were cleared through swap clearinghouses. Of Farmer Mac's $8.8 billion notional amount of interest rate swaps outstanding as of December 31, 2017, $7.9 billion were cleared through swap clearinghouses.