swaps. Under these arrangements, the Company agrees to exchange, at specified intervals, the difference between fixed and floating interest amounts calculated by reference to an agreed-upon notional principal amount. The Company manages commodity price risks through negotiated supply contracts, price protection agreements and forward physical contracts.

 

A variance/co-variance statistical modeling technique was used to test the Company’s exposure to changes in currency and interest rates and assess the risk of loss in after-tax earnings of financial instruments, derivatives and underlying exposures outstanding at December 31, 2005. The model (third-party bank dataset) used a 95% confidence level over a 12-month time horizon. Based on this analysis of the Company’s interest rate risks, possible increases in interest rates would not have a material adverse effect on after-tax earnings ($2 million at December 31, 2005 and $5 million at December 31, 2004). A decrease in interest rates would have increased after-tax earnings by $2 million at December 31, 2005. Based on this analysis of the primary foreign exchange risks, possible changes in foreign exchange rates would have adversely impacted after-tax earnings by $69 million at December 31, 2005 ($61 million at December 31, 2004). A positive change in exchange rates would have benefited after-tax earnings by $66 million at December 31, 2005. When including certain commodity risks, possible changes in commodity rates would have adversely impacted after-tax earnings by an additional $4 million at December 31, 2005 (an additional $10 million at December 31, 2004). A positive change in commodity rates would not have materially impacted after-tax earnings at December 31, 2005. The model used analyzed over 20 different currencies and five commodities, but does not purport to represent what actually will be experienced by the Company. This model does not include certain hedge transactions, because the Company believes their inclusion would not materially impact the results.

 

The global exposures related to purchased components and materials are such that a one percent price change would result in a pre-tax cost or savings of approximately $45 million per year. The global energy exposure is such that a 10% price change would result in a pre-tax cost or savings of approximately $35 million per year. Derivative instruments are used to hedge less than two percent of the purchased components and materials exposure and are used to hedge approximately 10% of this energy exposure.

 

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This Annual Report on Form 10-K, including “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in Item 7, contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.The Company may also make forward-looking statements in other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, in materials delivered to stockholders and in press releases.  In addition, the Company’s representatives may from time to time make oral forward-looking statements.

 

Forward-looking statements relate to future events and