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Major risks and implications of those risks for the conduct of the audit.
Financing and market risk
The Company generally borrows on a long-term basis and is exposed to the impact of interest rate changes and foreign currency fluctuations. Debt obligations at December 31, 2007 totaled $9.3 billion, compared with $8.4 billion at December 31, 2006. The net increase in 2007 was primarily due to net issuances of $573 million and the impact of changes in exchange rates on foreign currency denominated debt of $342 million, partly offset by Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities (SFAS No. 133) noncash fair value adjustments of $23 million.
(1) All percentages are as of December 31st, except for the weighted-average annual interest rate, which is for the year.
(2) Based on debt obligations before the effect of SFAS No. 133 fair value adjustments. This effect is excluded, as these adjustments have no impact on the obligation at maturity. See Debt financing note to the consolidated financial statements.
(3) Includes the effect of interest rate and foreign currency exchange agreements.
Fitch, Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s currently rate the Company’s commercial paper F1, A-1 and P-2, respectively; and its long-term debt A, A and A3, respectively. Historically, the Company has not experienced difficulty in obtaining financing or refinancing existing debt. The Company’s key metrics for monitoring its credit structure are shown in the preceding table. While the Company targets these metrics for ease of focus, it als ...