Note 12. Derivatives and Hedging Activities

The Company carries out transactions involving foreign currency exchange derivative financial instruments. The transactions are designed to hedge the Company’s exposure in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. The Company is primarily exposed to foreign exchange risk with respect to recognized assets and liabilities and forecasted transactions denominated in the New Israeli Shekel (“NIS”), the Euro and the Japanese Yen. Gains and losses on the hedging instruments offset losses and gains on the hedged items.

The following table summarizes the consolidated balance sheets classification and fair values of the Company’s derivative instruments:

        Foreign exchange contracts not designated as hedging instruments

        As of December 31, 2020, the notional amounts of the Company’s outstanding exchange forward contracts, not designated as hedging instruments, were $74.9 million and were used to reduce foreign currency exposures of the Euro, New Israeli Shekel (the “NIS”), Japanese Yen, Korean Won and Chinese Yuan. With respect to such derivatives, loss of $6.2 million and gain of $2.9 million were recognized under financial income, net for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. Such gains partially offset the revaluation losses of the balance sheet items, which are also recognized under financial income, net.

Cash Flow Hedging—Hedges of Forecasted Foreign Currency Payroll

As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company had in effect foreign exchange forward contracts for the conversion of $10.4 million and $25.0 million, respectively, into NIS. These foreign exchange forward contracts were designated as cash flow hedge for accounting purposes. The Company uses short-term cash flow hedge contracts to reduce its exposure to variability in expected future cash flows resulting mainly from payroll costs denominated in New Israeli Shekels. The changes in fair value of those contracts are included in the Company’s accumulated other comprehensive loss. These contracts mature through December 2021.

Cash Flow Hedging—Hedges of Forecasted Foreign Currency Revenue

We transact business in U.S. Dollars and in various other currencies. We may use foreign exchange or forward contracts to hedge certain cash flow exposures resulting from changes in these foreign currency exchange rates. These foreign exchange contracts, carried at fair value, have maturities of up to twelve months. We enter into these foreign exchange contracts to hedge a portion of our forecasted foreign currency denominated revenue in the normal course of business and accordingly, they are not speculative in nature.

As of December 31, 2020, the Company had in effect foreign exchange forward contracts, designated as cash flow hedge for accounting purposes, for the conversion of Euro 42.0 million in USD.

To receive hedge accounting treatment, all hedging relationships are formally documented at the inception of the hedge, and the hedges must be highly effective in offsetting changes to future cash flows on hedged transactions. We record changes in fair value of these cash flow hedges in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in our consolidated balance sheets, until the forecasted transaction occurs. When the forecasted transaction occurs, we reclassify the related gain or loss to revenue. In the event the underlying forecasted transaction does not occur, or it becomes probable that it will not occur, we reclassify the gain or loss on the related cash flow hedge from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to the same statement of operations line item as the hedged item. If we do not elect hedge accounting, or the contract does not qualify for hedge accounting treatment, the changes in fair value from period to period are recorded under financial income.