Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activity | 9 Months Ended |
Sep. 27, 2013 |
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract] | ' |
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activity | ' |
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activity |
The Company uses derivative contracts to hedge portions of its foreign currency and precious metal exposures. The objectives for using derivatives in these areas are as follows: |
Foreign Currency. The Company sells products to overseas customers in their local currencies, primarily the euro and yen. The Company uses foreign currency derivatives, mainly forward contracts and options, to hedge these anticipated sales transactions. The purpose of the hedge program is to protect against the reduction in dollar value of the foreign currency sales from adverse exchange rate movements. Should the dollar strengthen significantly, the decrease in the translated value of the foreign currency sales should be partially offset by gains on the hedge contracts. Depending upon the methods used, the hedge contract may limit the benefits from a weakening U.S. dollar. |
The use of forward contracts locks in a firm rate and eliminates any downside from an adverse rate movement as well as any benefit from a favorable rate movement. The Company may from time to time choose to hedge with options or a tandem of options known as a collar. These hedging techniques can limit or eliminate the downside risk but can allow for some or all of the benefit from a favorable rate movement to be realized. Unlike a forward contract, a premium is paid for an option; collars, which are a combination of a put and call option, may have a net premium but they can be structured to be cash neutral. The Company will primarily hedge with forward contracts due to the relationship between the cash outlay and the level of risk. |
The use of foreign currency derivative contracts is governed by policies approved by the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors. A team consisting of senior financial managers reviews the estimated exposure levels, as defined by budgets, forecasts and other internal data, and determines the timing, amounts and instruments to use to hedge that exposure within the confines of the policy. Management analyzes the effective hedged rates and the actual and projected gains and losses on the hedging transactions against the program objectives, targeted rates and levels of risk assumed. Hedge contracts are typically layered in at different times for a specified exposure period in order to minimize the impact of rate movements. |
Precious Metals. The Company maintains the majority of its precious metal production requirements on consignment in order to reduce the working capital investment and the exposure to metal price movements. When a precious metal product is fabricated and ready for shipment to the customer, the metal is purchased out of consignment at the current market price and that price forms the basis for the price to be charged to the customer. |
In certain circumstances, a customer may want to establish the price for the precious metal when the sales order is placed rather than at the time of the shipment. Setting the selling price at a different date than when the material would be purchased potentially creates an exposure to movements in the market price of the metal. Therefore, in these limited situations, the Company may elect to enter into a forward contract to purchase a stated quantity of precious metal at a fixed price on a specified date in the future. The price in the forward contract serves as the basis for the price to be charged to the customer. By so doing, the selling and purchase prices are matched and the Company’s market price exposure is reduced. |
The Company refines precious metal-containing materials for its customers and typically will purchase the refined metal from the customer at current market prices. In limited circumstances, the customer may want to fix the price to be paid at the time of the order as opposed to when the material is refined. The customer may also want to fix the price to be paid for a number of orders over a period of time. The Company may then enter into a hedge contract, either a forward contract or a swap, to fix the price for the estimated quantity of refined metal to be purchased thereby reducing the exposure to adverse movements in the market price of the metal. |
The Company will only enter into a derivative contract if there is an underlying identified exposure. Contracts are typically held until maturity. The Company does not engage in derivative trading activities and does not use derivatives for speculative purposes. The Company only uses currency hedge contracts that are denominated in the same currency as the underlying exposure and precious metal hedge contracts denominated in the same metal as the underlying exposure. |
All derivatives are recorded on the balance sheet at their fair values. If the derivative is designated and effective as a cash flow hedge, changes in the fair value of the derivative are recognized in other comprehensive income (OCI) until the hedged item is recognized in earnings. The ineffective portion of a derivative’s fair value, if any, is recognized in earnings immediately. If a derivative is not a hedge, changes in the fair value are adjusted through income. The fair values of the outstanding derivatives are recorded on the balance sheet as assets (if the derivatives are in a gain position) or liabilities (if the derivatives are in a loss position). The fair values will also be classified as short term or long term depending upon their maturity dates. |
The outstanding foreign currency forward contracts had a notional value of $15.2 million as of September 27, 2013. All of these contracts were designated and effective as cash flow hedges. The fair values of the yen forward contract of $0.2 million was recorded in prepaid expenses and the fair value of a loss of $0.3 million on the euro forward contracts was recorded in other liabilities and accrued items on the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 27, 2013. |
There was no ineffectiveness associated with the contracts outstanding at September 27, 2013 and no ineffectiveness expense was recorded in the first nine months of 2013 or 2012. |
Changes in the fair value of outstanding cash flow hedges recorded in OCI totaled $(0.1) million at September 27, 2013 and $0.2 million at September 28, 2012. The Company expects to relieve the entire balance in OCI as of September 27, 2013 to income on the Consolidated Statements of Income during the twelve month period beginning September 28, 2013. See Note L to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional OCI details. |