Derivative Financial Instruments Policies (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2013

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Derivatives, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Other Changes in Fair Value of Derivative Contracts

For derivative instruments that are used to economically hedge the fair value of the Company’s third party and intercompany foreign currency payments, commodity purchases and interest rate payments, the gain (loss) associated with the derivative contract is recognized in earnings in the period of change.

DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

Derivative financial instruments are used by the Company principally in the management of its interest rate, foreign currency exchange rate and raw material price exposures. The Company does not hold or issue derivative financial instruments for trading purposes. Derivative instruments are reported at fair value in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Position (unaudited). When hedge accounting is elected at inception, the Company formally designates the financial instrument as a hedge of a specific underlying exposure and documents both the risk management objectives and strategies for undertaking the hedge. The Company formally assesses both at the inception and at least quarterly thereafter, whether the financial instruments that are used in hedging transactions are effective at offsetting changes in the forecasted cash flows of the related underlying exposure. Because of the high degree of effectiveness between the hedging instrument and the underlying exposure being hedged, fluctuations in the value of the derivative instruments are generally offset by changes in the forecasted cash flows of the underlying exposures being hedged. Any ineffective portion of a financial instrument’s change in fair value is immediately recognized in earnings. For derivatives that are not designated as cash flow hedges, or do not qualify for hedge accounting treatment, the change in the fair value is also immediately recognized in earnings.

Cash Flow Hedges

When appropriate, the Company uses interest rate swaps to manage its interest rate risk. The swaps are designated as cash flow hedges with the changes in fair value recorded in AOCI and as a derivative hedge asset or liability, as applicable. The swaps settle periodically in arrears with the related amounts for the current settlement period payable to, or receivable from, the counter-parties included in accrued liabilities or receivables, respectively, and recognized in earnings as an adjustment to interest expense from the underlying debt to which the swap is designated. At June 30, 2013, the Company did not have any interest rate swaps outstanding.

The Company periodically enters into forward foreign exchange contracts to hedge the risk from forecasted foreign currency denominated third party and intercompany sales or payments. These obligations generally require the Company to exchange foreign currencies for U.S. Dollars, Euros, Pounds Sterling, Australian Dollars, Brazilian Reals, Mexican Pesos, Canadian Dollars or Japanese Yen. These foreign exchange contracts are cash flow hedges of fluctuating foreign exchange related to sales of product or raw material purchases. Until the sale or purchase is recognized, the fair value of the related hedge is recorded in AOCI and as a derivative hedge asset or liability, as applicable. At the time the sale or purchase is recognized, the fair value of the related hedge is reclassified as an adjustment to Net sales or purchase price variance in Cost of goods sold. At June 30, 2013, the Company had a series of foreign exchange derivative contracts outstanding through September 2014 with a contract value of $228,419. The derivative net gain on these contracts recorded in AOCI by the Company at June 30, 2013 was $4,138, net of tax expense of $1,541. At June 30, 2013, the portion of derivative net gain estimated to be reclassified from AOCI into earnings by the Company over the next 12 months is $3,697, net of tax.

The Company is exposed to risk from fluctuating prices for raw materials, specifically zinc and brass used in its manufacturing processes. The Company hedges a portion of the risk associated with the purchase of these materials through the use of commodity swaps. The hedge contracts are designated as cash flow hedges with the fair value changes recorded in AOCI and as a hedge asset or liability, as applicable. The unrecognized changes in fair value of the hedge contracts are reclassified from AOCI into earnings when the hedged purchase of raw materials also affects earnings. The swaps effectively fix the floating price on a specified quantity of raw materials through a specified date. At June 30, 2013, the Company had a series of zinc swap contracts outstanding through September 2014 for 10 tons with a contract value of $20,372. At June 30, 2013, the Company had a series of brass swap contracts outstanding through September 2014 for 1 ton with a contract value of $5,609. The derivative net loss on these contracts recorded in AOCI by the Company at June 30, 2013 was $1,068, net of tax benefit of $127. At June 30, 2013, the portion of derivative net loss estimated to be reclassified from AOCI into earnings by the Company over the next 12 months is $1,010, net of tax.

Derivative Contracts

The Company periodically enters into forward and swap foreign exchange contracts to economically hedge the risk from third party and intercompany payments resulting from existing obligations. These obligations generally require the Company to exchange foreign currencies for U.S. Dollars, Canadian Dollars, Euros or Australian Dollars. These foreign exchange contracts are fair value hedges of a related liability or asset recorded in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Position (Unaudited). The gain or loss on the derivative hedge contracts is recorded in earnings as an offset to the change in value of the related liability or asset at each period end. At June 30, 2013 and September 30, 2012, the Company had $112,737 and $172,581, respectively, of notional value for such foreign exchange derivative contracts outstanding.

Changes in AOCI from Derivative Instruments

For derivative instruments that are designated and qualify as cash flow hedges, the effective portion of the gain or loss on the derivative is reported as a component of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income ("AOCI") and reclassified into earnings in the same period or periods during which the hedged transaction affects earnings. Gains and losses on derivatives representing either hedge ineffectiveness or hedge components excluded from the assessment of effectiveness are recognized in current earnings.