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Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities
6 Months Ended
Nov. 30, 2021
Derivative Instruments And Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]  
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities

NOTE Q – Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities

We utilize derivative financial instruments to primarily manage exposure to certain risks related to our ongoing operations.  The primary risks managed through the use of derivative instruments include interest rate risk, foreign currency exchange rate risk and commodity price risk.  While certain of our derivative instruments are designated as hedging instruments, we also enter into derivative instruments that are designed to hedge a risk, but are not designated as hedging instruments and, therefore, do not qualify for hedge accounting.  These derivative instruments are adjusted to current fair value through earnings (loss) at the end of each period.

Interest Rate Risk Management – We are exposed to the impact of interest rate changes.  Our objective is to manage the impact of interest rate changes on cash flows and the market value of our borrowings.  We utilize a mix of debt maturities along with both fixed-rate and variable-rate debt to manage changes in interest rates.  In addition, we enter into interest rate swaps and treasury locks to further manage our exposure to interest rate variations related to our borrowings and to lower our overall borrowing costs.

Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Risk Management – We conduct business in several major international currencies and are, therefore, subject to risks associated with changing foreign currency exchange rates.  We enter into various contracts that change in value as foreign currency exchange rates change to manage this exposure.  Such contracts limit exposure to both favorable and unfavorable currency exchange rate fluctuations.  The translation of foreign currencies into U.S. dollars also subjects us to exposure related to fluctuating currency exchange rates; however, derivative instruments are not used to manage this risk.

Commodity Price Risk Management – We are exposed to changes in the price of certain commodities, including steel, natural gas, zinc and other raw materials, and our utility requirements.  Our objective is to reduce earnings and cash flow volatility associated with forecasted purchases and sales of these commodities to allow management to focus its attention on business operations.  Accordingly, we enter into derivative contracts to manage the associated price risk.

We are exposed to counterparty credit risk on all of our derivative instruments.  Accordingly, we have established and maintain strict counterparty credit guidelines. We have credit support agreements in place with certain counterparties to limit our credit exposure.  These agreements require either party to post cash collateral if its cumulative market position exceeds a predefined liability threshold.  Amounts posted to the margin accounts accrue interest at market rates and are required to be refunded in the period in

which the cumulative market position falls below the required threshold.  We do not have significant exposure to any one counterparty, and management believes the overall risk of loss is remote and, in any event, would not be material.

Refer to "NOTE R – Fair Value" for additional information regarding the accounting treatment for our derivative instruments, as well as how fair value is determined.

The following table summarizes the fair value of our derivative instruments and the respective lines in which they were recorded in the consolidated balance sheet at November 30, 2021:

 

 

 

Asset Derivatives

 

 

Liability Derivatives

 

 

 

Balance

 

 

 

 

 

Balance

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sheet

 

Fair

 

 

Sheet

 

Fair

 

(in thousands)

 

Location

 

Value

 

 

Location

 

Value

 

Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commodity contracts

 

Receivables

 

$

660

 

 

Accounts payable

 

$

6,207

 

 

 

Other assets

 

 

-

 

 

Other liabilities

 

 

1,068

 

Total

 

 

 

$

660

 

 

 

 

$

7,275

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commodity contracts

 

Receivables

 

$

8,555

 

 

Accounts payable

 

$

6,916

 

 

 

Other assets

 

 

313

 

 

Other liabilities

 

 

545

 

 

 

 

 

 

8,868

 

 

 

 

 

7,461

 

Foreign currency exchange contracts

 

Other assets

 

 

60

 

 

Accounts payable

 

 

390

 

Total

 

 

 

 

8,928

 

 

 

 

 

7,851

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total derivative instruments

 

 

 

$

9,588

 

 

 

 

$

15,126

 

 

The amounts in the table above reflect the fair value of the Company’s derivative instruments on a net basis where allowable under master netting arrangements. Had these amounts been recognized on a gross basis, the impact would have been a $15,660,000 increase in “Receivables” with a corresponding increase in “Accounts payable”.

The following table summarizes the fair value of our derivative instruments and the respective lines in which they were recorded in the consolidated balance sheet at May 31, 2021:

 

 

 

Asset Derivatives

 

 

Liability Derivatives

 

 

 

Balance

 

 

 

 

 

Balance

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sheet

 

Fair

 

 

Sheet

 

Fair

 

(in thousands)

 

Location

 

Value

 

 

Location

 

Value

 

Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commodity contracts

 

Receivables

 

$

53,125

 

 

Accounts payable

 

$

-

 

 

 

Other assets

 

 

23

 

 

Other liabilities

 

 

111

 

Total

 

 

 

$

53,148

 

 

 

 

$

111

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commodity contracts

 

Receivables

 

$

24,621

 

 

Accounts payable

 

$

14,554

 

 

 

Other assets

 

 

379

 

 

Other liabilities

 

 

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

25,000

 

 

 

 

 

14,554

 

Foreign currency exchange contracts

 

Receivables

 

 

-

 

 

Accounts payable

 

 

532

 

Total

 

 

 

$

25,000

 

 

 

 

$

15,086

 

Total derivative instruments

 

 

 

$

78,148

 

 

 

 

$

15,197

 

 

The amounts in the table above reflect the fair value of the Company’s derivative instruments on a net basis where allowable under master netting arrangements. Had these amounts been recognized on a gross basis, the impact would have been a $16,594,000 increase in “Receivables” with a corresponding increase in “Accounts payable”.

Cash Flow Hedges

We enter into derivative instruments to hedge our exposure to changes in cash flows attributable to commodity price fluctuations associated with certain forecasted transactions.  These derivative instruments are designated and qualify as cash flow hedges.  The earnings effects of these derivative instruments are presented in the same statement of earnings line items as the earnings effects of the hedged items.  For derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges, the Company assesses hedge effectiveness both at the onset of the hedge and at regular intervals throughout the life of the derivative instruments.

The following table summarizes our cash flow hedges outstanding at November 30, 2021:

 

 

 

Notional

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Amount

 

 

Maturity Date

Commodity contracts

 

$

221,292

 

 

December 2021 - December 2022

Foreign currency exchange contracts

 

 

6,082

 

 

December 2021 - March 2023

 

 

The following table summarizes the gain (loss) recognized in OCI and the gain (loss) reclassified from AOCI into net earnings (loss) for derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges for the periods presented:

 

(in thousands)

 

Gain (Loss)

Recognized in OCI

 

 

Location of Gain (Loss)

Reclassified from AOCI

into Net Earnings

 

Gain (Loss) Reclassified

from AOCI into

Net Earnings

 

For the three months ended November 30, 2021:

 

Commodity contracts

 

$

(21,002

)

 

Cost of goods sold

 

$

47,706

 

Interest rate contracts

 

 

-

 

 

Interest expense

 

 

27

 

Foreign currency exchange contracts

 

 

60

 

 

Miscellaneous income, net

 

 

3

 

Total

 

$

(20,942

)

 

 

 

$

47,736

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the three months ended November 30, 2020:

 

Commodity contracts

 

$

16,381

 

 

Cost of goods sold

 

$

(2,690

)

Interest rate contracts

 

 

-

 

 

Interest expense

 

 

(470

)

Total

 

$

16,381

 

 

 

 

$

(3,160

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the six months ended November 30, 2021:

 

Commodity contracts

 

$

14,218

 

 

Cost of goods sold

 

$

83,165

 

Interest rate contracts

 

 

-

 

 

Interest expense

 

 

(13

)

Foreign currency exchange contracts

 

 

61

 

 

Miscellaneous income, net

 

 

3

 

Total

 

$

14,279

 

 

 

 

$

83,155

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the six months ended November 30, 2020:

 

Commodity contracts

 

$

16,765

 

 

Cost of goods sold

 

$

(5,331

)

Interest rate contracts

 

-

 

 

Interest expense

 

 

(697

)

Total

 

$

16,765

 

 

 

 

$

(6,028

)

 

The estimated net amount of the gains recognized in AOCI at November 30, 2021 expected to be reclassified into net earnings within the succeeding twelve months is $6,192,000 (net of tax of $2,798,000).  This amount was computed using the fair value of the cash flow hedges at November 30, 2021, and will change before actual reclassification from OCI to net earnings during the fiscal years ending May 31, 2022 and May 31, 2023.

Economic (Non-designated) Hedges

We enter into foreign currency exchange contracts to manage our foreign currency exchange rate exposure related to inter-company and financing transactions that do not meet the requirements for hedge accounting treatment.  We also enter into certain commodity contracts that do not qualify for hedge accounting treatment.  Accordingly, these derivative instruments are adjusted to current market value at the end of each period through earnings (loss).

The following table summarizes our economic (non-designated) derivative instruments outstanding at November 30, 2021:

 

 

 

Notional

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Amount

 

 

Maturity Date(s)

Commodity contracts

 

$

119,233

 

 

December 2021 - August 2023

Foreign currency exchange contracts

 

 

(7,189

)

 

December 2021 - July 2022

 

The following table summarizes the gain (loss) recognized in earnings for economic (non-designated) derivative financial instruments for the periods presented:

 

 

 

 

Gain (Loss) Recognized

 

 

 

 

 

In Earnings for the

 

 

 

Location of Gain (Loss)

 

Three Months Ended November 30,

 

(in thousands)

 

Recognized in Earnings

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

Commodity contracts

 

Cost of goods sold

 

$

(10,135

)

 

$

8,905

 

Foreign currency exchange contracts

 

Miscellaneous income, net

 

 

(588

)

 

 

1

 

Total

 

 

 

$

(10,723

)

 

$

8,906

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gain (Loss) Recognized

 

 

 

 

 

in Earnings for the

 

 

 

Location of Gain (Loss)

 

Six Months Ended November 30,

 

(in thousands)

 

Recognized in Earnings

 

2021

 

 

2020

 

Commodity contracts

 

Cost of goods sold

 

$

(19,392

)

 

$

12,198

 

Foreign currency exchange contracts

 

Miscellaneous income, net

 

 

(249

)

 

 

(73

)

Total

 

 

 

$

(19,641

)

 

$

12,125