Financial Instruments and Derivative Financial Instruments (Policies)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2018

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]

Derivatives, Policy [Policy Text Block]

The Company periodically enters into foreign currency exchange contracts that do not meet the criteria for hedge accounting. These derivatives are used to reduce the Company's exposure to foreign currency risk related to forecasted purchase or sales transactions or forecasted intercompany cash payments or settlements. Gains and losses on these derivatives are generally recognized in cost of sales.

The Company periodically enters into forward foreign currency contracts that are designated as net investment hedges of the Company's net investment in its foreign subsidiaries. For derivative instruments that are designated and qualified as a hedge of a net investment in foreign currency, the gain or loss is reported in other comprehensive income as part of the cumulative translation adjustment to the extent it is effective. The Company utilizes the forward-rate method of assessing hedge effectiveness. Any ineffective portion of net investment hedges would be recognized in the unaudited condensed consolidated statement of operations in the same period as the change.

The Company uses cross-currency swaps, which hedge the variability of expected future cash flows that are attributable to foreign currency risk of certain intercompany loans. These agreements include initial and final exchanges of principal and associated interest payments from fixed euro denominated to fixed U.S.-denominated amounts. Changes in the fair value of cross-currency swaps that are effective as hedges are recorded in OCI. Deferred gains or losses are reclassified from OCI to the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations in the same period as the gains or losses from the underlying transactions are recorded and are generally recognized in other (income) expense and interest expense. The ineffective portion of derivatives that are classified as hedges is immediately recognized in earnings and is also generally recognized in other (income) expense.

The Company uses interest rate swap agreements to partially reduce risks related to floating rate financing agreements that are subject to changes in the market rate of interest. Terms of the interest rate swap agreements require the Company to receive a variable interest rate and pay a fixed interest rate. The Company's interest rate swap agreements and its variable rate financings are predominately based upon the one or three-month LIBOR. Changes in the fair value of interest rate swap agreements that are effective as hedges are recorded in OCI. Deferred gains or losses are reclassified from OCI to the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations in the same period as the gains or losses from the underlying transactions are recorded and are generally recognized in interest expense. The ineffective portion of derivatives that are classified as hedges is immediately recognized in earnings and included on the line "Other" in the "Other (income) expense" section of the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations.

Cash flows from hedging activities are reported in the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of cash flows with the same classification as the hedged item, generally as a component of cash flows from operations.

The Company measures its derivatives at fair value on a recurring basis using significant observable inputs. This valuation methodology is Level 2 as defined in the fair value hierarchy. The Company uses a present value technique that incorporates yield curves and foreign currency spot rates to value its derivatives and also incorporates the effect of the Company's and its counterparties' credit risk into the valuation.