Derivative Financial Instruments

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2014

DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS [Abstract]

Derivative Financial Instruments

DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

The Company is exposed to certain risks relating to its ongoing business operations, including market risks relating to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates and interest rates. Derivative financial instruments are reported on the consolidated balance sheets at fair value. Changes in the fair values of derivatives are recorded each period in earnings or accumulated other comprehensive income, depending on whether a derivative is effective as part of a hedged transaction. Gains and losses on derivative instruments reported in accumulated other comprehensive income are subsequently included in earnings in the periods in which earnings are affected by the hedged item. The Company does not use derivative instruments for speculative purposes.

The Company held forward exchange contracts designed to hedge forecasted transactions denominated in foreign currencies and to minimize the impact of foreign currency fluctuations on the Company’s earnings and cash flows. Some of those contracts were designated as cash flow hedges. The Company will include in earnings amounts currently included in accumulated other comprehensive income upon recognition of cost of sales related to the underlying transaction.

The Company’s Term Loan Facility (“Term Loan”) contains floating rate obligations and is subject to interest rate fluctuations. During 2013, the Company entered into interest rate swap agreements for the purposes of hedging the eight quarterly variable-rate interest payments on its Term Loan due in 2014 and 2015. These interest rate swap agreements were designated as cash flow hedges and intended to manage interest rate risk associated with the Company’s variable-rate borrowings and minimize the impact on the Company's earnings and cash flows of interest rate fluctuations attributable to changes in LIBOR rates. These agreements are not material to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012.

During the second quarter of 2014, the Company entered into forward exchange contracts designed to hedge forecasted transactions denominated in foreign currencies and to minimize the impact of foreign currency fluctuations on the Company's earnings and cash flows. These contracts were entered into as a result of forecasted foreign currency transactions associated with the New Zealand contract to deliver ten SH-2G(I) aircraft and were designated as cash flow hedges. During the third quarter of 2014, the Company dedesignated these forward contracts, due to a change in the timing of payments. These contracts are not material to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012.