Fair-Value Measurements

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2014

Fair-Value Measurements [Abstract]

Fair-Value Measurements

15. Fair-Value Measurements

Fair value is defined as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Accounting principles establish a hierarchy for inputs used in measuring fair value that maximizes the use of observable inputs and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs by requiring that the most observable inputs be used when available. Level 3 inputs are unobservable data points for the asset or liability, and include situations in which there is little, if any, market activity for the asset or liability. As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, we have no Level 3 financial assets or liabilities.

The following table presents the fair-value hierarchy for our Level 1 and Level 2 financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis:

	December 31, 2014					December 31, 2013
	Quoted prices in active markets		Significant other observable inputs			Quoted prices in active markets		Significant other observable inputs
(in thousands)	(Level 1)		(Level 2)			(Level 1)		(Level 2)
Fair Value
Assets:
Cash equivalents		$14,096		$-			$25,073		$-
Prepaid expenses and other current assets:
Foreign currency options		69		-			-		-
Other Assets:
Common stock of foreign public company		701		-			952		-
Interest rate swaps		-		-			-		1,517		(b)
Liabilities:
Other noncurrent liabilities
Interest rate swaps		-		(1,411)	(a)		-		(3,119	)	(c)

(a) Net of $4.3 million receivable floating leg and $5.7 million liability fixed leg

(b)	Net of $5.6 million receivable floating leg and $4.1 million liability fixed leg
(c)	Net of $0.7 million receivable floating leg and $3.8 million liability fixed leg

Cash equivalents include short-term securities that are considered to be highly liquid and easily tradable. These securities are valued using inputs observable in active markets for identical securities.

The common stock of a foreign public company is traded in an active market exchange. The shares are measured at fair value using closing stock prices and are recorded in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as Other assets. The securities are classified as available for sale, and as a result any unrealized gain or loss is recorded in the Shareholders' Equity section of the Consolidated Balance Sheets rather than in the Consolidated Statements of Income. When the security is sold or impaired, gains and losses will be reported in the Consolidated Statements of Income. Investments are considered to be impaired when a decline in fair value is judged to be other than temporary.

Foreign currency instruments are entered into periodically, and consist of foreign currency option contracts and forward contracts that are valued using quoted prices in active markets obtained from independent pricing sources. These instruments are measured using market foreign exchange prices and are recorded in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as Other current assets and Accounts payable, as applicable. Changes in fair value of these instruments are recorded as gains or losses within Other (income)/expenses, net.

When exercised, the foreign currency instruments are net settled with the same financial institution that bought or sold them. For all positions, whether options or forward contracts, there is risk from the possible inability of the financial institution to meet the terms of the contracts and the risk of unfavorable changes in interest and currency rates, which may reduce the value of the instruments. We seek to control risk by evaluating the creditworthiness of counterparties and by monitoring the currency exchange and interest rate markets while reviewing the hedging risks and contracts to ensure compliance with our internal guidelines and policies.

We operate our business in many regions of the world, and currency rate movements can have a significant effect on operating results.

Changes in exchange rates can result in revaluation gains and losses that are recorded in Selling, General and Administrative expenses or Other (income)/expenses, net. Revaluation gains and losses occur when our business units have cash, intercompany (recorded in Other (income)/expenses, net) or third-party trade (recorded in Selling, General and Administrative expenses) receivable or payable balances in a currency other than their local reporting (or functional) currency.

Operating results can also be affected by the translation of sales and costs, for each non-U.S. subsidiary, from the local functional currency to the U.S. dollar. The translation effect on the income statement is dependent on our net income or expense position in each non-U.S. currency in which we do business. A net income position exists when sales realized in a particular currency exceed expenses paid in that currency; a net expense position exists if the opposite is true.

The interest rate swaps are accounted for as hedges of future cash flows. The fair value of our interest rate swaps are derived from a discounted cash flow analysis based on the terms of the contract and the interest rate curve, and is included in Other assets and Other noncurrent liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. As of December 31, 2014, these interest rate swaps were determined to be 100% effective hedges of interest rate cash flow risk, and accordingly, unrealized gains and losses on the swaps will flow through the caption Derivative valuation adjustment in the Shareholders' equity section of the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Amounts accumulated in Other comprehensive income are reclassified as Interest expense, net when the related interest payments (that is, the hedged forecasted transactions) affect earnings. Interest expense related to the swaps totaled $1.9 million in both 2014 and 2013.

Gains/(losses) related to changes in fair value of derivative instruments that were recognized in Other (income)/expenses, net in the Consolidated Statements of Income were as follows:

	Years ended December 31,
(in thousands)	2014		2013	2012
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments
Forward exchange options		($81)	($107)		$33