Note 6. Financial Instruments

The financial instruments recorded in our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets include cash and cash equivalents, trade accounts receivable, trade accounts payable, debt obligations and swap agreements. Due to their short-term maturity, the carrying amounts of trade accounts receivable and trade accounts payable approximate their fair market values. The following table summarizes the carrying amounts and estimated fair values of our other financial instruments at March 31, 2012:

	Carrying		Fair
	Amount		Value
	(Dollars in thousands)
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	648,479	$	648,479

Liabilities:
Bank debt		1,166,341		1,166,341
7¼% Notes		245,454		280,938
5% Notes		500,000		498,440
Interest rate swap agreements		11,532		11,532
Natural gas swap agreements		838		838

Fair Value Measurements

GAAP defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date (exit price). GAAP classifies the inputs used to measure fair value into a hierarchy consisting of three levels. Level 1 inputs represent unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. Level 2 inputs represent unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities, or unadjusted quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, or inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability. Level 3 inputs represent unobservable inputs for the asset or liability. Financial assets and liabilities are classified in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement.

Financial Instruments Measured at Fair Value

The financial assets and liabilities that are measured on a recurring basis at March 31, 2012 consist of our cash and cash equivalents, interest rate swap agreements and natural gas swap agreements. We measured the fair value of cash and cash equivalents using Level 1 inputs. We measured the fair value of the swap agreements using the income approach. The fair value of these agreements reflects the estimated amounts that we would pay based on the present value of the expected cash flows derived from market interest rates and prices. As such, these derivative instruments are classified within Level 2.

Financial Instruments Not Measured at Fair Value

Our bank debt, 7¼% Notes and 5% Notes are recorded at historical amounts in our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, as we have not elected to record them at fair value. For purposes of the table above, we measured the fair value of our variable rate bank debt using Level 2 inputs and the fair values of our 7¼% Notes and 5% Notes using Level 1 inputs.

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities

Our derivative financial instruments are recorded in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at their fair values. Changes in fair values of derivatives are recorded in each period in earnings or comprehensive income, depending on whether a derivative is designated as part of a hedge transaction and, if it is, the type of hedge transaction.

We utilize certain derivative financial instruments to manage a portion of our interest rate and natural gas cost exposures. We limit our use of derivative financial instruments to interest rate and natural gas swap agreements. We do not engage in trading or other speculative uses of these financial instruments. For a financial instrument to qualify as a hedge, we must be exposed to interest rate or price risk, and the financial instrument must reduce the exposure and be designated as a hedge. Financial instruments qualifying for hedge accounting must maintain a high correlation between the hedging instrument and the item being hedged, both at inception and throughout the hedged period.

We utilize certain internal hedging strategies to minimize our foreign currency exchange rate risk. Net investment hedges that qualify for hedge accounting result in the recognition of foreign currency gains or losses, net of tax, in accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income. We generally do not utilize external derivative financial instruments to manage our foreign currency exchange rate risk.

Our interest rate and natural gas swap agreements are accounted for as cash flow hedges. During the first three months of 2012, our hedges were fully effective. The fair value of our outstanding swap agreements in effect at March 31, 2012 was recorded in our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as a liability of $12.4 million, of which $5.4 million was included in accrued liabilities and $7.0 million was included in other liabilities.

The amount reclassified to earnings from the change in fair value of derivatives component of accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income for the three months ended March 31, 2012 was a loss of $0.8 million, net of income taxes. We estimate that we will reclassify losses of $2.9 million, net of income taxes, from the change in fair value of derivatives component of accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income to earnings during the next twelve months. The actual amount that will be reclassified to earnings will vary from this amount as a result of changes in market conditions.

Interest Rate Swap Agreements

We have entered into Euro interest rate swap agreements to manage a portion of our exposure to interest rate fluctuations. At March 31, 2012, the aggregate notional principal amount of our outstanding interest rate swap agreements was €105.0 million. The difference between amounts to be paid or received on our interest rate swap agreements is recorded in interest and other debt expense in our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income. For the three months ended March 31, 2012, net payments under our interest rate swap agreements were $1.0 million. These agreements are with a financial institution which is expected to fully perform under the terms thereof.

Natural Gas Swap Agreements

We have entered into natural gas swap agreements with a major financial institution to manage a portion of our exposure to fluctuations in natural gas prices. At March 31, 2012, the aggregate notional principal amount of our natural gas swap agreements was 707,000 MMBtu of natural gas with fixed prices ranging from $2.587 to $4.814 per MMBtu, which hedges approximately 16 percent of our estimated twelve month exposure to fluctuations in natural gas prices. The difference between amounts to be paid or received on our natural gas swap agreements is recorded in cost of goods sold in our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income. For the three months ended March 31, 2012, net payments under our natural gas swap agreements were $0.5 million. These agreements are with a financial institution which is expected to fully perform under the terms thereof.

Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Risk

In an effort to minimize foreign currency exchange rate risk, we have initially financed acquisitions of foreign operations primarily with loans borrowed under the Credit Agreement denominated in Euros and Canadian dollars. In addition, where available, we have borrowed funds in local currency or implemented certain internal hedging strategies to minimize our foreign currency exchange rate risk related to foreign operations. We have designated substantially all of our Euro denominated borrowings under our Credit Agreement as net investment hedges. Foreign currency losses related to our net investment hedges included in accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income for the three months ended March 31, 2012 were $10.4 million.