Derivative Financial Instruments

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2013

Derivative Financial Instruments [Abstract]

Derivative Financial Instruments

9. We use derivative financial instruments for the purpose of hedging margin exposure from fixed-price forward sales contracts in Aluminum Extrusions and currency exchange rate exposures that exist due to specified transactions. When possible, our derivative financial instruments are designated as and qualify as cash flow hedges and are recognized in the balance sheet at fair value. A change in the fair value of derivatives that are highly effective and that are designated and qualify as cash flow hedges is recorded in other comprehensive income (loss). Gains and losses reported in other comprehensive income (loss) are reclassified to earnings in the periods in which earnings are affected by the variability of cash flows of the hedged transaction. Such gains and losses are reported on the same line as the underlying hedged item. Any hedge ineffectiveness (which represents the amount by which the changes in the fair value of the derivative exceed the variability in the cash flows of the forecasted transaction) is recorded in current period earnings. The amount of gains and losses recognized for hedge ineffectiveness was not material to the third quarter and first nine months of 2013 and 2012.

     The fair value of derivative instruments recorded on the consolidated balance sheets are based upon Level 2 inputs within the corresponding commodity or foreign currency markets. If individual derivative instruments with the same counterparty can be settled on a net basis, we record the corresponding derivative fair values as a net asset or net liability.

     In the normal course of business, we enter into fixed-price forward sales contracts with certain customers for the future sale of fixed quantities of aluminum extrusions at scheduled intervals. In order to hedge our margin exposure created from the fixing of future sales prices relative to volatile raw material (aluminum) costs, we enter into a combination of forward purchase commitments and futures contracts to acquire or hedge aluminum, based on the scheduled purchases for the firm sales commitments. The fixed-price firm sales commitments and related hedging instruments generally have durations of not more than 12 months, and the notional amount of aluminum futures contracts that hedged future purchases of aluminum to meet fixed-price forward sales contract obligations was $4.6 million (4.7 million pounds of aluminum) at September 30, 2013 and $6.2 million (6.7 million pounds of aluminum) at December 31, 2012.

     The table below summarizes the location and gross amounts of aluminum futures contract fair values in the consolidated balance sheets as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012:

	September 30, 2013				December 31, 2012
	Balance Sheet		Fair		Balance Sheet	Fair
(In Thousands)	Account	Value			Account	Value
Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments
Asset derivatives:					Prepaid expenses
Aluminum futures contracts	Accrued expenses	$	5		and other	$	226
Liability derivatives:					Prepaid expense
Aluminum futures contracts	Accrued expenses	$	223		and other	$	88
Net asset (liability)		$	(218	)		$	138

     In the event that the counterparty to an aluminum fixed-price forward sales contract chooses to not take delivery of its aluminum extrusions, the customer is contractually obligated to compensate us for any losses on the related aluminum futures and/or forward purchase contracts through the date of cancellation. The offsetting asset and liability positions for derivatives not designated as hedging instruments (none at September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012) are associated with the unwinding of aluminum futures contracts that relate to such cancellations.

     We have future fixed Euro-denominated contractual payments for equipment being purchased as part of our multi-year capacity expansion project at our film products manufacturing facility in Cabo de Santo Agostinho, Brazil. We are using fixed rate Euro forward contracts with various settlement dates through November 2013 to hedge exchange rate exposure on these obligations. We had fixed rate forward contracts with outstanding notional amounts of €2.2 million and €9.9 million as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively.

     The table below summarizes the location and gross amounts of foreign currency forward contract fair values in the consolidated balance sheets as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012:

	September 30, 2013			December 31, 2012
	Balance Sheet		Fair	Balance Sheet	Fair
(In Thousands)	Account	Value		Account	Value
Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments
Asset derivatives:	Prepaid expenses			Prepaid expenses
Foreign currency forward contracts	and other	$	252	and other	$	948
Net asset (liability)		$	252		$	948

     These derivative contracts involve elements of market risk that are not reflected on our consolidated balance sheet, including the risk of dealing with counterparties and their ability to meet the terms of the contracts. The counterparties to our forward purchase commitments are major aluminum brokers and suppliers, and the counterparties to our aluminum futures contracts are major financial institutions. Fixed-price forward sales contracts are only made available to our best and most credit-worthy customers. The counterparties to our foreign currency futures and zero-cost collar contracts are major financial institutions.

     The effect on net income and other comprehensive income (loss) of derivative instruments classified as cash flow hedges and described in the previous paragraphs for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 is summarized in the table below:

(In Thousands)		Cash Flow Derivative Hedges
		Aluminum Futures						Foreign Currency
		Contracts						Forwards
		Three Months Ended September 30,
		2013			2012			2013		2012
Amount of pre-taxgain (loss) recognized in
other comprehensive income	$	(11	)	$	(617	)	$	122	$	1,132
Location of gain (loss) reclassified from
accumulated other comprehensive income		Cost of			Cost of
into net income (effective portion)		sales			sales
Amount of pre-taxgain (loss) reclassified
from accumulated other comprehensive
income to net income (effective portion)	$	(268	)	$	(600	)	$	-	$	-

		Aluminum Futures						Foreign Currency
		Contracts						Forwards
		Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2013			2012			2013			2012
Amount of pre-taxgain (loss) recognized in
other comprehensive income	$	(775	)	$	(1,317	)	$	(123	)	$	1,132
Location of gain (loss) reclassified from
accumulated other comprehensive income		Cost of			Cost of
into net income (effective portion)		sales			sales
Amount of pre-taxgain (loss) reclassified
from accumulated other comprehensive
income to net income (effective portion)	$	(417	)	$	(902	)	$	-		$	-

     As of September 30, 2013, we expect $0.1 million of unrealized after-tax losses on derivative instruments reported in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to be reclassified to earnings within the next twelve months. For the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, net gains or losses realized on previously unrealized net gains or losses from hedges that had been discontinued were not material.