Note 9 – Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities

Earnings and cash flows are subject to fluctuations due to changes in commodity prices, foreign currency exchange rates, and interest rates. The Company uses derivative instruments such as commodity futures contracts, foreign currency forward contracts, and interest rate swaps to manage these exposures.

All derivatives are recognized on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at their fair value. On the date the derivative contract is entered into, it is designated as (i) a hedge of a forecasted transaction or the variability of cash flow to be paid (cash flow hedge), or (ii) a hedge of the fair value of a recognized asset or liability (fair value hedge). Changes in the fair value of a derivative that is qualified, designated and highly effective as a cash flow hedge are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI), to the extent effective, until they are reclassified to earnings in the same period or periods during which the hedged transaction affects earnings. Changes in the fair value of a derivative that is qualified, designated and highly effective as a fair value hedge, along with the gain or loss on the hedged recognized asset or liability that is attributable to the hedged risk, are recorded in current earnings. Changes in the fair value of undesignated derivative instruments and the ineffective portion of designated derivative instruments are reported in current earnings.

The Company documents all relationships between hedging instruments and hedged items, as well as the risk-management objective and strategy for undertaking various hedge transactions. This process includes linking all derivatives that are designated as fair value hedges to specific assets and liabilities on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets and linking cash flow hedges to specific forecasted transactions or variability of cash flow.

The Company also assesses, both at the hedge’s inception and on an ongoing basis, whether the designated derivatives that are used in hedging transactions are highly effective in offsetting changes in cash flow or fair values of hedged items. When a derivative is determined not to be highly effective as a hedge or the underlying hedged transaction is no longer probable, hedge accounting is discontinued prospectively, in accordance with the derecognition criteria for hedge accounting.

Commodity Futures Contracts

Copper and brass represent the largest component of the Company’s variable costs of production. The cost of these materials is subject to global market fluctuations caused by factors beyond the Company’s control. The Company occasionally enters into forward fixed-price arrangements with certain customers; the risk of these arrangements is generally managed with commodity futures contracts. These futures contracts have been designated as cash flow hedges.

At September 27, 2014, the Company held open futures contracts to purchase approximately $18.0 million of copper over the next 15 months related to fixed price sales orders. The fair value of those futures contracts was a $99 thousand loss position, which was determined by obtaining quoted market prices (Level 1 hierarchy as defined by ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (ASC 820)). In the next twelve months, the Company will reclassify into earnings realized gains or losses of cash flow hedges. At September 27, 2014, this amount was approximately $55 thousand of deferred net losses, net of tax.

The Company may also enter into futures contracts to protect the value of inventory against market fluctuations. These futures contracts have been designated as fair value hedges.

At September 27, 2014, the Company held open futures contracts to sell approximately $11.4 million of copper over the next six months related to copper inventory. The fair value of those futures contracts was a $445 thousand gain position, which was determined by obtaining quoted market prices (Level 1 hierarchy as defined by ASC 820). During the fourth quarter of 2013, the Company dedesignated previous hedges on its inventory because the hedging relationship was no longer deemed to be highly effective. These contracts no longer qualified as hedging instruments as of December 28, 2013.

Foreign Currency Forward Contracts

During 2012 and 2013, the Company entered into certain contracts to purchase heavy machinery and equipment denominated in euros. In anticipation of entering into these contracts, the Company entered into forward contracts to purchase euros to protect itself against adverse foreign exchange rate fluctuations.

At September 27, 2014, the Company held open forward contracts to purchase approximately 3.0 million euros over the next six months. The fair value of these contracts, which was determined by obtaining quoted market prices (Level 1 hierarchy as defined by ASC 820), was a $68 thousand loss position recorded in other current liabilities at September 27, 2014, and an $836 thousand gain position recorded in other current assets at December 28, 2013. At September 27, 2014, there was $15 thousand of deferred losses, net of tax, included in AOCI that is expected to be reclassified into property, plant, and equipment, net, when the hedged transactions occur.

Interest Rate Swap

On February 20, 2013, the Company entered into a two-year forward-starting interest rate swap agreement with an effective date of January 12, 2015, and an underlying notional amount of $200.0 million, pursuant to which the Company receives variable interest payments based on one-month LIBOR and pays fixed interest at a rate of 1.4 percent. Based on the Company’s current variable premium pricing on its Term Loan Facility, the all-in fixed rate on the effective date is 2.7 percent. The interest rate swap will mature on December 11, 2017, and is structured to offset the interest rate risk associated with the Company’s floating-rate, LIBOR-based Term Loan Facility Agreement. The swap was designated and accounted for as a cash flow hedge from inception.

The fair value of the interest rate swap is estimated based on the present value of the difference between expected cash flows calculated at the contracted interest rate and the expected cash flows at the current market interest rate using observable benchmarks for LIBOR forward rates at the end of the period (Level 2 hierarchy as defined by ASC 820). Interest payable and receivable under the swap agreement will be accrued and recorded as an adjustment to interest expense. The fair value of the interest rate swap was an $8 thousand gain position and was recorded in other assets at September 27, 2014. At September 27, 2014, there was $5 thousand of deferred net gains, net of tax, included in AOCI that is expected to be reclassified into interest expense over the term of the hedged item.

We present our derivative assets and liabilities in our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets on a net basis by counterparty. The following table summarizes the location and fair value of the derivative instruments and disaggregates our net derivative assets and liabilities into gross components on a contract-by-contract basis:

	Asset Derivatives							Liability Derivatives
		Fair Value							Fair Value
(In thousands)	Balance Sheet Location	Sept. 27, 2014			Dec. 28, 2013			Balance Sheet Location	Sept. 27, 2014			Dec. 28, 2013
Hedging instrument:
Commodity contracts - gains	Other current assets	$	526		$	448		Other current liabilities	$	10		$	340
Commodity contracts - losses	Other current assets		(76	)		(10	)	Other current liabilities		(115	)		(2,107	)
Foreign currency contracts	Other current assets		—			836		Other current liabilities		(68	)		—
Interest rate swap	Other assets		8			1,324		Other liabilities		—			—
Total derivatives (1)		$	458		$	2,598			$	(173	)	$	(1,767	)

(1) Does not include the impact of cash collateral received from or provided to counterparties.

The following tables summarize the effects of derivative instruments on our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income:

		Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
(In thousands)	Location	Sept. 27, 2014			Sept. 28, 2013			Sept. 27, 2014			Sept. 28, 2013
Fair value hedges:
Gain (loss) on commodity contracts (qualifying)	Cost of goods sold	$	1,100		$	(846	)	$	7,371		$	4,344
(Loss) gain on hedged item - Inventory	Cost of goods sold		(922	)		1,042			(6,702	)		(3,770	)

		Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
(In thousands)	Location	Sept. 27, 2014		Sept. 28, 2013		Sept. 27, 2014		Sept. 28, 2013
Undesignated derivatives:
Gain on commodity contracts (nonqualifying)	Cost of goods sold	$	—	$	—	$	1,466	$	—

The following tables summarize amounts recognized in and reclassified from AOCI during the period:

	Three Months Ended September 27, 2014
(In thousands)	(Loss) Gain Recognized in AOCI (Effective Portion), Net of Tax			Classification Gains (Losses)	(Gain) Loss Reclassified from AOCI (Effective Portion), Net of Tax
Cash flow hedges:
Commodity contracts	$	(202	)	Cost of goods sold	$	(174	)
Foreign currency contracts		(181	)	Property, plant, and equipment, net		(46	)
Interest rate swap		430		Interest expense		—


	Three Months Ended September 28, 2013
(In thousands)	Gain (Loss) Recognized in AOCI (Effective Portion), Net of Tax			Classification Gains (Losses)	Loss (Gain) Reclassified from AOCI (Effective Portion), Net of Tax
Cash flow hedges:
Commodity contracts	$	474		Cost of goods sold	$	788
Foreign currency contracts		372		Property, plant, and equipment, net		—
Interest rate swap		(747	)	Interest expense		—


	Nine Months Ended September 27, 2014
(In thousands)	(Loss) Gain Recognized in AOCI (Effective Portion), Net of Tax			Classification Gains (Losses)	Loss (Gain) Reclassified from AOCI (Effective Portion), Net of Tax
Cash flow hedges:
Commodity contracts	$	(634	)	Cost of goods sold	$	285
Foreign currency contracts		(184	)	Property, plant, and equipment, net		(283	)
Interest rate swap		(837	)	Interest expense		—


	Nine Months Ended September 28, 2013
(In thousands)	(Loss) Gain Recognized in AOCI (Effective Portion), Net of Tax			Classification Gains (Losses)	Loss (Gain) Reclassified from AOCI (Effective Portion), Net of Tax
Cash flow hedges:
Commodity contracts	$	(3,056	)	Cost of goods sold	$	3,309
Foreign currency contracts		352		Property, plant, and equipment, net		—
Interest rate swap		649		Interest expense		—

The Company enters into futures and forward contracts that closely match the terms of the underlying transactions. As a result, the ineffective portion of the open hedge contracts through September 27, 2014 was not material to the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income.

The Company primarily enters into International Swaps and Derivatives Association (ISDA) master netting agreements with major financial institutions that permit the net settlement of amounts owed under their respective derivative contracts. Under these master netting agreements, net settlement generally permits the Company or the counterparty to determine the net amount payable for contracts due on the same date and in the same currency for similar types of derivative transactions. The master netting agreements generally also provide for net settlement of all outstanding contracts with a counterparty in the case of an event of default or a termination event. The Company does not offset fair value amounts for derivative instruments and fair value amounts recognized for the right to reclaim cash collateral. At September 27, 2014 and December 28, 2013, the Company had recorded restricted cash in other current assets of $0.5 million and $2.1 million, respectively, as collateral related to open derivative contracts under the master netting arrangements.