Investment in Unconsolidated Affiliate

3 Months Ended

Dec. 28, 2014

Investments in and Advances to Affiliates, Schedule of Investments [Abstract]

Equity Method Investments and Joint Ventures Disclosure [Text Block]

Investment in Unconsolidated Affiliate

On June 28, 2010, we executed a share subscription agreement (the "Agreement") with Synergies, a private aluminum wheel manufacturer based in Visakhapatnam, India, providing for our acquisition of a minority interest in Synergies. The total cash investment in Synergies amounted to $4.5 million, representing 12.6 percent of the outstanding equity shares of Synergies. Our Synergies investment is accounted for using the cost method. During 2011, a group of existing equity holders, including the company, made a loan of $1.5 million to Synergies for working capital needs. The company's share of this unsecured advance was $0.5 million. The remaining principal balance of the unsecured advance was paid in full during the first quarter of 2015.

In October 2014, a typhoon caused significant damage to the facilities and operations of Synergies, and in the fourth quarter of 2014, we tested the $4.5 million carrying value of our investment for impairment. Based on our evaluation, we determined there was an other-than-temporary impairment and wrote the investment down to its estimated fair value of $2.0 million, with the $2.5 million loss recognized in income for the year ended December 28, 2014. The valuation was based on an income approach using current financial forecast data, and rates and assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the investment. There was no further impairment in 2015 or in the first quarter of 2016.