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Note 10 - Derivative Instruments
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2013
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]  
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Text Block]

10.    Derivative Instruments:


Nickel swaps


During 2013, 2012 and 2011, the Company entered into nickel swaps indexed to the London Metal Exchange (LME) price of nickel with third-party brokers. The nickel swaps are treated as derivatives for accounting purposes. The Company entered into the swaps to mitigate its customers’ risk of volatility in the price of nickel. The outstanding nickel swaps settle on a monthly basis from January 2014 through May 2016 with the broker at maturity. The economic benefit or loss arising from the changes in fair value of the swaps is contractually passed through to the customer. The primary risk associated with the nickel swaps is the ability of customers or third-party brokers to honor their agreements with the Company related to derivative instruments. If the customer or third-party brokers are unable to honor their agreements, the Company’s risk of loss is the fair value of the nickel swap.


While these derivatives are intended to help the Company manage risk, they have not been designated as hedging instruments. The periodic changes in fair value of the nickel and embedded customer derivative instruments are included in “Cost of materials sold” in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income. We recognize derivative positions with both the customer and the third party and we classify cash settlement amounts associated with them as part of “Cost of materials sold” in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income. The embedded customer derivatives are included in “Accounts receivable, net”, and the swaps are included in “Other accrued liabilities” on the Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2013 and 2012.


 Interest rate swap


CTI entered into an interest rate swap to reduce the impact of changes in interest rates on its IRB. The swap agreement matures April 2018, the same time as the IRB, but the notional amount is reduced annually by the optional principal payments on the IRB. Although the Company is exposed to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by the other parties to the interest rate swap agreement, the Company anticipates performance by the counterparties. The interest rate swap is not treated as a hedging instrument for accounting purposes.


The periodic changes in fair value of the interest rate swap and cash settlement amounts associated with the interest rate swap are included in “Interest and other expense on debt” in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income.


Fixed rate interest rate hedge


In June 2012, the Company entered into a forward starting fixed rate interest rate hedge that commenced June 2013 in order to eliminate the variability of cash interest payments on $53.2 million of the outstanding LIBOR-based borrowings under the ABL Credit Facility. The balance as of December 31, 2013 was $48.9 million. The hedge matures on June 1, 2016 and the notional amount is reduced monthly by the principal payments on the term loan. The interest rate hedge fixed the rate at 1.21% plus a premium ranging from 1.75% to 2.25%. Although the Company is exposed to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by the other parties to the interest rate hedge agreement, the Company anticipates performance by the counterparties. The fixed interest rate hedge is accounted for as a cash flow hedging instrument for accounting purposes.


The table below shows the total net gain or (loss) recognized in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income of the derivatives for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011.


   

Net Gain (Loss) Recognized

 
(in thousands)   

2013

   

2012

   

2011

 

Interest rate swap (CTI)

  $ (167 )   $ (46 )   $ (68 )

Fixed interst rate swap (ABL)

    (309 )     -       -  

Nickel swaps

    (1,037 )     (113 )     (208 )

Embedded customer derivatives

    1,037       113       208  

Total gain (loss)

  $ (476 )   $ (46 )   $ (68 )