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Note 8 - Derivative Instruments
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]  
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Text Block]

8.

Derivative Instruments:


Metals swaps


During 2014, 2013 and 2012, the Company entered into nickel swaps indexed to the London Metal Exchange (LME) price of nickel with third-party brokers. In 2014, the Company entered into carbon swaps indexed to the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) price of U.S. Midwest Domestic Hot-Rolled Coil Steel with third-party brokers. The nickel and carbon 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 metals. The outstanding nickel swaps have one to seventeen months remaining and the outstanding carbon swaps have one to twelve months remaining. The swaps are settled with the brokers 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 metals 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 metals swaps.


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 metals and embedded customer derivative instruments are included in “Cost of materials sold” in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income. The Company recognizes derivative positions with both the customer and the third party for the derivatives and classifies cash settlement amounts associated with them as part of “Cost of materials sold” in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income. The cumulative change in fair value of the metals swaps that have not yet settled are included in “Other accrued liabilities”, and the embedded customer derivatives are included in “Accounts receivable, net” on the Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2014 and 2013.


In 2014, the Company entered into carbon swaps to mitigate its risk of volatility in the price of metals. The swaps are indexed to the NYMEX price of U.S. Midwest Domestic Hot-Rolled Coil Steel with third-party brokers. The outstanding carbon swaps have four to twelve months remaining. The metals swaps are accounted for as cash flow hedges and are included in “Other accrued liabilities” and “Prepaid expenses and other” on the Consolidated Balance Sheet at December 31, 2014. The periodic change in fair value of the metals hedges are included in “Accumulated other comprehensive loss” on the Consolidated Balance Sheet at December 31, 2014.


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, 2014 was $40.1 million. The hedge matures on June 1, 2016 and the notional amount is reduced monthly by $729 thousand. The interest rate hedge fixed the rate at 1.21% plus a premium ranging from 1.25% to 1.75%. 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, 2014, 2013 and 2012.


   

Net Gain (Loss) Recognized

 

(in thousands)

 

2014

   

2013

   

2012

 

Interest rate swap (CTI)

  $ (100 )   $ (167 )   $ (46 )

Fixed interest rate swap (ABL)

    (472 )     (309 )     -  

Metals swaps

    622       (1,037 )     (113 )

Embedded customer derivatives

    (934 )     1,037       113  

Total gain (loss)

  $ (884 )   $ (476 )   $ (46 )