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Financial Instruments
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011
Financial Instruments [Abstract]  
Financial Instruments
8     FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

 

     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 as part of ongoing business operations (primarily in Film Products). Our derivative financial instruments are designated as and qualify as cash flow hedges and are recognized in the consolidated balance sheet at fair value. The fair value of derivative instruments

 

recorded on the consolidated balance sheets are based upon Level 2 inputs. 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 $10.8 million (11.0 million pounds of aluminum) at December 31, 2011 and $5.8 million (5.7 million pounds of aluminum) at December 31, 2010.

     The table below summarizes the location and gross amounts of aluminum futures contract fair values in the consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2011 and 2010:

  December 31, 2011 December 31, 2010
  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 $ 21 and other $ 490
Liability derivatives:       Prepaid expenses    
Aluminum futures contracts Accrued expenses $ 677 and other $ 36
Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments            
Asset derivatives:       Prepaid expenses    
Aluminum futures contracts Accrued expenses $ 18 and other $ -
Liability derivatives:       Prepaid expenses    
Aluminum futures contracts Accrued expenses $ 18 and other $ -

 

     In the event that a counterparty to an aluminum fixed-price forward sales contract chooses not to 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 included in the table above are associated with the unwinding of aluminum futures contracts that relate to such cancellations.

     We had future fixed Euro-denominated contractual payments for equipment being purchased as part of our capacity expansion at the Carthage, Tennessee aluminum extrusion manufacturing facility. We used a fixed rate Euro forward contract with various settlement dates to hedge exchange rate exposure on these obligations. There were no foreign currency forward contracts outstanding at December 31, 2011 and 2010.

     We receive Euro-based royalty payments relating to our operations in Europe. From time to time we use zero-cost collar currency options to hedge a portion of our exposure to changes in cash flows due to variability in U.S. Dollar and Euro exchange rates. There were no outstanding notional amounts on these collars at December 31, 2011 and 2010 as there were no derivatives outstanding related to the hedging of royalty payments with currency options.

     Our derivative contracts involve elements of credit and market risk, 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 pretax effect on net income (loss) and other comprehensive income (loss) of derivative instruments classified as cash flow hedges and described in the previous paragraphs for years ended December 31, 2011, 2010, and 2009 is summarized in the tables below:

(In Thousands)             Cash Flow Derivative Hedges          
    Aluminum Futures Contracts     Foreign Currency Forwards and Options  
Years Ended December 31,   2011     2010     2009     2011   2010     2009  
Amount of pre-tax gain (loss) recognized in                                  
other comprehensive income $ (802 ) $ (102 ) $ 1,762   $ - $ (284 ) $ (336 )
Location of gain (loss) reclassified from                         Selling,     Selling,  
accumulated other comprehensive income   Cost of     Cost of     Cost of         general and     general and  
into net income (effective portion)   sales     sales     sales       admin. exp.     admin. exp.  
 
Amount of pre-tax gain (loss) reclassified                                  
from accumulated other comprehensive                                  
income to net income (effective portion) $ 308   $ 641   $ (10,248 ) $ - $ (271 ) $ (315 )

 

     Gains and losses on the ineffective portion of derivative instruments or derivative instruments that were not designated as hedging instruments were not significant in 2011, 2010 and 2009. For the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, unrealized net losses from hedges that were discontinued were not significant. As of December 31, 2011, we expect $0.4 million of unrealized after-tax losses on derivative instruments reported in accumulated other comprehensive income to be reclassified to earnings within the next twelve months.