Derivative Instruments And Hedging Activities

6 Months Ended

Nov. 30, 2011

Derivative Instruments And Hedging Activities [Abstract]

Derivative Instruments And Hedging Activities

NOTE N – Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities

We utilize derivative financial instruments to manage exposure to certain risks related to our ongoing operations. The primary risks managed through the use of derivative instruments include interest rate risk, currency exchange risk and commodity price risk. While certain of our derivative instruments are designated as hedging instruments, we also enter into derivative instruments that are designed to hedge a risk, but are not designated as hedging instruments and therefore do not qualify for hedge accounting. These derivative instruments are adjusted to current fair value through earnings at the end of each period.

Interest Rate Risk Management – We are exposed to the impact of interest rate changes. Our objective is to manage the impact of interest rate changes on cash flows and the market value of our borrowings. We utilize a mix of debt maturities along with both fixed-rate and variable-rate debt to manage changes in interest rates. In addition, we enter into interest rate swaps to further manage our exposure to interest rate variations related to our borrowings and to lower our overall borrowing costs.

Currency Exchange Risk Management – We conduct business in several major international currencies and are therefore subject to risks associated with changing foreign exchange rates. We enter into various contracts that change in value as foreign exchange rates change to manage this exposure. Such contracts limit exposure to both favorable and unfavorable currency fluctuations. The translation of foreign currencies into United States dollars also subjects us to exposure related to fluctuating exchange rates; however, derivative instruments are not used to manage this risk.

Commodity Price Risk Management – We are exposed to changes in the price of certain commodities, including steel, natural gas, zinc and other raw materials, and our utility requirements. Our objective is to reduce earnings and cash flow volatility associated with forecasted purchases of these commodities to allow management to focus its attention on business operations. Accordingly, we enter into derivative contracts to manage the price risk associated with certain of these forecasted purchases.

We are exposed to counterparty credit risk on all of our derivative instruments. Accordingly, we have established and maintain strict counterparty credit guidelines and enter into derivative instruments only with major financial institutions. We do not have significant exposure to any one counterparty and management believes the risk of loss is remote and, in any event, would not be material.

Refer to "NOTE O – Fair Value" for additional information regarding the accounting treatment for our derivative instruments, as well as how fair value is determined.

The following table summarizes the fair value of our derivative instruments and the respective line item in which they were recorded in our consolidated balance sheet at November 30, 2011:

	Asset Derivatives				Liability Derivatives
(in thousands)	Balance Sheet Location		Fair Value		Balance Sheet Location	Fair Value
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:
Interest rate contracts		Receivables	$	-	Accounts payable	$	2,090
		Other assets		-	Other liabilities		10,158
Totals			$	-		$	12,248
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:
Commodity contracts		Receivables	$	202	Accounts payable	$	754
				202			754
Foreign exchange contracts		Receivables		-	Accounts payable		290
				-			290
Totals			$	202		$	1,044
Total Derivative Instruments			$	202		$	13,292

The following table summarizes the fair value of our derivative instruments and the respective line item in which they were recorded in the consolidated balance sheet at May 31, 2011:

	Asset Derivatives				Liability Derivatives
(in thousands)	Balance Sheet Location		Fair Value		Balance Sheet Location	Fair Value
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:
Interest rate contracts		Receivables	$	-	Accounts payable	$	2,024
		Other assets		-	Other liabilities		10,375
				-			12,399
Commodity contracts		Receivables		194	Accounts payable		-
				194			-
Totals			$	194		$	12,399
Derivatives not designated as hedg inginstruments:
Commodity contracts		Receivables	$	944	Accounts payable	$	-
				944			-
Foreign exchange contracts		Other assets		-	Other accrued items		573
				-			573
Totals			$	944		$	573
Total Derivative Instruments			$	1,138		$	12,972

Cash Flow Hedges

We enter into derivative instruments to hedge our exposure to changes in cash flows attributable to interest rate and commodity price fluctuations associated with certain forecasted transactions. These derivative instruments are designated and qualify as cash flow hedges. Accordingly, the effective portion of the gain or loss on the derivative instrument is reported as a component of other comprehensive income ("OCI") and reclassified into earnings in the same line item associated with the forecasted transaction and in the same period during which the hedged transaction affects earnings. The ineffective portion of the gain or loss on the derivative instrument is recognized in earnings immediately.

The following table summarizes our cash flow hedges outstanding at November 30, 2011:

(in thousands)	Notional Amount		Maturity Date
Interest rate contracts	$	100,000		December 2014

The following table summarizes the gain (loss) recognized in OCI and the gain (loss) reclassified from accumulated OCI into earnings for derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges during the three months ended November 30, 2011 and 2010:

(in thousands)	Income (Loss) Recognized in OCI (Effective Portion)			Location of Income (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated OCI (Effective Portion)	Income (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated OCI (Effective Portion)			Location of Income (Loss) (Ineffective Portion) and Excluded from Effectiveness Testing	Income (Loss) (Ineffective Portion) and Excluded from Effectiveness Testing
For the three months ended November 30, 2011:
Interest rate contracts	$	257		Interest expense	$	(928	)	Interest expense	$	-
Commodity contracts		(707	)	Cost of goods sold		(286	)	Cost of goods sold		-
Totals	$	(450	)		$	(1,214	)		$	-
For the three months ended November 30, 2010:
Interest rate contracts	$	(220	)	Interest expense	$	(971	)	Interest expense	$	-
Commodity contracts		(439	)	Cost of goods sold		(13	)	Cost of goods sold		-
Totals	$	(659	)		$	(984	)		$	-

The following table summarizes the gain (loss) recognized in OCI and the gain (loss) reclassified from accumulated OCI into earnings for derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges during the six months ended November 30, 2011 and 2010:

(in thousands)	Income (Loss) Recognized in OCI (Effective Portion)			Location of Income (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated OCI (Effective Portion)	Income (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated OCI (Effective Portion)			Location of Income (Loss) (Ineffective Portion) and Excluded from Effectiveness Testing	Income (Loss) (Ineffective Portion) and Excluded from Effectiveness Testing
For the six months ended November 30, 2011:
Interest rate contracts	$	(1,873	)	Interest expense	$	(1,998	)	Interest expense	$	-
Commodity contracts		(423	)	Cost of goods sold		1,735		Cost of goods sold		-
Totals	$	(2,296	)		$	(263	)		$	-
For the six months ended November 30, 2010:
Interest rate contracts	$	(4,708	)	Interest expense	$	(1,965	)	Interest expense	$	-
Commodity contracts		(761	)	Cost of goods sold		129		Cost of goods sold		-
Totals	$	(5,469	)		$	(1,836	)		$	-

The estimated net amount of the losses recognized in accumulated OCI at November 30, 2011 expected to be reclassified into net earnings within the succeeding twelve months is $1,266,000 (net of tax of $823,000). This amount was computed using the fair value of the cash flow hedges at November 30, 2011, and will change before actual reclassification from other comprehensive income to net earnings during the fiscal years ended May 31, 2012 and 2013.

Economic (Non-designated) Hedges

We enter into foreign currency contracts to manage our foreign exchange exposure related to inter-company and financing transactions that do not meet the requirements for hedge accounting treatment. We also enter into certain commodity contracts that do not qualify for hedge accounting treatment. Accordingly, these derivative instruments are adjusted to current market value at the end of each period through earnings.

The following table summarizes our economic (non-designated) derivative instruments outstanding at November 30, 2011:

(in thousands)	Notional Amount		Maturity Date(s)
Commodity contracts	$	13,710	January 2012 -December 2012
Foreign currency contracts		76,670	July 2012

The following table summarizes the gain (loss) recognized in earnings for economic (non-designated) derivative financial instruments during the three months ended November 30, 2011 and 2010:

	Location of Income (Loss)	Income (Loss) Recognized in Earnings for the Three Months Ended November 30,
(in thousands)	Recognized in Earnings	2011			2010
Commodity contracts	Cost of good sold	$	(226	)	$	(840	)
Foreign exchange contracts	Miscellaneous expense		3,742			(1,077	)
Total		$	3,516		$	(1,917	)

The following table summarizes the gain (loss) recognized in earnings for economic (non-designated) derivative financial instruments during the six months ended November 30, 2011 and 2010:

	Location of Income (Loss)	Income (Loss) Recognized in Earnings for the Six Months Ended November 30,
(in thousands)	Recognized in Earnings	2011			2010
Commodity contracts	Cost of good sold	$	(1,103	)	$	(1,554	)
Foreign exchange contracts	Miscellaneous expense		3,768			(2,335	)
Total		$	2,665		$	(3,889	)

The gain (loss) on the foreign currency derivatives significantly offsets the gain (loss) on the hedged item.