Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activity

3 Months Ended

Mar. 30, 2012

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activity

Note J — Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activity

The Company uses derivative contracts to hedge portions of its foreign currency and precious metal exposures. The objectives for using derivatives in these areas are as follows:

Foreign Currency. The Company sells products to overseas customers in their local currencies, primarily the euro and yen. The Company uses foreign currency derivatives, mainly forward contracts and options, to hedge these anticipated sales transactions. The purpose of the hedge program is to protect against the reduction in dollar value of the foreign currency sales from adverse exchange rate movements. Should the dollar strengthen significantly, the decrease in the translated value of the foreign currency sales should be partially offset by gains on the hedge contracts. Depending upon the methods used, the hedge contract may limit the benefits from a weakening U.S. dollar.

The use of forward contracts locks in a firm rate and eliminates any downside from an adverse rate movement as well as any benefit from a favorable rate movement. The Company may from time to time choose to hedge with options or a tandem of options known as a collar. These hedging techniques can limit or eliminate the downside risk but can allow for some or all of the benefit from a favorable rate movement to be realized. Unlike a forward contract, a premium is paid for an option; collars, which are a combination of a put and call option, may have a net premium but they can be structured to be cash neutral. The Company will primarily hedge with forward contracts due to the relationship between the cash outlay and the level of risk.

The use of foreign currency derivative contracts is governed by policies approved by the Board of Directors. A team consisting of senior financial managers reviews the estimated exposure levels, as defined by budgets, forecasts and other internal data, and determines the timing, amounts and instruments to use to hedge that exposure within the confines of the policy. Management analyzes the effective hedged rates and the actual and projected gains and losses on the hedging transactions against the program objectives, targeted rates and levels of risk assumed. Hedge contracts are typically layered in at different times for a specified exposure period in order to minimize the impact of rate movements.

Precious Metals. The Company maintains the majority of its precious metal production requirements on consignment in order to reduce the working capital investment and the exposure to metal price movements. When a precious metal product is fabricated and ready for shipment to the customer, the metal is purchased out of consignment at the current market price and that price forms the basis for the price to be charged to the customer.

In certain circumstances, a customer may want to establish the price for the precious metal when the sales order is placed rather than at the time of the shipment. Setting the selling price at a difference date than when the material would be purchased potentially creates an exposure to movements in the market price of the metal. Therefore, in these limited situations, the Company may elect to enter into a forward contract to purchase a stated quantity of precious metal at a fixed price on a specified date in the future. The price in the forward contract serves as the basis for the price to be charged to the customer. By so doing, the selling and purchase prices are matched and the Company’s market price exposure is reduced.

The Company refines precious metal-containing materials for its customers and typically will purchase the refined metal from the customer at current market prices. In limited circumstances, the customer may want to fix the price to be paid at the time of the order as opposed to when the material is refined. The customer may also want to fix the price to be paid for a number of orders over a period of time. The Company may then enter into a hedge contract, either a forward contract or a swap, to fix the price for the estimated quantity of refined metal to be purchased thereby reducing the exposure to adverse movements in the market price of the metal.

The Company will only enter into a derivative contract if there is an underlying identified exposure. Contracts are typically held until maturity. The Company does not engage in derivative trading activities and does not use derivatives for speculative purposes. The Company only uses currency hedge contracts that are denominated in the same currency as the underlying exposure and precious metal hedge contracts denominated in the same metal as the underlying exposure.

All derivatives are recorded on the balance sheet at their fair values. If the derivative is designated and effective as a cash flow hedge, changes in the fair value of the derivative are recognized in other comprehensive income (OCI) until the hedged item is recognized in earnings. The ineffective portion of a derivative’s fair value, if any, is recognized in earnings immediately. If a derivative is not a hedge, changes in the fair value are adjusted through income. The fair values of the outstanding derivatives are recorded on the balance sheet as assets (if the derivatives are in a gain position) or liabilities (if the derivatives are in a loss position). The fair values will also be classified as short-term or long-term depending upon their maturity dates.

The outstanding foreign currency forward contracts had a notional value of $31.6 million as of March 30, 2012. All of these contracts were designated as and effective as cash flow hedges. There was no ineffectiveness associated with the outstanding currency contracts. The fair value of these contracts was $1.2 million and was recorded in prepaid expenses on the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of March 30, 2012. There were no precious metal hedge contracts outstanding as of March 30, 2012 as the contracts that were outstanding as of December 31, 2011 matured during the quarter.

A summary of the hedging relationships of the outstanding derivative financial instruments designated as cash flow hedges as of March 30, 2012 and April 1, 2011 and the amounts transferred into income for the three month periods then ended is as follows:

	Effective Portion of Hedge								Ineffective Portion of Hedge
(Thousands) Gain (loss)	Recognized in OCI at End of Period			Reclassified from OCI into Income During Period					Recognized in Income on Derivative During Period
				Location		Amount			Location		Amount
First Quarter 2012
Foreign currency contracts	$	1,197			Other-net	$	415			Other-net	$	—
Precious metal contracts		—			Cost of sales		51			Cost of sales		—
Total	$	1,197				$	466				$	—
First Quarter 2011
Foreign currency contracts	$	(1,844	)		Other-net	$	(610	)		Other-net	$	—
Total	$	(1,844	)			$	(610	)			$	—

During the first quarter 2011, the Company secured a forward contract to sell a specified quantity of gold. The contract served as an economic hedge of gold purchased and held in inventory for use in manufacturing products for sale in the normal course of business. No hedge designation was assigned to the contract. The contract matured in the first quarter 2011 and resulted in a loss of $0.2 million that was recorded in cost of sales on the Consolidated Statements of Income.

The Company expects to relieve the $1.2 million balance in OCI and credit other-net on the Consolidated Statements of Income during the twelve month period beginning March 31, 2012.