Fair Value Measurements

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2014

The three-tier value hierarchy the Company utilizes, which prioritizes the inputs used in the valuation methodologies, is:

Level 1—Valuations based on quoted prices for identical assets and liabilities in active markets.

Level 2—Valuations based on observable inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1, such as quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets and liabilities in markets that are not active, or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data.

Level 3—Valuations based on unobservable inputs reflecting our own assumptions, consistent with reasonably available assumptions made by other market participants.

The fair value of cash, accounts receivable and accounts payable approximate their carrying values. The fair value of cash equivalents are determined using the fair value hierarchy described above. Cash equivalents consisting of money market funds are valued based on quoted prices in active markets and as a result are classified as Level 1.

The Company’s pension plan asset portfolio as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 is primarily invested in fixed income securities, which generally fall within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. Fixed income securities are valued based on evaluated prices provided to the trustee by independent pricing services. Such prices may be determined by factors which include, but are not limited to, market quotations, yields, maturities, call features, ratings, institutional size trading in similar groups of securities and developments related to specific securities.

Fair Value Measurements of Debt

The fair value of the Company’s Secured Notes as of March 31, 2014 was estimated to be $235,725 compared to a carrying value of $205,380. The fair value for the Secured Notes is determined based on recent trades of the bonds and fall within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

The fair value of the Convertible Notes as of March 31, 2014 was approximately $89,370 compared to a carrying value of $40,722. The fair value of the Convertible Notes, which fall within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy, is determined based on similar debt instruments that do not contain a conversion feature, as well as other factors related to the callable nature of the notes.

The main inputs and assumptions into the fair value model for the Convertible Notes at March 31, 2014 were as follows:



Company's stock price at the end of the period	$	14.69
Expected volatility	27.2		%
Credit spreads	5.05		%
Risk-free interest rate	1.32		%

Fair Value Measurements of Commodity Hedges

The Company has a commodity hedging program to mitigate risks associated with certain commodity price fluctuations. At March 31, 2014, the Company had executed forward contracts that extend through 2016. The counterparty to these contracts is not considered a credit risk by the Company. At March 31, 2014, the notional value associated with forward contracts was $11,156. The Company recorded, through cost of materials, realized and unrealized net losses of $286 and $1,299 for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and March 31, 2013, respectively, as a result of the change in the fair value of the contracts. As of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, all commodity hedge contracts were in a liability position. Refer to Note 13 for letters of credit outstanding for collateral associated with commodity hedges.

The Company uses information which is representative of readily observable market data when valuing derivatives liabilities associated with commodity hedges. The derivative liabilities are included in accrued liabilities and other non-current liabilities on the Company's balance sheets and classified as Level 2 in the table below.

The liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis were as follows:



	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
As of March 31, 2014
Derivative liability for commodity hedges	$	—	$	2,663	$	—	$	2,663
As of December 31, 2013
Derivative liability for commodity hedges	$	—	$	2,871	$	—	$	2,871

- Definition

The entire disclosure for the fair value of financial instruments (as defined), including financial assets and financial liabilities (collectively, as defined), and the measurements of those instruments as well as disclosures related to the fair value of non-financial assets and liabilities. Such disclosures about the financial instruments, assets, and liabilities would include: (1) the fair value of the required items together with their carrying amounts (as appropriate); (2) for items for which it is not practicable to estimate fair value, disclosure would include: (a) information pertinent to estimating fair value (including, carrying amount, effective interest rate, and maturity, and (b) the reasons why it is not practicable to estimate fair value; (3) significant concentrations of credit risk including: (a) information about the activity, region, or economic characteristics identifying a concentration, (b) the maximum amount of loss the entity is exposed to based on the gross fair value of the related item, (c) policy for requiring collateral or other security and information as to accessing such collateral or security, and (d) the nature and brief description of such collateral or security; (4) quantitative information about market risks and how such risks are managed; (5) for items measured on both a recurring and nonrecurring basis information regarding the inputs used to develop the fair value measurement; and (6) for items presented in the financial statement for which fair value measurement is elected: (a) information necessary to understand the reasons for the election, (b) discussion of the effect of fair value changes on earnings, (c) a description of [similar groups] items for which the election is made and the relation thereof to the balance sheet, the aggregate carrying value of items included in the balance sheet that are not eligible for the election; (7) all other required (as defined) and desired information.

+ References+ Details