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Derivative Financial Instruments and Related Hedging Programs
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2016
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]  
Derivative Financial Instruments and Related Hedging Programs
Derivative Financial Instruments and Related Hedging Programs
Overview. In conducting our business, we enter into derivative transactions, including forward contracts and options, to limit our economic (i.e. cash) exposure resulting from: (i) metal price risk related to our sale of fabricated aluminum products and the purchase of metal used as raw material for our fabrication operations; (ii) energy price risk relating to fluctuating prices of natural gas and electricity used in our production processes; (iii) foreign currency requirements with respect to our foreign subsidiaries and cash commitments for equipment purchases denominated in foreign currency; and (iv) from time to time, financial risks in connection with financing transactions.
Our derivative activities are overseen by a hedging committee ("Hedging Committee"), which is composed of our chief executive officer, chief operating officer, chief financial officer, chief accounting officer, treasurer and vice president of commodity risk management and other officers and employees selected by the chief executive officer. The Hedging Committee meets regularly to review derivative positions and strategy and reports to our Board of Directors on the scope of its activities.
We are exposed to counterparty credit risk on all of our derivative instruments, which we manage by monitoring the credit quality of our counterparties and allocating our hedging positions among multiple counterparties to limit exposure to any single entity. Our counterparties are major, investment grade financial institutions or trading companies. Hedging transactions are governed by negotiated reciprocal credit lines, which require collateral to be posted above specified credit thresholds. We believe the risk of loss is remote and contained due to counterparty credit quality, our diversification practice and collateral requirements.
In a majority of our hedging counterparty agreements, our counterparty offers us a credit line that adjusts up or down, depending on our liquidity. Below specified liquidity thresholds, we may have to post collateral if the fair value of our net liability with such counterparty exceeds our reduced credit line. We manage this risk by allocating hedging transactions among multiple counterparties, using options as part of our hedging activities, or both. The aggregate fair value of our derivative instruments that were in a net liability position was $0.1 million and $14.6 million at December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively, and we had no collateral posted as of those dates.
Additionally, our firm-price customer sales commitments create incremental customer credit risk related to metal price movements. Under certain circumstances, we mitigate this risk by periodically requiring cash collateral from them, which we classify as deferred revenue and include as a component of Other accrued liabilities on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. At December 31, 2016, we had no cash collateral posted with any of our customers. For more information about concentration risks concerning customers and suppliers, see Note 12.
Notional Amount of Derivative Contracts. The following table summarizes the notional amounts of our material derivative positions at December 31, 2016:
Aluminum
 
Maturity Period
(month/year)
 
Notional Amount of Contracts (mmlbs)
Fixed price purchase contracts
 
1/17 through 12/19
 
149.0

Fixed price sales contracts
 
1/17 through 1/17
 
0.4

Midwest premium swap contracts1
 
1/17 through 12/19
 
147.9

Alloying Metals
 
Maturity Period
(month/year)
 
Notional Amount of Contracts (mmlbs)
Fixed price purchase contracts
 
1/17 through 12/17
 
4.0

Natural Gas2
 
Maturity Period
(month/year)
 
Notional Amount of Contracts (mmbtu)
Fixed price purchase contracts
 
1/17 through 12/19
 
5,040,000

Euro
 
Maturity Period
(month/year)
 
Notional Amount of contracts (euro)
Fixed price purchase contracts
 
1/17 through 8/17
 
1,593,700

Fixed price sales contracts
 
1/17 through 1/17
 
633,600

_________________________
1. 
Regional premiums represent the premium over the London Metal Exchange price for primary aluminum which is incurred on our purchases of primary aluminum.
2. 
As of December 31, 2016, we had derivative and/or physical delivery commitments with energy companies in place to cover exposure to fluctuations in prices for approximately 73%, 72% and 49% of the expected natural gas purchases for 2017, 2018 and 2019, respectively.
We have physical delivery commitments with energy companies in place to cover exposure to fluctuations in prices for approximately 54%, 54% and 36% of the expected electricity purchases for 2017, 2018 and 2019, respectively.
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss). Realized and unrealized gain (loss) associated with all derivative contracts consisted of the following for each period presented (in millions of dollars):
 
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
 
2016
 
2015
 
2014
Included in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss):
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unrealized gain (loss):
 
 
 
 
 
 
Foreign currency cash flow hedge
 
$
—

 
$
(0.3
)
 
$
—

Alloy Hedges
 
(0.1
)
 
—

 
—

Included in Statement of Consolidated Income (Loss):
 
 
 
 
 
 
Realized (loss) gain:
 
 

 
 
 
 
Aluminum
 
(2.0
)
 
(27.3
)
 
6.9

Natural gas
 
(5.0
)
 
(5.4
)
 
1.0

Foreign currency
 
(0.1
)
 
—

 
—

Electricity
 
—

 
(1.9
)
 
(0.1
)
Total realized (loss) gain1:
 
$
(7.1
)
 
$
(34.6
)
 
$
7.8

Unrealized gain (loss):
 
 
 
 
 
 
Aluminum
 
$
10.8

 
$
(4.6
)
 
$
(2.6
)
Natural gas
 
7.9

 
(0.5
)
 
(6.0
)
Electricity
 
—

 
1.7

 
(1.8
)
Subtotal2
 
18.7

 
(3.4
)
 
(10.4
)
Hedges related to Convertible Notes:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Option Assets
 
—

 
—

 
5.2

Bifurcated Conversion Feature
 
—

 
—

 
(1.6
)
Subtotal3
 
—

 
—

 
3.6

Total unrealized gain (loss)
 
$
18.7

 
$
(3.4
)
 
$
(6.8
)
______________________
1. 
Realized (loss) gain on hedges of operational risk are recorded within Cost of products sold, excluding depreciation, amortization and other items.
2. 
Unrealized gain (loss) on hedges of operational risk are recorded within Unrealized gain (loss) on derivative instruments.
3. 
Unrealized gain (loss) on financial derivatives related to the Convertible Notes, which settled in April 2015, were recorded within Other (expense) income, net.
Non-Designated Hedges of Operational Risks. Our pricing of fabricated aluminum products is generally intended to lock in a conversion margin (representing the value added from the fabrication process(es)) and to pass through metal price fluctuations to our customers. For some of our higher value added products sold on a spot basis, the pass through of metal price movements can sometimes lag by as much as several months, with a favorable impact to us when metal prices decline and an adverse impact to us when metal prices increase. Additionally, in certain instances, we enter into firm-price arrangements with our customers for stipulated volumes to be delivered in the future. Because we generally purchase primary and secondary aluminum on a floating price basis, the lag in passing through metal price movements to customers on some of our higher value added products sold on a spot basis and the volume that we have committed to sell to our customers under a firm-price arrangement create metal price risk for us. We use third-party hedging instruments to limit exposure to metal price risk related to the metal pass through lag on some of our products and firm-price customer sales contracts.
We are also exposed to risk of fluctuating prices for natural gas and electricity. We, from time to time, in the ordinary course of business, enter into hedging transactions and/or physical delivery commitments with third parties to mitigate our risk from fluctuations in natural gas and electricity prices.
Designated Foreign Currency Cash Flow Hedges. We are exposed to foreign currency exchange risk related to firm-price agreements for equipment purchases from foreign manufacturers. Such agreements require that we make payments in foreign currency to the vendor over time based on milestone achievements. We use foreign currency forward contracts in order to mitigate the exposure to currency exchange rate fluctuations related to these purchases. The timing and amounts of the forward contract settlements are designed to line up with the timing and amounts of scheduled payments to the foreign equipment manufacturers and are therefore expected to be highly effective hedges. During 2016, we entered into forward contracts designated as cash flow hedges to purchase euros. As of December 31, 2016, we had open contracts with maturity dates between one month and eight months related to these foreign currency forward contracts. The notional amounts of these foreign currency forward contracts totaled 2.2 million euros at December 31, 2016 with a weighted average contract exchange rate of 1.08 euro to US dollar. The effective portion of the fair value on these instruments is recorded within Other comprehensive income (loss) and is reclassified into the Statements of Consolidated Income (Loss) on the same line item and the same period in which the underlying equipment is depreciated.
Designated Alloying Metal Hedges. We enter into agreements with suppliers to purchase alloying metals (zinc and copper) used as raw materials in our fabrication operations. Because we are unable to pass along the cost of these alloying metals to our customers, we are exposed to metal price risk. To limit our economic (i.e., cash) exposure to future prices increases of zinc and/or copper, we enter into Alloy Hedges with third-party financial institutions. Under these Alloy Hedges, we are able to purchase the required alloying metals at predetermined/fixed prices at stated delivery dates. Our Alloy Hedges settle monthly and correspond to forecasted purchases of zinc and/or copper by our manufacturing facilities and are therefore expected to be highly effective hedges. During 2016, we entered into Alloy Hedges designated as cash flow hedges to purchase zinc and as of December 31, 2016, we had one open contract with a maturity date of 12 months. The notional amounts of these Alloy Hedges totaled 4.0 million pounds at December 31, 2016. The effective portion of the fair value on these Alloy Hedges is recorded within Other comprehensive income (loss) and is reclassified into the Statements of Consolidated Income (Loss) during the month of settlement to Cost of products sold. We had no such reclassifications into Net income (loss) during 2016 and anticipate immaterial reclassifications for the next 12 months. For 2016, we recorded an unrealized loss of $0.1 million on the effective portions of our designated Alloy Hedges, resulting in an ending loss in Accumulated other comprehensive loss related to the cash flow hedges of $0.1 million at December 31, 2016. We incurred no ineffectiveness on these hedges during 2016.
Fair Values of Derivative Contracts. The fair values of our derivative contracts are based upon trades in liquid markets. Valuation model inputs can be verified, and valuation techniques do not involve significant judgment. The fair values of such financial instruments are classified within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. We, however, have historically had some derivative contracts that did not have observable market quotes. For these financial instruments, management used significant unobservable inputs (e.g., information concerning regional premiums for swaps). Where appropriate, valuations were adjusted for various factors, such as bid/offer spreads. The fair values of these financial instruments are classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy.
The following table presents our derivative assets and liabilities, classified under the appropriate level of the fair value hierarchy, as of the period presented (in millions of dollars):
 
December 31, 2016
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Total
DERIVATIVE ASSETS:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Non-Designated Hedges:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Aluminum – Fixed price purchase contracts
$
—

 
$
3.3

 
$
—

 
$
3.3

Natural gas – Fixed price purchase contracts
—

 
1.6

 
—

 
1.6

Midwest premium swap contracts
—

 
0.9

 
—

 
0.9

Total derivative assets
$
—

 
$
5.8

 
$
—

 
$
5.8

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
DERIVATIVE LIABILITIES:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Non-Designated Hedges:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Aluminum –
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed price purchase contracts
$
—

 
$
(1.1
)
 
$
—

 
$
(1.1
)
Fixed price sales contracts
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Midwest premium swap contracts
—

 
(0.2
)
 
—

 
(0.2
)
Natural gas – Fixed price purchase contracts
—

 
(0.4
)
 
—

 
(0.4
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Designated Hedges:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Alloying metals – Fixed price purchase contracts
—

 
(0.1
)
 
—

 
(0.1
)
Total derivative liabilities
$
—

 
$
(1.8
)
 
$
—

 
$
(1.8
)

The following table presents our derivative assets and liabilities, classified under the appropriate level of the fair value hierarchy, as of the period presented (in millions of dollars):
 
December 31, 2015
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Total
DERIVATIVE ASSETS:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Non-Designated Hedges:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Aluminum –
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Call option purchase contracts
$
—

 
$
0.2

 
$
—

 
$
0.2

Fixed price purchase contracts
—

 
0.3

 
—

 
0.3

Fixed price sales contracts
—

 
0.2

 
—

 
0.2

Midwest premium swap contracts
—

 
—

 
0.9

 
0.9

Total derivative assets
$
—

 
$
0.7

 
$
0.9

 
$
1.6


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
DERIVATIVE LIABILITIES:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Non-Designated Hedges:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Aluminum –
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed price purchase contracts
$
—

 
$
(8.9
)
 
$
—

 
$
(8.9
)
Fixed price sales contracts
—

 
(0.1
)
 
—

 
(0.1
)
Midwest premium swap contracts
—

 
—

 
(0.3
)
 
(0.3
)
Natural gas – Fixed price purchase contracts
—

 
(6.7
)
 
—

 
(6.7
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Designated Hedges:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Foreign currency – Euro forward purchase contracts
—

 
(0.2
)
 
—

 
(0.2
)
Total derivative liabilities
$
—

 
$
(15.9
)
 
$
(0.3
)
 
$
(16.2
)

The aggregate fair value of our derivatives recorded on the Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 was a net asset of $4.0 million and net liability of $14.6 million, respectively. The decrease in the net liability position during 2016 was primarily due to changes in the underlying commodity and energy prices, as well as settlement of liability positions during the period. Changes in the fair value of our derivative contracts relating to non-designated hedges of operational activities are reflected in Operating income (loss).
Prior to September 30, 2016, Midwest premium swap contracts represented financial instruments classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy. Fair value was determined using a forward curve based on the average pricing quotes from our trading counterparties less a discount factor based on the risk-free interest rate. During the quarter ended December 31, 2016, we began calculating the fair value of our Midwest premium swap contracts using quoted prices for similar instruments traded on the Comex exchange, less a discount factor based on the risk-free interest rate, and transferred the fair value of these financial instruments to Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.
The following table presents a reconciliation of activity for the Level 3 Midwest premium derivative contracts on a net basis (in millions of dollars):
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
2016
 
2015
Fair value measurement at beginning of period
$
0.6

 
$
1.0

Total realized/unrealized (loss) gain included in:
 
 
 
Cost of goods sold, excluding depreciation and amortization and other items and Unrealized loss (gain) on derivative instruments
(0.6
)
 
(3.9
)
Transactions involving Level 3 derivative contracts:
 
 
 
Purchases
(1.2
)
 
(4.0
)
Sales
—

 
—

Issuances
—

 
—

Settlements
0.4

 
7.5

Transactions involving Level 3 derivatives - net
(0.8
)
 
3.5

Transfers out of Level 3 valuation hierarchy1
0.8

 
—

Fair value measurement at end of period
$
—

 
$
0.6

 
 
 
 
Total loss included in Unrealized loss (gain) on derivative instruments, attributable to the change in unrealized gain/loss relating to derivative contracts held at December 31:
$
—

 
$
0.6


_________________________
1. 
Transfers out of the Level 3 hierarchy assumed to occur at the beginning of the fourth quarter.
Offsetting Information. We enter into derivative contracts with counterparties, some of which are subject to enforceable master netting arrangements and some of which are not. We reflect the fair value of our derivative contracts on a gross basis on the Consolidated Balance Sheets (see Note 2). We had no cash collateral pledged or received with our counterparties as of both December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015.
The following tables present offsetting information regarding our derivatives by type of counterparty as of December 31, 2016 (in millions of dollars):
 
Gross Amounts of Recognized Assets
 
Gross Amounts Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheets
 
Net Amounts of Assets Presented in the Consolidated Balance Sheets
 
Gross Amounts Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net Amount
Counterparty
(with netting agreements)
$
3.3

 
$
—

 
$
3.3

 
$
1.0

 
$
2.3

Counterparty
(with partial netting agreements)
2.5

 
—

 
2.5

 
0.7

 
1.8

Total
$
5.8

 
$
—

 
$
5.8

 
$
1.7

 
$
4.1


 
Gross Amounts of Recognized Liabilities
 
Gross Amounts Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheets
 
Net Amounts of Liabilities Presented in the Consolidated Balance Sheets
 
Gross Amounts Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net Amount
Counterparty
(with netting agreements)
$
(1.0
)
 
$
—

 
$
(1.0
)
 
$
(1.0
)
 
$
—

Counterparty
(with partial netting agreements)
(0.8
)
 
—

 
(0.8
)
 
(0.7
)
 
(0.1
)
Total
$
(1.8
)
 
$
—

 
$
(1.8
)
 
$
(1.7
)
 
$
(0.1
)

The following tables present offsetting information regarding our derivatives by type of counterparty as of December 31, 2015 (in millions of dollars):
 
Gross Amounts of Recognized Assets
 
Gross Amounts Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheets
 
Net Amounts of Assets Presented in the Consolidated Balance Sheets
 
Gross Amounts Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net Amount
Counterparty
(with netting agreements)
$
1.3

 
$
—

 
$
1.3

 
$
1.3

 
$
—

Counterparty
(with partial netting agreements)
0.3

 
—

 
0.3

 
0.3

 
—

Total
$
1.6

 
$
—

 
$
1.6

 
$
1.6

 
$
—


 
Gross Amounts of Recognized Liabilities
 
Gross Amounts Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheets
 
Net Amounts of Liabilities Presented in the Consolidated Balance Sheets
 
Gross Amounts Not Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net Amount
Counterparty
(with netting agreements)
$
(8.5
)
 
$
—

 
$
(8.5
)
 
$
(1.3
)
 
$
(7.2
)
Counterparty
(with partial netting agreements)
(7.7
)
 
—

 
(7.7
)
 
(0.3
)
 
(7.4
)
Total
$
(16.2
)
 
$
—

 
$
(16.2
)
 
$
(1.6
)
 
$
(14.6
)

Fair Value of Other Financial Instruments
Available for Sale Securities. We hold debt investment securities that are accounted for as available for sale securities. The fair value of the debt investment securities, which consist of commercial paper and corporate bonds, is determined based on valuation models that use observable market data. At December 31, 2016, all of our short-term investments had maturity dates within 10 months. We review our debt investment portfolio for other-than-temporary impairment at least quarterly or when there are changes in credit risk or other potential valuation concerns. At December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the total unrealized loss, net of tax, included in Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income was immaterial and was not other-than-temporarily impaired. We believe that it is probable that the principal and interest will be collected in accordance with the contractual terms, and that the unrealized losses on these securities were due to changes in normal market fluctuations, and were not due to increased credit risk or other valuation concerns. The fair value input of our available for sale securities, which are classified within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy, is calculated based on broker quotes. The amortized cost for available for sale securities approximates their fair value.
All Other Financial Assets and Liabilities. We believe that the fair value of our cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued liabilities approximate their respective carrying values due to their short maturities and nominal credit risk. See Note 2 for components of cash and cash equivalents.
The following table presents our other financial assets, classified under the appropriate level of the fair value hierarchy, as of December 31, 2016 (in millions of dollars):
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Total
Cash and cash equivalents
$
37.9

 
$
17.3

 
$
—

 
$
55.2

Short-term investments
—

 
231.0

 
—

 
231.0

Total
$
37.9

 
$
248.3

 
$
—

 
$
286.2


The following table presents our other financial assets, classified under the appropriate level of the fair value hierarchy, as of December 31, 2015 (in millions of dollars):
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Total
Cash and cash equivalents
$
40.3

 
$
32.2

 
$
—

 
$
72.5

Short-term investments
—

 
30.0

 
—

 
30.0

Total
$
40.3

 
$
62.2

 
$
—

 
$
102.5