Fair Value of Financial Instruments

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2020

Fair Value of Financial Instruments:

In assessing the fair value of financial instruments, we use methods and assumptions that are based on market conditions and other risk factors existing at the time of assessment. Fair value information for our financial instruments is as follows:

Long-Term Debt—the fair values of our notes are estimated using Level 1 inputs and account for the difference between the recorded amount and fair value of our long-term debt. The carrying value of our remaining long-term debt reported in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets approximates fair value as substantially all of such debt bears interest based on prevailing variable market rates currently available in the countries in which we have borrowings.


	September 30, 2020				December 31, 2019
	Recorded Amount		Fair Value		Recorded Amount		Fair Value
	(In thousands)
Long-term debt	$	3,560,816	$	3,649,323	$	3,069,417	$	3,173,341

Foreign Currency Forward Contracts—During the fourth quarter of 2019, we entered into a foreign currency forward contract, with a notional value of 727.9 million Australian Dollars to hedge the cash flow exposure of non-functional currency purchases during the construction of the Kemerton plant in Australia. This derivative financial instrument is used to manage risk and is not used for trading or other speculative purposes. This foreign currency forward contract has been designated as a hedging instrument under ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging. At September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, we had outstanding designated foreign currency forward contracts with notional values totaling the equivalent of $187.3 million and $481.2 million, respectively.

We also enter into foreign currency forward contracts in connection with our risk management strategies that have not been designated as hedging instruments under ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging, in an attempt to minimize the financial impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates. These derivative financial instruments are used to manage risk and are not used for trading or other speculative purposes. The fair values of our non-designated foreign currency forward contracts are estimated based on current settlement values. At September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, we had outstanding non-designated foreign currency forward contracts with notional values totaling $658.1 million and $1.15 billion, respectively, hedging our exposure to various currencies including the Euro, Chinese Renminbi, Chilean Peso and Australian Dollar.

The following table summarizes the fair value of our foreign currency forward contracts included in the condensed consolidated balance sheets as of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019 (in thousands):


	September 30, 2020				December 31, 2019
	Assets		Liabilities		Assets		Liabilities
Designated as hedging instruments(a)	$	2,820	$	—	$	5,369	$	—
Not Designated as hedging instruments(b)	1,075		1,834		2,032		3,613
Total	$	3,895	$	1,834	$	7,401	$	3,613

(a) Included $2.5 million in Other current assets and $0.3 million in Other assets at September 30, 2020 and $3.7 million in Other current assets and $1.7 million in Other assets at December 31, 2019.

(b) Included $1.1 million in Other current assets and $1.8 million in Accrued expenses at September 30, 2020 and $2.0 million in Other current assets and $3.6 million in Accrued expenses at December 31, 2019.

The following table summarizes the net gains (losses) recognized for our foreign currency forward contracts during the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 (in thousands):


	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2020		2019		2020		2019
Designated as hedging instruments
Gains (losses) recognized in Other comprehensive income	$	6,993	$	—	$	(6,822)	$	—
Not designated as hedging instruments
Gains (losses) recognized in Other expenses, net(a)	$	3,102	$	(19,331)	$	(5,201)	$	(27,647)

(a) Fluctuations in the value of our foreign currency forward contracts not designated as hedging instruments are generally expected to be offset by changes in the value of the underlying exposures being hedged, which are also reported in Other expenses, net.

In addition, for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, we recorded net cash settlements of $15.7 million and $25.5 million, respectively, in Other, net, in our condensed consolidated statements of cash flows.

As of September 30, 2020, there are no unrealized gains or losses related to the cash flow hedge expected to be reclassified to earnings in the next twelve months.

The counterparties to our foreign currency forward contracts are major financial institutions with which we generally have other financial relationships. We are exposed to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by these counterparties. However, we do not anticipate nonperformance by the counterparties.

- 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.

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