FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS |
9 Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Sep. 30, 2017 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fair Value of Financial Instruments |
FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
The Company makes estimates of fair value in accounting for certain transactions, in testing and measuring impairment and in providing disclosures of fair value in its condensed consolidated financial instruments. The Company determines the fair values of its financial instruments for disclosure purposes by maximizing the use of observable inputs and minimizing the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. Fair value disclosures for assets and liabilities are grouped into three levels. The levels prioritize the inputs used to measure the fair value of the assets or liabilities. These levels are:
Level 1 - Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
Level 2 - Inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for assets and liabilities, either directly or indirectly. These inputs include quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets or quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are less active.
Level 3 - Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity for assets or liabilities and includes certain pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies and similar techniques.
As of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the carrying amounts for cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and borrowings under the Company's bank debt, which are based on variable interest rates, approximate their fair value.
During the third quarter of 2017, the Company sold all of its shares of Level 1 available for sales securities. Proceeds from the sale totaled $4,141,564 which resulted in a realized gain of $310,043 which is included in other income on the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations. As a result of the sale, unrealized gains, net of tax, of $366,346 were reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income ("AOCI") with the realized gain on sale included in earnings which reduced the balance of AOCI to zero at September 30, 2017. The Company used the average cost method to determine the realized gain or loss for each transaction.
Estimates of fair value using levels 2 and 3 may require judgments as to the timing and amount of cash flows, discount rates, and other factors requiring significant judgment, and the outcomes may vary widely depending on the selection of these assumptions. The Company's most significant fair value estimates as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 relate to the purchase price allocation relating to the acquisition of the stainless steel operations of Marcegaglia USA, Inc. ("MUSA"), contingent consideration liability, testing goodwill for impairment, the interest rate swap, the nickel forward option contracts and disclosures of the fair values of financial instruments.
The Company has one interest rate swap contract, which is classified as a Level 2 financial instrument as it is not actively traded and is valued using pricing models that use observable market inputs. The fair value of the contract was an asset of $64,285 and $31,285 at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively. The interest rate swap was priced using discounted cash flow techniques which are corroborated by using non-binding market prices. Changes in its fair value were recorded to other income (expense) with corresponding offsetting entries to long-term assets or liabilities, as appropriate. Significant inputs to the discounted cash flow model include projected future cash flows based on projected one-month LIBOR and the average margin for companies with similar credit ratings and similar maturities. The fair value of this interest rate swap contract approximates its carrying value.
To manage the impact on earnings of fluctuating nickel prices, the Company enters into six-month forward option contracts, which are classified as Level 2. At September 30, 2017, the Company had contracts in place with notional quantities totaling approximately 2,100,000 pounds with strike prices ranging from $3.49 to $4.57 per pound. At December 31, 2016, the Company had contracts in place with notional quantities totaling approximately 340,000 pounds with strike prices ranging from $3.92 to $5.30 per pound. The fair value of the option contracts were an asset of $172,030 and $87,283 at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively. The fair value of the contracts was priced using discounted cash flows techniques based on forward curves and volatility levels by asset class determined on the basis of observable market inputs, when available. Changes in their fair value were recorded to cost of goods sold with corresponding offsetting entries to other current assets. The fair value of the forward option contracts approximates their carrying value.
The fair value of contingent consideration liabilities ("earn-out") resulting from the MUSA acquisition discussed in Note 9 is classified as Level 3. The fair value was estimated by applying the Monte Carlo Simulation approach using management's projection of pounds shipped and price per unit. Each quarter-end the Company re-evaluates its assumptions and adjusts to the estimated present value of the expected payments to be made.
The following table presents a summary of changes in fair value of the Company's Level 3 liability during the period:
There were no transfers of assets or liabilities between Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 in the nine-month period ended September 30, 2017 or year ended December 31, 2016. During the first nine months of 2017, there have been no changes in the fair value methodologies used by the Company.
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