Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

v3.19.1
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2018
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]  
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The Company's financial instruments include cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, derivative instruments, accounts payable, earn-out liabilities, revolving line of credit and equity investments.
Level 1 Financial Instruments
For short-term instruments, other than those required to be reported at fair value on a recurring basis and for which additional disclosures are included below, management concluded the historical carrying value is a reasonable estimate of fair value because of the short period of time between the origination of such instruments and their expected realization. Therefore as of December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the carrying amount for cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and the Company's revolving line of credit, which is based on a variable interest rate, approximates their fair value.
During 2018, the Company recorded an unrealized loss on its Level 1 investment in equity securities of $2,572,703 which is included in "Other expense (income)" on the accompanying Consolidated Statement of Operations. The fair value of equity securities held by the Company as of December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 was $2,935,000 and $537,233, respectively, and is included in “Prepaid expenses and other current assets” on the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. The equity securities are classified as Level 1 financial instruments. The Company did not have any equity securities at December 31, 2016.
During 2017, the Company sold shares of its equity securities investments. 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 consolidated statements of operations. As a result of the sale, unrealized gains of $555,979, $366,346 net of taxes, were reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income ("AOCI") with the realized gain on sale included in earnings. The Company used the average cost method to determine the realized gain or loss for each transaction.
Level 2 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 interest rate swap contract entered into on August 21, 2012 was an asset of $147,465 and $127,981 at December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively. The interest rate swap was priced using discounted cash flow techniques. Changes in its fair value were recorded to other income (expense) with corresponding offsetting entries to current 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. See Note 17 for further discussion of interest rate swap.
To manage the impact on earnings of fluctuating nickel prices, the Company occasionally enters into three-month forward option contracts, which are classified as Level 2. At December 31, 2018, the Company had no such contracts in place. At December 31, 2017, the Company had contracts in place with notional quantities totaling 1,351,494 pounds with strike prices ranging from $3.75 to $4.64 per pound. The fair value of the option contracts was an asset of $9,027 at December 31, 2017. The fair value of the contracts was priced using discounted cash flow 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 "Other expense (income)" with corresponding offsetting entries to other current assets.
Level 3 Financial Instruments
The fair value of contingent consideration liabilities ("earn-out") resulting from the 2017 MUSA-Stainless acquisition and 2018 MUSA-Galvanized acquisition are classified as Level 3. The fair value of the MUSA-Stainless earn-out was estimated by applying the Monte Carlo Simulation approach using management's projection of pounds to be shipped and future price per unit. The fair value of the MUSA-Galvanized earn-out was estimated by applying the probability-weighted expected return method, using management's projection of pounds to be shipped and future price per unit. Each quarter-end, the Company re-evaluates its assumptions for both earn-out liabilities and adjusts to reflect the updated fair values. Changes in the estimated fair value of the earn-out liabilities are reflected in the results of operations in the periods in which they are identified. Changes in the fair value of the earn-out liabilities may materially impact and cause volatility in the Company's operating results. There were no changes in the carrying amount of the earn-out liability for the year ended December 31, 2016.
The following table presents a summary of changes in fair value of the Company's Level 3 liabilities measured on a recurring basis for 2018:
MUSA Earn-Out Liabilities
 
 
Balance at December 31, 2016
 
$

Fair value of the earn-out liability associated with the MUSA-Stainless acquisition
 
4,663,783

Earn-out payments to MUSA
 
(518,456
)
Changes in fair value during the period
 
688,523

Balance at December 31, 2017
 
$
4,833,850

Fair value of the earn-out liability associated with the MUSA-Galvanized acquisition
 
3,800,298

Earn-out payments to MUSA
 
(2,455,446
)
Changes in fair value during the period
 
1,430,682

Balance at December 31, 2018
 
$
7,609,384

There were no transfers of assets or liabilities between Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 in the years ended December 31, 2018 or December 31, 2017. There have also been no changes in the fair value methodologies used by the Company during the years ended December 31, 2018 or December 31, 2017.