Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS

v3.5.0.2
DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS
 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2016
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]  
DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES
NOTE 13 - DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS
The following table presents the fair value of our derivative instruments and the classification of each in the Statements of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Position as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015:
 
(In Millions)
 
Derivative Assets
 
Derivative Liabilities
 
September 30, 2016
 
December 31, 2015
 
September 30, 2016
 
December 31, 2015
Derivative Instrument
Balance Sheet Location
 
Fair
Value
 
Balance
Sheet
Location
 
Fair
Value
 
Balance Sheet
Location
 
Fair
Value
 
Balance Sheet
Location
 
Fair
Value
Customer supply agreement
Other current assets
 
28.0

 
Other current assets
 
5.8

 
 
 
—

 
 
 
—

Provisional pricing arrangements
Other current assets
 
0.4

 
Other current assets
 
2.0

 
Other current liabilities
 
2.7

 
Other current liabilities
 
3.4

Commodity contracts
 
 
—

 
 
 
—

 
 
 
—

 
Other current liabilities
 
0.6

Total derivatives not designated as hedging instruments under ASC 815
 
 
$
28.4

 
 
 
$
7.8

 
 
 
$
2.7

 
 
 
$
4.0


Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments
Customer Supply Agreements
Most of our U.S. Iron Ore long-term supply agreements are comprised of a base price with annual price adjustment factors. The base price is the primary component of the purchase price for each contract. The indexed price adjustment factors are integral to the iron ore supply contracts and vary based on the agreement, but typically include adjustments based upon changes in specified price indices, including those for industrial commodities, energy and cold rolled steel and changes in the Platts IODEX. The pricing adjustments generally operate in the same manner, with each factor typically comprising a portion of the price adjustment, although the weighting of each factor varies based upon the specific terms of each agreement. In most cases, these adjustment factors have not been finalized at the time our product is sold. In these cases, we historically have estimated the adjustment factors at each reporting period based upon the best third-party information available. The estimates are then adjusted to actual when the information has been finalized. The price adjustment factors have been evaluated to determine if they contain embedded derivatives. The price adjustment factors share the same economic characteristics and risks as the host contract and are integral to the host contract as inflation adjustments; accordingly, they have not been separately valued as derivative instruments. Certain of our term supply agreements contain price collars, which typically limit the percentage increase or decrease in prices for our products during any given year.
A certain supply agreement with one U.S. Iron Ore customer provides for supplemental revenue or refunds to the customer based on the customer’s average annual steel pricing at the time the product is consumed in the customer’s blast furnace. The supplemental pricing is characterized as a freestanding derivative and is required to be accounted for separately once the product is shipped. The derivative instrument, which is finalized based on a future price, is adjusted to fair value as a revenue adjustment each reporting period until the pellets are consumed and the amounts are settled.
We recognized a $7.1 million and $26.8 million net gain in Product revenues in the Statements of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively, related to the supplemental payments. This compares with Product revenues of $11.6 million and $22.1 million for the comparable periods in 2015. Other current assets, representing the fair value of the pricing factors, were $28.0 million and $5.8 million in the September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 Statements of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Position, respectively.
Provisional Pricing Arrangements
Certain of our U.S. Iron Ore and Asia Pacific Iron Ore customer supply agreements specify provisional price calculations, where the pricing mechanisms generally are based on market pricing, with the final revenue rate to be based on market inputs at a specified period in time in the future, per the terms of the supply agreements. U.S. Iron Ore sales revenue primarily is recognized when cash is received.  For U.S. Iron Ore sales, the difference between the provisionally agreed-upon price and the estimated final revenue rate is characterized as a freestanding derivative and must be accounted for separately once the provisional revenue has been recognized.  Asia Pacific Iron Ore sales revenue is initially recorded at the provisionally agreed-upon price with the pricing provision embedded in the receivable.  The pricing provision is an embedded derivative that must be bifurcated and accounted for separately from the receivable.  Subsequently, the derivative instruments for both U.S. Iron Ore and Asia Pacific Iron Ore are adjusted to fair value through Product revenues each reporting period based upon current market data and forward-looking estimates provided by management until the final revenue rate is determined. At September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, we recorded $0.4 million with our U.S. Iron Ore customers and $2.0 million with our Asia Pacific Iron Ore customers, respectively, as Other current assets in the Statements of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Position related to our estimate of the final revenue rate. At September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, we recorded $2.7 million with our Asia Pacific Iron Ore customers and $3.4 million with our U.S. Iron Ore and Asia Pacific Iron Ore customers, respectively, as Other current liabilities in the Statements of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Position related to our estimate of the final revenue rate. These amounts represent the difference between the provisional price agreed upon with our customers based on the supply agreement terms and our estimate of the final revenue rate based on the price calculations established in the supply agreements. As a result, we recognized a $4.5 million and $22.9 million net increase in Product revenues in the Statements of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively, related to these arrangements. This compares with a net $7.6 million increase and a net $0.2 million decrease in Product revenues for the comparable periods in 2015.
The following summarizes the effect of our derivatives that are not designated as hedging instruments in the Statements of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015:
(In Millions)
Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments
Location of Gain (Loss) Recognized in
Income on Derivative
Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income on Derivative
 
 
Three Months Ended
September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
 
2016
 
2015
 
2016
 
2015
Customer supply agreement
Product revenues
7.1

 
11.6

 
26.8

 
22.1

Provisional pricing arrangements
Product revenues
4.5

 
7.6

 
22.9

 
(0.2
)
Foreign exchange contracts
Other non-operating income (expense)
—

 
(1.1
)
 
—

 
(3.6
)
Commodity contracts
Cost of goods sold and operating expenses
—

 
—

 
—

 
(3.4
)
Foreign exchange contracts
Product revenues
—

 
(2.1
)
 
—

 
(11.8
)
 
 
$
11.6

 
$
16.0

 
$
49.7

 
$
3.1


Refer to NOTE 6 - FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS for additional information.