Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Derivatives

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Derivatives
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2016
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]  
Derivatives

4. DERIVATIVES.

 

The business and activities of the Company expose it to a variety of market risks, including risks related to changes in commodity prices. The Company monitors and manages these financial exposures as an integral part of its risk management program. This program recognizes the unpredictability of financial markets and seeks to reduce the potentially adverse effects that market volatility could have on operating results.

 

Commodity Risk – Cash Flow Hedges – The Company uses derivative instruments to protect cash flows from fluctuations caused by volatility in commodity prices for periods of up to twelve months in order to protect gross profit margins from potentially adverse effects of market and price volatility on ethanol sale and purchase commitments where the prices are set at a future date and/or if the contracts specify a floating or index-based price for ethanol. In addition, the Company hedges anticipated sales of ethanol to minimize its exposure to the potentially adverse effects of price volatility. These derivatives may be designated and documented as cash flow hedges and effectiveness is evaluated by assessing the probability of the anticipated transactions and regressing commodity futures prices against the Company’s purchase and sales prices. Ineffectiveness, which is defined as the degree to which the derivative does not offset the underlying exposure, is recognized immediately in cost of goods sold. For the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, the Company did not designate any of its derivatives as cash flow hedges.

 

Commodity Risk – Non-Designated Hedges – The Company uses derivative instruments to lock in prices for certain amounts of corn and ethanol by entering into exchange-traded forward contracts for those commodities. These derivatives are not designated for special hedge accounting treatment. The changes in fair value of these contracts are recorded on the balance sheet and recognized immediately in cost of goods sold. The Company recognized gains of $582,000 and losses of $189,000 as the change in the fair value of these contracts for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

 

Non Designated Derivative Instruments – The classification and amounts of the Company’s derivatives not designated as hedging instruments are as follows (in thousands):

 

    As of March 31, 2016
    Assets     Liabilities  
Type of Instrument   Balance Sheet Location     Fair Value     Balance Sheet Location     Fair Value  
Commodity contracts   Other current assets   $ 1,774     Other current liabilities   $ 1,868  
        $ 1,774         $ 1,868  

 

    As of December 31, 2015
    Assets   Liabilities
Type of Instrument   Balance Sheet Location   Fair Value     Balance Sheet Location   Fair Value  
Commodity contracts   Other current assets   $ 2,081     Other current liabilities   $ 1,848  
        $ 2,081         $ 1,848  

 

The classification and amounts of the Company’s recognized gains (losses) for its derivatives not designated as hedging instruments are as follows (in thousands):

 

        Realized Gains (Losses)  
        Three Months Ended March 31,  
Type of Instrument   Statements of Operations Location   2016     2015  
Commodity contracts   Cost of goods sold   $ 908     $ (115 )
                     

 

        Unrealized Losses  
        Three Months Ended March 31,  
Type of Instrument   Statements of Operations Location   2016     2015  
Commodity contracts   Cost of goods sold   $ (326 )   $ (74 )