Derivatives

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Derivatives [Abstract]

Derivatives

7. Derivatives

Interest Rate Swap Contracts. In May 2011, we entered into certain interest rate swap contracts with the objective of managing our exposure to fluctuations in interest rate movements, thereby eliminating the variability of cash flows on certain portions of the interest payments related to our long-term debt obligations.

As of December 31, 2012, a summary of the outstanding interest rate swap contracts is as follows (dollars in thousands):

	Beginning of Term	End of Term	Weighted-Average Notional Amount Over Remaining Term		Fixed Rate
2012 Swap	March 13, 2012	March 13, 2013	$	70,000		1.085	%
2013 Swap	March 13, 2013	March 13, 2014		51,000		2.181	%

We have designated our interest rate swap contracts as cash flow hedges. Swaps designated as cash flow hedges involve the receipt of variable-rate amounts from a counterparty over the lives of the contracts in exchange for us making fixed-rate payments to the counterparty over the lives of the contracts without exchange of the underlying notional amount.

Changes in the fair value of these interest rate swap contracts, designated as hedging instruments of the variability of cash flows associated with floating-rate, long-term debt obligations, are reported in accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”) in the stockholders’ equity section of our Balance Sheet. These amounts subsequently are reclassified into interest expense as a yield adjustment of the hedged debt obligation in the same period in which the related interest on the floating-rate debt obligations affects earnings. The amount of losses reclassified from AOCI to income/loss (effective portions) in 2012 and 2011 were not material. The estimated net losses on the interest rate swap contracts that will be reclassified into earnings within the next twelve months are not expected to be material. Our interest rate swap contracts qualify as effective relationships, and as a result, hedge ineffectiveness was not material during 2012 or 2011.

As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, the fair value of the interest rate swap contracts, reflected in other non-current liabilities in our Balance Sheet, was $1.1 million and $1.0 million, respectively, with the loss, net of tax, reflected as a reduction in other comprehensive income.

We are exposed to credit-related losses in the event of non-performance by the counterparty to the interest rate swap contracts. The counterparty to the interest rate swap contracts is a major institution with investment grade credit ratings. We evaluated the counterparty credit risk before entering into the interest rate swap contracts and will continue to closely monitor the financial markets and the risk that the counterparty will default on its obligations. This credit risk is generally limited to the unrealized gains in such contracts, should the counterparty fail to perform as contracted.

We do not use derivative financial instruments for speculative purposes.