Derivative Instruments

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2014

Derivative Instruments

Derivative Instruments

6.  Derivative Instruments

We periodically hold interest rate derivative instruments to mitigate exposure to changes in interest rates, in particular one-month LIBOR, with $392.3 million and $392.0 million of our borrowings at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively, at variable rates. As a matter of policy, we do not use derivatives for speculative purposes. We currently have no interest rate swap agreements in place. During 2013 we were a party to one interest rate swap agreement with a notional outstanding amount of $100.0 million with a fixed rate of 2.10%. The swap agreement expired in November 2013.  The remaining effective portion of these hedges at the swap expiration date is being amortized into earnings over the term of the underlying borrowings.  We recorded a $0.1 million benefit to net finance costs during each of the three month periods ended March 31, 2014 and March 31, 2013.

The Company estimates the fair value of derivative instruments using a discounted cash flow technique and uses creditworthiness inputs that can be corroborated by observable market data evaluating the Company’s and counterparties’ risk of non-performance. Valuation of the derivative instruments requires certain assumptions for underlying variables and the use of different assumptions would result in a different valuation. We apply hedge accounting and account for the change in fair value of our cash flow hedges through other comprehensive income for all derivative instruments.

Earnings Effects of Derivative Instruments on the Consolidated Statements of Income

The following table provides information about the income effects of our cash flow hedging relationships for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013:

		Amount of (Gain) Loss Recognized on Derivatives in the Statements of Income
Derivatives in Cash Flow	Location of (Gain) Loss Recognized on	Three Months Ended March 31,
Hedging Relationships	Derivatives in the Statements of Income	2014			2013
		(in thousands)
Interest rate contracts	Interest expense	$	(125	)	$	366
Total		$	(125	)	$	366

Our derivatives are designated in a cash flow hedging relationship with the effective portion of the change in fair value of the derivative reported in the cash flow hedges subaccount of accumulated other comprehensive income.

Effect of Derivative Instruments on Cash Flow Hedging

The following tables provide additional information about the financial statement effects related to our cash flow hedges for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013:

	Amount of Gain Recognized in OCI on Derivatives (Effective Portion)				Location of Gain (Loss)	Amount of Gain (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated OCI into Income (Effective Portion)
Derivatives in Cash Flow	Three Months Ended March 31,				Reclassified from Accumulated OCI into Income	Three Months Ended March 31,
Hedging Relationships	2014		2013		(Effective Portion)	2014		2013
	(in thousands)					(in thousands)
Interest rate contracts*	$	—	$	472	Interest expense	$	125	$	(366	)
Total	$	—	$	472	Total	$	125	$	(366	)

*      These amounts are shown net of $0 and $0.5 million of of interest payments reclassified to the income statement during the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

The effective portion of the change in fair value on a derivative instrument designated as a cash flow hedge is reported as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income and is reclassified into earnings in the period during which the transaction being hedged affects earnings or it is probable that the forecasted transaction will not occur. The ineffective portion of the hedges is recorded in earnings in the current period. However, these are highly effective hedges and no significant ineffectiveness occurred in either period presented.

Counterparty Credit Risk

The Company evaluates the creditworthiness of the counterparties under its hedging agreements. The swap counterparty for the interest rate swap in place during the first eleven months of 2013 was a large financial institution in the United States that possessed an investment grade credit rating. Based on this rating, the Company believes that the counterparty was creditworthy and that their continuing performance under the hedging agreement was probable, and had not required the counterparty to provide collateral or other security to the Company.