Derivative Instruments

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2016

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]

Derivative Instruments

Derivative Instruments

Risk Management Objective of Using Derivatives

In addition to operational risks which arise in the normal course of business, Piedmont is exposed to economic risks such as interest rate, liquidity, and credit risk. In certain situations, Piedmont has entered into derivative financial instruments such as interest rate swap agreements and other similar agreements to manage interest rate risk exposure arising from current or future variable rate debt transactions. Interest rate swap agreements involve the receipt or payment of future known and uncertain cash amounts, the value of which are determined by interest rates. Piedmont’s objective in using interest rate derivatives is to add stability to interest expense and to manage its exposure to interest rate movements.

Cash Flow Hedges of Interest Rate Risk

Interest rate swaps designated as cash flow hedges involve the receipt of variable-rate amounts from a counterparty in exchange for Piedmont making fixed-rate payments over the life of the agreements without changing the underlying notional amount. As of June 30, 2016, Piedmont was party to various interest rate swap agreements which fully hedge the variable cash flows associated with its $300 Million Unsecured 2011 Term Loan and its $300 Million Unsecured 2013 Term Loan. Piedmont continues to hold forward starting interest rate swap agreements related to the extension period of the $300 Million Unsecured 2011 Term Loan, and the maximum length of time over which Piedmont is hedging its exposure to the variability in future cash flows for forecasted transactions is 42 months.

A detail of Piedmont’s interest rate derivatives outstanding as of June 30, 2016 is as follows:

Interest Rate Derivatives:	Number of Swap Agreements	Associated Debt Instrument	Total Notional Amount (in millions)		Effective Date	Maturity Date
Interest rate swaps	4	$300 Million Unsecured 2011 Term Loan	$	300	11/22/2011	11/22/2016
Interest rate swaps	4	$300 Million Unsecured 2013 Term Loan	200		1/30/2014	1/31/2019
Interest rate swaps	2	$300 Million Unsecured 2013 Term Loan	100		8/29/2014	1/31/2019
Forward starting interest rate swaps	3	$300 Million Unsecured 2011 Term Loan	300		11/22/2016	1/15/2020
Total			$	900

Piedmont presents its interest rate derivatives on its consolidated balance sheets on a gross basis as interest rate swap assets and interest rate swap liabilities. A detail of Piedmont’s interest rate derivatives on a gross and net basis as of June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively, is as follows (in thousands):

Interest rate swaps classified as:	June 30, 2016		December 31, 2015
Gross derivative assets	$	—	$	—
Gross derivative liabilities	22,079		9,993
Net derivative liability	$	22,079	$	9,993

All of Piedmont's interest rate derivative agreements outstanding for the periods presented were designated as cash flow hedges of interest rate risk. As such, the effective portion of changes in the estimated fair value of these derivatives is recorded in other comprehensive income ("OCI") and is reclassified into earnings as interest expense in the period that the hedged forecasted transaction affects earnings. In addition, in conjunction with the issuance of various unsecured notes, Piedmont settled various forward starting swap agreements for gains/losses which were recorded as accumulated other comprehensive income and are being amortized as an offset to interest expense over the term of the respective notes on a straight line basis (which approximates the effective interest method).

The effective portion of Piedmont's interest rate derivatives, including the gain/(loss) on previously settled forward swaps, that were recorded in the accompanying consolidated statements of income for the three and six months endedJune 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively, were as follows (in thousands):

	Three Months Ended					Six Months Ended
Interest Rate Swaps in Cash Flow Hedging Relationships	June 30, 2016			June 30, 2015		June 30, 2016			June 30, 2015
Amount of gain/(loss) recognized in OCI on derivative	$	(4,068	)	$	16,079	$	(15,029	)	$	874
Amount of previously recorded loss reclassified from accumulated OCI into interest expense	$	1,113		$	1,602	$	2,246		$	3,069

Piedmont estimates that approximately $5.8 million will be reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss to interest expense over the next twelve months. Piedmont recognized no loss related to hedge ineffectiveness and terminations of its cash flow hedges during the three and six months endedJune 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

Additionally, see Note 6 for fair value disclosures of Piedmont's derivative instruments.

Credit-risk-related Contingent Features

Piedmont has agreements with its derivative counterparties that contain a provision whereby if Piedmont defaults on any of its indebtedness, including default where repayment of the indebtedness has not been accelerated by the lender, then Piedmont could also be declared in default on its derivative obligations. If Piedmont were to breach any of the contractual provisions of the derivative contracts, it would be required to settle its obligations under the agreements at their termination value of the estimated fair values plus accrued interest, or approximately $22.5 million as of June 30, 2016. Additionally, Piedmont has rights of set-off under certain of its derivative agreements related to potential termination fees and amounts payable under the agreements, if a termination were to occur.