Derivative Instruments

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Derivative Instruments And Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]

Derivative Instruments

8. DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS

The Company uses derivatives in the management of its interest rate risk with respect to its variable rate debt. The Company‘s strategy is to eliminate the cash flow risk on a portion of its variable rate debt caused by changes in the benchmark interest rate (LIBOR). Derivative instruments are not entered into for speculative purposes.

As required by the terms of the Company’s 2013 Credit Agreement, on December 16, 2013, the Company entered into three forward-starting interest rate swap agreements with an aggregated notional amount of $186.0 million at a fixed rate of 2.73%, resulting in an all-in fixed rate of 5.23%. The interest rate swap agreements took effect on December 31, 2015 with a maturity date on December 31, 2018. Under these interest rate swap agreements, the Company pays at a fixed rate and receives payments at a variable rate based on three-month LIBOR. The interest rate swap agreements effectively fix the floating LIBOR-based interest of $186.0 million outstanding LIBOR-based debt. The interest rate swap agreements were designated and qualified as a cash flow hedge; therefore, the effective portion of the changes in fair value is recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income. Any ineffective portions of the changes in fair value of the interest rate swap agreements will be immediately recognized directly to interest expense in the consolidated statement of operations. The change in fair value of the interest rate swap agreements for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 was a loss of $1.1 and $2.4 million, net of tax, respectively, and was included in other comprehensive income (loss). As of December 31, 2016, the Company estimates that none of the unrealized gains or losses included in accumulated other comprehensive income or loss related to these interest rate swap agreements will be realized and reported in earnings within the next twelve months.

The carrying amount of the interest rate swap agreements is recorded at fair value, including non-performance risk, when material. The fair value of each interest rate swap agreement is determined by using multiple broker quotes, adjusted for non-performance risk, when material, which estimate the future discounted cash flows of any future payments that may be made under such agreements.

The fair value of the interest rate swap liability as of December 31, 2016 was $4.8 million and was recorded in “Other long-term liabilities” in the consolidated balance sheets. See Note 9 for discussion of the fair value measurements concerning this interest rate swap.