DERIVATIVE AND HEDGING

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2015

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]

DERIVATIVE AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES

DERIVATIVE AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES

Our objectives in using interest rate derivatives are to add stability to interest expense and to manage our exposure to interest rate movements.  To accomplish these objectives, we primarily use interest rate swaps as part of our interest rate risk management strategy.  Interest rate swaps designated as cash flow hedges involve the receipt of variable-rate amounts from a counterparty in exchange for us making fixed-rate payments over the life of the agreements without exchange of the underlying notional amount. 

Concurrent with the closing of our amended and restated credit facility, we entered into an interest rate swap agreement that is intended to fix the interest rate associated with the term loan at approximately 3.08% through its maturity date and extension options, subject to adjustments based on our consolidated leverage ratio. The following is a summary of the terms of the interest rate swap as of September 30, 2015 (dollars in thousands):

Swap Counterparty	Notional Amount		Effective Date	Maturity Date	Fair Value
Bank of America, N.A.	$	100,000	1/9/2014	1/9/2019	$	2,842

The effective portion of changes in the fair value of the derivatives that are designated as cash flow hedges are being recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income and will be subsequently reclassified into earnings during the period in which the hedged forecasted transaction affects earnings.

The valuation of these instruments is determined using widely accepted valuation techniques including discounted cash flow analysis on the expected cash flows of the derivative.  This analysis reflects the contractual terms of the derivative, including the period to maturity, and uses observable market-based inputs, including interest rate curves, and implied volatilities.  The fair value of the interest rate swap is determined using the market standard methodology of netting the discounted future fixed cash receipts (or payments) and the discounted expected variable cash payments (or receipts).  The variable cash payments (or receipts) are based on an expectation of future interest rates (forward curves) derived from observable market interest rate curves.