Financial Instruments

The financial instruments recorded in our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets include cash and cash equivalents, trade accounts receivable, trade accounts payable, debt obligations and swap agreements. Due to their short-term maturity, the carrying amounts of trade accounts receivable and trade accounts payable approximate their fair market values. The following table summarizes the carrying amounts and estimated fair values of our other financial instruments at June 30, 2018:



	Carrying Amount		Fair Value
	(Dollars in thousands)
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	181,220	$	181,220

Liabilities:
Bank debt	$	1,617,851	$	1,617,851
5½% Senior Notes	300,000		304,524
4¾% Senior Notes	300,000		286,698
3¼% Senior Notes	759,460		770,708

Fair Value Measurements

GAAP defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date (exit price). GAAP classifies the inputs used to measure fair value into a hierarchy consisting of three levels. Level 1 inputs represent unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. Level 2 inputs represent unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities, or unadjusted quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, or inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability. Level 3 inputs represent unobservable inputs for the asset or liability. Financial assets and liabilities are classified in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement.

Financial Instruments Measured at Fair Value

The financial assets and liabilities that were measured on a recurring basis at June 30, 2018 consisted of our cash and cash equivalents and derivative instruments. We measured the fair value of cash and cash equivalents using Level 1 inputs. We measured the fair value of our derivative instruments using the income approach. The fair value of our derivative instruments reflects the estimated amounts that we would pay or receive based on the present value of the expected cash flows derived from market interest rates and prices. As such, these derivative instruments were classified within Level 2.

Financial Instruments Not Measured at Fair Value

Our bank debt, 5½% Senior Notes, 4¾% Senior Notes and 3¼% Senior Notes were recorded at historical amounts in our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, as we have not elected to measure them at fair value. We measured the fair value of our variable rate bank debt using the market approach based on Level 2 inputs. Fair values of the 5½% Senior Notes, 4¾% Senior Notes and 3¼% Senior Notes were estimated based on quoted market prices, a Level 1 input.

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities

Our derivative financial instruments were recorded in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at their fair values. Changes in fair values of derivatives are recorded in each period in earnings or comprehensive income, depending on whether a derivative is designated as part of a hedge transaction and, if it is, the type of hedge transaction.

We utilize certain derivative financial instruments to manage a portion of our interest rate and natural gas cost exposures. We generally limit our use of derivative financial instruments to interest rate and natural gas swap agreements. We do not engage in

trading or other speculative uses of these financial instruments. For a financial instrument to qualify as a hedge, we must be exposed to interest rate or price risk, and the financial instrument must reduce the exposure and be designated as a hedge. Financial instruments qualifying for hedge accounting must maintain a high correlation between the hedging instrument and the item being hedged, both at inception and throughout the hedged period.

We utilize certain internal hedging strategies to minimize our foreign currency exchange rate risk. Net investment hedges that qualify for hedge accounting result in the recognition of foreign currency gains or losses, net of tax, in accumulated other comprehensive loss. We generally do not utilize external derivative financial instruments to manage our foreign currency exchange rate risk.

Interest Rate Swap Agreements

We have entered into two U.S. dollar interest rate swap agreements, each for $50.0 million notional principal amount, to manage a portion of our exposure to interest rate fluctuations. These agreements have a fixed rate of 2.878 percent, become effective on March 29, 2019 and mature on March 24, 2023. The difference between amounts to be paid or received on our interest rate swap agreements will be recorded in interest and other debt expense in our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income. These agreements are with financial institutions which are expected to fully perform under the terms thereof. The total fair value of our interest rate swap agreements in effect at June 30, 2018 was not significant.

Natural Gas Swap Agreements

We have entered into natural gas swap agreements with a major financial institution to manage a portion of our exposure to fluctuations in natural gas prices. The difference between amounts to be paid or received on our natural gas swap agreements is recorded in cost of goods sold in our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income and was not significant for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018. These agreements are with financial institutions which are expected to fully perform under the terms thereof. The total fair value of our natural gas swap agreements in effect at June 30, 2018 was not significant.

Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Risk

In an effort to minimize foreign currency exchange rate risk, we have financed acquisitions of foreign operations primarily with borrowings denominated in Euros and Canadian dollars. In addition, where available, we have borrowed funds in local currency or implemented certain internal hedging strategies to minimize our foreign currency exchange rate risk related to foreign operations. We have designated the 3¼% Senior Notes, which are Euro denominated, as net investment hedges. Foreign currency gains related to our net investment hedges included in accumulated other comprehensive loss for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 were $19.2 million and $9.6 million, respectively.