Financial Instruments

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2024

Investments, All Other Investments [Abstract]

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 March 31, 2024:


	Carrying Amount		Fair Value
	(Dollars in thousands)
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	308,641	$	308,641


Liabilities:
Bank debt	$	1,487,435	$	1,487,435


3¼% Senior Notes	702,000		695,415
4⅛% Senior Notes	599,469		567,708
2¼% Senior Notes	540,000		493,063
1.4% Senior Secured Notes	499,889		457,980

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 March 31, 2024 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, 3¼% Senior Notes, 4⅛% Senior Notes, 2¼% Senior Notes and 1.4% Senior Secured 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 3¼% Senior Notes, 4⅛% Senior Notes, 2¼% Senior Notes and 1.4% Senior Secured 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 also 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.

Interest Rate Swap Agreements

In March 2023, we entered into four U.S. dollar interest rate swap agreements, each for $75.0 million notional principal amount, to manage a portion of our exposure to interest rate fluctuations. These agreements have a fixed rate ranging from 3.889 percent to 3.905 percent, mature on April 3, 2026, and were entered into with financial institutions which are expected to fully perform under the terms thereof. The difference between amounts to be paid or received on our interest rate swap agreements is recorded in interest and other debt expense in our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income and was not significant for the three months ended March 31, 2024. The total fair value of our interest rate swaps agreements in effect at March 31, 2024 was not significant.

Natural Gas Swap Agreements

We have entered into natural gas swap agreements 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 months ended March 31, 2024. These agreements are with a financial institution which is expected to fully perform under the terms thereof. The total fair value of our natural gas swap agreements in effect at March 31, 2024 was not significant.

Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Risk

In an effort to minimize our foreign currency exchange rate risk, we have financed acquisitions of foreign operations primarily with borrowings denominated in Euros. 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, including net investment hedges related to the 3¼% Senior Notes which are Euro denominated. Foreign currency gains related to our net investment hedges included in accumulated other comprehensive loss for the three months ended March 31, 2024 were $11.6 million.