| 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.
On March 29, 2016, we entered into a forward-starting interest rate swap contract (the "March 2016 Swap") with Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, to reduce the interest rate variability exposure of the projected interest cash flows of our then prospective new ten-year private placement. The forward-starting ten-year swap contract had a notional amount of $150 million, a termination date of March 31, 2027, a fixed pay rate of 1.8800%, and a receive rate equal to the three-month LIBOR, with fixed rate payments due semi-annually commencing September 29, 2017, floating payments due semi-annually commencing September 29, 2017, and floating reset dates the first day of each quarterly period. The forward-starting ten-year swap contract accrual period, March 31, 2017 to March 31, 2027, was designed to match the expected tenor of the then prospective new ten-year debt private placement.
On April 7, 2016, we entered into a forward-starting interest rate swap contract (the "April 2016 Swap") with Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, to reduce the interest rate variability exposure of the projected interest cash flows of our then prospective new ten-year private placement. The forward-starting ten-year swap contract had a notional amount of $100 million, a termination date of March 31, 2027, a fixed pay rate of 1.7480%, and a receive rate equal to the three-month LIBOR, with fixed rate payments due semi-annually commencing September 29, 2017, floating payments due semi-annually commencing September 29, 2017, and floating reset dates the first day of each quarterly period. The forward-starting ten-year swap contract accrual period, March 31, 2017 to March 31, 2027, was designed to match the expected tenor of our then prospective new ten-year debt private placement.
On January 18, 2017, we settled the March 2016 Swap and April 2016 Swap, resulting in a gain of approximately $10.4 million. This gain is included in accumulated other comprehensive income and will be amortized to interest expense over the life of the Series D Notes (as defined below). The forward-starting interest rate swap contracts have been deemed to be highly effective cash flow hedges and we elected to designate all the forward-starting swap contracts as accounting hedges.
On April 25, 2017, we entered into a treasury lock contract (the "April 2017 Treasury Lock") with Bank of America, National Association, to reduce the interest rate variability exposure of the projected interest cash flows of our then prospective new twelve-year private placement. The treasury lock contract had a notional amount of $100 million, termination date of May 18, 2017, a fixed pay rate of 2.313%, and a receive rate equal to the ten-year treasury rate on the settlement date.
On May 11, 2017, we settled the April 2017 Treasury Lock, resulting in a gain of approximately $0.7 million. This gain is included in accumulated other comprehensive income and will be amortized to interest expense over ten years. The treasury lock contract has been deemed to be a highly effective cash flow hedge and we elected to designate the treasury lock contract as an accounting hedge.
On May 31, 2017, we entered into a treasury lock contract (the "May 2017 Treasury Lock") with Bank of America, National Association, to reduce the interest rate variability exposure of the projected interest cash flows of our then prospective new seven-year private placement. The treasury lock contract had a notional amount of $100 million, termination date of July 26, 2017, a fixed pay rate of 2.064%, and a receive rate equal to the seven-year treasury rate on the settlement date.
On June 23, 2017, we settled the May 2017 Treasury Lock, resulting in a loss of approximately $0.5 million. This loss is included in accumulated other comprehensive income and will be amortized to interest expense over seven years. The treasury lock contract has been deemed to be a highly effective cash flow hedge and we elected to designate the treasury lock contract as an accounting hedge. The following is a summary of the terms of our outstanding interest rate swaps as of June 30, 2017 (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 | | $ | (517 | ) | U.S. Bank N.A. | | $ | 100,000 |
| | 3/1/2016 | | 3/1/2023 | | $ | 2,440 |
| Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. | | $ | 50,000 |
| | 5/2/2016 | | 3/1/2023 | | $ | 1,257 |
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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 for as long hedged cash flows remain probable. 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. |
