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Derivative Instruments
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Dec. 31, 2012
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| Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Derivative Instruments | DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS We have utilized derivative instruments to manage interest rate risk. Derivatives that are not designated as hedges for accounting purposes must be adjusted to fair value through income. We designated our interest rate swaps as cash flow hedges through September 30, 2010, and measured their effectiveness using the long-haul method. If the derivative qualifies and is designated as a hedge, depending on the nature of the hedge, changes in fair value will either be offset against the change in fair value of the hedged item through earnings or recognized in other comprehensive income (loss) until the hedged item is recognized in earnings. The effective portion of any gain or loss on our interest rate swaps is recorded in other comprehensive income (loss). We use the hypothetical derivative method to measure the ineffective portion of our interest rate swaps. Any ineffective portion of a derivative's change in fair value is immediately recognized in earnings. Interest Rate Swap Agreements The Company previously entered into floating-to-fixed interest rate swap arrangements in order to manage interest rate risk relating to its Credit Facility, which matured on June 30, 2011. We were a party to certain floating-to-fixed interest rate swap agreements with an aggregate notional amount of $500 million, whereby we received payments based upon the three-month LIBOR and made payments based upon a stipulated fixed rate. These interest rate swap agreements modified the Company's exposure to interest rate risk by synthetically converting a portion of the Company's floating rate debt to a fixed rate. The interest rate swap agreements matured on June 30, 2011, however, the following presents the activity related to our accounting for the interest rate swaps during the periods in which they were outstanding. Derivatives that are not designated as hedges for accounting purposes must be adjusted to fair value through income. During the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, we designated certain interest rate swaps as cash flow hedges. Hedge Accounting These derivative instruments were accounted for as cash flow hedges through September 30, 2010. Accounting for cash flow hedging requires determining a division of hedge results deemed effective and ineffective. However, most of the Company's hedges were designated in such a way so as to perfectly offset specifically-defined interest payments, such that no ineffectiveness has occurred, nor would any ineffectiveness occur, as long as the forecasted cash flows of the designated hedged items and the associated swap contracts remain unchanged. However, on October 1, 2010, in anticipation of the refinancing of our bank credit facility, we de-designated all of our interest rate swap agreements as cash flow hedges. Concurrent with the de-designation of the hedging relationship, hedge accounting was suspended and the amount remaining in accumulated other comprehensive loss associated with this cash flow hedging relationship was frozen. This amount was amortized into interest expense over the respective remaining terms of the associated agreements. Prospectively, all changes in fair value of these interest rate swaps will be recognized immediately in earnings. Fair Value Fair value approximates the amount the Company would pay if these contracts were settled at the respective valuation dates. Fair value is estimated based upon current, and predictions of future, interest rate levels along a yield curve, the remaining duration of the instruments and other market conditions, and therefore, is subject to significant estimation and a high degree of variability and fluctuation between periods. The fair value is adjusted, to reflect the impact of credit ratings of the counterparties of the Company, as applicable. These adjustments resulted in a reduction in the fair values as compared to their settlement values. Credit risk relating to derivative counterparties is mitigated by using multiple, highly rated counterparties, and the credit quality of each is monitored on an ongoing basis. The fair values of our derivative instruments at December 31, 2010 included credit valuation adjustments to reflect the impact of the credit ratings of both the Company and our counterparties, based primarily upon the market value of the credit default swaps of the respective parties. These credit valuation adjustments resulted in a reduction in the fair values of our derivative instruments as compared to their settlement values. Classification of Changes in Fair Value The effect of derivative instruments on the consolidated statements of operations for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010 was as follows (in thousands):
The net effect of our floating-to-fixed interest rate swaps resulted in an increase in interest expense of $11.8 million and $22.7 million for the years ended December 31, 2011, and 2010, respectively, as compared to the contractual rate of the underlying hedged debt, for these periods. Due to the maturity of the floating-to-fixed interest rate swaps in June 2011, there was no interest expense recorded during the year ended December 31, 2012. Due to the de-designation of the floating-to-fixed interest rate swaps in October 2010, we recognized losses of $0.3 million and $0.5 million on the change in fair value of these swaps during the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. In addition, the Company amortized $11.8 million and $4.6 million during the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively, through other comprehensive income related to these and other derivatives that were previously de-designated as hedging instruments. |
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