9. Derivatives

We are exposed to market risks associated with changes in interest rates. We use derivative instruments to minimize the risks and costs associated with financial activities by managing our exposure to interest rate fluctuations on a portion of our debt obligations. We do not use derivative instruments for trading or other speculative purposes.

At March 31, 2018, the Partnership was a party to the following interest rate swaps, which were entered into to offset changes in expected cash flows due to fluctuations in the associated variable interest rates:



Expiration Date	Notional Value (in millions)
May 2019	$	100.0
May 2020	100.0
March 2022	300.0
	$	500.0

As of March 31, 2018, the weighted average effective fixed interest rate on the interest rate swaps was 1.8%. We have designated these interest rate swaps as cash flow hedging instruments so that any change in their fair values is recognized as a component of other comprehensive income (loss) until the hedged transaction affects earnings. At that time, amounts in other comprehensive income (loss) are reclassified into earnings and presented in the same income statement line item as the earnings effect of the hedged item. Prior to adoption of ASU 2017-12, we performed quarterly calculations to determine whether the swap agreements continued to be highly effective at achieving offsetting changes in cash flows attributable to the hedged risk. As the swap terms substantially coincide with the hedged item and are expected to offset changes in expected cash flows due to fluctuations in the variable rate, we expect the hedging relationship to continue to be highly effective. Upon adoption of ASU 2017-12, we perform subsequent quarterly prospective and retrospective hedge effectiveness assessments qualitatively unless facts and circumstances related to the hedging relationships change such that we can no longer assert qualitatively that the cash flow hedge relationships were and continue to be highly effective. We estimate that $1.5 million of deferred pre-tax gain attributable to interest rate swaps and included in our accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) at March 31, 2018, will be reclassified into earnings as interest income at then-current values during the next twelve months as the underlying hedged transactions occur. Cash flows from derivatives designated as hedges are classified in our condensed consolidated statements of cash flows under the same category as the cash flows from the underlying assets, liabilities or anticipated transactions, unless the derivative contract contains a significant financing element; in this case, the cash settlements for these derivatives are classified as cash flows from financing activities in our condensed consolidated statements of cash flows.

In August 2017, the Partnership amended the terms of certain of its interest rate swap agreements, designated as cash flow hedges against the variability of future interest payments due under the Partnership Credit Facility, with a notional value of $300.0 million. The amended terms adjusted the fixed interest rate and extended the maturity dates to March 2022. These amendments effectively created new derivative contracts and terminated the old derivative contracts. As a result, as of the amendment date, we discontinued the original cash flow hedge relationships on a prospective basis and designated the amended interest rate swaps under new cash flow hedge relationships based on the amended terms. The fair value of the interest rate swaps immediately prior to the execution of the amendments was a liability of $0.7 million. The associated amount in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) is being amortized into interest expense over the original terms of the interest rate swaps through May 2018.

The following tables present the effect of derivative instruments on our consolidated financial position and results of operations (in thousands):



		Fair Value Asset (Liability)
	Balance Sheet Location	March 31, 2018		December 31, 2017
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:
Interest rate swaps	Other current assets	$	1,646	$	186
Interest rate swaps	Other long-term assets	8,164		4,490
Interest rate swaps	Accrued liabilities	—		(134		)
Total derivatives		$	9,810	$	4,542



	Pre-tax Gain Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) on Derivatives		Location of Pre-tax Loss Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) into Income (Loss)	Pre-tax Loss Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) into Income (Loss)
Derivatives designated as cash flow hedges:
Interest rate swaps
Three months ended March 31, 2018	$	4,696	Interest expense	$	(474	)
Three months ended March 31, 2017	699		Interest expense	(1,013		)



	Location and Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income on Cash Flow Hedging Relationships
	Three Months Ended March 31, 2018
	Interest Expense
Total amounts of income and expense line items presented in the statement of operations in which the effects of cash flow hedges are recorded	$	22,547
Interest Contracts:
Amount of loss reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income into income	$	(54	)
Amount of gain or (loss) reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income into income as a result that a forecasted transaction is no longer probable of occurring	$	—

The counterparties to the derivative agreements are major financial institutions. We monitor the credit quality of these financial institutions and do not expect non-performance by any counterparty, although such non-performance could have a material adverse effect on us. The Partnership has no specific collateral posted for its derivative instruments.