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Derivative Financial Instruments
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2014
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]  
Derivative Financial Instruments
Derivative Financial Instruments
The Company utilizes derivative financial instruments as part of its overall investment activities. Investments in derivative contracts are subject to additional risk that can result in a loss of all or part of an investment. The Company’s derivative activities are primarily classified by underlying credit risk and interest. In addition, the Company is also subject to additional counterparty risk should the counterparties fail to meet the contract terms.
Credit Derivatives
Credit derivatives are generally defined as over-the-counter contracts between a buyer and seller of protection against the risk of default on a set of obligations issued by a specified reference entity. The Company is exposed to credit risk when there is an unfavorable change in the value of investments as a result of adverse movements in the underlying credit spreads and enters into these contracts as a buyer of protection so as to minimize the credit risk exposure of its investment portfolio.
Credit Default Swap Indices (CDX) are credit derivatives that reference multiple names through underlying baskets or portfolios of single name credit default swaps. The Company held four CDX contracts as of June 30, 2014, with a notional amount of $399,538 ($199,738 of sold protection and $199,800 of purchased protection). The Company enters into these contracts as both a buyer of protection and seller of protection so as to manage the credit risk exposure of its investment portfolio. The Company is required to deposit cash collateral for these positions equal to an initial 2.25% of the notional amount of the sold protection side, subject to increase based on additional maintenance margin as a result of decreases in value. As of June 30, 2014, total margin was $4,500, which is included as a component of other assets on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet.
Credit Default Swaps (CDS) are generally defined as over-the-counter contracts between a buyer and seller of protection against the risk of default on a set of obligations issued by a specified reference entity. The company is exposed to credit risk when there is an unfavorable change in the value of investments as a result of adverse movements in the underlying credit spreads and enters into these contracts as a buyer of protection so as to minimize the credit risk exposure of its investment portfolio. The Company is party to one CDS contract with a notional amount of $3,226 at June 30, 2014.
Credit derivatives are included as a component of trading investments, at fair value, if in an asset position, or derivative financial instruments, if in a liability position, on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet.
Interest Rate Lock Commitments
The Company is exposed to certain risks in connection with its mortgage banking operations at Luxury. The Company is exposed to interest rate risk for certain interest rate lock commitments (IRLCs) until a purchaser for the related underlying loans is identified. The fair value of IRLCs is subject to change primarily due to changes in market interest rates. The notional amount of the Company’s IRLCs as of June 30, 2014 was $71,523 with an associated fair value of $619. As of June 30, 2014, the IRLCs were included as a component of trading investments, at fair value on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet.
Interest Rate Swaps
The Company is exposed to interest rate risk when there is an unfavorable change in the value of investments as a result of adverse movements in the market interest rates. The Company enters into interest rate swaps to protect against such adverse movements in the interest rates. The Company is not required to deposit collateral for these swaps as the underlying collateral for the loan also serves as collateral for the swaps. This is included as a component of derivative financial instruments, at fair value, on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet.
As of June 30, 2014, the Company had six interest rate swaps associated with Care with a fair value of $(672) and a notional amount of $43,988.
The following tables identify the fair value amounts of the derivative instruments as of June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, categorized by primary underlying risk:
 
June 30, 2014
 
Asset Derivatives
 
Credit
risk
 
Interest rate
risk
 
Total
Credit derivatives
$
221

 
$

 
$
221

Interest rate lock commitments

 
619

 
619

Total
$
221

 
$
619

 
$
840

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liability Derivatives
 
Credit
risk
 
Interest rate
risk
 
Total
Credit derivatives
$
845

 

 
$
845

Interest rate swaps

 
672

 
672

Total
$
845

 
$
672

 
$
1,517

 
December 31, 2013
 
Asset Derivatives
 
Credit
risk
 
Interest rate
risk
 
Total
Interest rate swaps
$

 
$
52

 
$
52

Total
$

 
$
52

 
$
52

 
Liability Derivatives
 
Credit
risk
 
Interest rate
risk
 
Total
Credit derivatives
$
598

 
$

 
$
598

Total
$
598

 
$

 
$
598


The following tables identify the unrealized gain/(loss) amounts included within the change in unrealized (depreciation)/appreciation of the consolidated statement of operations, categorized by primary underlying risk, for the six month period ended June 30, 2014 and 2013:
Change in unrealized (depreciation)/appreciation - derivatives
 
June 30, 2014
 
Credit
risk
 
Interest rate
risk
 
Total
Credit derivatives
$
123

 
$

 
$
123

Interest rate lock commitments

 
190

 
190

Interest rate swaps

 
(724
)
 
(724
)
Total
$
123

 
$
(534
)
 
$
(411
)
 
June 30,2013
 
Credit
risk
 
Interest rate
risk
 
Total
Credit derivatives
$
(735
)
 
$

 
$
(735
)
Interest rate swaps

 
3,170

 
3,170

Total
$
(735
)
 
$
3,170

 
$
2,435