We are exposed to market risks related to fluctuations in interest rates. To mitigate these risks, we may utilize derivative instruments in the form of interest rate swaps. We do not enter into derivative transactions for speculative purposes.

Under the Company’s Credit Facility, the SOFR plus 2.00% to SOFR plus 3.00% will be applied to outstanding borrowings. See Note 7 - Long-term Debt, net for additional information. The Company has elected to apply the optional expedient for hedging relationships affected by reference rate reform. Accordingly, no outstanding balance on the Credit Facility with a SOFR rate will preclude cash flow hedging with existing London Inter-Bank Offer Rate (“LIBOR”) hedging instruments.

In August 2014, we entered into a swap agreement with a notional amount of $25 million (“2014 Variable-to-Fixed Swap”), and the LIBOR portion of the interest rate was fixed at 2.5% through August 29, 2024. In February 2020, we entered into a second swap agreement with a notional amount of $25 million (“2020 Variable-to-Fixed Swap”), and the LIBOR portion of the interest rate was fixed at 1.3% through February 28, 2025. These interest rate swap agreements were terminated, dedesignated and settled in March 2021. The hedging relationship is highly effective; therefore, gains and losses on these swaps will be reclassified into interest expense in accordance with the forecasted transactions or the scheduled interest payments on the Credit

Facility. Remaining net losses on these swaps included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) as of March 31, 2024, are $0.2 million all of which is expected to be reclassified into earnings within the next 12 months as interest payments are made on the Company’s Credit Facility.

In March 2021, we entered into a new forward interest rate swap agreement and carried the fair value of the terminated 2014 and 2020 Variable-to-Fixed Swaps into the new agreement in a “blend and extend” structured transaction. The purpose of this forward interest rate swap agreement is to fix the underlying risk-free rate, that would be associated with the anticipated issuance of new long-term debt by the Company in future periods. The forward interest rate swap would hedge the risk-free rate on forecasted long-term debt for a maximum of 11 years through March 2033. Risk associated with future changes in the 10-year LIBOR interest rates have been fixed up to a notional amount of $60 million with this instrument. The interest rate swap qualifies as a cash flow hedging instrument. This forward interest rate swap agreement was terminated and settled in April 2022. The hedging relationship is highly effective, therefore, the gain on the termination of the forward interest rate swap was included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). On June 28, 2023, the Company issued the 2023 Senior Notes in the aggregate principal amount of $50 million at fixed interest rates of 7.25% and 7.50%. The Company has elected to apply the optional expedient for hedging relationships affected by reference rate reform. Accordingly, no outstanding balance on the 2023 Senior Notes will preclude cash flow hedging with the existing LIBOR hedging instrument. The Company recognized a gain of $0.4 million in earnings for the $10 million over hedged portion of the interest rate swap in 2023. The remaining net gain on this swap included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) at March 31, 2024, which will be amortized into interest expense in accordance with the forecasted transactions or the scheduled interest payments on the 2023 Senior Notes and any future debt through March 2033, is $0.9 million, of which $0.9 million gain is expected to be reclassified into earnings within the next 12 months.

As of March 31, 2024, the aggregated gains and losses on these interest swaps that are included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) are a net gain of $0.7 million.

At March 31, 2024, we had fixed rate long-term debt aggregating $110 million and variable rate long-term debt aggregating $53 million.

The effect of the interest rate swaps on the consolidated statements of operations is as follows (in thousands):


	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2024			2023		Income Statement Classification
Derivatives designated as hedges:
5 year interest rate swap	$	39		$	83	Increase (decrease) to interest expense
10 year interest rate swap		(336	)		183	Increase (decrease) to interest expense
	$	(297	)	$	266