Financial Instruments: Derivatives and Hedging

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]

Financial Instruments: Derivatives and Hedging

In the normal course of business, we use a variety of commonly used derivative instruments, such as interest rate swaps, caps, collar and floors, to manage, or hedge interest rate risk. We hedge our exposure to variability in future cash flows for forecasted transactions in addition to anticipated future interest payments on existing debt. We recognize all derivatives on the balance sheets at fair value. Derivatives that are not hedges are adjusted to fair value through earnings. If a derivative is a hedge, depending on the nature of the hedge, changes in the fair value of the derivative will either be offset against the change in fair value of the hedge asset, liability, or firm commitment through earnings, or recognized in other comprehensive income until the hedged item is recognized in earnings. The ineffective portion of a derivative's change in fair value will be immediately recognized in earnings. Reported net income and equity may increase or decrease prospectively, depending on future levels of interest rates and other variables affecting the fair values of derivative instruments and hedged items, but will have no effect on cash flows. Currently, all of our designated derivative instruments are effective hedging instruments.

The following table summarizes the notional value at inception and fair value of our consolidated derivative financial instruments at December 31, 2017 based on Level 2 information. The notional value is an indication of the extent of our involvement in these instruments at that time, but does not represent exposure to credit, interest rate or market risks (amounts in thousands).



	Notional Value		Strike Rate		Effective Date	Expiration Date	Balance Sheet Location	Fair Value
Interest Rate Swap	$	21,394	12.000	%	January 2017	January 2019	Other Assets	$	167
								$	167

During the year ended December 31, 2017, we recorded a $0.2 million gain on the changes in the fair value, which is included in investment income in the consolidated statements of operations. We did not record any changes in the fair value for the years ended December 31, 2016, and 2015.

The Company has agreements with each of its derivative counterparties that contain a provision where if the Company either defaults or is capable of being declared in default on any of its indebtedness, then the Company could also be declared in default on its derivative obligations. As of December 31, 2017, the fair value of derivatives in a net liability position including accrued interest but excluding any adjustment for nonperformance risk related to these agreements was zero. As of December 31, 2017, the Company has not posted any collateral related to these agreements and was not in breach of any agreement provisions. If the Company had breached any of these provisions, it could have been required to settle its obligations under the agreements at their aggregate termination value of zero at December 31, 2017.

Gains and losses on terminated hedges are included in accumulated other comprehensive income, and are recognized into earnings over the term of the related senior unsecured notes. As of December 31, 2017 and 2016, the deferred net losses from these terminated hedges, which are included in accumulated other comprehensive income relating to net unrealized loss on derivative instruments, was approximately $1.3 million and $1.6 million, respectively.

Over time, the realized and unrealized gains and losses held in accumulated other comprehensive income will be reclassified into earnings as an adjustment to interest expense in the same periods in which the hedged interest payments affect earnings. We estimate that $0.4 million of the current balance held in accumulated other comprehensive income will be reclassified into interest expense within the next 12 months.

The following table presents the effect of our derivative financial instruments that are designated and qualify as hedging instruments on the consolidated statements of operations for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016, and 2015, respectively (in thousands):



	Amount of Loss Recognized in Other Comprehensive Loss (Effective Portion)								Location of Loss Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss into Income	Amount of Loss Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss into Income (Effective Portion)						Location of Gain Recognized in Income on Derivative	Amount of Gain Recognized into Income (Ineffective Portion)
	Year Ended December 31,									Year Ended December 31,							Year Ended December 31,
Derivative	2017		2016			2015				2017		2016		2015			2017		2016		2015
Interest Rate Swap	$	—	$	(13	)	$	(109	)	Interest expense	$	359	$	611	$	999	Interest expense	$	—	$	3	$	3

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