Derivative and Hedging Activities

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2016

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]

Derivative and Hedging Activities

Derivative and Hedging Activities

The Company has historically entered into interest rate swap agreements to reduce its exposure to the variable rate portion of its long-term debt. On the inception date, the Company designates a derivative contract as either a fair value or cash flow hedge and links the contract to either a specific asset or liability on the balance sheet, or to forecasted commitments or transactions. The Company assesses, both at the hedges' inception and on a quarterly basis, whether the derivative item is effective in offsetting changes in fair value or cash flows. Any gains or losses on hedges are included in earnings when the underlying transaction that was hedged occurs. The Company also considers counterparty credit risk and its own credit risk in its determination of all estimated fair values.

The Company has historically entered into derivative instruments covered by master netting arrangements whereby, in the event of a default as defined by the senior secured credit facility or termination event, the non-defaulting party has the right to offset any amounts payable against any obligation of the defaulting party under the same counterparty agreement. See Note 12, Debt for discussion of the Company's senior secured credit facilities.

Interest Rate Swaps

During the first quarter of 2015, as a result of Amendment No. 5 to its Credit Agreement, the Company unwound its interest rate swap agreements which had a notional amount of $250.0. The company recognized a loss of $0.4 as a result of unwinding these interest rate swaps. This loss on derivatives not designated as hedging instruments is included in Other Expense on the Consolidated Statement of Operations for the three months ended April 2, 2015. In total, the Company paid $2.0 as a result of the settlement of the interest rate swap agreements.

As of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the Company had no outstanding interest rate swap agreements.