Investments in Securities and Derivative Instruments

3 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2023

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]

Investments in Securities and Derivative Instruments

Investments in Securities and Derivative Instruments

As part of the Company’s interest rate risk management strategy, the Company, from time to time, uses derivative instruments to minimize significant unanticipated earnings fluctuations that may arise from rising variable interest rate costs associated with existing borrowings (Air T Term Note A and Term Note D). To meet these objectives, the Company entered into interest rate swaps with notional amounts consistent with the outstanding debt to provide a fixed rate of 4.56% and 5.09%, respectively, on Term Notes A and D. The swaps mature in January 2028.

On August 31, 2021, Air T and Minnesota Bank & Trust ("MBT") refinanced Term Note A and fixed its interest rate at 3.42%. As a result of this refinancing, the Company determined that the interest rate swap on Term Note A was no longer an effective hedge. The Company will amortize the fair value of the interest-rate swap contract included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) associated with Term Note A at the time of de-designation into earnings over the remainder of its term. In addition, any changes in the fair value of Term Note A's swap after August 31, 2021 are recognized directly into earnings. The remaining swap contract associated with Term Note D is designated as an effective cash flow hedging instrument in accordance with ASC 815.

On January 7, 2022, Contrail completed an interest rate swap transaction with Old National Bank ("ONB") with respect to the $43.6 million loan made to Contrail in November 2020 pursuant to the Main Street Priority Loan Facility as established by the U.S. Federal Reserve ("Contrail - Term Note G"). The purpose of the floating-to-fixed interest rate swap transaction was to effectively fix the loan interest rate at 4.68%. As of February 24, 2022, this swap contract has been designated as a cash flow hedging instrument and qualified as an effective hedge in accordance with ASC 815. During the period between January 7, 2022 and February 24, 2022, the Company recorded a loss of approximately $0.1 million in the consolidated statement of income (loss) due to the changes in the fair value of the instrument prior to the designation and qualification of this instrument as an effective hedge. After it was deemed an effective hedge, the Company recorded changes in the fair value of the instrument in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income (loss). On March 30, 2023, Contrail made a prepayment of $6.7 million on Contrail - Term Note G. As a result of this prepayment, the Company determined that the interest rate swap on Contrail - Term Note G was no longer an effective hedge. The Company will amortize the fair value of the interest-rate swap contract included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) associated with Contrail - Term Note G at the time of de-designation into earnings over the remainder of its term. In addition, any changes in the fair value of Contrail - Term Note G's swap after March 30, 2023 are recognized directly into earnings.

For the swap related to Air T Term Note D, the effective portion of changes in the fair value on this instrument is recorded in other comprehensive income (loss) and is reclassified into the consolidated statement of income (loss) as interest expense in the same period in which the underlying hedged transactions affect earnings. During the three months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, the Company recorded a gain of approximately $24.0 thousand and $0.5 million, net of tax, respectively, with prior year's gain inclusive of Contrail - Term Note G due to its effective hedge designation at the time. These gains are included in the condensed consolidated statement of comprehensive income (loss) for changes in the fair value of these instruments. The interest rate swaps are considered Level 2 fair value measurements. As of June 30, 2023 and March 31, 2023, the fair value of these interest-rate swap contracts was an asset of $2.8 million and $2.4 million, respectively, which is included within other assets in the condensed consolidated balance sheets.