INVESTMENTS IN SECURITIES AND DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS

12 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2024

Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract]

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 Air T - 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 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 swaps related to Air T Term Note D and Contrail - Term Note G (prior to March 30, 2023), the effective portion of changes in the fair value on these instruments 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. The interest rate swaps are considered Level 2 fair value measurements. As of March 31, 2024 and March 31, 2023, the fair value of the interest-rate swap contracts was an asset of $1.9 million and $2.4 million, respectively, which is included within other assets in the consolidated balance sheets. During the years ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company recorded a gain of approximately $20.0 thousand and $1.0 million, net of tax, respectively, in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income (loss) for changes in the fair value of the instruments. We estimate that $0.8 million of net unrealized gains related to the interest rate swaps included in accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income will be reclassified into earnings within the next twelve months.

The Company may, from time to time, employ trading strategies designed to profit from market anomalies and opportunities it identifies. Management uses derivative financial instruments to execute those strategies, which may include options, and futures contracts. These derivative instruments are priced using publicly quoted market prices and are considered Level 1 fair value measurements. During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024, the Company recorded $0.2 million gain and $0.4 million loss related to these derivative instruments. During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2023, the Company recorded no gain and $0.3 million loss related to these derivative instruments. These gains and losses are included within Corporate and other's operating expenses in the consolidated statement of income (loss).

The Company also invests in exchange-traded marketable securities and accounts for that activity in accordance with ASC 321, Investments-Equity Securities. Marketable equity securities are carried at fair value, with changes in fair market value included in the determination of net income (loss). The fair market value of marketable equity securities is determined based on quoted market prices in active markets. During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024, the Company had a gross unrealized gain aggregating to $1.6 million and a gross unrealized loss aggregating to $2.1 million. During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2023, the Company had a gross unrealized gain aggregating to $0.5 million and a gross unrealized loss aggregating to $0.9 million. These unrealized gains and losses are included within Other income (loss) in the consolidated statement of income (loss).

The calculation of net unrealized gains and losses recognized during the period related to equity securities still held at the end of the period is as follows (in thousands):


	Year Ended March 31,
	2024		2023
Net unrealized losses recognized during the period on equity securities	$	(453)	$	(389)
Less: Net gains recognized during the period on equity securities sold during the period	20		—
Net unrealized losses recognized during the reporting period on equity securities still held at the reporting date	$	(473)	$	(389)