Financial Instruments

The financial instruments recorded in our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets include cash and cash equivalents, trade accounts receivable, trade accounts payable, debt obligations and swap agreements. Due to their short-term maturity, the carrying amounts of trade accounts receivable and trade accounts payable approximate their fair market values. The following table summarizes the carrying amounts and estimated fair values of our other financial instruments at June 30, 2017:



	Carrying Amount		Fair Value
	(Dollars in thousands)
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	142,083	$	142,083
Natural gas swap agreements	103		103

Liabilities:
Bank debt	$	1,489,971	$	1,489,971
5% Senior Notes	280,000		283,903
5½% Senior Notes	300,000		309,558
4¾% Senior Notes	300,000		307,533
3¼% Senior Notes	742,105		762,238

Fair Value Measurements

GAAP defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date (exit price). GAAP classifies the inputs used to measure fair value into a hierarchy consisting of three levels. Level 1 inputs represent unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. Level 2 inputs represent unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities, or unadjusted quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, or inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability. Level 3 inputs represent unobservable inputs for the asset or liability. Financial assets and liabilities are classified in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement.

Financial Instruments Measured at Fair Value

The financial assets and liabilities that were measured on a recurring basis at June 30, 2017 consisted of our cash and cash equivalents and natural gas swap agreements. We measured the fair value of cash and cash equivalents using Level 1 inputs. We measured the fair value of the swap agreements using the income approach. The fair value of the swap agreements reflects the estimated amounts that we would pay or receive based on the present value of the expected cash flows derived from market interest rates and prices. As such, these derivative instruments were classified within Level 2.

Financial Instruments Not Measured at Fair Value

Our bank debt, 5% Notes, 5½% Notes, 4¾% Notes, and 3¼% Notes were recorded at historical amounts in our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, as we have not elected to measure them at fair value. We measured the fair value of our variable rate bank debt using the market approach based on Level 2 inputs. Fair values of the 5% Notes, 5½% Notes, 4¾% Notes and the 3¼% Notes were estimated based on quoted market prices, a Level 1 input.

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities

Our derivative financial instruments were recorded in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at their fair values. Changes in fair values of derivatives are recorded in each period in earnings or comprehensive income, depending on whether a derivative is designated as part of a hedge transaction and, if it is, the type of hedge transaction.

We have utilized certain derivative financial instruments to manage a portion of our interest rate and natural gas cost exposures. We limit our use of derivative financial instruments to interest rate and natural gas swap agreements. We do not engage in trading or other speculative uses of these financial instruments. For a financial instrument to qualify as a hedge, we must be exposed to interest rate or price risk, and the financial instrument must reduce the exposure and be designated as a hedge. Financial instruments qualifying for hedge accounting must maintain a high correlation between the hedging instrument and the item being hedged, both at inception and throughout the hedged period. As of June 30, 2017, we did not have any outstanding interest rate swap agreements and the fair value of our outstanding natural gas swap agreements was not significant.

We utilize certain internal hedging strategies to minimize our foreign currency exchange rate risk. Net investment hedges that qualify for hedge accounting result in the recognition of foreign currency gains or losses, net of tax, in accumulated other comprehensive loss. We generally do not utilize external derivative financial instruments to manage our foreign currency exchange rate risk.

In an effort to minimize foreign currency exchange rate risk, we have financed acquisitions of foreign operations primarily with loans borrowed under our senior secured credit facilities denominated in Euros and Canadian dollars. In addition, where available, we have borrowed funds in local currency or implemented certain internal hedging strategies to minimize our foreign currency exchange rate risk related to foreign operations, including net investment hedges related to our 3¼% Notes, which are Euro denominated. Foreign currency (losses) related to our net investment hedges included in accumulated other comprehensive loss for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 were $(23.6) million and $(28.5) million, respectively.