Derivative Instruments

9 Months Ended

Nov. 30, 2024

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]

Derivative Instruments

8. Derivative Instruments

Interest Rate Swap Derivative

As a policy, we do not hold, issue or trade derivative instruments for speculative purposes. We periodically enter into forward sale contracts to purchase a specified volume of zinc and natural gas at fixed prices. These contracts are not accounted for as derivatives because they meet the criteria for the normal purchases and normal sales scope exception in Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 815, Derivatives and Hedging.

We manage our exposure to fluctuations in interest rates on our floating-rate debt by entering into interest rate swap agreements to convert a portion of our variable-rate debt to a fixed rate. On September 27, 2022, we entered into a fixed-rate interest rate swap agreement, which was subsequently amended on October 7, 2022 (the "2022 Swap"), with banks that are parties to the 2022 Credit Agreement, to change the SOFR-based component of the interest rate. The 2022 Swap converts the SOFR portion to 4.277%. On September 24, 2024, we repriced our Term Loan B to SOFR plus 2.50%, resulting in a total fixed rate of 6.777%. The 2022 Swap had an initial notional amount of $550.0 million and a maturity date of September 30, 2025. The notional amount of the interest rate swap decreases by a pro-rata portion of any quarterly principal payments made on the Term Loan B, and the current notional amount is $537.6 million as of November 30, 2024. The objective of the 2022 Swap is to eliminate the variability of cash flows in interest payments attributable to changes in benchmark one-month SOFR interest rates, for a portion of our variable-rate debt. The hedged risk is the interest rate risk exposure to changes in interest payments, attributable to changes in benchmark one-month SOFR interest rates over the interest rate swap term. The changes in cash flows of the 2022 Swap exactly offset changes in cash flows of the variable-rate debt. We designated the 2022 Swap as a cash flow hedge at inception. Cash payments or receipts to settle the 2022 Swap are recognized in interest expense.

At November 30, 2024, changes in fair value attributable to the effective portion of the 2022 Swap were included on the condensed consolidated balance sheets in "Accumulated other comprehensive income." For derivative instruments that qualify for hedge accounting treatment, the fair value is recognized on our condensed consolidated balance sheets as derivative assets or liabilities with offsetting changes in fair value, to the extent effective, recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income until reclassified into earnings when the interest expense on the underlying debt is reflected in earnings. The portion of a cash flow hedge that does not offset the change in the fair value of the transaction being hedged, which is commonly referred

to as the ineffective portion, is immediately recognized in earnings. During the nine months ended November 30, 2024, we reclassified $3.8 million before income tax, or $2.9 million net of tax, from other comprehensive income to earnings.