Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
We are subject to market risk associated with changes in interest rates both in terms of variable-rate debt and the price of new fixed-rate debt upon maturity of existing debt and for acquisitions.
Interest Rate Risk
Our interest rate risk management objectives are to limit the impact of interest rate changes on earnings and cash flows and to lower our overall borrowing costs. As of December 31, 2020, our debt included outstanding variable-rate term loans of $400.0 million, of which $300.0 million has been swapped to a fixed rate and a variable-rate draw on our revolving credit facility of $50.0 million. If market rates of interest on all variable rate debt as of December 31, 2020, permanently increased and decreased by 1%, the annual increase and decrease in interest expense on the variable-rate debt and future earnings and cash flows would be $1.5 million.
With regard to our variable-rate financing, we assess interest rate cash flow risk by continually identifying and monitoring changes in interest rate exposures that may adversely impact expected future cash flows and by evaluating hedging opportunities. We maintain risk management control systems to monitor interest rate cash flow risk attributable to both outstanding or forecasted debt obligations as well as our potential offsetting hedge positions. The risk management control systems involve the use of analytical techniques, including cash flow sensitivity analysis, to estimate the expected impact of changes in interest rates on our future cash flows. We continue to assess retaining cash flows that may assist us in maintaining a flexible low debt balance sheet and managing the impact of upcoming debt maturities.
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We monitor interest rate risk using a variety of techniques, including periodically evaluating fixed interest rate quotes on all variable rate debt and the costs associated with converting the debt to fixed rate debt. In addition, existing fixed and variable rate loans that are scheduled to mature within the next two years are evaluated for possible early refinancing and/or extension due to consideration given to current interest rates. Refer to our Borrowings table in Item 7 of this Annual Report for debt principal amounts and expected maturities by year to evaluate the expected cash flows and sensitivity to interest rate changes.
We may use financial instruments to hedge exposures to changes in interest rates on loans. To the extent we do, we are exposed to credit risk and market risk. Credit risk is the risk of failure of the counterparty to perform under the terms of the derivative contract. When the fair value of a derivative contract is positive, the counterparty owes us, which creates credit risk for us. When the fair value of a derivative contract is negative, we owe the counterparty and, therefore, it does not pose credit risk. We seek to minimize the credit risk in derivative instruments by entering into transactions with what we believe are high-quality counterparties. Market risk is the adverse effect on the value of a financial instrument resulting from a change in interest rates.
In July 2017, the Financial Conduct Authority ("FCA"), which regulates LIBOR, announced that it intended to stop compelling banks to submit rates for the calculation of LIBOR after 2021. The Alternative Reference Rates Committee ("ARRC") has proposed that the Secured Overnight Financing Rate ("SOFR") is the rate that best represents the alternative to USD-LIBOR for use in derivatives and other financial contracts that are currently indexed to USD-LIBOR.
In November 2020, ICE Benchmark Administration (IBA), the authorized and regulated administrator of LIBOR, announced it will consult on its intention to cease the publication of the one week and two month USD-LIBOR settings immediately following the LIBOR publication on December 31, 2021, and the remaining USD-LIBOR settings immediately following the LIBOR publication on June 30, 2023. After the feedback period has closed, IBA intends to share the results of the consultation with the FCA and to publish a feedback statement summarizing responses from the consultation shortly thereafter.
In November 2020, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, and the FDIC (collectively, the Agencies) issued a statement to encourage banks to stop entering into new contracts that use USD-LIBOR as the reference rate as soon as practicable, and in any event by December 31, 2021. The Agencies indicated an extension of the IBA publication of certain USD-LIBOR tenors until June 30, 2023 would allow most legacy USD-LIBOR contracts to mature before LIBOR experiences disruptions.
We are not able to predict when LIBOR will cease to be available or when there will be sufficient liquidity in the SOFR markets. Any changes adopted by FCA or other governing bodies in the method used for determining LIBOR may result in a sudden or prolonged increase or decrease in reported LIBOR. If that were to occur, our interest costs could change.
Our unsecured revolving line of credit, term loan, and interest rate swaps are indexed to USD-LIBOR. However, as our amended and restated line of credit and term loan agreements and interest rate swap agreements have provisions that allow for a transition to a new alternative rate, we believe that the transition from USD-LIBOR to SOFR will not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.
The following table summarizes the Company's four effective interest rate swaps as of December 31, 2020:
Interest Rate Swap Effective Date Termination
Date Bank Pays
Variable Rate of InvenTrust Pays
Fixed Rate of Notional
Amount Fair Value as of December 31,
2020 2019
5 year, fixed portion Dec 2, 2019 Dec 21, 2023 1-Month LIBOR 1.4795% $ 100,000 $ (3,856) $ 341
5 year, fixed portion Dec 2, 2019 Dec 21, 2023 1-Month LIBOR 1.4795% 100,000 (3,856) 199
5.5 year, fixed portion Dec 2, 2019 Jun 21, 2024 1-Month LIBOR 1.4915% 50,000 (2,217) 342
5.5 year, fixed portion Dec 2, 2019 Jun 21, 2024 1-Month LIBOR 1.4990% 50,000 (2,231) 175
Total fixed of unsecured term loans $ 300,000 $ (12,160) $ 1,057
The gains or losses resulting from marking-to-market our derivatives at the end of each reporting period are recognized as an increase or decrease in other comprehensive (loss) income on our consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive (loss) income.
Item 8. Consolidated Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
See the Index to Consolidated Financial Statements and financial statements commencing on page F-1.
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
Not applicable.
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