EnerSys

6. Derivative Financial Instruments

The Company utilizes derivative instruments to reduce its exposure to fluctuations in commodity prices, foreign exchange rates and interest, under established procedures and controls. The Company does not enter into derivative contracts for speculative purposes. The Company’s agreements are with creditworthy financial institutions and the Company anticipates performance by counterparties to these contracts and therefore no material loss is expected.

Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging Relationships

Lead Forward Contracts

The Company enters into lead forward contracts to fix the price for a portion of its lead purchases. Management considers the lead forward contracts to be effective against changes in the cash flows of the underlying lead purchases. The vast majority of such contracts are for a period not extending beyond one year. At December 31, 2023 and March 31, 2023, the Company has hedged the price to purchase approximately 52.5 million pounds and 50.0 million pounds of lead, respectively, for a total purchase price of $50,609 and $47,921, respectively.

Foreign Currency Forward Contracts

The Company uses foreign currency forward contracts and options to hedge a portion of the Company’s foreign currency exposures for lead, as well as other foreign currency exposures so that gains and losses on these contracts offset changes in the underlying foreign currency denominated exposures. The vast majority of such contracts are for a period not extending beyondone year. As of December 31, 2023 and March 31, 2023, the Company had entered into a total of $51,146 and $45,823, respectively, of such contracts.

Interest Rate Swap Agreements

The Company is exposed to changes in variable interest rates on borrowings under our credit agreement. On a selective basis, from time to time, it enters into interest rate swap agreements to reduce the negative impact that increases in interest rates could have on our outstanding variable rate debt. At December 31, 2023 and March 31, 2023 such agreements effectively convert $200,000 of our variable-rate debt to a fixed-rate basis, utilizing the one-month term SOFR, as a floating rate reference. Fluctuations in SOFR and fixed rates affect both our net financial investment position and the amount of cash to be paid or received by us under these agreements.

Derivatives in Net Investment Hedging Relationships

Net Investment Hedges

The Company uses cross currency fixed interest rate swaps to hedge its net investments in foreign operations against future volatility in the exchange rates between the U.S. Dollar and Euro.

On December 23, 2021, the Company entered into cross currency fixed interest rate swap agreements, with aggregate notional amounts of $300,000, to hedge its net investments in foreign operations against future volatility in the exchange rates between U.S. Dollars and Euros. On September 29, 2022, the Company terminated its $300,000 cross-currency fixed interest rate swap contracts, originally entered into on December 23, 2021, and received a net settlement of $43,384. The cash proceeds have been included in Proceeds from termination of net investment hedges in our Consolidated Condensed Statements of Cash Flows.

On September 29, 2022, the Company entered into cross-currency fixed interest rate swap contracts with an aggregate notional amount of $150,000, maturing on December 15, 2027. The cross-currency fixed interest rate swap contracts qualify for hedge accounting as a net investment hedging instrument, which allows for them to be remeasured to foreign currency translation adjustment within AOCI (“Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income”) to offset the translation risk from those investments. Balances in the foreign currency translation adjustment accounts remain until the sale or substantially complete liquidation of the foreign entity, upon which they are recognized as a component of other income (expense).

Impact of Hedging Instruments on AOCI

In the coming twelve months, the Company anticipates that $1,229 of pretax (gain) relating to lead, foreign currency forward contracts and net investment hedges will be reclassified from AOCI as part of cost of goods sold and interest expense. This amount represents the current net unrealized impact of hedging lead, foreign exchange rates and interest rates, which will change as market rates change in the future. This amount will ultimately be realized in the Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income as an offset to the corresponding actual changes in lead, foreign exchange rates and interest costs resulting from variable lead cost, foreign exchange and interest rates hedged.

Derivatives not Designated in Hedging Relationships

Foreign Currency Forward Contracts

The Company also enters into foreign currency forward contracts to economically hedge foreign currency fluctuations on intercompany loans and foreign currency denominated receivables and payables. These are not designated as hedging instruments and changes in fair value of these instruments are recorded directly in the Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income. As of December 31, 2023 and March 31, 2023, the notional amount of these contracts was $65,699 and $102,558, respectively.

Presented below in tabular form is information on the location and amounts of derivative fair values in the Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets and derivative gains and losses in the Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income:

Fair Value of Derivative Instruments

December 31, 2023 and March 31, 2023

For the quarter ended December 31, 2023

For the quarter ended January 1, 2023

For the nine months ended December 31, 2023

For the nine months ended January 1, 2023