Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Investment in Derivative Instruments

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Investment in Derivative Instruments
3 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2023
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]  
Investment in Derivative Instruments Investment in Derivative Instruments
Interest Rate Swap Contracts

The Company uses derivative instruments as part of its overall strategy to manage its exposure to market risks associated with fluctuations in interest rates. The Company regularly monitors the financial stability and credit standing of the counterparties to its derivative instruments. The Company does not enter into derivative financial instruments for speculative purposes.

The Company records all derivatives at fair value. On the date the derivative contract is entered into, the Company may designate the derivative as one of the following: (i) a hedge of a forecasted transaction or the variability of cash flows to be paid (“cash flow hedge”) or (ii) a hedge of the fair value of a recognized asset or liability (“fair value hedge”).

Changes in the fair value of a derivative that is qualified and designated as a cash flow hedge or net investment hedge are recorded in other comprehensive income (loss) in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income until they are reclassified into earnings in the same period or periods during which the hedged transaction affects earnings.

Changes in the fair value of a derivative that is qualified and designated as a fair value hedge, along with the gain or loss on the hedged asset or liability that is attributable to the hedged risk, are recorded in current period earnings.

If the Company does not specifically designate a derivative as one of the above, changes in the fair value of the undesignated derivative instrument are reported in current period earnings. Cash flows from designated derivative financial instruments are classified within the same category as the item being hedged in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, while cash flows from undesignated derivative financial instruments are included as an investing activity.

If the Company determines that it qualifies for and will designate a derivative as a hedging instrument, the Company formally documents all relationships between hedging activities, including the risk management objective and strategy for undertaking various hedge transactions. This process includes matching all derivatives that are designated as cash flow hedges to specific forecasted transactions and linking all derivatives designated as fair value hedges to specific assets and liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

The Company performs an initial prospective assessment of hedge effectiveness on a quantitative basis between the inception date and the earlier of the first quarterly hedge effectiveness date or the issuance of the financial statements that include the hedged transaction. On a quarterly basis, the Company assesses the effectiveness of its designated hedges in offsetting the variability in the cash flows or fair values of the hedged assets or obligations using the Hypothetical Derivative Method. The Hypothetical Derivative Method compares the change in fair value or cash flows of the hedging instrument with the change in fair value or cash flows of a hypothetical derivative that represents the hedged risk. The Company would discontinue hedge accounting prospectively when the derivative is no longer highly effective as a hedge, the underlying hedged transaction is no longer probable or the hedging instrument expires, is sold, terminated or exercised.

Commodity Swap Contracts

The Company’s operations expose it to a variety of market risks, including the effects of changes in commodity prices. As part of its risk management process, the Company has entered into commodity swap transactions through regulated commodity exchanges. The Company does not enter into derivative financial instruments for speculative purposes. Changes in fair value of commodity swaps are recognized in earnings.
The following table represents the approximate amount of realized and unrealized gains (losses) and changes in fair value recognized in earnings on commodity derivative contracts for the three months ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 and the fair value of these derivatives as of December 31, 2023 and September 30, 2023 (in thousands):

For the Three Months Ended December 31,
2023 2022
(unaudited) (unaudited)
Change in Change in
Income Statement Classification Realized Gain (Loss) Unrealized Gain (Loss) Total Gain (Loss) Realized Gain (Loss) Unrealized Gain (Loss) Total Gain (Loss)
Cost of revenues $ (19) $ (226) $ (245) $ 601  $ (1,007) $ (406)
Interest expense, net 2,638  —  2,638  1,335  —  1,335 
Total $ 2,619  $ (226) $ 2,393  $ 1,936  $ (1,007) $ 929 

December 31, 2023 September 30, 2023
Balance Sheet Classification (unaudited)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets - commodity swaps $ —  $ 204 
Other assets - interest rate swaps (1)
17,595  26,909 
Accrued expense and other current liabilities - commodity swaps (42) (20)
Net unrealized gain position $ 17,553  $ 27,093 
(1) Includes designated cash flow hedge of $17.6 million and $26.9 million as of December 31, 2023 and September 30, 2023, respectively.