Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities [Abstract]

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities

We manage our exposure to foreign exchange rate risk and interest rate risk through various strategies, including the use of derivative financial instruments. We use net investment hedges to manage the volatility of foreign exchange rates on the investment in our foreign subsidiaries. We may use forward foreign exchange contracts as economic hedges to manage the cash flow volatility arising from foreign exchange rate fluctuations related to foreign currency transactions. We do not use derivatives for trading or speculative purposes. Using derivatives exposes us to the risk that counterparties to the derivative contracts will fail to meet their contractual obligations. We manage that risk through careful selection and ongoing evaluation of the counterparty financial institutions based on specific minimum credit standards and other factors.

We evaluate the effects of changes in foreign currency exchange rates, interest rates and other relevant market risks on our derivatives. We periodically determine the potential loss from market risk on our derivatives by performing a value-at-risk, or VaR, analysis. VaR is a statistical model that uses historical currency exchange rate data to measure the potential impact on future earnings of our derivative financial instruments assuming normal market conditions. The VaR model is not intended to represent actual losses but is used as a risk estimation and management tool. Based on the results of the model, we estimate with 95% confidence a maximum one-day change in the net fair value of our derivative financial instruments at December 31, 2023 was not significant.

Foreign Currency Exchange Risk

As an integral part of our global treasury operations, we centralize our cash and use notional multicurrency pools to manage the foreign currency exchange risk that arises from imbalances between subsidiaries and their respective treasury centers. In addition, there are circumstances where revenue and expense transactions are not denominated in the same currency. In these instances, amounts are either promptly settled or hedged with forward foreign exchange contracts. To manage this risk, at December 31, 2022, we had outstanding forward foreign exchange contracts with an aggregate notional amount of $40.3 million. There were no outstanding forward foreign exchange contracts at December 31, 2023.

Foreign currency derivatives are designated as fair value hedges; therefore, any gain or loss in fair value incurred on those instruments is recorded in results of operations and is generally offset by decreases or increases in the fair value of the underlying exposure. By using these financial instruments, we reduce financial risk of adverse foreign exchange changes by foregoing any gain which might occur if the markets move favorably. The terms of our forward foreign exchange contracts are generally less than 90 days.

We have fixed-to-fixed cross currency swaps with a notional value of $150 million that hedge a portion of the net investment in our Japanese subsidiaries against volatility in the Yen/U.S. Dollar exchange rate. The swaps are designated and qualify as a hedge of a net investment in a foreign subsidiary and are scheduled to mature in 2025 and 2029. Changes in the fair value of the swaps are recognized in foreign currency translation and are reported in AOCI. Any gain or loss will remain in AOCI until the complete or substantially complete liquidation of our investment in the underlying operations. We have elected to assess the effectiveness of our net investment hedges based on changes in spot exchange rates. We receive net fixed U.S. Dollar interest payments from the swaps, and we recorded a reduction of interest expense of $6.6 million and $1.2 million in 2023 and 2022, respectively. At December 31, 2023 and 2022, the liability for the swap fair value was $6.6 million and $16.5 million, respectively, and was recorded in long-term liabilities.

Interest Rate Risk

We may use interest rate swaps to manage our interest cost and structure our long-term debt portfolio to achieve a mix of fixed rate and floating rate debt. There were no interest rate swaps in 2023 and 2022. Long-term debt at December 31, 2023 and 2022 consisted entirely of fixed-rate debt.