Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
We are exposed to a variety of market risks, including interest rate risk and foreign currency exchange rate risk. We address interest rate risks primarily through the use of interest rate swaps. We do not currently hedge foreign exchange risk, as discussed further below. The following quantitative and qualitative information is provided regarding our foreign currency exchange rates and financial instruments to which we are a party at December 31, 2020, and from which we may incur future gains or losses from changes in market interest rates and/or foreign currency rates. We do not enter into derivative or other financial instruments for speculative or trading purposes.
Interest Rates
We have interest rate risk on our variable-rate debt obligations, primarily consisting of our U.S. Floorplan Line. Based on the amount of variable-rate borrowings outstanding of $1.6 billion and $1.9 billion as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, a 100 basis-point change in interest rates would have resulted in an approximate $16.0 million and $18.3 million change to our annual interest expense, respectively, after consideration of the average interest rate swaps in effect during the periods.
The majority of our floorplan notes payable, mortgages and other debt are benchmarked to LIBOR. The Financial Conduct Authority, the authority that regulates LIBOR, announced it intends 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 represents the best practice as the alternative to USD-LIBOR for use in derivatives and other financial contracts that are currently indexed to USD-LIBOR. ARRC has proposed a paced market transition plan to SOFR from USD-LIBOR. A similar transition away from LIBOR is occurring in the U.K. to the Sterling Overnight Indexed Average. The use of an alternative rate could result in increased interest expense, in addition to costs to amend the loan agreements and other applicable arrangements to a new reference rate.
Our exposure to changes in interest rates with respect to our variable-rate floorplan borrowings is partially mitigated by manufacturers’ interest assistance, which in some cases is influenced by changes in market-based variable interest rates. We reflect interest assistance as a reduction of new vehicle inventory cost until the associated vehicle is sold. During the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, we recognized $47.3 million and $49.1 million of interest assistance as a reduction of new vehicle cost of sales, respectively.
Foreign Currency Exchange Rates
The functional currency of our U.K. subsidiaries is the GBP and of our Brazil subsidiaries is the BRL. Our exposure to fluctuating exchange rates relates to the effects of translating financial statements of those subsidiaries into our reporting currency, which we do not hedge against based on our investment strategy in these foreign operations. A 10% devaluation in average exchange rates for the GBP to the USD would have resulted in a $195.3 million and $219.4 million decrease to our revenues for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. A 10% devaluation in average exchange rates for the BRL to the USD would have resulted in a $22.9 million and $40.5 million decrease to our revenues for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
For additional information about our market sensitive financial instruments, see Note 6. Financial Instruments and Fair Value Measurements within our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
Refer to our Consolidated Financial Statements beginning on page F-1 for the information required by this Item and incorporated herein by reference.
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
None.
42