Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
We are exposed to certain market risks arising from transactions we have entered into in the normal course of business. These risks primarily relate to fluctuations in commodity prices, foreign currency transactions and interest rates.
Commodity Price Risk
We are subject to market risk from fluctuating market prices of certain raw materials used in our products. While such materials are typically available from numerous suppliers, commodity raw materials are subject to price fluctuations. We attempt to pass along such commodity price increases to our customers on a contract-by-contract basis to avoid a negative effect on our gross margin. We enter into derivative contracts to hedge a portion of our exposure to commodity price risk. These contracts were immaterial to our earnings and cash flows for Fiscal 2024, 2023 and 2022. In the future, we may enter into additional derivative contracts to further hedge our exposure to commodity price risk. Even though we continue to experience price volatility with some of our key raw materials and components, with the consideration of our hedging strategy, we believe our exposure to commodity price risk is minimal.
Foreign Currency Transaction Risk
We have foreign operations that expose us to foreign currency exchange rate risk in the British Pound Sterling, the Canadian Dollar and to a lesser extent the Singapore Dollar and the Euro, among others. Amounts invested in our foreign operations are translated into U.S. Dollars at the exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet date. The resulting translation adjustments are recorded as accumulated other comprehensive loss, a component of stockholders’ equity in our Consolidated Balance Sheets. We believe the exposure to the effects that fluctuating foreign currencies have on our consolidated results of operations is limited because the foreign operations primarily invoice customers and collect payments in their respective local currencies or U.S. Dollars. Additionally, expenses associated with these transactions are generally contracted and paid for in the same local currencies. Our realized foreign exchange loss was $0.8 million and $0.4 million, respectively for Fiscal 2024 and Fiscal 2023. These losses were included in selling, general and administrative expenses in our Consolidated Statements of Operations. From time to time, our foreign subsidiaries may enter into foreign exchange forward contracts to hedge their foreign currency exposures, if any. These contracts were insignificant to our earnings and cash flows for Fiscal 2024, 2023 and 2022. We do not typically hedge our exposure to potential foreign currency translation adjustments.
Our accumulated other comprehensive loss, which is included as a component of stockholders’ equity, was $24.4 million as of September 30, 2024, a decrease of $2.5 million compared to September 30, 2023. This decrease in comprehensive loss was primarily a result of fluctuations in the currency exchange rates for the Canadian Dollar and British Pound Sterling as we re-measured the foreign operations of those divisions.
Interest Rate Risk
If we borrow under our U.S. Revolver, we will be subject to market risk resulting from changes in interest rates related to our floating rate bank credit facility. Because we did not have any outstanding borrowings under our U.S. Revolver as of both September 30, 2024 and 2023, we have not experienced any significant interest rate risk for each of the periods presented in our Consolidated Statements of Operations.
32