Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
Foreign Currency Risk
We are exposed to foreign currency risk in the ordinary course of business. We manage cash flow exposures for our major countries and the foreign currency impact of assets and liabilities denominated in non-functional currencies using a combination of forward contracts. Principal currencies hedged are the Australian dollar, Brazilian real, British pound, Canadian dollar, Chinese yuan, Czech koruna, Danish krone, Euro, Indian rupee, Indonesian rupiah, Japanese yen, Mexican peso, Norwegian krone, Philippine peso, Polish zloty, Singapore dollar, Swedish krona, Swiss franc and Turkish lira. We do not hold or issue derivative financial instruments for trading purposes.
In order to provide an assessment of our foreign currency exchange rate risk, we performed an analysis using a value-at-risk (“VaR”) model. The VaR model uses a Monte Carlo simulation to generate 1,000 random market price paths. The VaR model determines the potential impact of the fluctuation in foreign exchange rates assuming a one-day holding period, normal market conditions and a 95% confidence level. The model is not intended to represent actual losses but is used as a risk estimation and management tool. Firm commitments, assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies were excluded from the model. The estimated maximum potential one-day loss in fair value, calculated using the VaR model, would be approximately $3.6 million and $7.4 million at November 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively. We believe that the hypothetical loss in fair value of our foreign exchange derivatives would be offset by the gains in the value of the underlying transactions being hedged. Actual future gains and losses associated with our derivative positions may differ materially from the analyses performed as of November 30, 2023, due to the inherent limitations associated with predicting the changes in foreign currency exchange rates and our actual exposures and positions.
Interest Rate Risk
We are also exposed to changes in interest rates primarily as a result of our debt used to provide liquidity and to finance working capital, capital expenditures, and acquisitions. Our interest rate risk management objective is to limit the impact of interest rate changes on earnings and cash flows and to minimize overall borrowing costs. To achieve our objective, we use a combination of fixed and variable rate debt. The nature and amount of our long-term and short-term debt can be expected to vary as a result of future business requirements, market conditions and other factors.
Certain of our borrowing facilities and our securitization arrangement are variable-rate obligations and expose us to interest rate risks. As of November 30, 2023, we had approximately $1.3 billion of outstanding term loan debt subject to variable interest rates and our subsidiaries had approximately $208.7 million in the aggregate outstanding under debt facilities subject to variable interest rates. The outstanding amount of our borrowings under these facilities may fluctuate in response to changes in our working capital and other liquidity requirements. To the extent that there are changes in interest rates, the interest expense on our variable rate debt may fluctuate. Additionally, discount fees paid to sell accounts receivable under our accounts receivable purchase agreements are impacted by changes in interest rates and expose us to interest rate risks.
A one percentage point (100 basis point) variation in average interest rates would have an impact on annual interest expense of $14.7 million based on the Company's outstanding variable rate debt at November 30, 2023.
Equity Price Risk
The equity price risk associated with our marketable equity securities as of November 30, 2023 and 2022 is not material in relation to our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows. Marketable equity securities include shares of common stock and are recorded at fair market value based on quoted market prices. Gains and losses on marketable equity securities are included in earnings.
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