Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

The information in this section should be read in connection with the information on market risk related to changes in interest rates and non-U.S. currency exchange rates in Part II, Item 7A, “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk” in our 2023 Annual Report.

Our exposure to market risk primarily consists of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations related to our international operations and changes in interest rates on debt obligations. We manage such risk primarily by managing the amount, sources, and duration of our debt funding and by using derivative financial instruments. We apply Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Topic 815, “Derivatives and Hedging,” when accounting for derivative financial instruments. In all cases, we view derivative financial instruments as a risk management tool and, accordingly, do not use derivatives for trading or speculative purposes.

International Operations

We conduct a significant portion of our business and employ a substantial number of people outside the U.S. As a result, we are subject to risks associated with doing business globally. Our Real Estate Investments (REI) business segment has significant euro and British pound denominated assets under management (AUM), as well as associated revenue and earnings in Europe. In addition, our Global Workplace Solutions (GWS) business segment also derives significant revenue and earnings in foreign currencies, such as the euro and British pound sterling. Fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates may continue to produce corresponding changes in our AUM, revenue and earnings.

Our foreign operations expose us to fluctuations in foreign exchange rates. These fluctuations may impact the value of our cash receipts and payments in terms of our functional (reporting) currency, which is the U.S. dollar.

Our businesses could suffer from adverse effects of high interest rates, a rapid increase in interest rates, limited access to debt capital or liquidity constraints, downturns in general macroeconomic conditions, regulatory or financial market uncertainty, or unforeseen disruptions such as public health crises and geopolitical events like the wars in Ukraine and in the Middle East (or the perception that such disruptions may occur).

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, approximately 42.3% and 43.6% of our revenue was transacted in foreign currencies, respectively. The following table sets forth our revenue derived from our most significant currencies (dollars in millions):

(1)Approximately 45 currencies comprise 7.1% and 7.9% of our revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Approximately 45 and 46 currencies comprise 7.5% and 7.7% of our revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

Although we operate globally, we report our results in U.S. dollars. As a result, the strengthening or weakening of the U.S. dollar will positively or negatively impact our reported results. A hypothetical 10% adverse change in the value of the U.S. dollar relative to the British pound sterling during the nine months ended September 30, 2024, would have decreased pre-tax income by $1 million. A hypothetical 10% adverse change in the value of the U.S. dollar relative to the euro would have increased pre-tax income by $9 million. These hypothetical calculations estimate the impact of translating results into U.S. dollars and do not include an estimate of the impact that a 10% change in the U.S. dollar against other currencies would have had on our foreign operations.

Fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates may result in corresponding fluctuations in revenue and earnings as well as the assets under management for our investment management business, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results. Due to the constantly changing currency exposures to which we are subject and the volatility of currency exchange rates, we cannot predict the effect of exchange rate fluctuations upon future operating results. In addition, fluctuations in currencies relative to the U.S. dollar may make it more difficult to perform period-to-period comparisons of our reported results of operations. Our international operations also are subject to, among other things, political instability and changing regulatory environments, which affect the currency markets and which as a result may adversely affect our future financial condition and results of operations. We routinely monitor these risks and related costs and evaluate the appropriate amount of oversight to allocate towards business activities in foreign countries where such risks and costs are particularly significant.

Interest Rates

We manage our interest expense by using a combination of fixed and variable rate debt. We have entered into interest rate swap agreements to attempt to hedge the variability of future interest payments due to changes in interest rates.

The estimated fair value of our senior term loans was approximately $748 million at September 30, 2024. Based on dealers’ quotes, the estimated fair values of our 5.950% senior notes, 5.500% senior notes, 4.875% senior notes and 2.500% senior notes were $1.1 billion, $522 million, $603 million and $437 million, respectively, at September 30, 2024.

We utilize sensitivity analyses to assess the potential effect on our variable rate debt. If interest rates were to increase 100 basis points on our outstanding variable rate debt at September 30, 2024, the net impact of the additional interest cost would be a decrease of $11 million on pre-tax income and cash provided by operating activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2024.