Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Our primary market exposures are to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, commodity prices and interest rates. To manage certain of those exposures, we use derivative instruments, including forward contracts. Derivative instruments utilized by us in our hedging activities are viewed as risk management tools, involve relatively little complexity and are not used for trading or speculative purposes. We diversify the counterparties used and monitor the concentration of risk to limit our counterparty exposure.

To quantify our market risk exposure, we perform a sensitivity analysis based on hypothetical changes in foreign currency exchange rates and interest rates.

Refer to "Note 2: Summary of Significant Accounting Policies", "Note 9: Borrowings and Lines of Credit" and "Note 17: Financial Instruments" in Item 8 in this Form 10-K for additional discussion of foreign currency exchange, interest rates and financial instruments, including the average aggregate notional amount of our outstanding foreign currency and commodity price hedges during 2023 and 2022.

Foreign Currency Exposures

The value of certain foreign currencies as compared to the U.S. dollar may impact Otis’ financial results. We have a high volume of foreign currency exposures that result from our international net sales, purchases, investments and other international transactions. International net sales were approximately $10.2 billion, $9.9 billion and $10.6 billion in 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

We manage foreign currency exposures that are associated with committed foreign currency purchases and sales as well as foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities that are created in the ordinary course of business. More than insignificant exposures, that cannot be naturally offset, are generally hedged with foreign currency derivatives. The aggregate notional amount of our outstanding foreign currency hedges was approximately $4.9 billion and $3.7 billion as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Foreign currency forward contracts are sensitive to changes in foreign currency exchange rates. An unfavorable exchange rate movement of 10% to our portfolio of foreign currency contracts would have resulted in an increase in unrealized losses of $120 million and $39 million as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Such losses or gains would be offset by corresponding gains or losses in the remeasurement of the underlying transactions or investments being hedged. We believe these foreign currency forward exchange contracts and the offsetting underlying commitments or investments, when taken together, do not create material market risk.

For our non-U.S. based entities, a substantial portion of revenues are generated and costs are incurred in local currencies. We transact business in various foreign currencies, which exposes our cash flows and earnings to changes in foreign currency exchange rates. We periodically enter into sales contracts denominated in currencies other than the functional currency of the parties to the transaction, which can create foreign exchange exposure. While the objective of the hedging program is to minimize the foreign currency exchange impact on operating results, there are typically variances between the hedging gains or losses and the translational impact due to the length of hedging contracts, changes in the sales profile, volatility in the exchange rates and other such operational considerations. Otis does not enter into hedging contracts for speculative purposes.

As discussed in "Note 17: Financial Instruments" in Item 8 in this Form 10-K, as of December 31, 2023 we have ¥21.5 billion ($150 million) of Japanese Yen denominated long-term debt that qualifies as a net investment hedge against our investments in Japanese businesses, and foreign exchange forward contracts of €120 million ($132 million) and HK$2,262 million ($18 million) that qualify as net investment hedges against our investments in certain European and Asian businesses, respectively. As of December 31, 2023, these net investment hedges are deemed to be effective.

As of December 31, 2023 we have €1.1 billion ($1.2 billion) of Euro denominated long-term debt. This debt was issued by a subsidiary with Euro functional currency, and the original proceeds of €1.6 billion were used to fund the Tender Offer for Zardoya Otis. The currency effects of this debt are reflected in the Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) within Shareholder's (Deficit) Equity in the Balance Sheet in Item 8 in this Form 10-K. Refer to "Note 9: Borrowings and Lines of Credit" in Item 8 in this Form 10-K for additional discussion of our borrowings.

Commodity Price Risk

The fluctuation in prices of certain raw materials may impact Otis' financial results. We are exposed to volatility in the prices of commodities used in some of our products and component parts, such as steel, aluminum and copper, among others. When possible and appropriate, we maintain fixed price contracts on raw materials and component parts. However, we are prone to exposure as these contracts expire. When possible and appropriate, we also include price escalation linked to commodity prices in contracts with our customers and take pricing actions for future contracts. However, products and services delivered to our customers can be provided a year or more after being agreed to, and not all raw material price increases can be passed along to customers with existing contracts. Therefore, when commodity price risk is not mitigated by other methods, we may enter into hedging contracts. Otis does not enter into hedging contracts for speculative purposes.

Commodity hedging contracts are sensitive to changes in commodity prices, but any losses or gains would be offset by corresponding gains or losses in the underlying commodity purchases being hedged. Therefore, we believe these commodity hedging contracts and the offsetting underlying purchases, when taken together, do not create material market risk.

Interest Rate Risk

Our long-term debt portfolio consists of fixed-rate instruments, and, therefore, any fluctuation in market interest rates is not expected to have a material effect on the Company's results of operations. A 100 basis points increase in interest rates would have had an approximate $400 million reduction on the fair value of our fixed-rate debt as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Additionally, the investors in our fixed-rate debt obligations generally do not have the right to demand we pay off these obligations prior to maturity. Therefore, we believe our exposure to interest rate risk on our fixed-rate debt is not material.

From time to time, we may hedge floating rates using interest rate swaps. The hedges would be designated as fair value hedges and the gains and losses on the swaps would be reported in interest expense, reflecting that portion of interest expense at a variable rate.