Item 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

We are exposed to various market risk factors such as fluctuating interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates and increasing commodity prices. These risk factors can impact our results of operations, cash flows and financial position. To manage these risks, we periodically enter into derivative financial instruments such as interest rate swaps, call options and forward exchange contracts for periods consistent with and for notional amounts equal to or less than the underlying exposures. In accordance with Company policy, derivative financial instruments are not used for investment or trading purposes.

Foreign Currency Exchange Risk

Sales outside of the U.S. accounted for 51.1% of consolidated net sales in 2016. Virtually all of these sales and related operating costs are denominated in the currency of the local country and translated into USD for consolidated reporting purposes. Although the majority of the assets and liabilities of these subsidiaries are denominated in the functional currency of the subsidiary, they may also hold assets or liabilities denominated in other currencies. These items may give rise to foreign currency transaction gains and losses. As a result, our results of operations and financial position are exposed to changing currency exchange rates. We periodically use forward contracts to hedge certain transactions or to neutralize month-end balance sheet exposures on cross-currency intercompany loans.

We have designated our €21.0 million Euro-denominated borrowings under our Credit Facility as a hedge of our net investment in certain European subsidiaries. We also have ¥500.0 million in Yen-denominated borrowings under our Credit Facility which has been designated as a hedge of our net investment in Daikyo. At December 31, 2016, a cumulative foreign currency translation gain on these hedges of $1.1 million (net of tax of $0.6 million) was recorded within accumulated other comprehensive loss.

Interest Rate Risk

As a result of our normal borrowing activities, we have long-term debt with both fixed and variable interest rates. Long-term debt consists of senior notes, revolving credit facilities and capital lease obligations. Our exposures to fluctuations in interest rates are managed to the extent considered necessary by entering into interest rate swap agreements.

The following table summarizes our interest rate risk-sensitive instruments:

(1) As of December 31, 2016, we have a forward-start interest rate swap outstanding designed to hedge the variability in cash flows due to changes in the applicable interest rate of our $34.9 million five-year term loan. At December 31, 2016, this agreement had a fair value of $1.0 million, unfavorable to us, which was recorded as a noncurrent liability. Please refer to Note 9, Derivative Financial Instruments, for additional information on this interest rate hedge.

Commodity Price Risk

Many of our proprietary products are made from synthetic elastomers, which are derived from the petroleum refining process. We purchase the majority of our elastomers via long-term supply contracts, some of which contain clauses that provide for surcharges related to fluctuations in crude oil prices. In recent years, raw material costs have fluctuated due to crude oil price fluctuations. We expect this volatility to continue. We will continue to pursue pricing and hedging strategies, and ongoing cost control initiatives to offset the effects on gross profit.

In February 2016, we purchased a series of call options for a total of 71,900 barrels of crude oil to mitigate our exposure to such oil-based surcharges and protect operating cash flows with regards to a portion of our forecasted elastomer purchases through November 2016. With these contracts in 2016, we benefited $0.4 million due to increases in crude oil prices, offset by the $0.2 million premium that we paid to purchase the contracts.

In November 2016, we purchased a series of call options for a total of 96,525 barrels of crude oil through November 2017. During 2016, the gain recorded in cost of goods and services sold related to these options was less than $0.1 million.