12. Derivative Instruments and Foreign Currency Exposure

The Company is exposed to foreign currency risk. Management has commenced a derivative instrument program to partially offset this risk by purchasing forward contracts to sell the Canadian Dollar and the Euro other than the cash flow hedge discussed below. Such contracts are largely timed to expire on the last day of the fiscal quarter, with a new contract purchased on the first day of the next quarter to match the Company's operating cycle. We designated the forward contracts as derivatives but not as hedging instruments, with loss and gain recognized in current earnings.

The Company accounts for its foreign exchange derivative instruments by recognizing all derivatives as either assets or liabilities at fair value, which may result in additional volatility in current period earnings or other comprehensive income, depending on whether the instrument was designated as a cash flow hedge, as a result of recording recognized and unrecognized gains and losses from changes in the fair value of derivative instruments.

We have one type of derivatives to manage the risk of foreign currency fluctuations. We enter into forward contracts with financial institutions to manage our currency exposure related to net assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies. Those forward contract derivatives, not designated as hedging instruments, were generally settled quarterly. Gain and loss on those forward contracts are included in current earnings. There were no outstanding forward contracts at January 31, 2025 or 2024.