The effective tax rate was slightly higher for the six months ended June 30, 2023, as compared with the same period in 2022, primarily due to mix of earnings and discrete tax items.
As of June 30, 2023, the Company had $13,435 of unrecognized tax benefits. If recognized, approximately $10,339 would be reflected as a component of income tax expense.
The Company files income tax returns in the U.S. and various state, local and foreign jurisdictions. With few exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to U.S. federal, state and local or non-U.S. income tax examinations by tax authorities for years before 2018. The Company is currently subject to U.S., various state and non-U.S. income tax audits.
Unrecognized tax benefits are reviewed on an ongoing basis and are adjusted for changing facts and circumstances, including progress of tax audits and closing of statutes of limitations. Based on information currently available, management believes that additional audit activity could be completed and/or statutes of limitations may close relating to existing unrecognized tax benefits. It is reasonably possible there could be a reduction of $1,295 in previously unrecognized tax benefits by the end of the second quarter 2024.
NOTE 13 — DERIVATIVES
The Company uses derivative instruments to manage exposures to currency exchange rates, interest rates and commodity prices arising in the normal course of business. Both at inception and on an ongoing basis, the derivative instruments that qualify for hedge accounting are assessed as to their effectiveness, when applicable. Hedge ineffectiveness was immaterial in the three and six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022.
The Company is subject to the credit risk of the counterparties to derivative instruments. Counterparties include a number of major banks and financial institutions. None of the concentrations of risk with any individual counterparty was considered significant at June 30, 2023. The Company does not expect any counterparties to fail to meet their obligations.
Cash Flow Hedges
Certain foreign currency forward contracts are qualified and designated as cash flow hedges. The dollar equivalent gross notional amount of these short-term contracts was $67,912 at June 30, 2023 and $66,296 at December 31, 2022.
The Company has interest rate forward starting swap agreements that are qualified and designated as cash flow hedges. The dollar equivalent gross notional amount of the long-term contracts was $100,000 at June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022 and have a termination date of August 2025.
The Company has commodity contracts with a notional amount of 225,000 pounds and 875,000 pounds at June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively, which are qualified and designated as cash flow hedges.
In March 2023, the Company entered into interest rate swap agreements, which were qualified and designated as cash flow hedges, with an aggregate notional amount of $150,000. The interest rate swaps will effectively convert the interest rate on $150,000 of the Term Loan discussed in Note 10 from a variable rate based on one-month SOFR to a fixed rate.
Net Investment Hedges
The Company has foreign currency forward contracts that qualify and are designated as net investment hedges. The dollar equivalent gross notional amount of these contracts was $90,561 at June 30, 2023 and $88,843 at December 31, 2022.