Types of Foreign Exchange Risks\ Exposure

Types of Foreign Exchange Risks\ Exposure

            There are two sorts of foreign exchange risks or exposures. The term exposure refers to the degree to which a company is affected by exchange rate changes.

ó Transaction Exposure

ó Translation exposure (Accounting exposure)

ó Economic Exposure

ó Operating Exposure

             

TRANSACTION EXPOSURE:

Transaction exposure is the exposure that arises from foreign currency denominated transactions which an entity is committed to complete. It arises from contractual, foreign currency, future cash flows. For example, if a firm has entered into a contract to sell computers at a fixed price denominated in a foreign currency, the firm would be exposed to exchange rate movements till it receives the payment and converts the receipts into domestic currency. The exposure of a company in a particular currency is measured in net terms, i.e. after netting off potential cash inflows with outflows.

            Suppose that a company is exporting deutsche mark and while costing the transaction had reckoned on getting say Rs 24 per mark. By the time the exchange transaction materializes i.e. the export is effected and the mark sold for rupees, the exchange rate moved to say Rs 20 per mark. The profitability of the export transaction can be completely wiped out by the movement in the exchange rate. Such transaction exposures arise whenever a business has foreign currency denominated receipt and payment. The risk is an adverse movement of the exchange rate from the time the transaction is budgeted till the time the exposure is extinguished by sale or purchase of the foreign currency against the domestic currency.

            Transaction exposure is inherent in all foreign currency denominated contractual obligations/transactions. This involves gain or loss arising out of the various types of transactions that require settlement in a foreign currency. The transactions may relate to cross-border trade in terms of import or export of goods, the borrowing or lending in foreign currencies, domestic purchases and sales of goods and services of the foreign subsidiaries and the purchase of asset or take over of the liability involving foreign currency. The actual profit the firm earns or loss it suffers, of course, is known only at the time of settlement of these transactions.

            It is worth mentioning that the firm's balance sheet already contains items reflecting transaction expo­sure; the notable items in this regard are debtors receivable in foreign currency, creditors payable in foreign currency, foreign loans and foreign investments. While it is true that transaction exposure is applicable to all these foreign transactions, it is usually employed in connection with foreign trade, that is, specific imports or exports on open account credit. Example illustrates transaction exposure.

Example

            Suppose an Indian importing firm purchases goods from the USA, invoiced in US$ 1 million. At the time of invoicing, the US dollar exchange rate was Rs 47.4513. The payment is due after 4 months. During the intervening period, the Indian rupee weakens/and the exchange rate of the dollar appreciates to Rs 47.9824. As a result, the Indian importer has a transaction loss to the extent of excess rupee payment required to purchase US$ 1 million. Earlier, the firm was to pay US$ 1 million x Rs 47.4513 = Rs 47.4513 million. After 4 months from now when it is to make payment on maturity, it will cause higher payment at Rs 47.9824 million, i.e., (US$ 1 million x Rs 47.9824). Thus, the Indian firm suffers a transaction loss of Rs 5,31,100, i.e., (Rs 47.9824 million - Rs 47.4513 million).

            In case, the Indian rupee appreciates (or the US dollar weakens) to Rs 47.1124, the Indian importer gains (in terms of the lower payment of Indian rupees); its equivalent rupee payment (of US$ 1 million) will be Rs 47.1124 million. Earlier, its payment would have been higher at Rs 47.4513 million. As a result, the firm has profit of Rs 3,38,900, i.e., (Rs 47.4513 million - Rs 47.1124 million).

            Example clearly demonstrates that the firm may not necessarily have losses from the transaction exposure; it may earn profits also. In fact, the international firms have a number of items in balance sheet (as stated above); at a point of time, on some of the items (say payments), it may suffer losses due to weakening of its home currency; it is then likely to gain on foreign currency receipts. Notwithstanding this contention, in practice, the transaction exposure is viewed from the perspective of the losses. This percep­tion/practice may be attributed to the principle of conservatism.

TRANSLATION EXPOSURE

            Translation exposure is the exposure that arises from the need to convert values of assets and liabilities denominated in a foreign currency, into the domestic currency. Any exposure arising out of exchange rate movement and resultant change in the domestic-currency value of the deposit would classify as translation exposure. It is potential for change in reported earnings and/or in the book value of the consolidated corporate equity accounts, as a result of change in the foreign exchange rates.

           

            Translation exposure arises from the need to "translate" foreign currency assets or liabilities into the home currency for the purpose of finalizing the accounts for any given period. A typical example of translation exposure is the treatment of foreign currency borrowings. Consider that a company has borrowed dollars to finance the import of capital goods worth Rs 10000. When the import materialized the exchange rate was say Rs 30 per dollar. The imported fixed asset was therefore capitalized in the books of the company for Rs 300000.

            In the ordinary course and assuming no change in the exchange rate the company would have provided depreciation on the asset valued at Rs 300000 for finalizing its accounts for the year in which the asset was purchased.

            If at the time of finalization of the accounts the exchange rate has moved to say Rs 35 per dollar, the dollar loan has to be translated involving translation loss of Rs50000. The book value of the asset thus becomes 350000 and consequently higher depreciation has to be provided thus reducing the net profit.

            Translation exposure relates to the change in accounting income and balance sheet statements caused by the changes in exchange rates; these changes may have taken place by/at the time of finalization of accounts vis-à-vis the time when the asset was purchased or liability was assumed. In other words, translation exposure results from the need to translate foreign currency assets or liabilities into the local currency at the time of finalizing accounts. Example illustrates the impact of translation exposure.

Example

            Suppose, an Indian corporate firm has taken a loan of US $ 10 million, from a bank in the USA to import plant and machinery worth US $ 10 million. When the import materialized, the exchange rate was Rs 47.0. Thus, the imported plant and machinery in the books of the firm was shown at Rs 47.0 x US $ 10 million = Rs 47 crore and loan at Rs 47.0 crore.

           

Assuming no change in the exchange rate, the Company at the time of preparation of final accounts, will provide depreciation (say at 25 per cent) of Rs 11.75 crore on the book value of Rs 47 crore.

            However, in practice, the exchange rate of the US dollar is not likely to remain unchanged at Rs 47. Let us assume, it appreciates to Rs 48.0. As a result, the book value of plant and machinery will change to Rs 48.0 crore, i.e., (Rs 48 x US$ 10 million); depreciation will increase to Rs 12.00 crore, i.e., (Rs 48 crore x 0.25), and the loan amount will also be revised upwards to Rs 48.00 crore. Evidently, there is a translation loss of Rs 1.00 crore due to the increased value of loan. Besides, the higher book value of the plant and machinery causes higher depreciation, reducing the net profit.

            Alternatively, translation losses (or gains) may not be reflected in the income statement; they may be shown separately under the head of 'translation adjustment' in the balance sheet, without affecting accounting income. This translation loss adjustment is to be carried out in the owners' equity account. Which is a better approach? Perhaps, the adjustment made to the owners' equity account; the reason is that the accounting income has not been diluted on account of translation losses or gains.

On account of varying ways of dealing with translation losses or gains, accounting practices vary in different countries and among business firms within a country. Whichever method is adopted to deal with translation losses/gains, it is clear that they have a marked impact of both the income statement and the balance sheet.

ECONOMIC EXPOSURE

            An economic exposure is more a managerial concept than an accounting concept. A company can have an economic exposure to say Yen: Rupee rates even if it does not have any transaction or translation exposure in the Japanese currency. This would be the case for example, when the company's competitors are using Japanese imports. If the Yen weekends the company loses its competitiveness (vice-versa is also possible). The company's competitor uses the cheap imports and can have competitive edge over the company in terms of his cost cutting. Therefore the company's exposed to Japanese Yen in an indirect way.

            In simple words, economic exposure to an exchange rate is the risk that a change in the rate affects the company's competitive position in the market and hence, indirectly the bottom-line. Broadly speaking, economic exposure affects the profitability over a longer time span than transaction and even translation exposure. Under the Indian exchange control, while translation and transaction exposures can be hedged, economic exposure cannot be hedged.

            Of all the exposures, economic exposure is considered the most important as it has an impact on the valuation of a firm. It is defined as the change in the value of a company that accompanies an unanticipated change in exchange rates. It is important to note that anticipated changes in exchange rates are already reflected in the market value of the company. For instance, when an Indian firm transacts business with an American firm, it has the expectation that the Indian rupee is likely to weaken vis-à-vis the US dollar. This weakening of the Indian rupee will not affect the market value (as it was anticipated, and hence already considered in valuation). However, in case the extent/margin of weakening is different from expected, it will have a bearing on the market value. The market value may enhance if the Indian rupee depreciates less than expected. In case, the Indian rupee value weakens more than expected, it may entail erosion in the firm's market value. In brief, the unanticipated changes in exchange rates (favorable or unfavorable) are not accounted for in valuation and, hence, cause economic exposure.

            Since economic exposure emanates from unanticipated changes, its measurement is not as precise and accurate as those of transaction and translation exposures; it involves subjectivity. Shapiro's definition of economic exposure provides the basis of its measurement. According to him, it is based on the extent to which the value of the firm—as measured by the present value of the expected future cash flows—will change when exchange rates change.

OPERATING EXPOSURE

Operating exposure is defined by Alan Shapiro as “the extent to which the value of a firm stands exposed to exchange rate movements, the firm’s value being measured by the present value of its expected cash flows”. Operating exposure is a result of economic consequences. Of exchange rate movements on the value of a firm, and hence, is also known as economic exposure. Transaction and translation exposure cover the risk of the profits of the firm being affected by a movement in exchange rates. On the other hand, operating exposure describes the risk of future cash flows of a firm changing due to a change in the exchange rate.

            Operating exposure has an impact on the firm's future operating revenues, future operating costs and future operating cash flows. Clearly, operating exposure has a longer-term perspective. Given the fact that the firm is valued as a going concern entity, its future revenues and costs are likely to be affected by the exchange rate changes. In particular, it is true for all those business firms that deal in selling goods and services that are subject to foreign competition and/or uses inputs from abroad.

            In case, the firm succeeds in passing on the impact of higher input costs (caused due to appreciation of foreign currency) fully by increasing the selling price, it does not have any operating risk exposure as its operating future cash flows are likely to remain unaffected. The less price elastic the demand of the goods/ services the firm deals in, the greater is the price flexibility it has to respond to exchange rate changes. Price elasticity in turn depends, inter-alia, on the degree of competition and location of the key competitors. The more differentiated a firm's products are, the less competition it encounters and the greater is its ability to maintain its domestic currency prices, both at home and abroad. Evidently, such firms have relatively less operating risk exposure. In contrast, firms that sell goods/services in a highly competitive market (in technical terms, have higher price elasticity of demand) run a higher operating risk exposure as they are constrained to pass on the impact of higher input costs (due to change in exchange rates) to the consumers.

           

            Apart from supply and demand elasticities, the firm's ability to shift production and sourcing of inputs is another major factor affecting operating risk exposure. In operational terms, a firm having higher elasticity of substitution between home-country and foreign-country inputs or production is less susceptible to foreign exchange risk and hence encounters low operating risk exposure.

                       

            In brief, the firm's ability to adjust its cost structure and raise the prices of its products and services is the major determinant of its operating risk exposure.