International Financial Management

International Financial Management
Introduction
The main objective of international financial management is to maximise shareholder wealth. Adam Smith wrote in his famous title, Wealth of Nations that if a foreign country can supply us with a commodity Cheaper than we ourselves can make it, better buy it of them with some part of the produce of our own in which we have some advantage.
Basic Functions
Acquisition of funds (financing decision)
This function involves generating funds from internal as well as external sources. The effort is to get funds at the lowest cost possible.
Investment decision
It is concerned with deployment of the acquired funds in a manner so as to maximize shareholder wealth. Other decisions relate to dividend payment, working capital and capital structure etc. In addition, risk management involves both financing and investment decision.
Nature & Scope

Finance function of a multinational firm has two functions namely, treasury and control.
The treasurer is responsible for
financial planning analysis fund acquisition investment financing cash management investment decision and risk management external reporting tax planning and management management information system financial and management accounting budget planning and control, and accounts receivables etc.
Controller deals with the functions related to
Environment at International Level

International financial management practitioners are required the knowledge in the following fields. the knowledge of latest changes in forex rates instability in capital market interest rate fluctuations macro level charges micro level economic indicators savings rate consumption pattern
investment behaviour of investors export and import trends Competition banking sector performance inflationary trends demand and supply conditions etc.
International financial manager will involve the study of

exchange rate and currency markets theory and practice of estimating future exchange rate various risks such as political/country risk, exchange rate risk and interest rate risk various risk management techniques cost of capital and capital budgeting in international context working capital management balance of payment, and international financial institutions etc.
Features of International Finance

Foreign exchange risk Political risk Expanded opportunity sets Market imperfections
Foreign exchange risk

In a domestic economy this risk is generally ignored because a single national currency serves as the main medium of exchange within a country. When different national currencies are exchanged for each other, there is a definite risk of volatility in foreign exchange rates.
The present International Monetary System set up is characterised by a mix of floating and managed exchange rate policies adopted by each nation keeping in view its interests.
In fact, this variability of exchange rates is widely regarded as the most serious international financial problem facing corporate managers and policy makers.
Political risk
Political risk ranges from the risk of loss (or gain) from unforeseen government actions or other events of a political character such as acts of terrorism to outright expropriation of assets held by foreigners. For example, in 1992, Enron Development Corporation, a subsidiary of a Houston based Energy Company, signed a contract to build Indias longest power plant. Unfortunately, the project got cancelled in 1995 by the politicians in Maharashtra who argued that India did not require the power plant. The company had spent nearly $ 300 million on the project.
Expanded Opportunity Sets

When firms go global, they also tend to benefit from expanded opportunities which are available now. They can raise funds in capital markets where cost of capital is the lowest. The firms can also gain from greater economies of scale when they operate on a global basis.
Market Imperfections
domestic finance is that world markets today are highly imperfect differences among nations laws, tax systems, business practices and general cultural environments
International Business Methods

Licensing Franchising Subsidiaries and Acquisitions Strategic Alliances Exporting

International Financial Management

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International Financial Management

Nature & Scope

Controller deals with the functions related to

Environment at International Level

International financial manager will involve the study of

Features of International Finance

Foreign exchange risk

Expanded Opportunity Sets

International Business Methods

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