Presentation V2
Presentation V2
Presentation V2
Introduction This presentation deals with General Motors risk management strategies especially concerning currency risk exposures. Roadmap: 1. Necessity for MNCs to hedge currency risk 2. GMs hedge policy 3. CAD Exposure 50% or more? 4. CAD Exposure Forwards or Options? 5. Argentinean Peso Exposure
Why Hedge?
Companies with global operations face three kinds of risks Transactional, Translational, Economic. Foreign exchange rate risk involves the potential for exchange rate changes to harm the financial position of a firm involved in global operations. Failure to hedge may result in cash flow being very volatile. The exchange losses or gains may lend unpredictability to the net income and shareholders equity.
50% forward contracts-Months one through six months and 50% options-months seven through twelve In the combined hedge, the options had to make up 25% of hedge position. Policy is too constricted -The derivatives market is fluid -Rolling forward -Over-or under-hedged
Inflows
Outflows Total B/S Assets 2,597
11,613
13.294 (1,682) Amt ( million) Liability 4739 (2,143)
Assumption n Spot Price(CAD/USD) : 1.578 Forward Price(CAD/USD) : 1.578 Tax Rate: 33.40% Scenario: +/- 3.1%
( in millions)
future spot price movement Commercial Exposure Gain/loss on hedged position 17 (16) -3.10% +3.1%
(43)
(18) (0.03) -0.40%
41
17 0.03 0.38%
( in millions)
future spot price movement Commercial Exposure Gain/loss on hedged position 26 (24) -3.10% +3.1%
(43)
(12) (0.02) -0.27%
41
11 0.02 0.26%
Forwards or Options?
options :higher payoff when the CAD depreciates, higher loss when the CAD apreciates. Intuitively, considering the volatility and the premium cost, forward contracts are more desirable.
General Motors and Argentina (II) GM has one assembly plant in Argentina, and a total of $300 million in net operational exposure, and also faces a substantial amount of translational risk due to devaluation of the Peso in the future. To calculate the average volatility for GM, (as transactional exposure is affected by volatility in the medium and short terms, while translational exposure is mainly affected in the medium term), we take the average volatility of 45% in our calculations.
What GM Should Have Done As forward prices were rising (rise in volatility), GM should have seen this as an indication of possible devaluation in the future, and should have converted its excess cash and current revenues into stable currencies (example USD) a while ago. While it has managed to do so to a certain extent already, we argue that this should have been standard practice due to the inherent uncertainty of a 1:1 peg system.
What GM Should Do Now GM can adopt a strategy of paying its employees and suppliers as per the real exchange rate between the Peso and the Dollar, calculated by comparing the PPPs of both countries. It should also demand its receivables from the Argentinean government instantly, in order to convert them into USD before devaluation. If this is not possible, it can enter into a forward contract with the government at a predetermined exchange rate, in order to partially offset its exposure.
What GM Should Do Now (II) We have calculated the implied risk of the net exposure to be as follows Net Exposure x 40% x Average Volatility of Peso = 300*0.5*0.45 = $67.5 million. Thus, GM should choose to hedge against these risks as long as the costs do not exceed 67.5 million. Ongoing translational exposure will affect the book value of both, assets and liabilities over a period of time. Thus, they are largely affected by medium-term volatility and should be hedged using one-year forward contracts.
Conclusion Hedging Its good! But only when its responsible. Hedging isnt an all access pass to risk-taking! Canada GM has a huge transactional exposure in Canada. Thus, it needs a diversion in its hedging policy. Argentina GM should have done more to prepare itself for Argentinas Peso devaluation. BUT, its not too late now. It can hedge + aim to change its receivables to USD while keeping its liabilities in Pesos. It can also fix rates according to the PPP to ensure fair value.
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