CHAPTER 9  MANAGEMENT OF ECONOMIC EXPOSURE
SUGGESTED ANSWERS AND SOLUTIONS TO END-OF-CHAPTERappreciates
QUESTIONS AND PROBLEMS
QUESTIONS
1.  How would you define economic exposure to exchange risk?
Answer:  Economic exposure can be defined as the possibility that the firm’s cash flows and thus its market value may be affected by the unexpected exchange rate changes.
2.  Explain the following statement: “Exposure is the regression coefficient.”
Answer:  Exposure to currency risk can be appropriately measured by the sensitivity of the firm’s future cash flows and the market value to random changes in exchange rates. Statistically, this sensitivity can be estimated by the regression coefficient. Thus, exposure can be said to be the regression coefficient.
3.  Suppose that your company has an equity position in a French firm. Discuss the condition under which the dollar/franc exchange rate uncertainty does not constitute exchange exposure for your company.
Answer:  Mere changes in exchange rates do not necessarily constitute currency exposure. If the French franc value of the equity moves in the opposite direction as much as the dollar value of the franc changes, then the dollar value of the equity position will be insensitive to exchange rate movements. As a result, your company will not be exposed to currency risk.
4.  Explain the competitive and conversion effects of  exchange rate changes on the firm’s operating cash  flow.
Answer:  The competitive effect: exchange rate changes may affect operating cash flows by altering the firm’s competitive position.
The conversion effect: A given operating cash flows in terms of a foreign currency will be converted into higher or lower dollar (home currency)amounts as the exchange rate changes.
5.  Discuss the determinants of operating exposure.
Answer:  The main determinants of a firm’s operating exposure are (1) the structure of the markets in which the firm sources its inputs, such as labor and materials, and sells its products, and (2) the firm’s ability to mitigate the effect of exchange rate changes by adjusting its markets, product mix, and sourcing.
6.  Discuss the implications of purchasing power parity for operating exposure.
Answer:  If the exchange rate changes are matched by the inflation rate differential between countries, firms’ competitive positions will not be altered by exchange rate changes. Firms are not subject to operating exposure.
7.  General Motors exports cars to Spain but the strong dollar against the peseta hurts sales of GM cars in Spain. In the Spanish market, GM faces competition from the Italian and French car makers, such as Fiat and Renault, whose currencies remain stable relative to the peseta. What kind of measures would you recommend so that GM can maintain its market share in Spain.
Answer:  Possible measures that GM can take include: (1) diversify the market; try to market the cars not just in Spain and other European countries but also in, say, Asia; (2) locate production facilities in Spain and source inputs locally; (3) locate production facilities, say, in Mexico where production costs are low and export to Spain from Mexico.
8.  What are the advantages and disadvantages of financial  hedging of the firm’s  operating exposure vis-à-vis  operational hedges (such as relocating manufacturing  site)?
Answer:  Financial hedging can be implemented quickly with relatively low costs, but it is difficult to hedge against long-term, real exposure with financial contracts. On the other hand, operational hedges are costly, time-consuming, and not easily reversible.
9.  Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of maintaining multiple manufacturing sites as a hedge against exchange rate exposure.
Answer:  To establish multiple manufacturing sites can be effective in managing exchange risk exposure, but it can be costly because the firm may not be able to take advantage of the economy of scale.
10.  Evaluate the following statement: “A firm can reduce its currency exposure by diversifying across different business lines.”
Answer:  Conglomerate expansion may be too costly as a means of hedging exchange risk exposure. Investment in a different line of business must be made based on its own merit.
11. The exchange rate uncertainty may not necessarily mean that firms face exchange risk exposure. Explain why this may be the case.
Answer:  A firm can have a natural hedging position due to, for example, diversified markets, flexible sourcing capabilities, etc. In addition, to the extent that the PPP holds, nominal exchange rate changes do not influence firms’ competitive positions. Under these circumstances, firms do not need to worry about exchange risk exposure.