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BMW Currency Hedging 2007 Case Solution

Solution Id Length Case Author Case Publisher
1572 1246 Words (5 Pages) Jose Manuel Campa, Maria Oleaga IESE : IES204
This solution includes: A Word File A Word File and An Excel File An Excel File

Leveraging on its currency hedging strategy, BMW is using an equilibrium rate 1.15 US$/ Euro to 1.17 US$/ Euro. This equilibrium rate could serve the purpose of hedging if we are looking at the shorter period of time. In the longer period, most of the economic factors kick in which can effect the exchange rate substantially. That’s why in the longer period it might not be appropriate for BMW to use such an equilibrium rate. 

Following questions are answered in this case study solution

  1. How would you evaluate BMW’s transaction and operating exposure?

  2. What do you think of BMWs hedging strategy?

  3. Taking into account the evolution of the US$ / Euro exchange rate during the last few years do you consider a range of 1.15 US$ / Euro to 1.17 US$ / Euro to be an appropriate equilibrium rate?

  4. How would you define such an Equilibrium exchange rate?

  5. According to BMW’s net exposure and its holding strategy, how do you think the impact of currency fluctuations is on profit and its stock market value? How would you quantify it? 

  6. BMW like to follow a hedging strategy for its operations. How can this strategy help the firm in minimizing the US dollar exposure?  

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Case Analysis for BMW Currency Hedging 2007

1. How would you evaluate BMW’s transaction and operating exposure?

The transaction exposure of BMW’s is due to the risk of being involved in the international trade that fluctuating exchange rates can result in gains/losses at the time of settlement of a financial obligation that BMW had undertaken. The fact that the companies sales network consists of 34 group owned sales-companies and around 3000 dealerships in 150 countries expose BMW to transaction risk and operating exposure to a large extent. 

There are various other factors that are contributing to the increasing operating exposure such as the ongoing weakening of US dollars and Japanese Yen. BMW procure raw material using these currencies in which exchange rate fluctuation increase the operating risk of BMW’s expenses. 

As the US account for the 25% of the total sales of BMW group. The production facility in the US cannot cater to such huge demand that’s why the US had to import incremental demand. The incremental revenue is worth of $7.4 Billion. The transaction of payment for this demand possesses huge transaction exposure. The reason being the conversion into euros which is effected by the fluctuation of exchange rate.

Also, revenues of BMW are effected by the operating exposure. In 2007, the revenue increased by 14.3%. The company estimated that the exchange rate operating risk has reduced the growth of revenue. If the company had zero operating exposure, its revenues would have increased by 17.6%. The excel sheet shows that the total exposure to the exchange rate is 21,778. This means that the total amount that ca be affected as a result of exchange rate fluctuation is 9,415 million euro. The operational exposure is calculated by deducting the total liabilities from total assets.  

2. What do you think of BMWs hedging strategy?

Currently, BMW is following a strategy of natural hedging in which normal operating procedures are used to mitigate risk. The prime strategy is to match the operating expenses with operating revenues. The objective is to offset the exchange rate effects by canceling the revues fluctuation against expense fluctuation. The rationale behind this strategy is that the cars produced in one country should not sell to other countries, hence eliminating the currency risk exposure. Currently, the US had to import cars in order to meet the demand. But if the production capacity of US plant is increased, it will not import anything from outside. Consequently, there will be no transaction take place, which will minimize the transaction exposure. 

BMW also pursued a strategy of buying forward contract and options. The maturities of these derivatives instruments are three years. The option strategy does not incur any expense as the company is purchasing long and short options. The premium paid for the long option is set off against the premium received for the short option. The company is hedging the future losses due to exchange rate by buying the future contract. This contract allows the company to hedge cancel the future losses as the company as the company will sacrifice the future gains. These strategies are allowing BMW to secure the downside risk while benefiting from the upside potential. The no expense strategy in case of options is also cost-saving strategy which mitigates the exchange rate risk to some extent. 

The company is using an internally developed model to hedge foreign exchange risk. The Equilibrium rate shown by this model represent all the countries with witch BMW deals with. This rate indicates when these currencies are over or undervalued. As the other countries exchange rates fluctuate; therefore, this internally generated model is not suitable. 

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