Foreign Currency Translation

Multinational corporate managers, financial analysts, and accountants disagree on what constitutes the appropriate process of translating and consolidating foreign financial statements into US financial statements. In this book, first published in 1993, the author examines financial accounting regarding foreign currency translation for and by multinational corporations by developing: (a) an historical background for the topic, (b) a comparative analysis of two foreign currency translation accounting standards, (c) a topical review of relevant prior research, and (d) a study of multinational corporate managers’ actions when they face a choice between two accounting standards. This title will be of interest to students of business studies.

Inhaltsangabe:Abstract: The paper deals with foreign currency translation under IAS/IFRS considering hedging strategies that help to minimize foreign currency exposures. It is broadly described, which currency exposures companies face, which basic hedging strategies exist and how they are accounted for in consolidated financial statements of international groups. After the foreign currency exposures are introduced and basic hedging strategies for each of these exposures are provided, the procedure of foreign currency translations according to IAS 21 (revised 2003) is introduced. The paper deals with the translation of transactions denominated in currencies other than the company s home currency as well as with the inclusion of foreign subsidiaries in the consolidated financial statements. Therefore, various examples are provided. As the topic of the thesis is foreign currency hedging, a closer look is taken on IAS 39 (revised 2003) which includes introduction of the three kinds of hedging and their accounting as required by IAS 39. Especially the links between IAS 21 and IAS 39 are pointed out and analyzed. Also the section dealing with IAS 39 provides various examples that make the reader understand the accounting and consolidation procedures. At the end, exposure drafts of the IASB dealing with IAS 39 are introduced and the possible effects are briefly mentioned. This paper also includes a case study, based on the example of a big Chilean incorporated Company. This case study provides the problems and possible solutions of foreign currency risks a real company faces as well as the related accounting issues. Furthermore, the case study shows, how foreign currency hedges are accounted for using other accounting principles (here Chilean GAAP) and which steps have to be taken to perform a reconciliation from Chilean GAAP to IFRS. As the thesis has been presented at a German university, all questions and important points are seen from both, a theoretic view and a practical view. It provides the reader a comprehensive knowledge of currency translation and hedge accounting and makes him able to understand where these two topics are linked and which problems related to this topic companies face when preparing (consolidated) financial statements under IFRS. Inhaltsverzeichnis:Table of Contents: AcknowledgementsI AbbreviationsV List of TablesVII 1.ntroduction1 2.Management of Foreign Currency Risks5 2.1Currency Exposures5 2.1.1General [...]

From the Preface: This Study is concerned with the accounting techiques to be employed in the translation into Canadian currency of: 1) Transactions entered into by Canadian companies in which settlements are to be made in currencies other than Canadian dollars, and 2) Asset, liability, revenue and expense accounts of subsidiary companies and branches which carry on operations in countries other than Canada.