Publications
Publications
- March 2004 (Revised May 2005)
- HBS Case Collection
Foreign Exchange Hedging Strategies at General Motors
By: Mihir A. Desai and Mark Veblen
Abstract
How should a multinational firm manage foreign exchange exposures? Examines transactional, translational, and competitive exposures. Describes General Motors' corporate hedging policies, its risk management structure, and how accounting rules impact hedging decisions. Although the overall corporate hedging policy provides a consistent approach to the foreign exchange risks that General Motors must manage, there are situations where the company must consider deviations from prescribed policies. Describes three such situations: large exposure to the Canadian dollar with adverse accounting consequences, GM's exposure to the Argentinean currency when devaluation is widely anticipated, and the impact of the depreciation of the Japanese yen to the dollar. To obtain executable spreadsheets (courseware), please contact our Customer Service Department at custserv@hbsp.harvard.edu
Keywords
Risk Management; Multinational Firms and Management; Currency Exchange Rate; Investment; Financial Markets; Manufacturing Industry; Auto Industry; Argentina; Japan; Canada; United States
Citation
Desai, Mihir A., and Mark Veblen. "Foreign Exchange Hedging Strategies at General Motors." Harvard Business School Case 204-024, March 2004. (Revised May 2005.)