Multinational Financial Management:An Overview

Multinational Financial Management:An Overview

Multinational Financial Management:An Overview

11 Chapter Chapter

B1 - 2

Chapter Objectives

• To identify the main goal of the multinational corporation (MNC) and conflicts with that goal;

• To describe the key theories that justify international business; and

• To explain the common methods used to conduct international business.

B1 - 3

Goal of the MNC

• The commonly accepted goal of an MNC is to maximize shareholder wealth.

B1 - 4

Conflicts Against the MNC Goal

• For corporations with shareholders who differ from their managers, a conflict of goals can exist - the agency problem.

• Agency costs are normally larger for MNCs than for purely domestic firms.¤ The sheer size of the MNC.¤ The scattering of distant subsidiaries.¤ The culture of foreign managers.¤ Subsidiary value versus overall MNC value.

B1 - 5

Impact of Management Control

• The magnitude of agency costs can vary with the management style of the MNC.

• A centralized management style reduces agency costs.

• Increase agency Cost> However, a decentralized style gives more control to those managers who are closer to the subsidiary’s operations and environment.

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Centralized Multinational Financial Managementfor an MNC with two subsidiaries, A and B

FinancialManagersof Parent

Capital Expendituresat A

Inventory andAccounts

ReceivableManagement at A

CashManagement

at A

Financing at A

Capital Expendituresat B


ReceivableManagement at B

CashManagement

at B

Financing at B

B1 - 7

Decentralized Multinational Financial Managementfor an MNC with two subsidiaries, A and B

FinancialManagers

of A

Capital Expendituresat A


ReceivableManagement at A

CashManagement

at A

Financing at A

Capital Expendituresat B


ReceivableManagement at B

CashManagement

at B

Financing at B

FinancialManagers

of B

B1 - 8


• Some MNCs attempt to strike a balance - they allow subsidiary managers to make the key decisions for their respective operations, >> but the decisions are monitored by the parent’s management.

B1 - 9


• Electronic networks make it easier for the parent to monitor the actions and performance of foreign subsidiaries.

• For example, corporate intranet or internet email facilitates communication. Financial reports and other documents can be sent electronically too.

B1 - 10

Impact of Corporate Control

• Various forms of corporate control can reduce agency costs.¤ Stock compensation for board members

and executives.¤ The threat of a hostile takeover.¤ Monitoring and intervention by large

shareholders.

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Constraints Interfering with the MNC’s Goal

• As MNC managers attempt to maximize their firm’s value, they may be confronted with various constraints.¤ Environmental constraints.¤ Regulatory constraints.¤ Ethical constraints.>> Mini Discussion

B1 - 12

Why are firms motivated to expand their business internationally?

Theories of International Business

Theory of Comparative Advantage¤ Specialization by countries can increase

production efficiency> Advance Technology or Cheap labor

Imperfect Markets Theory¤ The markets for the various resources used

in production are “imperfect.”> immobility of factors of production > Costly and Restricted

B1 - 13

Why are firms motivated to expand their business internationally?

Theories of International Business

Product Cycle Theory¤ As a firm matures, it may recognize

additional opportunities outside its home country.

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Firm exports product to accommodate foreign demand.

Firm creates product to accommodate local demand.

The International Product Life Cycle

Firm establishes foreign subsidiary to establish presence in foreign country and possibly to reduce costs.

a. Firm differentiates product from competitors and/or expands product line in foreign country.

b. Firm’s foreign business declines as its competitive advantages are eliminated.

or

B1 - 15

InternationalBusiness Methods

• International trade is a relatively conservative approach involving exporting and/or importing.¤ The internet facilitates international trade

by enabling firms to advertise and manage orders through their websites.

There are several methods by which firms can conduct international business.

B1 - 16


• Licensing allows a firm to provide its technology in exchange for fees or some other benefits.> Quality control is difficult

• Franchising obligates a firm to provide a specialized sales or service strategy, support assistance, and possibly an initial investment in the franchise in exchange for periodic fees.> KFC, McDonald’s, Pizza Hut

B1 - 17


• Firms may also penetrate foreign markets by engaging in a joint venture (joint ownership and operation) with firms that reside in those markets.> Xerox Corp

• Acquisitions of existing operations in foreign countries allow firms to quickly gain control over foreign operations as well as a share of the foreign market.

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Summary

• Firms can also penetrate foreign markets by establishing new foreign subsidiaries.

• In general, any method of conducting business that requires a direct investment in foreign operations is referred to as a direct foreign investment (DFI).

• The optimal international business method may depend on the characteristics of the MNC.

B1 - 19

Degree of International Business by MNCs

26%

62% 58%

33%

47%50%

66%

12%

46%40%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

Campbell'sSoup

DowChemical

IBM Motorola Nike

Foreign Sales as a % of Total Sales

Foreign Assets as a % of Total Assets

B1 - 20

Managing for Value

• Value of an MNC is important to stakeholders

• Like domestic projects, foreign projects involve an investment decision and a financing decision.

• When managers make multinational finance decisions that maximize the overall present value of future cash flows, they maximize the firm’s value, and hence shareholder wealth.

B1 - 21

n

ttt

k1=

$,

1

CF E = Value

E (CF$,t ) = expected cash flows to be received at the end of period tn = the number of periods into the future in which cash flows are receivedk = the required rate of return by investors

Valuation Model for an MNC

• Domestic Model

B1 - 22

n

tt

m

jtjtj

k1=

1 , ,

1

ER ECF E

= Value

E (CFj,t ) = expected cash flows denominated in currency j to be received by the U.S. parent at the end of period tE (ERj,t ) = expected exchange rate at which currency j can be converted to dollars at the end of period tk = the weighted average cost of capital of the U.S. parent company


• Valuing International Cash Flows

B1 - 23


• An MNC’s financial decisions include how much business to conduct in each country and how much financing to obtain in each currency.

• Its financial decisions determine its exposure to the international environment.

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Impact of New International Opportunities on an MNC’s Value

Exchange Rate Risk

n

tt

m

jtjtj

k1=

1 , ,

1

ER ECF E

= Value

Political Risk

Exposure toForeign Economies

B1 - 25

Uncertainty Surrounding an MNCs Cash Flows

• International Economic Condition¤ Economic conditions affect demand> Income

• International Political risk (country risk)¤ Political actions affect cash flows> Tax, barrier,

boycott by consumers

• Exchange rate risk¤ Exchange rate fluctuations affect cash flows

and foreign demand> weak foreign currency

International business usually increases an MNC’s exposure to:

Multinational Financial Management:An Overview

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