The impact of exchange volatility exposure on firms’ foreign-denominated debts: Evidence from Korea

Abstract

Purpose

This research began by acknowledging that conventional analysis on the foreign exchange exposure could not adequately reflect firms’ risk management strategies, which firms take actions against uncertainties raised by foreign exchange. In order to conceptualize uncertainty aroused by foreign exchange, the purpose of this paper is to develop an index that could measure corporate profits’ sensitivity to foreign exchange uncertainty and examine its possibility of utilization.

Design/methodology/approach

As an alternative to foreign exchange exposure, the present research derived the foreign exchange volatility exposure and analyzed the determinants of foreign currency-denominated debt in terms of foreign exchange volatility exposure. The foreign exchange volatility exposure draws from partially differentiating a firm’s operating profits to the exchange rate volatility.

Findings

The major findings are as follows. First, before the Asian financial crisis, South Korean enterprises had similar responses to the exchange volatility exposure as compared with the exchange exposure on procuring foreign-denominated debt. Second, since the global financial crisis (GFC), not only have Korean firms’ response mechanisms to both exposures changed, but also the significance of exchange volatility exposure has been further emphasized. Furthermore, Korean companies have dealt with exchange uncertainties by decreasing foreign-denominated debt as their foreign exchange volatility exposure increased after GFC. In contrast, the influence of conventional exchange exposure on foreign-denominated debt has diminished.

Research limitations/implications

Future research should focus on several points. First, additional research could extend to foreign investors who have divergent perception and consideration in regard to foreign exchange risk management. Second, research on decision making and motivation in foreign currency choice should be conducted in order to deepen academic understanding. Third, research that refines the variables added in the current research should be conducted. Finally, as a way to manage foreign exchange volatility exposure, further investigation based on this study is possible.

Practical implications

The results of this study have several important theoretical and empirical implications for companies’ foreign exchange risk management strategy. First, through foreign exchange volatility exposure, which can usefully take over the role of the existing foreign exchange exposure, the authors can confirm market uncertainty as being relevant to the foreign exchange risk management strategy. Second, through the financial influence that the foreign exchange volatility exposure has on the foreign currency-denominated debt, the authors can observe the Korean firms’ paradigm shifts in their foreign exchange risk management strategies.

Originality/value

This research confirms the importance of foreign exchange volatility exposure in the research works dealing with firms’ exchange risk management, also the possible influence of foreign exchange volatility exposure in the future might be increased as uncertainty is raised from foreign exchange escalating.

Citation

Min, Y. and Yang, O.S. (2019), "The impact of exchange volatility exposure on firms’ foreign-denominated debts: Evidence from Korea", Management Decision, Vol. 57 No. 11, pp. 3035-3060. https://doi.org/10.1108/MD-04-2017-0383