Translation Exposure Hersheys Company

The changes in the liabilities and asset valuation are specifically a challenge in the international business due to the fluctuations in the rates of exchange that can create paper benefits and losses for the mother corporation. The liabilities and assets valuation is international transactions should be translated into the local currency. The changes in the rates of exchange of the currencies could create considerable benefits or loses and the recognition of these into the income statement could lead to a distorted picture of the actual occurrences in the corporation. As a result, there is a natural hedge against the translation risk exposure. In the instance of translation risk exposure, it implies the balancing of liabilities and asset values held in another nation.

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The focus of the Corporation is to increase its presence in major international markets whereas continuing to grow its competitive advantage in the regions that it already operates. Presently, the Company runs through two reportable divisions, which are aligned with the structure of its management and the major markets in which it operates.

The financial statements of Hersheys foreign transactions with functional currencies apart from the United States dollar are translated into the United States dollars. However, the consequent adjustments in the translation are recorded as a part of the other comprehensive income (loss). Nevertheless, the assets together with liabilities are also translated into the United States dollars by the use of the rates of exchange effective at the date on the balance sheet, whereas income and expense ones are translated by the use of the average rates of exchange in that period.

The company also has branches in Dubai, Mexico and Canada, which are all operational. Hershey has exposed its venture in the subsidiaries net assets (=assets shareholders equity or liabilities) to the risk of fluctuations in the rate of exchange. Investing capital in the branches, both initially and via retained earnings, leads to the companys later receiving cash; that is from the dividends together with the sale of the branch, in varying amounts due to fluctuations in the value of the foreign currencies.

Hershey, being on self-contained operations (in which functional currency = the foreign currency) have to follow the GAAP, and utilize the all-current translation approach. This approach translates liabilities and assets by the use of rate of exchange on the balance sheets date. It translates incomes, net income as well as expenses by the use of the average rate of exchange in that period. The adjustment in the foreign exchange due to application of this approach appears in the other comprehensive income as well as a different shareholders equity account; however, it does not affect the net income every period. Hersheys Company uses derivative instruments essentially in the offsetting of exposure to the market risks as a result of the shifts in the costs of products, the rates of the foreign currency exchange and the rates of interest. These instruments are recorded on the balance sheet at their fair values. When the company becomes party to a derivative instruments, where they plan to use hedge accounting, they designate it for the purposes of financial reporting as a fair value hedge or even cash flow. The accounting for variations or adjustments in the fair value; that is loses or benefits, of a derivative instrument is dependent on whether they had designated it and then it fitted appropriately as part of a hedging connection, as indicated below:

Adjustments in the derivatives fair value, which is set as a cash flow hedge are indicated in the AOCI (accumulated other comprehensive income) to the effective level and categorized into revenues during the same period or even periods whereby the transaction, which that derivative hedged also impacts the earnings.

Adjustments in a derivatives fair value, which is regarded as a fair value hedge, together with the offsetting profits or loss on the hedged liability or asset that can be associated with the hedged risk, are recorded in the section of earnings, hence reflecting in the revenues the net level to which the hedge does not effectively accomplish the offsetting adjustments in the fair value.

Adjustments in a derivatives fair value that is not designated as a tool of hedging are noted in the revenues in the cost of sales, which is consistent with the associated exposure.

For the derivatives recognized as hedges, Hersheys Company examines both at its introduction and on a continual basis, regardless of whether they are very effective in the compensation of costs in fair values or even cash flows of the items that are hedged. If in any case there is an ineffective section, it is noted directly in the revenues. Furthermore, if they realize that a derivative is not very effective as a hedger, or even that is has stopped being a very effective hedge, they suspend prospectively hedge accounting. The company does not give or hold derivative tools for the purposes of speculation or trading and are not part of any tolls with features of prepayment or leverage. Cash flows associated with the derivative tools used in the management of interest, commodity or even any other currency exposures are categorizes or grouped ad operating activities.

Hedging away risks, which are not associated with the core business objectives of the company can also render the financial statements more comprehensive and investors might reward or give them with a higher value. Therefore, the changes in the revenues for the global company, which hedges the risk of exchange rates will mirror the operating performance of the company instead of the luck of the draw if it comes to the issue of the rates of exchange.