1. The Effects of Changes in Foreign Exchange Rates: IAS 21
Wiecek and Young
IFRS Primer
Chapter 35

2. The Effects of Changes in Foreign Exchange Rates
Related standards
IAS 21
Current GAAP comparisons
Looking ahead
End-of-chapter practice

3. Related Standards
FAS 52 Foreign Currency Translation

4. IAS 21 – Overview Objective and scope
Summary of the approach required by this standard
Reporting foreign currency transactions in the functional currency
Use of a presentation currency other than the functional currency
Disclosure

5. IAS 21 – Objective and Scope
Entity financial statements are sensitive to changes in foreign exchange rates
Three factors, which stem from the entity’s underlying business model and business environment
1. Foreign transactions (e.g., buying or selling in other countries)
2. Foreign operations (e.g., operating a business in other countries)
3. Presentation currency (e.g., presenting financial statements in another currency)
1. Transactions
Many entities enter into transactions denominated in other currencies as part of their normal day-to-day business activities
Any contract that is entered into, which is denominated in another currency and/or requires settlement in another currency, will be affected by changes in exchange rates
Examples include foreign purchases and borrowing/lending in another currency

6. IAS 21 – Objective and Scope
2. Operations
Entities may also own businesses that are located in different countries
Advantages may include tax incentives, access to raw materials, etc.
Foreign operation
An entity that is a subsidiary, associate, joint venture, or branch of a reporting entity, the activities of which are based or conducted in a country or currency other than those of the reporting entity
3. Presentation of financial statements
An entity may choose to present its financial statements in a foreign currency
An entity may do this because it accesses capital markets in another country
need to make the statements more comparable and understandable to local users

7. IAS 21 – Objective and Scope
Various currencies
Foreign currency is a currency other than the functional currency of the entity
Functional currency is the currency of the primary economic environment in which the entity operates
Presentation currency is the currency in which the financial statements are presented
Derivatives, hedges, and balances covered by IAS 39 are not covered by IAS 21
Except when the entity translates these items from its functional currency into its presentation currency

8. IAS 21 – Summary of the Approach Required by this Standard
The process
Step 1: Determine functional currency for both the parent and any foreign
operations (this will be used for measurement in step 2)
Step 2: Translate items into the functional currency
Step 3: Identify and translate items into the presentation currency

9. IAS 21 – Summary of the Approach Required by this Standard
Factors to consider in making the step 1 decision:
• Sales
• Regulatory and competitive environment
• Labor and raw materials
• Financing currency
• Operating currency
Additional factors for foreign subsidiaries
• Independence
• Relative volume/size of transactions with parent
• Cash management
• Self-sufficiency
If uncertain, management would give priority to the following factor
• Sales markets
• Labor and raw materials markets

10. IAS 21 – Reporting Foreign Currency Transactions in the Functional Currency
Initial recognition
Foreign currency transactions are initially recognized in the functional currency
Current exchange rate (known as the spot rate) is used in translating the foreign currency amount
Average weekly or monthly rate can be used
must be numerous transactions and the exchange rate does not fluctuate significantly
Reporting at the ends of subsequent reporting periods
In many cases, transactions result in balances that remain at the financial statement date
Balances are divided into two categories:
monetary
non-monetary

11. IAS 21 – Reporting Foreign Currency Transactions in the Functional Currency
Monetary items
Units of currency held and assets and liabilities to be received or paid in a fixed or determinable number of units of currency
E.g., receivables, payables, and cash balances
Defining attribute: fixed in terms of the amount of currency units that they represent
Non-monetary items
Everything else
Guidance for translating balances at the ends of subsequent periods
• Monetary items
At the year-end spot rate
• Non-monetary items that are measured in terms of historical cost in a foreign currency
At the historical exchange rate
• Non-monetary items that are measured at fair value in a foreign currency
At the rate in effect when the fair value was determined

12. IAS 21 – Reporting Foreign Currency Transactions in the Functional Currency

13. IAS 21 – Reporting Foreign Currency Transactions in the Functional Currency
Recognition of exchange differences
Any gains/losses produced on translation are recognized in profit or loss in the period they arise
Three exceptions
• Hedges
• Non-monetary items, where IFRSs require all related gains/losses to be recorded, for instance, to OCI
Related foreign exchange gains/losses should also be recorded to OCI
• Monetary item which is treated as part of the investment in the foreign operation,
is recorded to OCI
Such as a long-term receivable from a foreign operation
Change in functional currency
Where an entity changes its functional currency, the change is applied prospectively

14. IAS 21 – Use of a Presentation Currency Other than the Functional Currency
Translation to the presentation currency
Step 3 results in an additional translation, where the entity chooses to present its statements in a currency other than the functional currency
Guidance
• Assets and liabilities are recorded at the closing exchange rate
• Income and expenses are recorded at the rate in effect when the transactions occurred
• Resulting translations gains/losses are recorded through OCI
Translation gains and losses
Not recognized in profit or loss initially because they have little or no effect on present or future cash flows from operations
Will be recognized through profit or loss on disposal of the foreign operation
Hyperinflationary economy exists
All amounts are translated at the closing rates except for comparatives, which shall remain at the prior year’s translation rates
When the entity’s functional currency is that of a hyperinflationary economy, additional guidance is provided

15. IAS 21 – Use of a Presentation Currency Other than the Functional Currency
Translation of a foreign operation
Intercompany payables
Expose either the parent or foreign operation to an exchange risk
Related gains/losses are recorded through profit or loss
If they are part of the net investment, they are recorded to OCI
Foreign operation
Acceptable to have a different year end than the reporting entity
Year end must be within three months
Any significant changes or transactions in the intervening period are adjusted for
Statements of the foreign operation
Translated at the rates in effect at the date they are produced
Adjustments would be made for significant changes in exchange rates
Goodwill and fair value increments arising from business combinations are treated as assets of the foreign operation

16. IAS 21 – Use of a Presentation Currency Other than the Functional Currency
Disposal or partial disposal of a foreign operation
Upon disposal of the foreign operation
Any foreign exchange gains/losses previously recorded through OCI will be recorded through profit or loss
Portion of exchange gains/losses attributable to the non-controlling interest is derecognized but not through profit or loss
Disposals include
Loss of control
Loss of significant influence
Loss of joint control
Partial disposals
Include payment of dividends when the dividend payment is itself a return of investment or includes a return of investment

17. IAS 21 – Disclosure The following should be disclosed as per IAS 21
• Exchange gains and losses recorded through profit and loss and
comprehensive income
• Fact that the presentation currency is different from the
functional currency, if this is the case
• Where there has been a change in functional currency
Additional disclosures are required in certain situations

18. Current GAAP Comparisons
Pages 22, 44 & 70 of 164 of

19. Current GAAP Comparisons
IFRS requires that non-monetary items measured at fair value be translated at the date the fair value determined (rather than balance sheet date)
IFRS has more comprehensive guidance for hyperinflationary economies
Disclosure are different

20. Looking Ahead
Since the IASB and FASB have largely converged the standards, this topic is not part of the short-term convergence project
There are no plans to study issues relating specifically to foreign currency translation, as covered by IAS 21

21. End-of-Chapter Practice

22. End-of-Chapter Practice
35-3 Lactose Inc. entered into the following transactions this year. The functional currency is U.S. dollars, which is also the presentation currency.
Issued a long-term receivable to a foreign subsidiary. Lactose does not intend to collect this money within the foreseeable future. The receivable is denominated in the functional currency of the foreign subsidiary.
Sold inventory for 100 FCUs in a foreign country when the exchange rate was $1FCU = $1.1. As a result of this, the receivables are still due at year end when the rate is $1FCU = $1.5.
Established a foreign subsidiary with a functional currency of FCUs.
Established a foreign subsidiary with a functional currency of U.S. dollars.
Took out a loan in FCUs with a U.S. bank due in 10 years.
Instructions
Discuss how each of these would be accounted for.
35-4 Grunge Inc. has a foreign subsidiary whose functional currency is U.S. dollars (the same as Grunge). Grunge is currently preparing its annual financial statements and is in the process of translating the foreign subsidiary statements for consolidation purposes. Grunge would like to know how to handle the following.
Goodwill that arose when the subsidiary was first acquired.
Fair value increment (arising from the same acquisition) allocated to buildings. The buildings are accounted for under the revaluation method.
Inventory that is carried at the lower of cost and net realizable value (cost is 100 FCUs and net realizable value is 90 FCUs). The inventory was acquired when the exchange rate was 1 FCU = $.90.
The year-end exchange rate is 1 FCU = $1.1.
Discuss how each item should be accounted for in Grunge Inc.’s year-end statements.

23. End-of-Chapter Practice

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