Currency exposure
The goal of currency management is to minimize the short-term adverse effects of currency exhange rate fluctuations on the Group's earnings and financial position.
As Husqvarna Group sells products in approximately 100 countries, the Group is exposed to such exchange rate fluctuations. They affect the Group's earnings in terms of translation of income statements in foreign subsidiaries, i.e. translation exposure, as well as the sale of products on the export market and purchase of materials in foreign currecies, i.e. tansaction exposure.
The table shows the forecasted transaction flows (imports and exports) for the 12-month period of 2012 and hedges at year-end 2011.
| Commercial flows | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Currency | 2013 Forecast flow SEKm | 31 Dec 2012 Total hedgeamount SEKm | 2012 Forecast flow SEKm | 31 Dec 2011 Total hedgeamount SEKm |
| EUR | 2,416 | -1,878 | 2,385 | -1,986 |
| RUB | 808 | -517 | 758 | -498 |
| CAD | 709 | -455 | 642 | -393 |
| AUD | 547 | -343 | 406 | -306 |
| NOK | 388 | -243 | 337 | -223 |
| CHF | 304 | -236 | 289 | -223 |
| Other | 1,182 | -522 | 1,301 | -957 |
| JPY | -302 | 220 | -329 | 216 |
| CNY | -569 | 264 | -699 | 457 |
| USD | -1,163 | 970 | -1,830 | 1,409 |
| SEK | -4,320 | 2,740 | -3,260 | 2,504 |
| The effect of hedging on operating income amounted to SEK 129m (-118) during 2012. At year-end 2012, the unrealized exchange rate result on forward contracts amounted to SEK 4m (169), the majority of which will mature in 2013. | ||||
Translation and transaction exposure
Translation exposure is related primarily to earnings in JPY, EUR, CNY, RUB and USD while transaction exposure is related primarily to EUR, USD, RUB, CAD and CNY. The Group's globally widespread production and sales enable the various exchange-rate effects to offset each other to some extent.
Changes in exchange rates also affect Group equity. The difference between the assets and liabilities of foreign subsidiaries in foreign currencies is affected by such changes, which generate translation differences that impact equity. The Group does not normally hedge net investments in foreign operations. At year-end 2012, most foreign net assets were in USD and EUR. (For more information see note 2 in the Annual Report 2012)