Using Fuzzy Logic in Corporate Finance: An Example of a Multinational Cash Flow Netting Problem

Recent globalization of markets has led to corporate activities that span numerous national boundaries within a single multinational corporation. We address the particular problem of cash flow management in a multinational setting. Uncertainty regarding changes in exchange rates, differences between currency bid and ask prices, possibly unknown changes in both lending and borrowing rates, and uncertain cash flows from subsidiaries make this problem difficult to specify in a traditional crisp environment. In this paper, we show how fuzzy programming techniques can be employed to handle the general problem of multinational cash flow netting. We also provide a specific numerical example comparing the results of the crisp and fuzzy contexts with the aid of sensitivity analysis.