For nearly two decades, countless non-profits in the U.S. were forced to pay big banks enormous sums of money to settle or terminate bilateral contracts known as Interest Rate Swaps (IRSs). Officials at non-profits had entered into these costly contracts unaware that each contract has only one winner, and that big banks did not intend to be the losers.The effects of such monetary transfers have been catastrophic. Money-strapped non-profits had to dismiss schoolteachers, shut off water supply to thousands of poor households, and downsize many other essential public services. Local and state governments, public school districts, universities, hospitals and transit authorities from New York to Los Angeles have been among the largest hit.This book presents selected cases and highlights the lack of evidence that decision makers at non-profits had fully understood the terms and complexities of IRSs. The evident unequal bargaining power thus gives rise to the high likelihood of unconscionable contracting. Additionally, for terminating these contracts, big banks collected huge sums of money for services that had not been, and will never be, rendered. Accordingly, questions arise as to whether these termination payments are tantamount to unjust enrichment.Related Link(s)

With the exponential growth in financial derivatives, accounting standards setters have had to keep pace and devise new ways of accounting for transactions involving these instruments, especially hedging activities. Accounting for Risk, Hedging and Complex Contracts addresses the essential elements of these developments, exploring accounting as related to today's most relevant topics - risk, hedging, insurance, reinsurance, and more. The book begins by providing a basic foundation by discussing the concepts of risk, risk types and measurement, and risk management. It then introduces readers to the nature and valuation of free standing options, swaps, forward and futures as well as of embedded derivatives. Discussion and illustrations of the cash flow hedge and fair value hedge accounting treatments are offered in both single currency and multiple currency environments, including hedging net investment in foreign operations. The final chapter is devoted to the disclosure of financial instruments and hedging activities. The combination of these topics makes the book a must-have resource and reference in the field. With discussions of the basic tools and instruments, examinations of the related accounting, and case studies to help students apply their knowledge, this book is an essential, self-contained source for upper-level undergraduate and masters accounting students looking develop an understanding of accounting for today's financial realities.

For nearly two decades, countless non-profits in the U.S. were forced to pay big banks enormous sums of money to settle or terminate bilateral contracts known as Interest Rate Swaps (IRSs). Officials at non-profits had entered into these costly contracts unaware that each contract has only one winner, and that big banks did not intend to be the losers.The effects of such monetary transfers have been catastrophic. Money-strapped non-profits had to dismiss schoolteachers, shut off water supply to thousands of poor households, and downsize many other essential public services. Local and state governments, public school districts, universities, hospitals and transit authorities from New York to Los Angeles have been among the largest hit.This book presents selected cases and highlights the lack of evidence that decision makers at non-profits had fully understood the terms and complexities of IRSs. The evident unequal bargaining power thus gives rise to the high likelihood of unconscionable contracting. Additionally, for terminating these contracts, big banks collected huge sums of money for services that had not been, and will never be, rendered. Accordingly, questions arise as to whether these termination payments are tantamount to unjust enrichment.Related Link(s)