Trerec Co. is a privately owned oil drilling and refinery company with a significant
amount of debt. Most of the company’s cash flows come from the financially stable
refinery unit of the business. With only the assets in place, the company is very likely
to avoid financial distress for the foreseeable future. Avoiding financial distress is very
important to the owners, who founded the company. The company is considering a new
oil drilling project, determined to have a positive NPV. Because of the nature of oil
prices, the project is very risky. At any oil price above $115, the project would add
value to the company. However, if oil prices were to fall below $95 the losses could
push the entire business into financial distress. Assume the risk-free interest rate is 0
percent. Which of the following strategies would allow the firm to pursue the positive
NPV project while hedging the oil price risk?
The firm purchases call options with a strike price of $130 for each barrel of oil it
expects to produce. Each option costs $6.
The firm sells call options with a strike price of $130 on each barrel of oil it
expects to produce. Each option costs $6.
The firm purchases put options with a strike price of $130 on each barrel of oil it
expects to produce. Each option costs $6.
The firm sells put options with a strike price of $130 on each barrel of oil it
expects to produce. Each option costs $6.