Homework 5
Homework 5
Homework 5
(Due Nov 29th)
For each question, find one answer. This is not a group assignment. You are allowed to work in groups,
but ALL HOMEWORKS ARE TO BE SUBMITTED IN-CLASS INDIVIDUALLY.
1. A forward contract:
(a) requires that payment be made in full when the contract is originated.
(b) buyer is obligated to take delivery and has the option to pay the lower of the spot market price or the
contract price.
(d) buyer without any prior position has a payoff profile that is an upward sloping linear function of the
spot price.
(a) The buyer of an option contract pays the option premium in exchange for locking in a future
transaction at the strike price.
(b) The buyer of an option contract pays the strike price at the time the option is purchased and in
exchange receives the right to exercise the option at any time during the option period.
(c) The buyer of a call option profits when the exercise price exceeds the market price.
(b) II and IV
4. A mining company sells platinum wholesale to jewelry retailers. The company currently has a sizable
platinum inventory. Which one of the following option positions would the company most likely take and
why?
5. Firms with which of the following characteristics are most apt to frequently use derivatives?
(b) II and IV
(a) -$109,680
(b) -$137.10
(d) $109,680
7. You are the buyer for a cereal company and you must buy 80,000 bushels of corn next month. The
futures contracts on corn are based on 5,000 bushels and are currently quoted at $4.15 per bushel for
delivery next month. If you want to hedge your cost, you should _____ contracts at a cost of _____ per
contract.
8. Suppose a financial manager buys a call option on oil with an exercise price of $31 per barrel. She
simultaneously sells a put option on oil with the same exercise price of $31 per barrel. Her net profit per
barrel is _____ if the price per barrel is $29 and _____ if the price per barrel is $35. Ignore premiums and
taxes.
(a) -$4; $2
(b) -$2; $0
(c) $0; $2
(d) -$2; $4
9. Which of the following will decrease the value of a call option?
(a) II only
10. Mark owns both a March $20 put and a March $20 call on Alpha stock (i.e. both expire in March and
have strike prices of $20). Which one of the following statements correctly relates to Mark's position?
Ignore taxes and transaction costs.
(a) A March $30 call is worth more than Mark's $20 call.
(b) If the payoff of Mark's put increases by $1 then the payoff of his call must either decrease by $1 or
equal zero.
(c) A price decrease in Alpha stock will increase the value of Mark's call option, and a price increase in
Alpha stock will increase the value of Mark's put.
(d) The time premium on an April $20 put is less than the time premium on Mark's put (Assume both puts
expire in the same calendar year).
11. Recall that equity shareholders have limited liability when the firm is unable to pay its debt, but have
claims to the company’s profits in excess of its debt obligations. Delta Importers has debt with market
value of $180,000. The assets of the firm are currently worth $265,000. The shareholders in this firm
basically own a _____ option on the assets of the firm with a strike price of _____.
(b) lower systematic risk and increase the value of the firm.
13. Which one of the following is true about the acquisition price in a merger agreement?
(a) The fair value that target shareholders should receive includes any synergies that may arise from the
merger
(b) The acquiring firm usually pays exactly the fair value of the target company
(c) Upon announcement of a merger agreement, the target stock price usually rises substantially
(d) Acquiring a firm is usually not a positive NPV project for the acquirer
14. Which one of the following is true about gains from a merger?
(a) The market for corporate control always ensures that mismanaged firms are acquired and improved
(b) In a tender offer, the acquirer needs to pay a marked up price such that much of the value from
synergy gains go to target shareholders
(a) Companies with entrenched management are more likely to have takeover defense mechanisms.
(b) Poison pills give shareholders of the acquiring company the right to buy target company shares at a
deep discount.
(c) Staggered boards make it easier for a corporate raider to obtain board seats.
(d) Takeover defense mechanisms always protect the target company shareholders from loss of
shareholder value