This thesis consists of extensions of results on a perpetual American swaption problem. Companies routinely plan to swap uncertain benefits with uncertain costs in the future for their own benefits. Our work explores the choice of timing policies associated with the swap in the form of an optimal stopping problem. In this thesis, we have shown that Hu, Oksendal's (1998) condition given in their paper to guarantee that the optimal stopping time is a.s. finite is in fact both a necessary and sufficient condition. We have extended the solution to the problem from a region in the parameter space where optimal stopping times are a.s. finite to a region where optimal stopping times are non-a.s. finite, and have successfully calculated the probability of never stopping in this latter region. We have identified the joint distribution for stopping times and stopping locations in both the a.s. and non-a.s. finite stopping cases. We have also come up with an integral formula for the inner product of a generalized hyperbolic distribution with the Cauchy distribution. Also, we have applied our results to a back-end forestry harvesting model where stochastic costs are assumed to exponentiate upwards to infinity through time. / Graduation date: 2013

Submitted by Rafael Dornaus (rdornaus@gmail.com) on 2014-02-27T12:12:05Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao_Rafael_Dornaus_final.pdf: 328250 bytes, checksum: 10e077bd9676695e06f4328ff3a2327f (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Suzinei Teles Garcia Garcia (suzinei.garcia@fgv.br) on 2014-02-27T12:16:20Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao_Rafael_Dornaus_final.pdf: 328250 bytes, checksum: 10e077bd9676695e06f4328ff3a2327f (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2014-02-27T12:32:37Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao_Rafael_Dornaus_final.pdf: 328250 bytes, checksum: 10e077bd9676695e06f4328ff3a2327f (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-01-29 / Este trabalho visa contribuir para a discussão e o instrumental a cerca dos benefícios de controle nas empresas e a forma de estimá-lo. Para tanto, utilizou-se uma abordagem baseada da teoria de opções reais, com foco no diferencial de preço entre classes de ações no Brasil entre janeiro de 2002 a novembro de 2013. Foram examinadas 44 empresas listadas no período, levando a uma amostra de 23.322 observações semanais. Foi encontrada evidência empírica para dar suporte à hipótese da existência de uma opção de venda perpétua sobre os benefícios de controle da empresa de titularidade do controlador da empresa e o efeito negativo que variações no prêmio desta exercem sobre o diferencial de preços entre as classes de ações. Em tempo, também foi encontrada evidência que sugere que o nível de governança corporativa e a proteção aos acionistas minoritários, medidos através do nível de listagem da empresa na BM&FBovespa estão positivamente relacionados com o nível de diferencial de preços. Por outro lado, a inclusão de dados que englobam o período do pós-crise do sub-prime norte-americano não deu suporte para inferir que o nível do diferencial de dividendos exerça pressão positiva no diferencial de preços entre as classes de ações. / This paper aims at contributing to the discussion around private benefits of control and the instrumental to estimate it. Therefore, we analyzed the differential pricing of equity classes in Brazil from January 2002 to November 2013 based on the theory of real options. We examined 44 Brazilian listed firms throughout the period resulting in a sample of 23.322 weekly observations. We found empirical evidence that supports our hypothesis regarding the existence of a perpetual put option on the private benefits of the controlling shareholder and the negative effect its premium deals on the dual-class price differential. We also found evidence suggesting that the level of corporate governance and minority shareholder protection represented by the level of share listing in the BM&FBovespa stock exchange is positively associated with the price differential level. On the other hand, the inclusion of data that covers the post North American sub-prime crisis did not provide evidence that the level dividend differentials is positively related to the dual-class price differential.

O presente trabalho tem como objetivo final a verificação da aplicabilidade da Teoria das Opções Reais (TOR) em investimentos de papel e celulose, considerando o Movimento de Reversão à Média (MRM) nos fatores de risco, dado um modelo de gerenciamento de curto prazo, no âmbito de um estudo de caso da Fibria Celulose S.A. para o setor de papel e celulose no Brasil. Nesta dissertação, testa-se a aderência da série histórica de preços da celulose de fibra curta da Fibria, no período entre 2003 e 2013, a um modelo estocástico de reversão à média, sendo este modelo validado para o presente estudo. Uma vez o modelo validado, determinam-se os parâmetros para realização de cálculos e análises fundamentais para se chegar aos objetivos intermediários, etapa preliminar aos resultados do objetivo final. Dentre os cálculos e análises citados, ressaltam-se: determinação dos VPLs dinâmicos e os valores das Opções Reais europeias sequenciais para a Simulação de Monte Carlo com Processo Neutro ao Risco; construção e análise da Árvore Binomial com Processo Neutro ao Risco; construção e análise das Regiões de Gatilho para preços e lucros marginais em um Processo Real; comparação das Regiões de Gatilho com as determinadas pelas Árvores Binomiais. Assim, com tais análises, confirma-se, nesta dissertação, a aplicabilidade da Teoria das Opções Reais na Análise de Investimento no setor celulósico-papeleiro. / The present work has the ultimate purpose of verifying the applicability of the Real Options Theory in the pulp and paper investment, considering the Mean Reversion Movement in the risk factors, given a short-term management model, within a study of Fibria Celulose S.A. for the pulp and paper industry in Brazil. This dissertation tests the adherence of Fibria's short fiber pulp historical price series, between 2003 and 2013 to a stochastic mean reversion model, being this model validated in the present study. Once the model is validated, the parameters for calculations and fundamental analyzes are determined to reach intermediate goals, preliminary step to the results of the final goal. Among the cited calculations and analyzes, it is emphasized: determination of dynamic NPVs and values of the sequential European Real Options for the Monte Carlo Simulation with Risk Neutral Process; construction and analysis of the Binomial Tree with Risk Neutral Process; construction and analysis of the Trigger Regions for prices and marginal profits in a Real Case; Comparison between Trigger Regions and those determined by the Binomial Trees.So with such analyzes, it is confirmed, in this work, the applicability of the Real Option Theory on Investment Analysis in pulp and paper industry. / Dissertação (mestrado) - Pontifícia Universidade Católica. Departamento de Engenharia Industrial, Rio de Janeiro, 2014. / Bibliografia: p. [109]-113.

The agricultural sector plays an important role in the South African economy through job creation and earning foreign exchange. The role of agricultural co-operatives increased substantially over the last few decades. The research focuses firstly on the identification of derivative instruments in the market and their applicability to mitigate financial risks co-operatives experience. Secondly, research is conducted about the extent to which co-operatives use these derivatives to hedge financial risks. The research shows that most co-operatives are exposed to financial risks through different activities. It is, however, evident that although the derivative instruments are available, not all co-operatives make use of these instruments. Recommendations for further research include the development of a risk management framework and determining the different economic factors that have an influence on the use of derivatives by South African agricultural co-operatives. / Business Management / M.Comm.

The study investigates whether the main capital market theories and pricing models provide a reasonably accurate description of the working and efficiency of capital markets, of the pricing of shares and options and the effect the risk/return relationship has on investor behaviour. The capital market theories and pricing models included in the study are Portfolio Theory, the Efficient Market Hypothesis (EMH), the Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM), the Arbitrage Pricing Theory (APT), Options Theory and the BlackScholes (8-S) Option Pricing Model. The main conclusion of the study is that the main capital market theories and pricing models, as reviewed in the study, do provide a reasonably accurate description of reality, but a number of anomalies and controversial issues still need to be resolved. The main recommendation of the study is that research into these theories and models should continue unabated, while the specific recommendations in a South African context are the following: ( 1) the benefits of global diversification for South African investors should continue to be investigated; (2) the level and degree of efficiency of the JSE Securities Exchange SA (JSE) should continue to be monitored, and it should be established whether alternative theories to the EMH provide complementary or better descriptions of the efficiency of the South African market; (3) both the CAPM and the APT should continue to be tested, both individually and jointly, in order to better understand the pricing mechanism of, and risk/return relationship on the JSE; (4) much South African research still needs to be conducted on the efficiency of the relatively new options market and the application of the B-S Option Pricing Model under South African conditions. / Financial Accounting / M. Com. (Accounting)

The agricultural sector plays an important role in the South African economy through job creation and earning foreign exchange. The role of agricultural co-operatives increased substantially over the last few decades. The research focuses firstly on the identification of derivative instruments in the market and their applicability to mitigate financial risks co-operatives experience. Secondly, research is conducted about the extent to which co-operatives use these derivatives to hedge financial risks. The research shows that most co-operatives are exposed to financial risks through different activities. It is, however, evident that although the derivative instruments are available, not all co-operatives make use of these instruments. Recommendations for further research include the development of a risk management framework and determining the different economic factors that have an influence on the use of derivatives by South African agricultural co-operatives. / Business Management / M.Comm.

The study investigates whether the main capital market theories and pricing models provide a reasonably accurate description of the working and efficiency of capital markets, of the pricing of shares and options and the effect the risk/return relationship has on investor behaviour. The capital market theories and pricing models included in the study are Portfolio Theory, the Efficient Market Hypothesis (EMH), the Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM), the Arbitrage Pricing Theory (APT), Options Theory and the BlackScholes (8-S) Option Pricing Model. The main conclusion of the study is that the main capital market theories and pricing models, as reviewed in the study, do provide a reasonably accurate description of reality, but a number of anomalies and controversial issues still need to be resolved. The main recommendation of the study is that research into these theories and models should continue unabated, while the specific recommendations in a South African context are the following: ( 1) the benefits of global diversification for South African investors should continue to be investigated; (2) the level and degree of efficiency of the JSE Securities Exchange SA (JSE) should continue to be monitored, and it should be established whether alternative theories to the EMH provide complementary or better descriptions of the efficiency of the South African market; (3) both the CAPM and the APT should continue to be tested, both individually and jointly, in order to better understand the pricing mechanism of, and risk/return relationship on the JSE; (4) much South African research still needs to be conducted on the efficiency of the relatively new options market and the application of the B-S Option Pricing Model under South African conditions. / Financial Accounting / M. Com. (Accounting)

L'approche traditionnelle des produits dérivés consiste, sous certaines hypothèses bien définies, à construire des stratégies de couverture à risque strictement nul. Cependant,dans le cas général ces stratégies de couverture "parfaites" n'existent pas,et la théorie doit plutôt s'appuyer sur une idée de minimisation du risque. Dans ce cas, la couverture optimale dépend de la quantité du risque à minimiser. Dans lecadre des options, on considère dans ce travail une nouvelle mesure du risque vial'approche de l'utilité espérée qui tient compte, à la fois, du moment d'ordre quatre,qui est plus sensible aux grandes fluctuations que la variance, et de l'aversion aurisque de l'émetteur d'une option vis-à-vis au risque. Comparée à la couverture endelta, à l'optimisation de la variance et l'optimisation du moment d'ordre quatre,la stratégie de couverture, via l'approche de l'utilité espérée, permet de diminuer lasensibilité de la couverture par rapport au cours du sous-jacent. Ceci est de natureà réduire les coûts des transactions associées / The traditional approach of derivatives involves, under certain clearly defined hypothesis, to construct hedging strategies for strictly zero risk. However, in the general case these perfect hedging strategies do not exist, and the theory must be rather based on the idea of risk minimization. In this case, the optimal hedging strategy depends on the amount of risk to be minimized. Under the options approach, we consider here a new measure of risk via the expected utility approach that takes into account both, the moment of order four, which is more sensitive to fluctuations than large variance, and risk aversion of the investor of an option towards risk. Compared to delta hedging, optimization of the variance and maximizing the moment of order four, the hedging strategy, via the expected utilitiy approach, reduces the sensitivy of the hedging approach reported in the underlying asset price. This is likely to reduce the associated transaction costs.