Tid: 25 maj 2018 kl 9.50-10.25.

Föredragshållare: Carl Åkerlind and Filip Kwetczer (Master thesis)

Titel: Hedging foreign exchange exposure in private equity using financial derivatives

Abstract This thesis sets out to examine if and how private equity funds should hedge foreign exchange exposure. To our knowledge the field of foreign exchange hedging within private equity, from the private equity firms? point of view, is vastly unexplored scientifically. The subject is important since foreign exchange risk has a larger impact on private equity returns now than historically due to increased competition, cross-boarder investments and foreign exchange volatility. In order to answer the research question a simulation model is constructed and implemented under different scenarios. Foreign exchange rates are simulated and theoretical private equity funds are investigated and compared under different performance measures. The underlying mathematical theory originates from the work of Black and Scholes. The main result of this thesis is that private equity funds cannot achieve a higher internal rate of return on average through hedging of foreign exchange exposure independent of the slope of the foreign exchange forward curve. However, hedging strategies yielding the same mean internal rate of return but performing better in terms of performance measures accounting for volatility of returns have been found. Furthermore, we found that the conclusions are independent of whether the current or forward foreign exchange rate is a better approximation for the future foreign exchange rate.

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