Real options valuation of forest plantation investments in Brazil

In this paper, we consider investments in eucalyptus plantations in Brazil. For such projects, we discuss real options valuation in the place conventional methods such as IRR or NPV, possibly with CAPM. Traditionally, real options valuation assumes complete markets and neglects market imperfections. Yet, market frictions, such as transaction costs, interest rate spreads, and restricted short positions, can play an important role. We extend real options valuation to allow incomplete and imperfect markets. The value is obtained as a competitive price, given markets of competing investment opportunities, such as real and financial assets. Under perfect and complete markets, such valuation method is consistent with conventional real options theory. Stochastic programming and standard software is used for valuation of eucalyptus plantations. We estimate the underlying interdependent diffusion processes of stock market, interest rates, exchange rates and pulpwood price, and derive novel expressions of stochastic integrals to be employed in scenario generation for discrete time stochastic programming.     

竞争条件下公司最优投资策略纳什均衡分析

大多数实物期权文献都只是研究一个公司在没有竞争条件下的最优决策,然而实际上竞争者的行为经常影响到公司的投资机会.通过建立投资概率是临界值的函数模型,根据期权博弈理论研究了在不确定条件和不同信息结构下,一个或多个公司的最优投资策略纳什均衡解,并用MATLAB语言对案例进行了仿真分析,画图说明了参数变化对投资策略的影响.     

Renewable energy investments under different support schemes: A real options approach

This paper adopts a real options approach to analyze investment timing and capacity choice for renewable energy projects under different support schemes. The main purpose is to examine investment behavior under the most extensively employed support schemes, namely, feed-in tariffs and renewable energy certificate trading. We consider both multiple sources of uncertainty under each support scheme and uncertainty with respect to any change of support scheme, and we obtain both analytical (when possible) and numerical solutions. In a Nordic case study based on wind power, we find that the feed-in tariff encourages earlier investment. Nevertheless, as investment has been undertaken, renewable energy certificate trading creates incentives for larger projects. In our baseline scenario and taking the fixed feed-in tariff as a base, the revenue required to trigger investments is 61% higher with renewable certificates. At the same time, investment capacity is 61% higher.     

决策依赖不确定条件下基于复合实物期权估值的工程系统投资决策研究

不确定性是复杂工程系统的内在属性,在决策依赖不确定条件下对工程系统的投资决策需考虑不确定性与决策过程之间的交互作用,使得投资决策问题的求解非常困难.提出了决策依赖不确定条件下复合实物期权估值的最小二乘模拟算法,方法较好地解决了在决策依赖不确定条件下由于不同期权价值相互耦合所带来的计算复杂性,进一步拓展了最小二乘模拟算法在期权估值中的应用,基于该方法,可以比较方便地解决决策依赖不确定条件下工程系统投资决策问题.     

Optimal investment under operational flexibility, risk aversion, and uncertainty

Traditional real options analysis addresses the problem of investment under uncertainty assuming a risk-neutral decision maker and complete markets. In reality, however, decision makers are often risk averse and markets are incomplete. We confirm that risk aversion lowers the probability of investment and demonstrate how this effect can be mitigated by incorporating operational flexibility in the form of embedded suspension and resumption options. Although such options facilitate investment, we find that the likelihood of investing is still lower compared to the risk-neutral case. Risk aversion also increases the likelihood that the project will be abandoned, although this effect is less pronounced. Finally, we illustrate the impact of risk aversion on the optimal suspension and resumption thresholds and the interaction among risk aversion, volatility, and optimal decision thresholds under complete operational flexibility.     

An approach to the valuation and decision of ERP investment projects based on real options

The risks and uncertainties inherent in most enterprise resources planning (ERP) investment projects are vast. Decision making in multistage ERP projects investment is also complex, due mainly to the uncertainties involved and the various managerial and/or physical constraints to be enforced. This paper tackles the problem using a real-option analysis framework, and applies multistage stochastic integer programming in formulating an analytical model whose solution will yield optimum or near-optimum investment decisions for ERP projects. Traditionally, such decision problems were tackled using lattice simulation or finite difference methods to compute the value of simple real options. However, these approaches are incapable of dealing with the more complex compound real options, and their use is thus limited to simple real-option analysis. Multistage stochastic integer programming is particularly suitable for sequential decision making under uncertainty, and is used in this paper and to find near-optimal strategies for complex decision problems. Compared with the traditional approaches, multistage stochastic integer programming is a much more powerful tool in evaluating such compound real options. This paper describes the proposed real-option analysis model and uses an example case study to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach.     

新兴产业两阶段期权规划决策模型

新兴产业中处于横向竞争地位的初创企业,会呈现渐变和突变两种不同的演化状态。不同状态下的横向竞争企业,价值变化都具有高度的不确定性。为了降低投资决策的不确定性风险,获取稳定的投资收益,对处于渐变和突变状态下的初创企业,首先运用期权组合的方法,进行第一阶段的变量预估决策;然后依据期权投资的收益情况,再运用线性规划技术进行第二阶段的补偿优化决策。论文通过阿里巴巴、京东、苹果和诺基亚四家样本公司的数据,检验了两阶段期权规划决策模型的实际效果,结论显示该方法能降低新兴产业投资中的不确定性干扰,在获取稳定收益的同时,使风险处于可控状态。     

实物期权方法在自主创新项目投资决策中的应用

传统的投资决策方法由于蕴含着不确定性和可逆转性的假设使其不适应于高风险、高收益并存的自主创新项目投资决策.将实物期权思想融入自主创新项目投资决策方法,考虑了项目由于柔性经营的期权价值,能更准确地反映项目的价值,从而提高投资决策的科学性和合理性.从实物期权理论的基本原理出发,通过具体实例对比说明实物期权方法应用于自主创新项目投资决策的优势.     

随机利率下的PPP项目实物期权评价研究

PPP项目通常实施周期长,风险突出。传统的实物期权评价方法考虑了未来的不确定性和管理者柔性的价值,但是一般假设无风险利率是固定的,不符合利率长期内波动的特点,会造成投资者决策失误。本文考虑了未来无风险利率波动条件下,PPP项目中实物期权的价值。首先分析了PPP项目中通常存在的期权形式,其次研究了无风险利率三角逆变函数以及在此基础上得出模拟实物期权模型,并用案例对比分析固定利率和随机利率下的期权价值。结果显示,随机利率比固定利率下的期权价值更高,研究结论可以为PPP项目的投资者进行决策提供重要依据。     

Valuing interdependent multi-stage IT investments: A real options approach

In this paper, we use the market asset disclaimer assumption and develop a binomial lattice based real options model to include cash flow interdependencies between multi-stage information technology (IT) investments. Using a simple two-stage IT investment problem with interdependent cash flows, we apply the binomial lattice based real options model to obtain combined valuation of the two-stage IT investment. In addition to investment valuation, our experience with the two-stage IT investment valuation suggests that the binomial lattice based real options model provides a powerful decision aid tool for appropriate timing, delaying and abandoning of the second-stage IT investment.     

投资项目的期权评价与最优投资规则

本文介绍了不确定环境下的投资项目的期权评价方法和最优投资规则，研究了单期项目和连续投资项目的投资决策问题，探讨了实物期权评价方法与传统的净现值评价方法中最优投资规则的差异，并对影响最优投资规则的差异因素进行了敏感性分析，得出了直观而有实用价值的结论。     

奈特不确定条件下企业有成本可逆投资策略研究

风险是企业投资决策关键影响因素之一,采纳奈特不确定性来刻画风险,并在此基础上构建了模糊规避偏好和投资有成本可逆条件下企业投资决策模型.模型结果表明企业最优投资策略为双阈值策略:企业增加投资以避免资本边际收益大于上限阈值,削减资本存量以避免资本边际收益低于下限阈值,当资本边际收益处于上下限阈值之间时,企业既不增加投资也不削减资本.比较静态分析显示奈特不确定性增加会降低最优投资策略上下限阈值范围.     

Irreversible capital accumulation under interest rate uncertainty

We consider the optimal sequential irreversible investment policy of a value maximizing firm facing decreasing returns to scale and interest rate uncertainty. We characterize the optimal accumulation policy and its value for a broad class of diffusion models of the short interest rate by focusing on the marginal investment decision and deriving the marginal value of capital explicitly. We also state a set of conditions under which there is a maximal capital stock above which the option to expand productive capacity further in the future becomes valueless. Hence, our results indicate that interest rate uncertainty may limit the size of an optimally investing firm.     

Real options in strategic investment games between two asymmetric firms

This paper examines strategic investment games between two firms that compete for optimal entry in a project that generates uncertain revenue flows. Under asymmetry on both the sunk cost of investment and revenue flows of the two competing firms, we investigate the value of real investment options and strategic interaction of investment decisions. Compared to earlier models that only allow for asymmetry on sunk cost, our model demonstrates a richer set of strategic interactions of entry decisions. We provide a complete characterization of pre-emptive, dominant and simultaneous equilibriums by analyzing the relative value of leader’s and follower’s optimal investment thresholds. In a duopoly market with negative externalities, a firm may reduce loss of real options value by selecting appropriate pre-emptive entry. When one firm has a dominant advantage over its competitor, both the dominant firm and dominated firm enter at their respective leader’s and follower’s optimal thresholds. When the pre-emptive thresholds of both firms happen to coincide, the two firms enter simultaneously. Under positive externalities, firms do not compete to lead.     

基于成长期权的数字保存项目的投资时机选择研究

数字保存是数字图书馆建设环节的关键技术,由于开发技术、市场环境等不确定的存在,投资决策的时机选择决定了投资的收益.借助实物期权理论,通过合理假设,构建了基于成长期权理论的数字保存项目的投资时机决策模型,并求解出了项目的最佳投资时机.     

The impact of delivery lags on irreversible investment under uncertainty

We consider the valuation and rational exercise of irreversible investment opportunities in the presence of revenue uncertainty and delivery lags. In order to capture supply side market imperfections in the markets for investment goods, we assume that the lag depends on the revenue process faced by the investor. We show that such imperfections have a pronounced decelerating impact on rational investment demand as they may increase the value of waiting in excess of the exercise payoff even for projects which otherwise would be perceived as highly remunerative. We also consider the comparative static properties of the optimal investment policy and its value, and demonstrate that typically increased uncertainty decreases the investment incentives by increasing the value of waiting.     

Volume flexibility and capacity investment: a real options approach

This paper considers the investment decision of a firm where it has to decide about the timing and capacity. We obtain that in a fast-growing market, right after investment the firm produces below capacity, where the utilization rate (the proportion of capacity that is used for production right after the investment) increases with market uncertainty for a very big market trend, and shows no monotonicity for a moderately large market trend. On the other hand, we get that, for a slowly growing or shrinking market, the firm produces up to capacity right after investment. In the intermediate case, the firm produces up to capacity right after investment when uncertainty is low and below capacity when uncertainty is high, whereas the utilization rate decreases with the market uncertainty.     

Valuing the flexibility of investing in security process innovations

In this paper, we develop a decision model of a firm’s optimal strategy for investment in security process innovations (SPIs) when confronted with a sequence of malicious attacks. The model incorporates real options as a methodology to capture the flexibility embedded in such investment decisions. SPIs, when seamlessly integrated with the organization’s overall business dynamics, induce organizational learning and provide the flexibility of switching to more suitable technologies as the environment of malicious attacks changes. The theoretical contribution of this paper is a mathematical model of the invest-to-learn and switching options generated upon early investment in flexible SPIs. The practical significance of the paper is the application of a binomial lattice model to approximate the continuous-time model, resulting in an easy to use decision aid for managers.     

Investment in electric energy storage under uncertainty: a real options approach

In this paper we develop a real options approach to evaluate the profitability of investing in a battery bank. The approach determines the optimal investment timing under conditions of uncertain future revenues and investment cost. It includes time arbitrage of the spot price and profits by providing ancillary services. Current studies of battery banks are limited, because they do not consider the uncertainty and the possibility of operating in both markets at the same time. We confirm previous research in the sense that when a battery bank participates in the spot market alone, the revenues are not sufficient to cover the initial investment cost. However, under the condition that the battery bank also can receive revenues from the balancing market, both the net present value (NPV) and the real options value are positive. The real options value is higher than the NPV, confirming the value of flexible investment timing when both revenues and investment cost are uncertain.     

Regret aversion and annuity risk in defined contribution pension plans

The high value of the implicit option to choose a retirement date at which interest rates are particularly high and life annuities relatively cheap, leads to the possibility to introduce regret aversion in the retirement investment decision of defined contribution plan participants. As a remedy for regret aversion in retirement investment decisions, this paper develops and prices a lookback option on a life annuity contract. We determine a closed-form option value under the restriction that the option holder invests risklessly during the time to maturity of the option and without the guarantee that the exact amount of retirement wealth is converted into a life annuity at retirement. Thereafter the investment restriction is relaxed and the guarantee of exact conversion is imposed and the option is priced via Monte Carlo simulations in an economic environment with a stochastic discount factor. Option price sensitivities are determined via the pricing of alternative options. We find that the price of a lookback option, with a maturity of three years, amounts to 8%–9% of the wealth at the option issuance date. The option price is highly sensitive to the exercise price of the option, i.e. pricing alternative options (e.g. Asian) substantially lowers the price. Time to maturity and interest rate volatility are other important option price drivers. Asset allocation decisions and initial interest rates hardly affect the option price.