School of Education, Culture and Communication

Tutor: Jan Röman

Caps and Floors

(MMA708)

Authors:

Chiamruchikun Benchaphon 800530-4129

Klongprateepphol Chutima 820708-6722
Pongpala Apiwat 801228-4975
Suntayodom Thanasunun 831224-9264

December 2, 2008
Västerås
 CONTENTS

Abstract…………………………………………………………………………. (i)

Introduction…………………………………………………………………….. 1

Caps and caplets……………………………………………………………...... 2

Definition…………………………………………………………….……. 2
The parameters affecting the cap price…………………………………… 6
Strategies …………………………………………………………………. 7
Advantages and disadvantages..…………………………………………. 8

Floors and floorlets..…………………………………………………………… 9

Definition ...……………………………………………………………….. 9
Advantages and disadvantages ..………………………………………….. 11

Black’s model for valuation of caps and floors……….……………………… 12

Put-call parity for caps and floors……………………..……………………… 13

Collars…………………………………………..……….……………………… 14
Definition ...……………………………………………………………….. 14
Advantages and disadvantages ..………………………………………….. 16

Exotic caps and floors……………………..…………………………………… 16

Example…………………………………………………………………………. 18
Numerical example.……………………………………………………….. 18
Example – solved by VBA application.………………………………….. 22

Conclusion………………………………………………………………………. 26

Appendix - Visual Basic Code………………………………………………….. 27

Bibliography……………………………………………………………………. 30
 ABSTRACT

The behavior of the floating interest rate is so complicate to predict. The investor who lends
or borrows with the floating interest rate will have the risk to manage his asset. The interest
rate caps and floors are essential tools to hedge risks. Our report will show their useful and
present how to price them.

(i)
 INTRODUCTION

Caps and floors are one of the most popular interest rate derivatives in the over- the-counter
market which are used as tools to manage floating interest rate. They protect against adverse
rates risk, while allowing gains from favorable rate movements. Caps and floors are forms of
option contracts, conferring potential benefits to the purchaser and potential obligations on
the seller. When purchasing a cap or floor, the buyer pays a premium- typically up-front.
Though their characteristics are similar to the option contract but they are more difficult to
value because of some behaviors of an underlying asset.

To find their values, it is necessary to understand their basic concepts. That is the first part of
our paper. We introduce the definitions and then explain how to derive the pricing formula.
Next we present the parameters affecting the price, some strategies, the advantages and
disadvantages. Next part is using Black’s model to price the caps and floors. Then we
introduce collars which is the composition of caps and floors. A collar is created by
purchasing a cap or floor and selling the other. The premium due for the cap (floor) is
partially offset by the premium received for the floor (cap), making the collar an effective
way to hedge rate risk at low cost. For more understanding, we illustrate the numerical
examples for caps, floors and collars in the next part. The last part, we built an application in
Visual Basic Application (VBA) which is a useful tool to value caps, floors and collars. We
present it by the simply example to understand how to use this application.

    
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Interest rate derivatives are instruments whose payoffs are dependent in some way on the
level of interest rate. But they are more difficult to value than equity and foreign exchange
derivatives by a number of reasons.

1. The behavior of an individual interest rate is more complicated than that of a stock
price or an exchange rate.
2. For the valuation of many products it is necessary to develop a model describing the
behavior of the entire zero-coupon yield curve.
3. The volatilities of different points on the yield curve are different.
4. Interest rates are used for discounting as well as for defining the payoff from the
derivative.

(Hull, John C., 2006, p. 611)

There are many interest rate derivatives in the over-the-counter market. One of the most
popular derivatives is the interest rate caps and floor.

Notation:

N : Nominal amount

δ : Tenor of the interest rate derivative

l(t) : Money market interest rate

K : Cap rate or Floor rate (Strike)

F : Forward rate

P(t,T) : Price at time t of zero-coupon bond paying $1 at time T

T : Time to maturity of the interest rate derivative

σ : Volatility

CAPS AND CAPLETS

Definition

An interest rate cap is designed to provide insurance against the floating interest rate rising
above a certain level. This level is known as the “cap rate”. It protects a borrower against the
risk of paying very high interest rate. The borrower, who buys the caps, receives payments at
the end of each period in which the interest rate exceeds the agreed strike price. More
specifically, it is a collection of caplets, each of which is a call option on the LIBOR rate at a
specified date in the future.
Bank and institutions will use caps to limit their risk exposure to upward movements in short
term floating rate debt. Caps are equally attractive to speculators as considerable profits can
be achieved on volatility plays in uncertain interest rate environments.

   
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Suppose we have a loan with face value of N and payment dates t1 < t2 <… < tn, where ti+1 -
ti = δ for all i. The interest rate (l(ti, ti -δ)) to be paid at time ti is determined by the δ-period
money market interest rate prevailing at time ti – δ. For example, the interest rate to be paid in
the next 90-day (t90-day) is determined by the 90-day money market interest rate prevailing at
now (t0). The payment at time ti is equal to the face value multiplies by the interest rate and
the period, which we can write in the mathematic term as Nδl(ti, ti -δ). Note that the interest
rate is set at the beginning of the period, but paid at the end. Define t0 = t1 - δ. The date’s t0,
t1,... tn -1 where the rate for the coming period is determined are called the reset dates of the
loan.
If a borrower buy a cap with a face value N, the payment dates ti where i = 1,…,n as above
and the cap rate K yields a time ti . The cap’s payoff is Nδmax{l(ti, ti - δ) - K, 0}, for i =
1,2,…, n. The period length δ is often referred to as the tenor of the cap. In practice, the tenor
is typically either 3, 6, or 12 months. The time distance between payment dates coincides
with the “maturity” of the floating interest rate.

A cap can be seen as a portfolio of interest rate options. This cap leads to a payoff at time ti of

Ctii = Nδ max {l (ti , t i −δ ) − K ,0} (1)

This equation is a call option on the LIBOR rate observed at time ti - δ with the payoff
occurring at time ti. The cap is a portfolio of n such options. LIBOR rate are observed at time
ti - δ for a period δ and the corresponding payoff occur at time t1, t2, t3,…, tn. The n call options
underlying the cap are known as caplets. The payoff diagram is shown as in the figure below.

   
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From the graph, if there is no cap, the borrower has to pay more and more for the higher
floating interest rate. But if there is a cap, that means the borrower has a limit to pay not more
than the cap rate.

An interest rate cap can also be characterized as a portfolio of put options on zero-coupon
bonds with payoffs on the puts occurring at the time they are calculated. The payoff at time ti
is equivalent to
Nδ
max {l (t i , t i −δ ) − K ,0}
1 + δ l ( t i , t i −δ )

or

⎛ N (1 + δ K ) ⎞
max ⎜ N − ,0 ⎟
⎝ 1 + δ l ( t i , t i −δ ) ⎠

The expression
N (1 + δ K )
1 + δ l (ti , ti −δ )

is the value of a zero-coupon bond that pays off N(1+δK) at time ti. The expression above is
therefore the payoff from a put option, with maturity ti, on a zero-coupon bond with maturity
ti when the face value of the bond is N(1+δK) and the strike price is N. It follows that an
interest rate cap can be regarded as a portfolio of European put options on zero-coupon
bonds.

   
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From the equation (1) the i’th caplet yields a payoff at time ti of

Ctii = Nδ max {l (ti , t i −δ ) − K ,0}

This payoff is the value of the caplet at time ti but we want to find the caplet’s value before
time ti. In the other word, this value is the future value of the caplet so we have to find the
present value of this to be the caplet’s price. We can obtain its value in the interval between ti
– δ and ti by a simple discounting of the payoff.

Cti = p(t, ti ) N δ max {l (ti , ti −δ ) − K , 0}, ti −δ ≤ t ≤ ti

In particular,
Ctii −δ = p(ti , ti −δ ) Nδ max {l(ti , ti −δ ) − K , 0}

The relation between the price of a zero-coupon bond at time t with maturity at T and the
forward rate l(t, T) is
1
p( t , T ) =
1 + l (t,T ).(T − t )
or

1 ⎛ 1 ⎞
l (t,T ) = ⎜ − 1⎟
T − t ⎝ p( t , T ) ⎠
We then have

Ctii −δ = p(ti , ti −δ ) N max {1 + δ l (ti , ti −δ ) − (1 + δ K ), 0}

⎧ 1 ⎫
= p(ti , ti −δ ) N max ⎨ − (1 + δ K ), 0 ⎬
⎩ p(ti , ti −δ ) ⎭
⎧ 1 ⎫
= N (1 + δ K )max ⎨ − p(ti , ti −δ ), 0 ⎬
⎩ (1 + δ K ) ⎭

We can now see that the value at time ti - δ is identical to the payoff of a European put option
expiring at time ti - δ that has an exercise price of 1/(1 + δK) and is written on a zero-coupon
bond maturing at time ti. Accordingly, the value of the i’th caplet at an earlier point in time t
≤ ti - δ must equal the value of that put option.

If we denote the price of a call option on a zero-coupon bond at time t, with the strike price K,
expiry T and where the bond expires at time S with π (t, K, S,T) , i.e.,

π ( t, K , S ,T ) = max { p (T , S ) − K , 0}

The caplet payoff at time ti is equal to the future value of the nominal amount multiplies by
the price of a call option on a zero-coupon bond at time t. The reason that we use the future
value of the nominal amount is the borrower has to pay the interest expense based on the
nominal amount N at time ti - δ, so if we want to find the interest expense at time t, we have to

   
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use the future value of N, that is N(1+δK). We do that in order to the interest expense at time
ti – δ is equal to the interest expense at time ti when we ignore the time value of money.

We can write in the mathematics term as the following;

⎛ 1 ⎞
Cti = N (1 + δ K )π ⎜ t, , t i −δ , t i ⎟
⎝ 1+ δ K ⎠

This payoff is only for one caplet. So we can find the value of the entire cap contract by
adding up the value of all caplets corresponding to the remaining payment dates of the cap.
Before the first reset date, t0, none of the cap payments are known, so the value of the cap is
given by

n n
⎛ 1 ⎞
Ct = ∑ Cti =N (1 + δ K )∑ π ⎜ t, , t i −δ , t i ⎟ , t < t0
i =1 i =1 ⎝ 1+ δ K ⎠

At all dates after the first reset date, the next payment of the cap will already be known. If we
again use the notation ti(t) for the nearest following payment date after time t, the value of the cap
at any time t in [t0, tn] (exclusive of any payment received exactly at time t) can be written as

( ) {( ) } ⎛ ⎞
n
1
Ct = Np t, ti(t ) δ max l ti( t ) , ti(t ) − δ − K , 0 + N (1 + δ K ) ∑
i =i ( t ) +1
π ⎜ t,
⎝ 1+ δ K
, ti − δ , ti ⎟ ,
⎠
t0 < t < t n

If tn-1 < t < tn, we have i(t) = n, and there will be no terms in the sum, which is then
considered to be equal to zero. From the results above, cap prices will follow from prices of
European puts on zero-coupon bonds. The interest rates and the discount factors appearing in
the expressions above are taken from the money market, not from the government bond
market. Since caps and most other contracts related to money market rates trade OTC, one
should take the default risk of the two parties into account when valuing the cap. The default
simply means that the party cannot pay the amounts promised in the contract. Official money
market rates and the associated discount function apply to loan and deposit arrangements
between large financial institutions, and thus they reflect the default risk of these
corporations. If the parties in an OTC transaction have a default risk significantly different
from that, the discount rates in the formulas should be adjusted accordingly. However, it is
quite complicated to do that in a theoretically correct manner.

The parameters affecting the cap price

Since the cap is a tool to guarantee of a future rate, so the price of the cap will therefore
depend on the likelihood that the market will change its view. This likelihood of change is
measured by volatility. An instrument expected to be volatile between entry and maturity will
have a higher price than a low volatility instrument. The volatility used in calculating the
price should be the expected future volatility. This is based on the historic volatility.
As time goes by, the volatility will have less and less impact on the price, as there is less time
for the market to change its view. Therefore, in a stable market, the passing of time will lead
to the cap falling in value.

   
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The higher the strike compared to prevailing interest rates the lower the price of the cap. High
strike (“out-of-the-money”) caps will be cheaper than “at-the-money” or low strike (“in-the-
money”) because of the reduced probability of the caplets being in the money during the life of
the option.
The price of the cap will increase with the length of the tenor as it will include more caplets
to maturity.
In the market traders will use volatility to quantify the probability of changes around interest
rate trends. Higher volatility will increase the probability of a caplet being in the money and
therefore the price of the cap.

Strategies

Corridor: It is a strategy where the cost of purchasing a cap is offset by the simultaneous
sale of another cap with a higher strike. It is possible to offset the entire cost of the cap
purchase by increasing the notional amount on the cap sold to match the purchase price. The
inherent risk in this strategy is that if short term rates rise through the higher strike the
purchaser is no longer protected above this level and will incur considerable risk if the
amount of the cap sold is proportionately larger. The payoff diagram is shown as in the figure
below

Step-up Cap: In steep yield curve environments the implied forward rates will be much
higher than spot rates and the strike for caplets later in the tenor may be deep in the money.
The price of a cap, being the sum of the caplets, may prove prohibitively expensive. The step
up cap counteracts this by raising the strike of the later caplets to reflect the higher forward
rates. This may provide a more attractive combination of risk hedge at a lower price. The
payoff diagram is shown as in the figure below

   
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After purchasing the cap, the buyer can make "claims" under the guarantee should LIBOR be
above the level agreed on the cap on the settlement dates. A cap is not a continuous
guarantee. Claims can only be made on specified settlement dates.

(Jan Roman, Lecture in Analytical Finance II, 27 October 2008)

Advantage and disadvantage of caps

Advantages/benefits

Major advantages of caps are that the buyer limits his potential loss to the premium paid, but
retains the right to benefit from favorable rate movements. The other one is

• Caps provide investor with protection against unfavorable interest rate moves over the
strike rate, while allowing investor unlimited participation in favorable moves down.
• Caps are flexible. The strike rate can be positioned to reflect the level of protection
investor seeks. However, the amount of premium payable is also affected by the
choice the investor makes.
• The term of the cap is flexible and does not have to match the term of the underlying
investment. A cap may be used as a form of short term interest rate protection in times
of uncertainty.
• Caps can be cancelled (however there may be a cost to the investor in doing).
• As a cap does not form part of the underlying investment, the protection afforded can
apply to any investment with similar commercial terms.
• Purchasers can make considerable profits because interest rate option products are
highly geared instruments and, for a relatively small outlay of capital. At the same
time, a seller with a decay strategy in mind, where he would like the option's value to
decay over time so that it can be bought back cheaper at a later stage or even expire
worthless, can make a profit amounting to the option premium, without having to
make a capital outlay. (Jan Roman, Lecture in Analytical Finance II, 27 October
2008)
• The cost is limited to the premium paid.

   
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Disadvantages/risks

· The premium is not refundable in any circumstances. This includes situations where the
reference rate always exceeds the strike rate and no payments are made.

· Investor will be exposed to interest rate movements if the term of the cap is shorter than that
of the underlying investment.

FLOORS AND FLOORLETS (Interest Rate Floor, Westpac Banking Corporation)

Definition

An Interest Rate Floor (Floor) is an interest rate management tool for an investor who has an
investment with returns linked to a Floating rate note. A Floor helps an investor to protect
himself against a fall in interest rates and maintain the ability to participate in a rise in interest
rates. It is an interest management tool that is used with an investment that has returns linked
to a market bank bill reference rate such as LIBOR, plus a fixed spread. The underlying
investment continues to be governed by the terms and conditions applying to that investment.

A Floor works in conjunction with a variable rate investment. It protects investor against
decreasing interest rates by setting a minimum interest rate payable on the investment. This
minimum interest rate is known as the strike rate. In exchange for the protection of a Floor,
investor pays a premium.

The reference rate to be used is also set at the beginning of the transaction. It provides a
benchmark interest rate. It is usually the same as the base rate applying to the underlying
investment. The reference rate applies for set periods, called calculation periods.

If the strike rate is more than the reference rate for a calculation period, then the investor will
receive an amount based on the difference between these rates. When this amount is used to
offset the lower base interest rate applying to the underlying investment, the effective base
interest rate for the calculation period becomes the strike rate. If the strike rate is less than the
reference rate for a calculation period, then the investor will get or pay nothing for that
calculation period and the base interest rate applicable to the underlying investment will be
the rate applying under the agreed terms of the investment.

In the real world, the investor can decide to buy Floor with notional less than the size of the
underlying investment. Hence, sometime buying the large number of Floor contract may cost
than the loss from the change in reference rate. The payoff diagram of full underlying
investment in Floor contract is shown below.

   
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In return for the Floor, the investor is required to pays a non-refundable premium. The issuer
of the Floor calculates the premium on a transaction by transaction basis at the time the
investor establish the Floor. To calculate the premium, there are several factors, including
strike rate, notional amount, reference rate, term and the reset dates selected, current market
interest rates, and market volatility. The changing in these parameters will affect the value of
the Floor, premium. The increasing in the strike rate will make the Floor price go up, also the
market volatility.

To calculate the premium or the value of floor we can consider floorlet as a European put on
the chosen reference rate with delayed payment of the payoff, the payoff at time
ti ( i = 1, 2,..., n ) is given by:

Ftii = N δ max { K − l ( ti , ti −δ ) , 0}

(Notations of the parameters are the same as caplet)

As call, consider floorlet as a European call on a zero-coupon bond, we will get that the value
of the i’ th floorlet at time ti −δ is:

⎧ 1 ⎫
Ftii = N (1 + δ K ) max ⎨ p ( ti , ti −δ ) − , 0⎬
⎩ 1+ δ K ⎭

t < t0
Then the total value of the floor contact at any time is given by:
n
⎧ 1 ⎫
Ft = N (1 + δ K ) ∑ π max ⎨t , , t i −δ , t i ⎬
i =1 ⎩ 1+ δ K ⎭

and

( ) { ( ) } ⎧ ⎫
n
1
Ft = Np t , ti(t ) δ max K − l ti(t ) , ti( t )−δ , 0 + N (1 + δ K ) ∑
i =i ( t ) +1
π max ⎨t ,
⎩ 1+ δ K
, ti −δ , ti ⎬
⎭

t0 ≤ t ≤ t n

   
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Advantage and disadvantage of floors

Advantages/benefits

• Floors provide investor with protection against unfavorable interest rate moves
below the strike rate, while allowing investor unlimited participation in favorable
moves up.
• Floors are flexible. The strike rate can be positioned to reflect the level of
protection investor seeks. However, the amount of premium payable is also
affected by the choice the investor makes.
• The term of the floor is flexible and does not have to match the term of the
underlying investment. A floor may be used as a form of short term interest rate
protection in times of uncertainty.
• Floors can be cancelled (however there may be a cost to the investor in doing).
• As a floor does not form part of the underlying investment, the protection afforded
can apply to any investment with similar commercial terms.
• The cost is limited to the premium paid.

Disadvantages/risks

· The premium is not refundable in any circumstances. This includes situations where the
reference rate always exceeds the strike rate and no payments are made.

· Investor will be exposed to interest rate movements if the term of the floor is shorter than
that of the underlying investment.

   
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BLACK’S MODEL FOR VALUATION OF CAPS AND FLOORS

Black-Scholes model is a very popular tool to value the options on foreign exchange, option
on indices, and option on future contracts. There have been attempts to extend this model to
value the interest rate derivatives.

To value caps and floors, this model assumes the underlying forward rates l (t i , ti −δ ) be
lognormal with volatilityσ, then the value of caplet is as follow;

Ctii = Nδ p ( 0,T ) ⎡⎣FN ( d1 ) − KN ( d 2 ) ⎤⎦

(Hull, John C., 2006, p. 621)

td
We use the day count convention so δ = , the value of caplet is
ty
td
N.
t y − rT
Ctii = e ⎡⎣ F .N ( d1 ) − K .N ( d 2 ) ⎤⎦
td
1 + F.
ty

(Jan Roman, Lecture in Analytical Finance II, 27 October 2008)

The value of floorlet is

Floorlettii = N δ p ( 0,T ) ⎡⎣ K .N ( − d 2 ) − F .N ( − d1 ) ⎤⎦

(Hull, John C., 2006, p. 622)

td
We use the day count convention so δ = , the value of floorlet is
ty

td
N.
t y − rT
Floorlettii = e ⎡⎣ K .N ( − d 2 ) − F .N ( − d1 ) ⎤⎦
td
1 + F.
ty

   
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where d1 =
(
ln ( F / K ) + σ 2 / 2 T )
σ T

d2 =
(
ln ( F / K ) − σ 2 / 2 T ) = d1 − σ T
σ T

(Jan Roman, Lecture in Analytical Finance II, 27 October 2008)

Example:

Suppose we have a caplet, with three months to expiry on a 92-day forward rate and a face value
of 100 million. The three-month forward rate is 8% (with act/360 as day-count), the strike is 8%,
the risk-free interest rate 6%, and the volatility of the forward rate 22% per annum.
(F = 0.08, K = 0.08, T = 0.25, r = 0.06, σ = 0.22)

d1 =
( )
ln ( 0.08 / 0.08 ) + 0.222 / 2 0.25
= 0.055
0.22 0.25
d 2 = 0.055 − (0.22 0.25 ) = −0.055
N ( d1 ) = 0.5219, N ( d 2 ) = 0.4781
⎛ 92 ⎞
100, 000, 000 ⎜ ⎟
⎝ 360 ⎠ e −0.06( 0.25 ) ⎡ 0.08 0.5219 − 0.08 0.4781 ⎤ = 86, 446.15
Ct = ⎣ ( ) ( )⎦
⎛ 92 ⎞
1 + 0.08 ⎜ ⎟
⎝ 360 ⎠

PUT-CALL PARITY FOR CAPS AND FLOORS

There is a put-call parity relationship between the prices of caps and floors. This is

value of cap = value of floor + value of swap

In this relationship, the cap and floor have the same strike price, RK . The swap is an
agreement to receive LIBOR, which is a floating rate, and pay a fixed rate of RK with no
exchange of payments on the first reset date. All three instruments have the same life and the
same frequency of payments.

To see that the result is true, consider a long position in the cap combined with a short
position in the floor. The cap provides a cash flow of LIBOR- RK for periods when LIBOR is
greater than RK . The short floor provides a cash flow of –( RK -LIBOR)= LIBOR- RK for
periods when LIBOR is less than RK . There is therefore a cash flow of LIBOR- RK in all
circumstances. This is the cash flow on the swap. It follows that the value of the cap minus
the value of the floor must equal the value of the swap.

Note that swaps usually structured so that LIBOR at time zero determines a payment on the
first reset date. Caps and floors are usually structured so that there is no payoff on the first

   
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reset date. This is why the swap has to be defined as one with no payment on the first reset
date.

(Hull, John C., 2006, p. 621)

COLLARS

A collar is an instrument designed to guarantee that the interest rate on the underlying
floating-rate note always lies between two levels. It is a combination of a long position in a
cap and short position in a floor. Collars can benefit both borrowers and investors. In the case
of a borrower, the collar protects against rising rates but limits the benefits of falling rates. In
the case of an investor, the collar protects against falling rates but limits the benefits of rising
rates. Similar to caps and floors the customer selects the index, the length of time, and strike
rates for both the cap and the floor. However, unlike a cap or a floor, an up-front premium
may or may not be required, depending upon where the strikes are set. In either scenario, the
customer is a buyer of one product, and a seller of the other.

The buyer and the seller agree upon the term (tenor), the cap and floor strike rates, the
notional amount, the amortization, the start date, and the settlement frequency. If at any time
during the tenor of the collar, the index moves above the cap strike rate or below the floor
strike rate, one party will owe the other a payment.

A typical collar can be seen as a portfolio of a long position in a cap with a cap rate Kc and a
short position in a floor with a floor rate of K f < K c (and the same payment dates and
underlying floating rate). The payoff of a collar at time ti , i = 1, 2,..., n is thus

Liti = N δ [max{l (ti ( t ) , ti (t ) − δ ) − K c , 0} − max{K f − l (ti ( t ) , ti (t ) − δ ), 0}]

N δ [ K f − l (ti (t ) , ti (t ) − δ )], if l (ti (t ) , ti (t ) − δ ) ≤ K f
= 0, if K f ≤ l (ti (t ) , ti (t ) − δ ) ≤ K c
N δ [l (ti ( t ) , ti ( t ) − δ ) − K c ] if K c ≤ l (ti ( t ) , ti (t ) − δ )

The value of a collar with cap rate Kc and floor rate K f is given by

Lt ( K c , K f ) = Ct ( K c ) − Ft ( K f )

Where the expressions for the values of caps and floors derived earlier can be substituted in.
An investor who has borrowed funds on a floating rate basis will by buying a collar ensure
that the paid interest rate always lies in the interval between K f and Kc . Clearly, a collar
gives cheaper protection against high interest rates than a cap (with the same cap rate Kc ), but
on the other hand the full benefits of very low interest rates are sacrificed. In practice, collar
is usually constructed, so that the price of the cap is initially equal to the price of the floor.
The cost of entering into the collar is then zero.

   
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The figure below illustrates the payoff to buying a one-period zero-cost interest rate collar. If
the index interest rate r is less than the floor rate rf on the interest rate reset date, the floor is
in-the-money and the collar buyer (who has sold a floor) must pay the collar counterparty an
amount equal to N × ( rf − r ) × d t / 360 . When r is greater than rf but less than the cap rate rc,
both the floor and the cap are out-of-the-money and no payments are exchanged. Finally,
when the index is above the cap rate the cap is in-the money and the buyer receives
N × (r − rc ) × dt / 360 .

In this section, we will show the hedging uses of interest rate collars. The figure below
illustrates the effect that buying a one-period, zero-cost collar has on the exposure to changes
in market interest rates faced by a firm with outstanding variable-rate debt. The first panel
depicts the firm's inherent or unhedged interest exposure, while the second panel illustrates
the effect that buying a collar has on interest expense. Finally, the third panel combines the
borrower's inherent exposure with the payoff to buying a collar to display the effect of a
change in market interest rates on a hedged borrower's interest expense. Note that changes in
market interest rates can only affect the hedged borrower's interest expense when the index
rate varies between the floor and cap rates. Outside this range, the borrower's interest expense
is completely hedged.

(Hull, John C., 2006, p. 621)

(Jan Roman, Lecture in Analytical Finance II, 27 October 2008)

   
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Advantage and disadvantage of collars

Advantages/benefits

• Collars provide you with protection against unfavourable interest rate movements
above the Cap Rate while allowing you to participate in some interest rate decreases.
• Collars can be structured so that there is no up-front premium payable. While you can
also set your own Cap Rate and Floor Rate, a premium may be payable in these
circumstances.
• The term of a Collar is flexible and does not have to match the term of the underlying
bill facility. A Collar may be used as a form of short-term interest rate protection in
times of uncertainty.
• Collars can be cancelled (however there may be a cost in doing so)

Disadvantages/risks

• While a Collar provides you with some ability to participate in interest rate decreases,
your interest rate cannot fall to less than the Floor Rate.
• To provide a zero cost structure or a reasonable reduction in premium payable under
the Cap, the Floor Rate may need to be set at a high level. This negates the potential
to take advantage of favorable market rate movements.
• You will be exposed to interest rate movements if the term of the Collar is shorter
than that of the underlying bank bill facility.

(Jan Roman, Lecture in Analytical Finance II, 27 October 2008)

EXOTIC CAPS AND FLOORS

There are several contracts trade on the international OTC markets with cash flows similar to
plain vanilla contracts, but deviate in one or more aspects. The deviations complicate the
pricing methods considerably. Examples of exotic caps and floors are as follows

• A bounded cap is like an ordinary cap except that the cap owner will only receive the
scheduled payoff if the sum of the payments received so far due to the contract does
not exceed a certain pre-specified level. Consequently, the ordinary cap payments Ctii
are to be multiplied with an indicator function. The payoff at the end of a given period
will depend not only on the interest rate in the beginning of the period, but also on
previous interest rates. As many other exotic instruments, a bounded cap is therefore a
path-dependent asset.

• A dual strike cap is similar to a cap with a cap rate of K1 in periods when the
underlying floating rate l(t+δ, t) stays below a pre-specified level l, and similar to a
cap with a cap rate of K2, where K2 > K1, in periods when the floating rate is above l.

• A cumulative cap ensures that the accumulated interest rate payments do not exceed
a given level.

   
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 A knock-out cap will at any time ti give the standard payoff Ctii unless the floating
rate l(t+δ, t) during the period [ti - δ, ti] has exceeded a certain level. In that case the
payoff is zero. Similarly, there are knock-in caps. They are named as: down and out,,
down and in, up and out,and up and in.

• Ratchet Cap
A Ratchet cap is like a plain vanilla cap except that the strike is given by:
Ki = min[ K , m] i =1
min[ Ki −1 + X , m] i > 1
where K are the strikes an m a given limit. In a Ratchet cap there are rules for
determine the cap rate for each caplet. The cap rate equals the LIBOR rate at the
previous reset date plus a spread. A limit, m is set on the strike level, above which a
strike cannot be set.

• Sticky Cap
A Sticky cap is like a plain vanilla cap except that the strike is given by:
Ki = min[ K , m] i =1
min[min{Ki −1 , Li −1} + X , m] i > 1
The sticky cap rate equals the previous capped rate plus a spread. A limit is set on the
strike level, above which a strike cannot be set.

• Flexi Cap
A Flexi cap is like an ordinary Cap except that only the a first in-the-money Caplets
are exercised.

• Chooser Cap
A chooser cap is like a Flexi Cap except that the contract holder can choose which a
Caplets to exercise. Once the reset of a Caplet has taken place, it can no longer be
chosen.

• Momentum Cap
A Momentum cap is like a plain vanilla cap except that the strike is given by:
K i = min[ K , m] i =1
min[ K i −1 + X , m] i > 1, Li − b > Li −1
min[ K i −1 , m] i > 1, Li − b > Li −1
The sticky cap rate equals the previous capped rate plus a spread. A limit is set on the
strike level, above which a strike cannot be set.

(Jan Roman, Lecture in Analytical Finance II, 27 October 2008)

   
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NUMERICAL EXAMPLE

Consider a binomial tree for a 2-year semi-annual collar on $100 notional amount with cap
rate 6.5% and floor rate 4.5%, indexed to the 6-month rate.

We will first consider the valuation of floor. At time 0, the 6-month rate is 5.54 percent so the
floor is out-of the money, and pays 0 at time 0.5. The later payments of the floor depend on
the path of interest rates. Suppose rates follow the path in the tree below. The value of the
floor is the sum of the values of the 4 puts on the 6-month rates at time 0,0.5,1,1.5. We begin
from valuing at time 1.5

7.864%
$0.00
$0.00
6.915%
6.004% $0.00 6.184%
$0.00
$0.00 $0.00
5.54% 5.437%
$0.0386 4.721% $0.00 4.862%
$0.00
$0.0794 $0.00
----------------------------------------- Floor rate= 4.5% -----------------------------------
4.275%
$0.1626 3.823%
$0.3385
$0.3322

Time 0 Time 0.5 Time 1 Time 1.5 Time 2

As the binomial valuation of put options, we calculate backwards from time 1.5. At time 1.5,
the only possible floating interest rate below the floor rate of 4.5 percent is 3.823 percent.
And, only when the floating interest rate falling to this level , the collar buyer (who has sold a
floor) must pay the collar counterparty of $33.85 at time 2. For the calculation,

$0.3385=$100*(4.5%-3.823%)/2

For the value of $33.85, at time 1.5, its present value is,

$0.3322=$0.3385/(1+3.823%/2)

For time 1, 0.5 and 0, assume that in this example, the probabilities to raise and fall are both
50 percent. The calculations for the values at these time spots will be:

$0.1626=0.5*(0+$0.3322)/(1+4.275%/2)

$0.0794=0.5*(0+$0.1626)/(1+4.721%/2)

$0.0386=0.5*(0+$0.1794)/(1+5.54%/2)

Then, we calculate the floorlet due at time 1 as below.

   
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 6.915%
$0.00
6.004% $0.00
$0.00
5.54% 5.437%
$0.00
$0.0262 4.721% $0.00
$0.0538
---------------------------- Floor rate=4.5% ------------------------
4.275%
$0.1125
$0.1101

Time 0 Time 0.5 Time 1 Time 1.5

Base on the same calculation method, we simply give the calculation for each node as
following:

$0.1125=$100*(4.5%-4.275%)/2

$0.1101=$0.1125/(1+4.275%/2)

$0.0538=0.5*(0+$0.1101)/(1+4.721%/2)

$0.0262=0.5*(0+$0.0538)/(1+5.54%/2)

Because at time 0.5 and 0, the floorlets never get in the money, so the value of the floor will
be $0.0648=$0.0386+$0.0262

6.004%
$0.00
5.54%
$0.0648 4.721%
$0.1332

Time 0 Time 0.5

(Jan Roman, Lecture in Analytical Finance II, 27 October 2008)

For valuation of cap, we use a similar calculation as floor. Suppose that cap rate is 6.5%. The
value of the cap is the sum of the values of the 4 calls on the 6-month rates at time
0,0.5,1,1.5. We begin from valuing at time 1.5

   
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 7.864%
$0.682
$0.6562
6.915%
$0.3171
---------------------------------------- Cap rate=6.5% --------------------------------------
6.004% 6.184%
$0.00
$0.1539 $0.00
5.54% 5.437%
$0.0749 4.721% $0.00 4.862%
$0.00
$0.00 $0.00

4.275%
$0.00 3.823%
$0.00
$0.00

Time 0 Time 0.5 Time 1 Time 1.5 Time 2

At time 1.5, the only possible floating interest rate above the cap rate of 6.5 percent is 7.864
percent. And, only when the floating interest rate rising to this level, the collar buyer receives
$68.2 at time 2. For the calculation,

$0.682=$100*(7.864%-6.5%)/2

For the value of $68.2, at time 1.5, its present value is,

$0.6562=$0.682/(1+7.864%/2)

For time 1, 0.5 and 0, values at these time spots will be:

$0.3171=0.5*(0+$0.6562)/(1+6.915%/2)

$0.1539=0.5*(0+$0.3171)/(1+6.004%/2)

$0.0749=0.5*(0+$0.1539)/(1+5.54%/2)

Then, we calculate the caplet due at time 1 as below.

6.915%
$0.2075
$0.2006
-------------------------------- Cap rate=6.5% ----------------------------
6.004%
$0.0974
5.54% 5.437%
$0.00
$0.0474 4.721% $0.00
$0.00
4.275%
$0.00
$0.00

Time 0 Time 0.5 Time 1 Time 1.5

   
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The calculation for each node is as follows:

$0.2075=$100*(6.915%-6.5%)/2

$0.2006=$0.2075/(1+6.915%/2)

$0.0974=0.5*(0+$0.2006)/(1+6.004%/2)

$0.0474=0.5*(0+$0.0974)/(1+5.54%/2)

Because at time 0.5 and 0, the caplets never get in the money, so the value of the cap will be
$0.1223=$0.0749+$0.0474

6.004%
$0.2513
5.54%
$0.1223 4.721%
$0.00

Time 0 Time 0.5

As the value of the collar is equal to the value of cap minus the value of floor, so the value of
collar is $0.1223-$0.0648=$0.0575

   
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EXAMPLE: (solved by VBA application)

Consider contract that caps the LIBOR interest rate on SEK. 10,000,000 at 6% per annum (with semi-
annually compounding) for 5 years. Suppose that the volatility of LIBOR underlying the caps is
16.6% per annum. The risk-free interest rate is assumed to be 7.1% per annum equally for all contract
life. The LIBOR is given in the table below. 

Date LIBOR
1-Jul-09 6.070%
1-Jan-10 7.620%
1-Jul-10 5.840%
1-Jan-11 5.020%
1-Jul-11 5.890%
1-Jan-12 9.730%
1-Jul-12 10.620%
1-Jan-13 6.190%
1-Jul-13 5.030%
1-Jan-14 6.150%

We calculate the caps price by using VBA application. First we have to input all data we have from
the problem.

   
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The application will compute and give us results as:

So, we can easy get the answer for this problem that the caps price is equal to SEK. 598,033.96. Then
we use the same data to calculate the price for a floor which strike is 8% per annum. Then we will get
the answer that the floor price is equal to SEK. 799,013.42.

   
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Next, we use the same data to find how much we have to pay if we agree to enter to the collar. In this
case we have to input to our VBA application again.

And the output shows that collar price is minus SEK. 200,979.46, because by this given data making
the floor value higher than cap value. This cannot satisfy our objective to enter to the collar strategy.

To achieve that, we have two alternative, first is try to change the face value of the floor contract by
press the “Change Face Value” button and we get that the collar is now be zero and the face value of
the floor contract should be change to SEK.13,360,009.74.

   
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The second alternative is try to change the strike rate of the floor until the floor price make the collar
value equal to zero, we do this by pressing the “Change Strike” button. In this case the floor face
value will be the same value as the beginning, SEK.10,000,000 but the strike rate will be changed to
5.28% per annum.

   
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 CONCLUSION

Interest rate derivatives are very useful instrument to against the variation of the market
interest rate. The borrower with floating interest rate can use caps to limit the maximum
interest expense which is his future commitment. Whereas the lender with floating interest
rate can use floorlets to limit the minimum interest revenue. Collar is one of interest rate
derivatives which is a composition of caps and floors. The investor can use them to against
rising (falling) rates but limits the benefits of falling (rising) rates. Because caps and floors
have a similar characteristics as the call and put option, so the way to price can adapt from
the way to price call and put option. Moreover the Black’s model can used to find their values
also with the lognormal return distribution assumption. The Visual Basic Application can be
a very useful tool to make the calculation more simply.

   
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 APPENDIX
This application has four main functions. The first one is CalD1 which returns the cumulative
probability distribution function for standardized normal distribution of d1. Secondly, CalD2
function is calculated the value of cumulative probability distribution function for
standardized normal distribution of d2. Thirdly, Cap_Floor function, which is the most
important in this application, returns the value of cap or the value of floor. Finally, MyCollar
function is use to compute the collar value.

Additionally, this application requires solver add-in in your Microsoft Excel. Before you use
this program, you should install solver in Excel. With a Visual Basic module active, click
References on the Tools menu, and then select the Solver.xla check box under Available
References.

'compute cumulative probability distribution function for standardized normal distribution of

d1

Function CalD1(day_Convention As Byte, forward As Double, strike As Double, volatility

As Double, start_Date As Date, payment_Date As Date) As Double

Dim d1 As Double, T As Double

'calculate T

If (day_Convention = 1) Then '360 days

T = ((payment_Date - start_Date) + 1) / 360

Else '365 days

T = ((payment_Date - start_Date) + 1) / 365

End If

If (T <= 0) Then T = 0.000000001

d1 = ((Application.Ln(forward / strike)) + (volatility * volatility / 2) * T) / (volatility *

Sqr(T))

CalD1 = Application.NormSDist(d1)

End Function

'compute cumulative probability distribution function for standardized normal distribution of

d2

Function CalD2(day_Convention As Byte, forward As Double, strike As Double, volatility

As Double, start_Date As Date, payment_Date As Date) As Double

   
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Dim d2 As Double, T As Double

'calculate T

If (day_Convention = 1) Then '360 days

T = ((payment_Date - start_Date) + 1) / 360

Else '365 days

T = ((payment_Date - start_Date) + 1) / 365

End If

If (T <= 0) Then T = 0.000000001

d2 = ((Application.Ln(forward / strike)) - (volatility * volatility / 2) * T) / (volatility *

Sqr(T))

CalD2 = Application.NormSDist(d2)

End Function

' Compute Caplet or Floorlet

Function Cap_Floor(optionType As Byte, day_Convention As Byte, rf_Type As Byte,

start_Date As Date, payment_Date As Date, faceValue As Currency, strike As Double,
riskFree As Double, volatility As Double, forward As Double, previous_Payment As Date)
As Double

Dim T As Double, rf As Double, td As Double

'calculate T

If (day_Convention = 1) Then '360 days

T = ((payment_Date - start_Date) + 1) / 360

Else '365 days

T = ((payment_Date - start_Date) + 1) / 365

End If

If (T <= 0) Then T = 0.000000001

'calculate Rf

   
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Select Case (rf_Type)

Case Is = 1 'quarterly

rf = riskFree / 4

Case Is = 2 'semi-annual

rf = riskFree / 2

Case Is = 3 'annual

rf = riskFree

End Select

'calculate td

If (day_Convention = 1) Then '360 days

td = ((payment_Date - previous_Payment) + 1) / 360

Else '365 days

td = ((payment_Date - previous_Payment) + 1) / 365

End If

If (td <= 0) Then td = 0.000000001

If (optionType = 1) Then 'Caplet

Cap_Floor = ((faceValue * td) / (1 + (forward * td))) * Exp(-rf * T) * ((forward *

CalD1(day_Convention, forward, strike, volatility, start_Date, payment_Date)) - (strike *
CalD2(day_Convention, forward, strike, volatility, start_Date, payment_Date)))
Else 'Floorlet

Cap_Floor = ((faceValue * td) / (1 + (forward * td))) * Exp(-rf * T) * ((strike * (1 -

CalD2(day_Convention, forward, strike, volatility, start_Date, payment_Date)) - (forward *
(1 - CalD1(day_Convention, forward, strike, volatility, start_Date, payment_Date)))))

End If

End Function

' Compute Collar

Function MyCollar(cap As Double, floor As Double) As Double

MyCollar = cap - floor

End Function

   
Page 29
   
 BIBLIOGRAPHY

Hull, C. John, 2006, Options, Futures, and Other Derivatives, 6th Edition, Pearson
Education, New Jersey

Röman, Jan R. M. Lecture notes in Analytical Finance II. Västerås: Mälardalen

University, 2008.

Westpac Banking Corporation, Product disposure statement - Interest Rate Floor, 2004

Arunnetrthong Chaivit, Cash Flow Instruments, The Stock Exchange in Thailand, Bond
Electronic Exchange, 2006.