Consider the borrowing costs in USD faced by the following three companies:
Fixed                          Floating
A                                 4.5%                            LIBOR + 0.6%
B                                 6.0%                            LIBOR + 1.7%
C                                 5.1%                            LIBOR + 1.0%
Assume that if any two companies enter into the swap transaction, they split the possible savings equally.
a) Company A and company B want to engage in the swap transaction. Find the range for the swap rate within which both companies would benefit from the swap?
b) Suppose company C wants to borrow fixed rate funds. Is it possible for C to reduce its cost of borrowing below 5.1%, and if so what is the lowest possible cost it could achieve?
c) Suppose company C wants to borrow floating rate funds. Is it possible for C to reduce its cost of borrowing below LIBOR + 1%, and if so what is the lowest possible cost it could achieve?