Response to the following problem:
Minimizing Exposure
Lola Co. (a U.S. firm) expects to receive 10 million euros in 1 year. It does not plan to hedge this transaction with a forward contract or other hedging techniques. This is its only international business, and it is not exposed to any other form of exchange rate risk. Lola Co. plans to purchase materials for future operations, and it will send its payment for these materials in 1 year. The value of the materials to be purchased is about equal to the expected value of the receivables. Lola Co. can purchase the materials from Switzerland, Hong Kong, Canada, or the United States. Another alternative is that it could also purchase one-fourth of the materials from each of the four countries mentioned in the previous sentence. The supplies will be invoiced in the currency of the country from which they are imported. The movements of the euro and the Swiss franc against the dollar are highly correlated and will continue to be highly correlated. The Hong Kong dollar is tied to the U.S. dollar and you expect that it will continue to be tied to the dollar. The movements in the value of Canadian dollar against the U.S. dollar are independent of (not correlated with) the movements of other currencies against the U.S. dollar. Lola Co. believes that none of the sources of the imports would provide a clear cost advantage.
Which alternative should Lola Co. select for obtaining supplies that will minimize its overall exchange rate risk?