This study tests if managerial preferences explain how firms hedge, i.e. how they choose between linear contracts and put options, and if they finance these hedging positions with cash-on-hand or by selling upside (call options). Using hand-collected data on derivative portfolios we characterize...

We analyze how firms hedge in the oil and gas industry. Our main finding is that CEO age determines hedging behavior. The probability of being a hedger as well as the use of linear hedging strategies decreases with CEO age. These results are consistent with an argument that financial distress,...