This study aimed to verify the speculation costs incurred by Aracruz and Sadia due to their high degree of
leverage with derivative instruments. The main results evidenced agency problems, with disproportionate
investments in hedge transactions. Faced with a sudden appreciation of the US dollar, resulting from the
exacerbation of the global financial crisis, the firms took heavy financial losses of R$ 4.7 billion reais for
Aracruz and R$ 2.6 billions for Sadia. Investors witnessed Sadia and Aracruz shares end 2008 down
about 70% against 28% of the market index.