SOUTH PORTLAND, MAINE – Wright Express has extended its existing fuel-price risk program through the second quarter of 2008. The company initially began executing on its current program in July 2005. On May 10, 2006, the company purchased instruments to cover an additional 30 percent of its anticipated fuel-price-related earnings exposure for the fourth quarter of 2007 and the first and second quarters of 2008. At this time, Wright Express has hedged 90 percent of the 2007 exposure, 60 percent of the first-quarter 2008 exposure, and 30 percent of the second-quarter 2008 exposure. The company intends to continue to hedge approximately 90 percent of its fuel-price-related earnings exposure in every quarter, on a rolling basis. The instruments are designed to enhance the visibility and predictability of the company’s future earnings. The program uses instruments that create a “costless collar” based upon both the U.S. Department of Energy’s weekly diesel fuel price index and NYMEX unleaded gasoline contracts. The May 10 purchase locked in a fuel price range of approximately $2.61 and $2.67 per gallon.
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