Chapter 6 Bonds-Characteristics and Valuation 115
Financial Calculator Section
The following question(s) may require the use of a financial calculator.
53. Trickle Corporation’s 12 percent coupon rate, semiannual payment, $1,000 par value bonds which
mature in 25 years. The bonds currently sell for $1,230.51 in the market, and the yield curve is
flat. Assuming that the yield curve is expected to remain flat, what is Trickle’s most likely before-
tax cost of debt if it issues new bonds today?
54. Leyland Enterprises has $5,000,000 in bonds outstanding. The bonds each have a maturity value
of $1,000, an annual coupon of 12 percent, and 15 years left until maturity. The bonds can be
called at any time at a call price of $1,100 per bond. If the bonds are called, the company must
pay flotation costs of $50,000 ($10 for every $1,000 of bonds outstanding). Ignore tax
considerations. Assume that the tax rate is zero. The company’s decision whether to call the bonds
depends critically on the current interest rate it would pay on new bonds issued. What is the
breakeven interest rate, below which it is profitable to call in the bonds?
PV = Call Price + Flotation Costs