Chapter 16: Capital Structure Decisions
DATE CREATED:
10/30/2017 8:12 PM
1/6/2018 11:26 PM
41. Refer to the data for Eccles Inc.What is the value of the firm according to MM with corporate taxes?
a.
$475,875
b.
$528,750
c.
$587,500
d.
$646,250
e.
$710,875
ANSWER:
c
POINTS:
1
Difficulty: Moderate
False
PREFACE NAME:
Eccles Inc.
IFMG.DAVE.19.16.03 – LO: 16-3
NATIONAL STANDARDS:
United States – BUSPROG: Analytic
STATE STANDARDS:
United States – ak – DISC: Capital structure
United States – OH – Default City – TBA
TOPICS:
OTHER:
TYPE: Multiple Choice: Multi-part
NOTES:
The problems referring to the Preface for the data for Eccles Inc.MUST be kept together.
10/30/2017 8:12 PM
DATE MODIFIED:
1/6/2018 11:26 PM
42. Refer to the data for Eccles Inc.What is the firm’s cost of equity according to MM with corporate taxes?
a.
21.0%
b.
23.3%
c.
25.9%
d.
28.8%
e.
32.0%
ANSWER:
e
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Page 22
43. Refer to the data for Eccles Inc.Assume that the firm’s gain from leverage according to the Miller model is $126,667.
If the effective personal tax rate on stock income is TS = 20%, what is the implied personal tax rate on debt income?
a.
16.4%
b.
18.2%
c.
20.2%
d.
22.5%
e.
25.0%
$87,500
1
Difficulty: Moderate
Multiple Choice
False
Eccles Inc.
IFMG.DAVE.19.16.03 – LO: 16-3
United States – BUSPROG: Analytic
United States – ak – DISC: Capital structure
United States – OH – Default City – TBA
TYPE: Multiple Choice: Multi-part
The problems referring to the Preface for the data for Eccles Inc. MUST be kept together.
10/30/2017 8:12 PM
1/6/2018 11:26 PM
Copyright Cengage Learning. Powered by Cognero.
Page 23
Td =
0.25000
POINTS:
1
DIFFICULTY:
Multiple Choice
HAS VARIABLES:
False
Eccles Inc.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
NATIONAL STANDARDS:
United States – ak – DISC: Capital structure
LOCAL STANDARDS:
Miller model
KEYWORDS:
OTHER:
The problems referring to the Preface for the the data for Eccles Inc. MUST be kept together.
DATE CREATED:
1/6/2018 11:26 PM
44. Which of the following statements is CORRECT?
a.
Electric utilities generally have very high common equity ratios because their revenues are more volatile than
those of firms in most other industries.
b.
Drug companies (prescription, not illegal!) generally have high debt-to-equity ratios because their earnings are
very stable and, thus, they can cover the high interest costs associated with high debt levels.
c.
Wide variations in capital structures exist both between industries and among individual firms within given
industries. These differences are caused by differing business risks and also managerial attitudes.
d.
Since most stocks sell at or very close to their book values, book value capital structures are almost always
adequate for use in estimating firms’ costs of capital.
e.
Generally, debt-to-total-assets ratios do not vary much among different industries, although they do vary
among firms within a given industry.
ANSWER:
c
DIFFICULTY:
Multiple Choice
HAS VARIABLES:
False
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
STATE STANDARDS:
United States – OH – Default City – TBA
TOPICS:
OTHER:
DATE CREATED:
1/6/2018 11:26 PM
45. Which of the following statements is CORRECT?
Chapter 16: Capital Structure Decisions
DIFFICULTY:
Difficulty: Easy
Multiple Choice
HAS VARIABLES:
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
IFMG.DAVE.19.16.07 – LO: 16-7
United States – BUSPROG: Analytic
STATE STANDARDS:
United States – ak – DISC: Capital structure
United States – OH – Default City – TBA
TOPICS:
Optimal capital structure
KEYWORDS:
DATE CREATED:
10/30/2017 8:12 PM
a.
Since debt financing is cheaper than equity financing, raising a company’s debt ratio will always reduce its
WACC.
b.
Increasing a company’s debt ratio will typically reduce the marginal cost of both debt and equity financing.
However, this action still may raise the company’s WACC.
c.
Increasing a company’s debt ratio will typically increase the marginal cost of both debt and equity financing.
However, this action still may lower the company’s WACC.
d.
Since a firm’s beta coefficient it not affected by its use of financial leverage, leverage does not affect the cost
of equity.
e.
Since debt financing raises the firm’s financial risk, increasing a company’s debt ratio will always increase its
WACC.
ANSWER:
c
DIFFICULTY:
Difficulty: Easy
QUESTION TYPE:
Multiple Choice
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
IFMG.DAVE.19.16.06 – LO: 16-6
United States – BUSPROG: Analytic
STATE STANDARDS:
United States – ak – DISC: Capital structure
LOCAL STANDARDS:
United States – OH – Default City – TBA
Capital structure and WACC
KEYWORDS:
TYPE: Multiple Choice: Conceptual
DATE CREATED:
10/30/2017 8:12 PM
46. Which of the following statements is CORRECT?
a.
The capital structure that minimizes the interest rate on debt also maximizes the expected EPS.
b.
The capital structure that minimizes the required return on equity also maximizes the stock price.
c.
The capital structure that minimizes the WACC also maximizes the price per share of common stock.
d.
The capital structure that gives the firm the best credit rating also maximizes the stock price.
e.
The capital structure that maximizes expected EPS also maximizes the price per share of common stock.
ANSWER:
c
POINTS:
1
DIFFICULTY:
Difficulty: Easy
QUESTION TYPE:
Multiple Choice
HAS VARIABLES:
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
IFMG.DAVE.19.16.07 – LO: 16-7
NATIONAL STANDARDS:
United States – BUSPROG: Analytic
STATE STANDARDS:
United States – ak – DISC: Capital structure
LOCAL STANDARDS:
United States – OH – Default City – TBA
TOPICS:
Optimal capital structure
KEYWORDS:
DATE CREATED:
10/30/2017 8:12 PM
47. Based on the information below for Benson Corporation, what is the optimal capital structure?
a.
Debt = 50%; Equity = 50%; EPS = $3.05; Stock price = $28.90.
b.
Debt = 60%; Equity = 40%; EPS = $3.18; Stock price = $31.20.
c.
Debt = 80%; Equity = 20%; EPS = $3.42; Stock price = $30.40.
d.
Debt = 70%; Equity = 30%; EPS = $3.31; Stock price = $30.00.
e.
Debt = 40%; Equity = 60%; EPS = $2.95; Stock price = $26.50.
ANSWER:
b
POINTS:
DIFFICULTY:
Difficulty: Easy
QUESTION TYPE:
Multiple Choice
HAS VARIABLES:
False
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
IFMG.DAVE.19.16.07 – LO: 16-7
NATIONAL STANDARDS:
United States – BUSPROG: Analytic
STATE STANDARDS:
United States – ak – DISC: Capital structure
LOCAL STANDARDS:
United States – OH – Default City – TBA
TOPICS:
Optimal capital structure
KEYWORDS:
OTHER:
TYPE: Multiple Choice: Conceptual
DATE CREATED:
10/30/2017 8:12 PM
DATE MODIFIED:
1/6/2018 11:26 PM
48. Which of the following statements best describes the optimal capital structure? The optimal capital structure is the mix
of debt, equity, and preferred stock that maximizes the company’s ____.
a.
stock price.
b.
cost of equity.
c.
cost of debt.
d.
cost of preferred stock.
e.
earnings per share (EPS).
ANSWER:
a
DATE MODIFIED:
1/6/2018 11:26 PM
POINTS:
1
DIFFICULTY:
Difficulty: Moderate
QUESTION TYPE:
Multiple Choice
HAS VARIABLES:
False
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
IFMG.DAVE.19.16.07 – LO: 16-7
NATIONAL STANDARDS:
United States – BUSPROG: Analytic
STATE STANDARDS:
United States – ak – DISC: Capital structure
LOCAL STANDARDS:
United States – OH – Default City – TBA
TOPICS:
Target capital structure
KEYWORDS:
OTHER:
TYPE: Multiple Choice: Conceptual
49. Which of the following statements is CORRECT?
a.
The optimal capital structure simultaneously maximizes EPS and minimizes the WACC.
b.
The optimal capital structure minimizes the cost of equity, which is a necessary condition for maximizing the
stock price.
c.
The optimal capital structure simultaneously minimizes the cost of debt, the cost of equity, and the WACC.
d.
The optimal capital structure simultaneously maximizes stock price and minimizes the WACC.
e.
As a rule, the optimal capital structure is found by determining the debt-equity mix that maximizes expected
EPS.
ANSWER:
d
POINTS:
1
DIFFICULTY:
Difficulty: Easy
QUESTION TYPE:
Multiple Choice
HAS VARIABLES:
False
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
IFMG.DAVE.19.16.07 – LO: 16-7
NATIONAL STANDARDS:
United States – BUSPROG: Analytic
STATE STANDARDS:
United States – ak – DISC: Capital structure
LOCAL STANDARDS:
United States – OH – Default City – TBA
TOPICS:
Optimal capital structure
KEYWORDS:
OTHER:
TYPE: Multiple Choice: Conceptual
DATE CREATED:
10/30/2017 8:12 PM
DATE MODIFIED:
1/6/2018 11:26 PM
50. The firm’s target capital structure should be consistent with which of the following statements?
a.
Minimize the cost of debt (rd).
b.
Obtain the highest possible bond rating.
c.
Minimize the cost of equity (rs).
d.
Minimize the weighted average cost of capital (WACC).
e.
Maximize the earnings per share (EPS).
ANSWER:
d
POINTS:
1
DIFFICULTY:
Difficulty: Moderate
QUESTION TYPE:
Multiple Choice
HAS VARIABLES:
False
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
IFMG.DAVE.19.16.07 – LO: 16-7
NATIONAL STANDARDS:
United States – BUSPROG: Analytic
STATE STANDARDS:
United States – ak – DISC: Capital structure
TOPICS:
Financial leverage and EPS
51. Which of the following statements is CORRECT?
a.
The factors that affect a firm’s business risk are affected by industry characteristics and economic conditions.
Unfortunately, these factors are generally beyond the control of the firm’s management.
b.
One of the benefits to a firm of being at or near its target capital structure is that this eliminates any risk of
bankruptcy.
c.
A firm’s financial risk can be minimized by diversification.
d.
The amount of debt in its capital structure can under no circumstances affect a company’s business risk.
e.
A firm’s business risk is determined solely by the financial characteristics of its industry.
ANSWER:
a
POINTS:
1
DIFFICULTY:
Difficulty: Moderate
QUESTION TYPE:
Multiple Choice
HAS VARIABLES:
False
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
IFMG.DAVE.19.16.05 – LO: 16-5
NATIONAL STANDARDS:
United States – BUSPROG: Analytic
STATE STANDARDS:
United States – ak – DISC: Capital structure
LOCAL STANDARDS:
United States – OH – Default City – TBA
TOPICS:
Business & fin. risk & cap. struc.
KEYWORDS:
OTHER:
TYPE: Multiple Choice: Conceptual
DATE CREATED:
10/30/2017 8:12 PM
DATE MODIFIED:
1/6/2018 11:26 PM
52. Which of the following statements is CORRECT?
a.
If a firm lowered its fixed costs while increasing its variable costs, holding total costs at the present level of
sales constant, this would decrease its operating leverage.
b.
The debt ratio that maximizes EPS generally exceeds the debt ratio that maximizes share price.
c.
If a company were to issue debt and use the money to repurchase common stock, this action would have no
impact on its basic earning power ratio. (Assume that the repurchase has no impact on the company’s operating
income.)
d.
If changes in the bankruptcy code made bankruptcy less costly to corporations, this would likely reduce the
average corporation’s debt ratio.
e.
Increasing financial leverage is one way to increase a firm’s basic earning power (BEP).
ANSWER:
b
DATE MODIFIED:
1/6/2018 11:26 PM
Difficulty: Moderate
QUESTION TYPE:
Multiple Choice
United States – BUSPROG: Analytic
United States – ak – DISC: Capital structure
53. Companies HD and LD have identical tax rates, total assets, and return on invested capital (ROIC), and their ROIC
exceeds their after-tax cost of debt, (1–T) rd. However, Company HD has a higher debt ratio and thus more interest
expense than Company LD. Which of the following statements is CORRECT?
a.
Company HD has a lower ROA than Company LD.
b.
Company HD has a lower ROE than Company LD.
c.
The two companies have the same ROA.
d.
The two companies have the same ROE.
e.
Company HD has a higher net income than Company LD.
ANSWER:
a
DIFFICULTY:
Difficulty: Moderate
Multiple Choice
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
IFMG.DAVE.19.16.02 – LO: 16-2
United States – BUSPROG: Analytic
STATE STANDARDS:
United States – ak – DISC: Capital structure
United States – OH – Default City – TBA
Financial leverage and ratios
KEYWORDS:
TYPE: Multiple Choice: Conceptual
DATE CREATED:
10/30/2017 8:12 PM
1/6/2018 11:26 PM
54. Firms U and L both have a return on invested capital (ROIC) of 12% and each has the same amount of assets. Firm U
is unleveraged, i.e., it is 100% equity financed, while Firm L is financed with 50% debt and 50% equity. Firm L’s debt has
an after-tax cost of 4.8%. Both firms have positive net income. Which of the following statements is CORRECT?
a.
Firm L has a lower ROA than Firm U.
b.
Firm L has a lower ROE than Firm U.
c.
Firm L has the higher times interest earned (TIE) ratio.
d.
Firm L has a higher EBIT than Firm U.
e.
The two companies have the same times interest earned (TIE) ratio.
ANSWER:
a
OTHER:
TYPE: Multiple Choice: Conceptual
10/30/2017 8:12 PM
1/6/2018 11:26 PM
1
DIFFICULTY:
55. Two operationally similar companies, HD and LD, have the same total assets, operating income (EBIT), tax rate, and
business risk. Company HD, however, has a much higher debt ratio than LD. Also HD‘s return on invested capital
(ROIC) exceeds its after-tax cost of debt, (1–T)rd. Which of the following statements is CORRECT?
a.
HD should have a higher times interest earned (TIE) ratio than LD.
b.
HD should have a higher return on equity (ROE) than LD, but its risk, as measured by the standard deviation
of ROE, should also be higher than LD’s.
c.
Given that ROIC > (1–T) rd, HD’s stock price must exceed that of LD.
d.
Given that ROIC > (1–T) rd, LD‘s stock price must exceed that of HD.
e.
HD should have a higher return on assets (ROA) than LD.
ANSWER:
b
1
DIFFICULTY:
Multiple Choice
HAS VARIABLES:
False
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
United States – BUSPROG: Analytic
STATE STANDARDS:
United States – OH – Default City – TBA
TOPICS:
KEYWORDS:
TYPE: Multiple Choice: Conceptual
DATE CREATED:
1/6/2018 11:26 PM
56. Which of the following statements is CORRECT?
a.
The capital structure that maximizes the stock price is generally the capital structure that also maximizes
earnings per share.
b.
All else equal, an increase in the corporate tax rate would tend to encourage a company to increase its debt
ratio.
c.
Since debt financing raises the firm’s financial risk, increasing a company’s debt ratio will always increase its
WACC.
d.
Since debt is cheaper than equity, increasing a company’s debt ratio will always reduce its WACC.
e.
When a company increases its debt ratio, the costs of equity and debt both increase. Therefore, the WACC
must also increase.
ANSWER:
b
LOCAL STANDARDS:
Financial leverage and ratios
KEYWORDS:
OTHER:
10/30/2017 8:12 PM
DATE MODIFIED:
57. Two operationally similar companies, HD and LD, have identical amounts of assets, operating income (EBIT), tax
rates, and business risk. Company HD, however, has a much higher debt ratio than LD. Company HD’s return on invested
capital (ROIC) exceeds its after-tax cost of debt, (1–T) rd. Which of the following statements is CORRECT?
a.
Company HD has a higher times interest earned (TIE) ratio than Company LD.
b.
Company HD has a higher return on equity (ROE) than Company LD, and its risk, as measured by the
standard deviation of ROE, is also higher than LD‘s.
c.
The two companies have the same ROE.
d.
Company HD’s ROE would be higher if it had no debt.
e.
Company HD has a higher return on assets (ROA) than Company LD.
ANSWER:
b
POINTS:
1
Difficulty: Challenging
QUESTION TYPE:
Multiple Choice
False
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
IFMG.DAVE.19.16.02 – LO: 16-2
NATIONAL STANDARDS:
United States – BUSPROG: Analytic
United States – ak – DISC: Capital structure
LOCAL STANDARDS:
United States – OH – Default City – TBA
Financial leverage and ratios
KEYWORDS:
OTHER:
TYPE: Multiple Choice: Conceptual
10/30/2017 8:12 PM
DATE MODIFIED:
1/6/2018 11:26 PM
58. Bailey and Sons has a levered beta of 1.10, its capital structure consists of 40% debt and 60% equity, and its tax rate is
40%. What would Bailey’s beta be if it used no debt, i.e., what is its unlevered beta?
a.
0.64
b.
0.67
c.
0.71
d.
0.75
e.
0.79
ANSWER:
e
QUESTION TYPE:
Multiple Choice
False
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
IFMG.DAVE.19.16.07 – LO: 16-7
NATIONAL STANDARDS:
United States – BUSPROG: Analytic
United States – ak – DISC: Capital structure
LOCAL STANDARDS:
United States – OH – Default City – TBA
Leverage and capital structure
KEYWORDS:
OTHER:
TYPE: Multiple Choice: Conceptual
10/30/2017 8:12 PM
DATE MODIFIED:
1/6/2018 11:26 PM
Chapter 16: Capital Structure Decisions
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POINTS:
1
DIFFICULTY:
Difficulty: Moderate
QUESTION TYPE:
Multiple Choice
HAS VARIABLES:
False
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
IFMG.DAVE.19.16.06 – LO: 16-6
NATIONAL STANDARDS:
United States – BUSPROG: Analytic
STATE STANDARDS:
United States – ak – DISC: Capital structure
LOCAL STANDARDS:
United States – OH – Default City – TBA
TOPICS:
Calculating the unlevered beta
KEYWORDS:
OTHER:
TYPE: Multiple Choice: Problem
DATE CREATED:
10/30/2017 8:12 PM
DATE MODIFIED:
1/6/2018 11:26 PM
59. The following information has been presented to you about the Gibson Corporation.
Total assets
$3,000 million
Tax rate
40%
Operating income (EBIT)
$800 million
Debt ratio
0%
Interest expense
$0 million
WACC
10%
Net income
$480 million
M/B ratio
1.00×
Share price
$32.00
EPS = DPS
$3.20
The company has no growth opportunities (g = 0), so the company pays out all of its earnings as dividends (EPS = DPS).
The consultant believes that if the company moves to a capital structure financed with 20% debt and 80% equity (based
on market values) that the cost of equity will increase to 11% and that the pre-tax cost of debt will be 10%. If the company
makes this change, what would be the total market value (in millions) of the firm?
a.
$3,200
b.
$3,600
c.
$4,000
d.
$4,200
e.
$4,800
ANSWER:
e
0.4) = $480 million.
Step 3:
Find the new value of the firm:
Difficulty: Challenging
QUESTION TYPE:
False
IFMG.DAVE.19.16.06 – LO: 16-6
NATIONAL STANDARDS:
United States – ak – DISC: Capital structure
Calculating levered beta and cost of equity
POINTS:
1
Difficulty: Moderate
Multiple Choice
HAS VARIABLES:
False
IFMG.DAVE.19.16.06 – LO: 16-6
NATIONAL STANDARDS:
United States – ak – DISC: Capital structure
United States – OH – Default City – TBA
TOPICS:
OTHER:
10/30/2017 8:12 PM
1/6/2018 11:26 PM
60. Morales Publishing’s tax rate is 40%, its beta is 1.10, and it uses no debt. However, the CFO is considering moving to
a capital structure with 30% debt and 70% equity. If the risk-free rate is 5.0% and the market risk premium is 6.0%, by
how much would the capital structure shift change the firm’s cost of equity?
a.
1.53%
b.
1.70%
c.
1.87%
d.
2.05%
e.
2.26%
b
POINTS:
1
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61. Serendipity Inc. is re-evaluating its debt level. Its current capital structure consists of 80% debt and 20% common
equity, its beta is 1.60, and its tax rate is 35%. However, the CFO thinks the company has too much debt, and he is
considering moving to a capital structure with 40% debt and 60% equity. The risk-free rate is 5.0% and the market risk
premium is 6.0%. By how much would the capital structure shift change the firm’s cost of equity?
a.
−5.20%
b.
−5.78%
c.
−6.36%
d.
−6.99%
e.
−7.69%
ANSWER:
b
POINTS:
1
Difficulty: Challenging
QUESTION TYPE:
Multiple Choice
HAS VARIABLES:
False
IFMG.DAVE.19.16.06 – LO: 16-6
NATIONAL STANDARDS:
United States – BUSPROG: Analytic
United States – ak – DISC: Capital structure
LOCAL STANDARDS:
United States – OH – Default City – TBA
TOPICS:
Calculating levered beta and cost of equity
OTHER:
TYPE: Multiple Choice: Problem
10/30/2017 8:12 PM
DATE MODIFIED:
1/6/2018 11:26 PM
62. Laramie Trucking’s CEO is considering a change to the company’s capital structure, which currently consists of 25%
debt and 75% equity. The CFO believes the firm should use more debt, but the CEO is reluctant to increase the debt ratio.
KEYWORDS:
TYPE: Multiple Choice: Problem
DATE CREATED:
10/30/2017 8:12 PM
DATE MODIFIED:
1/6/2018 11:26 PM
Chapter 16: Capital Structure Decisions
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Page 34
The risk-free rate, rRF, is 5.0%, the market risk premium, RPM, is 6.0%, and the firm’s tax rate is 40%. Currently, the cost
of equity, rs, is 11.5% as determined by the CAPM. What would be the estimated cost of equity if the firm used 60%
debt? (Hint: You must first find the current beta and then the unlevered beta to solve the problem.)
a.
10.95%
b.
11.91%
c.
12.94%
d.
14.07%
e.
15.29%
ANSWER:
POINTS:
1
Difficulty: Challenging
Multiple Choice
HAS VARIABLES:
False
IFMG.DAVE.19.16.06 – LO: 16-6
NATIONAL STANDARDS:
United States – ak – DISC: Capital structure
United States – OH – Default City – TBA
TOPICS:
OTHER:
10/30/2017 8:12 PM
1/6/2018 11:26 PM
63. An all-equity firm with 200,000 shares outstanding, Antwerther Inc., has $2,000,000 of EBIT, which is expected to
remain constant in the future. The company pays out all of its earnings, so earnings per share (EPS) equal dividends per
shares (DPS). Its tax rate is 40%.
The company is considering issuing $5,000,000 of 10.0% bonds and using the proceeds to repurchase stock. The risk-free
rate is 6.5%, the market risk premium is 5.0%, and the beta is currently 0.90, but the CFO believes beta would rise to 1.10
if the recapitalization occurs.
Chapter 16: Capital Structure Decisions
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Page 35
Assuming that the shares can be repurchased at the price that existed prior to the recapitalization, what would the price be
following the recapitalization?
a.
$65.77
b.
$69.23
c.
$72.69
d.
$76.33
e.
$80.14
ANSWER:
b
POINTS:
1
Difficulty: Challenging
QUESTION TYPE:
False
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
NATIONAL STANDARDS:
United States – ak – DISC: Capital structure
LOCAL STANDARDS:
Recapitalization
KEYWORDS:
TYPE: Multiple Choice: Problem
DATE CREATED:
DATE MODIFIED:
64. Cartwright Communications is considering making a change to its capital structure to reduce its cost of capital and
increase firm value. Right now, Cartwright has a capital structure that consists of 20% debt and 80% equity, based on
market values. (Its D/S ratio is 0.25.) The risk-free rate is 6% and the market risk premium, rM − rRF, is 5%. Currently the
company’s cost of equity, which is based on the CAPM, is 12% and its tax rate is 40%. What would be Cartwright’s
estimated cost of equity if it were to change its capital structure to 50% debt and 50% equity?
a.
13.00%
Chapter 16: Capital Structure Decisions
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Page 36
b.
13.64%
c.
14.35%
d.
14.72%
e.
15.60%
Find the new levered beta given the new capital structure using the
POINTS:
1
DIFFICULTY:
Difficulty: Challenging
HAS VARIABLES:
False
NATIONAL STANDARDS:
United States – BUSPROG: Analytic
STATE STANDARDS:
United States – ak – DISC: Capital structure
TOPICS:
Hamada equation and cost of equity–nonalgorithmic
OTHER:
TYPE: Multiple Choice: Problem
DATE CREATED:
10/30/2017 8:12 PM
65. LeCompte Learning Solutions is considering making a change to its capital structure in hopes of increasing its value.
The company’s capital structure consists of debt and common stock. In order to estimate the cost of debt, the company has
produced the following table:
Chapter 16: Capital Structure Decisions
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Page 37
Percent financed
Percent financed
Debt-to-equity
Bond
Before-tax
with debt (wd)
with equity (wc)
ratio (D/S)
Rating
cost of debt
0.10
0.90
0.10/0.90 = 0.11
AAA
7.0%
0.20
0.80
0.20/0.80 = 0.25
AA
7.2
0.30
0.70
0.30/0.70 = 0.43
A
8.0
0.40
0.60
0.40/0.60 = 0.67
BBB
8.8
0.50
0.50
0.50/0.50 = 1.00
BB
9.6
The company uses the CAPM to estimate its cost of common equity, rs. The risk-free rate is 5% and the market risk
premium is 6%. LeCompte estimates that if it had no debt its beta would be 1.0. (Its “unlevered beta,” bU, equals 1.0.) The
company’s tax rate, T, is 40%.
On the basis of this information, what is LeCompte’s optimal capital structure, and what is the firm’s cost of capital at this
optimal capital structure?
a.
wc = 0.9; wd = 0.1; WACC = 14.96%
b.
wc = 0.8; wd = 0.2; WACC = 10.96%
c.
wc = 0.7; wd = 0.3; WACC = 7.83%
d.
wc = 0.6; wd = 0.4; WACC = 10.15%
e.
wc = 0.5; wd = 0.5; WACC = 10.18%
POINTS:
1