Chapter 17—Multinational Cost of Capital and Capital Structure
1. An argument for MNCs to have a debt-intensive capital structure is:
a.
they are well diversified.
b.
they can reduce the chance of bankruptcy.
c.
it spreads the shareholder base.
d.
it forces subsidiaries to pay dividends to shareholders.
2. According to the text, there is evidence that the debt ratios (debt/capital) of MNCs based in:
a.
the U.S. tend to be generally higher than MNCs headquartered in Japan and Germany.
b.
China tend to be generally higher than MNCs headquartered in other non-U.S. countries.
c.
the U.S. tend to be generally lower than MNCs headquartered in Japan and Germany.
d.
A and B
3. According to the text, the cost of capital for an international project will:
a.
always be greater than the firm’s cost of capital.
b.
always be less than the firm’s cost of capital.
c.
always be the same as the firm’s cost of capital.
d.
none of the above
4. Which of the following factors is not expected to generally have a favorable impact on the firm’s cost
of capital according to the text?
a.
easy access to international capital markets.
b.
high degree of international diversification.
c.
high exposure to exchange rate fluctuations.
d.
all of the above
5. The capital asset pricing theory is based on the premise that:
a.
only unsystematic variability in cash flows is relevant.
b.
only systematic variability in cash flows is relevant.
c.
both systematic and unsystematic variability in cash flows are relevant.
d.
neither systematic nor unsystematic variability in cash flows is relevant.
6. According to the text, MNCs can:
a.
use only debt financing in foreign countries to support foreign subsidiaries.
b.
use only equity financing in foreign countries to support foreign subsidiaries.
c.
use only parent financing in foreign countries to support foreign subsidiaries.
d.
none of the above
7. The term “global” target capital structure for an MNC represents the MNC’s capital structure:
a.
in the U.S.
b.
relative to competitors across all countries.
c.
where it has its largest subsidiary.
d.
when consolidating all of its subsidiaries.
8. According to the text, an MNC’s “global” target capital structure is:
a.
always debt-intensive.
b.
always equity-intensive.
c.
sometimes different from an MNC’s “local” capital structures (at subsidiaries).
d.
none of the above
9. One argument for why subsidiaries should be wholly-owned by the parent is that the potential conflict
of interests between the MNC’s ____ is avoided.
a.
managers and shareholders
b.
majority shareholders and minority shareholders
c.
existing creditors
d.
managers and creditors
10. One argument for why subsidiaries should be only partly-owned by the parent is:
a.
that the potential conflict of interests between the MNC’s managers and shareholders is
avoided.
b.
that the potential conflict of interests between the MNC‘s majority shareholders and
minority shareholders is avoided.
c.
that the potential conflict of interests between the MNC’s existing creditors is avoided.
d.
to motivate subsidiary managers by allowing them partial ownership.
11. The cost of capital incurred by U.S.-based MNCs is primarily driven by the global stock market
volatility.
a. True
b. False
12. Other things being equal, countries with relatively ____ populations and ____ inflation are more likely
to have a low cost of capital.
a.
young; high
b.
old; high
c.
old; low
d.
young; low
13. Other things being equal, the financial leverage of MNCs will be higher if the governments of their
home countries are ____ likely to rescue them (in the event of failure), and if their home countries are
____ likely to experience a recession.
a.
more; more
b.
less; more
c.
less; less
d.
more; less
14. Based on the factors that influence a country’s cost of capital, the cost of capital in less developed
countries is likely to be ____ than that of the U.S. and ____ than that of Japan.
a.
higher; higher
b.
higher; lower
c.
lower; lower
d.
lower; higher
15. According to the text, the cost of debt:
a.
for each country is somewhat stable over time.
b.
among countries changes over time, and these changes are negatively correlated.
c.
among countries changes over time, and these changes are positively correlated.
d.
among countries changes over time, and are not correlated.
16. The term “local target capital structure” is used in the text to represent the:
a.
average capital structure of local firms where the MNC’s subsidiary is based.
b.
average capital structure of local firms where the MNC’s parent is based.
c.
capital structure of a subsidiary of a particular MNC.
d.
capital structure of a particular MNC overall (including all subsidiaries).
17. The term “global capital structure” is used in the text to represent the:
a.
average capital structure of all MNCs across countries.
b.
average capital structure of all domestic firms across countries.
c.
capital structure of a subsidiary of a particular MNC.
d.
capital structure of a particular MNC overall (including all subsidiaries).
18. An MNC may deviate from its target capital structure in each country where financing is obtained, yet
still achieve its target capital structure on a consolidated basis.
a. True
b. False
19. Assume that the risk-free interest rate in the U.S. is the same as that in Country M. Assume that the
government of Country M is more likely to rescue local firms that experience financial problems.
Other things being equal, Country M’s firms are likely to use a ____ degree of financial leverage than
U.S. firms. If a firm based in Country M had the same degree of financial leverage and the same
operating characteristics as a U.S. firm, its cost of capital would be ____ than that of the U.S. firm.
a.
higher; higher
b.
higher; lower
c.
lower; lower
d.
lower; higher
20. When a country’s risk-free rate rises, the cost of equity to an MNC in that country _____, and the cost
of debt to an MNC in that country ____, other things held constant.
a.
increases; increases
b.
increases; is not affected
c.
is not affected; increases
d.
is not affected; is not affected
21. Which of the following is not a factor that favorably affects an MNC’s cost of capital, according to
your text?
a.
exchange rate risk.
b.
size.
c.
access to international capital markets.
d.
international diversification.
22. According to your text, which of the following is not a factor that increases an MNC‘s cost of capital?
a.
higher exposure to exchange rate risk.
b.
higher exposure to country risk.
c.
an increase in the risk-free interest rate.
d.
an increase in the size of the MNC.
23. The ____ an MNC, the ____ its cost of capital is likely to be.
a.
larger; higher
b.
larger; lower
c.
smaller; lower
d.
A and C
24. Zoro Corporation has a beta of 2.0. The risk-free rate of interest is 5%, and the return on the stock
market overall is expected to be 13%. What is the required rate of return on Zoro stock?
a.
21%.
b.
41%.
c.
16%.
d.
13%.
e.
none of the above
25. Which of the following is not a reason provided in the text regarding why the cost of debt can vary
across countries?
a.
differences in the risk-free rate.
b.
a high price-earnings multiple.
c.
differences in the credit risk premium.
d.
differences in demographics.
26. In general, MNCs probably prefer to use ____ foreign debt when their foreign subsidiaries are subject
to ____ local interest rates.
a.
more; low
b.
more; high
c.
less; low
d.
B and C
e.
none of the above
27. In general, MNCs probably prefer to use ____ foreign debt when their foreign subsidiaries are subject
to potentially ____ local currencies.
a.
more; strong
b.
more; weak
c.
less; strong
d.
less; weak
e.
B and D
28. A firm’s cost of ____ reflects an opportunity cost: what the existing shareholders could have earned if
they had received the earnings as dividends and invested the funds themselves.
a.
debt
b.
retained earnings
c.
short-term loans
d.
none of the above
29. The ____ the MNC’s cost of capital, the ____ will be a project’s net present value for its proposed
project with a given set of expected cash flows.
a.
lower; higher
b.
higher; higher
c.
lower; lower
d.
none of the above
30. To the extent that individual economies are ____ each other, net cash flows from a portfolio of
subsidiaries should exhibit ____ variability, which may reduce the probability of bankruptcy.
a.
dependent on; less
b.
dependent on; more
c.
independent of; less
d.
independent of; more
31. In general, a firm ____ exposed to exchange rate fluctuations will usually have a ____ distribution of
possible cash flows in future periods.
a.
more; narrower
b.
less; wider
c.
more; wider
d.
none of the above
32. According to the CAPM, the required rate of return on stock is a positive function of all of the
following, except:
a.
the risk-free rate of interest.
b.
the market rate of return.
c.
the stock’s beta.
d.
the company’s earnings.
33. The lower a project’s beta, the ____ is the project’s ____ risk.
a.
lower; systematic
b.
lower; unsystematic
c.
higher; systematic
d.
higher; unsystematic
34. Capital asset pricing theory suggests that ____ risk of projects can be ignored and that ____ is
relevant.
a.
unsystematic; unsystematic
b.
unsystematic; systematic
c.
systematic; unsystematic
d.
systematic; systematic
35. Capital asset pricing theory would most likely suggest that the cost of capital is generally ____ for
____.
a.
higher; MNCs
b.
lower; domestic firms
c.
lower; MNCs
d.
none of the above
36. When assuming that investors in the U.S. are most concerned with their exposure to the U.S. stock
market, it is acceptable to use the U.S. market when measuring a U.S.-based MNC’s project’s beta.
a. True
b. False
37. Assume the following information for Pexi Co., a U.S.-based MNC that needs funding for a project in
Germany:
U.S. risk-free rate = 4%
German risk-free rate = 5%
Risk premium on dollar-denominated debt provided by U.S. creditors = 3%
Risk premium on euro-denominated debt provided by German creditors = 4%
Beta of project = 1.2
Expected U.S. market return = 10%
U.S. corporate tax rate = 30%
German corporate tax rate = 40%
What is Pexi’s cost of dollar-denominated equity?
a.
12.0%.
b.
11.2%.
c.
10.0%.
d.
7.2%.
38. Assume the following information for Brama Co., a U.S.-based MNC that needs funding for a project
in Germany:
U.S. risk-free rate = 4%
German risk-free rate = 5%
Risk premium on dollar-denominated debt provided by U.S. creditors = 3%
Risk premium on euro-denominated debt provided by German creditors = 4%
Beta of project = 1.2
Expected U.S. market return = 10%
U.S. corporate tax rate = 30%
German corporate tax rate = 40%
What is Brama’s after-tax cost of dollar-denominated debt?
a.
7.0%.
b.
4.9%.
c.
8.0%.
d.
5.6%.
39. Assume that an MNC has very stable cash flows and uses very little debt. Its cost of debt should be:
a.
lower than its cost of equity.
b.
higher than its cost of equity.
c.
lower than the country’s risk-free rate.
d.
lower than its credit risk premium.
40. Normally, each subsidiary of an MNC will issue its own stock where it does business.
a. True
b. False
41. In general, an MNC’s size, its access to international capital markets, and international diversification
are unfavorable to an MNC’s cost of capital.
a. True
b. False
42. Country differences, such as differences in the risk-free interest rate and differences in risk premiums
across countries, can cause the cost of capital to vary across countries.
a. True
b. False
43. Because their economies have lower growth, the cost of debt in industrialized countries is much higher
than the cost of debt in many less developed countries.
a. True
b. False
44. In the United States, government rescues are not as common as in other countries. Assuming that this
is expected to continue in the future, the risk premium on a given level of debt would be higher for
U.S. firms than for firms of other countries, everything else being equal.
a. True
b. False
45. The MNC‘s cost of equity is unrelated to the local risk-free rate.
a. True
b. False
46. Assume a subsidiary is forced to borrow in excess of the MNC’s optimal capital structure. Also assume
that the parent company reduces its debt financing by an offsetting amount. Under this scenario, the
cost of capital for the MNC overall could not have changed.
a. True
b. False
47. Because increased external financing by a foreign subsidiary reduces the external financing needed by
the parent, such an action will not affect the overall MNC’s cost of capital.
a. True
b. False
48. Since the cost of funds can vary among markets, the MNC’s access to the international capital markets
may allow it to attract funds at a lower cost than that paid by domestic firms.
a. True
b. False
49. Capital asset pricing theory would most likely suggest that the MNC’s cost of capital is lower than that
of domestic firms.
a. True
b. False
50. If an MNC’s cash flows are more stable, it can probably handle more debt than an MNC with erratic
cash flows.
a. True
b. False
51. When MNCs pursue international projects that have a high potential for return, but also increase their
risk, this increases the return to the bondholders that provided credit to the MNCs.
a. True
b. False
52. There is an advantage to using equity rather than debt financing because dividend payments are tax
deductible.
a. True
b. False
53. An MNC’s cost of capital may differ from that of domestic firms because of their access to
international capital markets, their exposure to exchange rate risk, and other characteristics.
a. True
b. False
54. An MNC’s size, its access to international capital markets, and international diversification are
unfavorable to an MNC‘s cost of capital.
a. True
b. False
55. The capital asset pricing model (CAPM) suggests that the required return on a firm’s stock is a positive
function of the risk-free rate of interest and the market rate of return and a negative function of the
stock’s beta.
a. True
b. False
56. Country differences, such as differences in the risk-free interest rate and differences in risk premiums
across countries, can cause the cost of capital to vary across countries.
a. True
b. False
57. It is always advantageous to use foreign debt to finance a foreign project, particularly in developing
countries.
a. True
b. False
58. It is probably easier to estimate the cost of equity than it is to estimate the cost of debt.
a. True
b. False
59. An MNC may deviate from its target capital structure in each country where financing is obtained, yet
still achieve its target capital structure on a consolidated basis.
a. True
b. False
60. If a parent company backs the debt of a foreign subsidiary, the borrowing capacity of the parent might
be reduced as creditors are not willing to provide as many funds to the parent if those funds may
possibly be needed to rescue a parent’s subsidiary.
a. True
b. False
61. Based on the CAPM, the ____ the beta of a project, the ____ the required rate of return on that project.
a.
higher; higher
b.
lower; higher
c.
higher; lower
d.
B and C
e.
none of the above
62. The capital asset pricing model suggests that the required return on a firm’s stock is a positive function
of:
a.
the risk-free rate of interest.
b.
the market rate of return.
c.
the stock’s beta.
d.
all of the above
63. The capital asset pricing model suggests that the required return on a firm’s stock is a negative function
of:
a.
the risk-free rate of interest.
b.
the market rate of return.
c.
the stock’s beta.
d.
none of the above
64. An MNC can obtain equity by all of the following except:
a.
retained earnings.
b.
a global equity offering.
c.
a domestic equity offering.
d.
none of the above.
65. Werner Corporation has a target capital structure that consists of 40% debt and 60% equity. Werner
can borrow at an interest rate of 10%. Also, Werner has determined its cost of equity to be 14%.
Werner’s tax rate is 40%. What is Werner’s weighted average cost of capital?
a.
10.80%
b.
12.40%
c.
9.20%
d.
None of the above
66. The U.S. risk-free rate is currently 3%. The expected U.S. market return is 10%. Solso, Inc. is
considering a project that has a beta of 1.2. What is the cost of dollar-denominated equity?
a.
8.4%
b.
11.4%
c.
10%
d.
None of the above
67. Which of the following is least likely to influence an MNC’s capital structure?
a.
The stability of MNC’s cash flows
b.
The MNC’s credit risk
c.
The MNC’s access to earnings
d.
The MNC’s decision to invest excess cash in a Treasury bill rather than in a bank
68. Which of the following is not a host country characteristic than can affect an MNC’s capital structure
decision?
a.
The strength of host country currencies
b.
The country risk in host countries
c.
Political decisions to increase penalties for criminals
d.
Tax laws in host countries
69. If the parent ____ the debt of the subsidiary, the subsidiary’s borrowing capacity might be ____.
a.
does not back; increased
b.
backs; reduced
c.
does not back; reduced
d.
backs; increased
e.
C and D
70. ____ are beneficial because they may reduce transaction costs. However, MNCs may not be able to
obtain all the funds that they need.
a.
Private placements
b.
Domestic equity offerings
c.
Global equity offerings
d.
Global debt offerings
71. Most MNCs obtain equity funding:
a.
in foreign countries.
b.
in their home country.
c.
through global offerings.
d.
through private placements.