Chapter 11: Cost of Capital
28. Marginal cost of capital (LO5) The Nolan Corporation finds it is necessary to determine
its marginal cost of capital. Nolan’s current capital structure calls for 45 percent debt, 15
percent preferred stock, and 40 percent common equity. Initially, common equity will be in
the form of retained earnings (Ke) and then new common stock (Kn). The costs of the
various sources of financing are as follows: debt, 5.6 percent; preferred stock, 9 percent;
retained earnings, 12 percent; and new common stock, 13.2 percent.
a. What is the initial weighted average cost of capital? (Include debt, preferred stock, and
common equity in the form of retained earnings, Ke.)
b. If the firm has $12 million in retained earnings, at what size capital structure will the
firm run out of retained earnings?
c. What will the marginal cost of capital be immediately after that point? (Equity will
remain at 40 percent of the capital structure, but will all be in the form of new
common stock, Kn.)
d. The 5.6 percent cost of debt referred to above applies only to the first $18 million of
debt. After that the cost of debt will be 7.2 percent. At what size capital structure will
there be a change in the cost of debt?
e. What will the marginal cost of capital be immediately after that point? (Consider the
facts in both parts c and d.)
11–28. Solution:
Nolan Corporation
Debt (Kd) ……………….
Preferred stock (Kp) ………………..
Common equity (Ke)
(retained earnings) …………..……..
Weighted average cost of
capital (Ka) ……………………..……
Retained earnings
b. X % of retained earnings within the capital structure
$12 million $30 million
.40
=
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