29. Marginal cost of capital (LO11-5) The McGee Corporation finds it is necessary to
determine its marginal cost of capital. McGee’s current capital structure calls for 40 percent
debt, 30 percent preferred stock, and 30 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, 9.6 percent; preferred stock, 9.0
percent; retained earnings, 10.0 percent; and new common stock, 11.4 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 $28.5 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 30 percent of the capital structure, but will all be in the form of new
common stock, Kn.)
d. The 9.6 percent cost of debt referred to earlier applies only to the first $30 million of
debt. After that, the cost of debt will be 11.2 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.)
11-29. Solution:
The McGee Corporation
Debt (Kd) …………………………..
Preferred stock (Kp) ………………….
Common equity (Ke)
(retained earnings) …………………..
Weighted average cost of
capital (Ka) …………………………..
b.
Retained earnings
% of retained earnings within the capital structure
$28.5 million $95 million
X=
==