On the basis of this information, what is LeCompte's optimal capital structure, and what is the firm's cost of capital at this

EBK CONTEMPORARY FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
14th Edition
ISBN:9781337514835
Author:MOYER
Publisher:MOYER
Chapter13: Capital Structure Concepts
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 5P
icon
Related questions
icon
Concept explainers
Question
14. 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:
Percent financed
Percent financed
Debt-to-equity
ratio (D/S)
Bond
Before-tax
with debt (wd)
with equity (wc)
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
0.40
0.70
0.30/0.70 = 0.43
А
8.0
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 = 0.5; wd = 0.5; WACC = 10.18%
b. Wc = 0.6; wd= 0.4; WACC = 10.15%
C. Wc = 0.8; wd= 0.2; WACC = 10.96%
d.
Wc = 0.9; wd = 0.1; WACC = 14.96%
e. wc = 0.7; wd = 0.3; WACC=7.83%
Transcribed Image Text:14. 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: Percent financed Percent financed Debt-to-equity ratio (D/S) Bond Before-tax with debt (wd) with equity (wc) 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 0.40 0.70 0.30/0.70 = 0.43 А 8.0 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 = 0.5; wd = 0.5; WACC = 10.18% b. Wc = 0.6; wd= 0.4; WACC = 10.15% C. Wc = 0.8; wd= 0.2; WACC = 10.96% d. Wc = 0.9; wd = 0.1; WACC = 14.96% e. wc = 0.7; wd = 0.3; WACC=7.83%
Expert Solution
trending now

Trending now

This is a popular solution!

steps

Step by step

Solved in 2 steps with 2 images

Blurred answer
Knowledge Booster
Cost of Capital
Learn more about
Need a deep-dive on the concept behind this application? Look no further. Learn more about this topic, finance and related others by exploring similar questions and additional content below.
Similar questions
  • SEE MORE QUESTIONS
Recommended textbooks for you
EBK CONTEMPORARY FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
EBK CONTEMPORARY FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
Finance
ISBN:
9781337514835
Author:
MOYER
Publisher:
CENGAGE LEARNING - CONSIGNMENT
Fundamentals of Financial Management, Concise Edi…
Fundamentals of Financial Management, Concise Edi…
Finance
ISBN:
9781305635937
Author:
Eugene F. Brigham, Joel F. Houston
Publisher:
Cengage Learning
Fundamentals of Financial Management, Concise Edi…
Fundamentals of Financial Management, Concise Edi…
Finance
ISBN:
9781285065137
Author:
Eugene F. Brigham, Joel F. Houston
Publisher:
Cengage Learning
Fundamentals of Financial Management (MindTap Cou…
Fundamentals of Financial Management (MindTap Cou…
Finance
ISBN:
9781285867977
Author:
Eugene F. Brigham, Joel F. Houston
Publisher:
Cengage Learning
Principles of Accounting Volume 2
Principles of Accounting Volume 2
Accounting
ISBN:
9781947172609
Author:
OpenStax
Publisher:
OpenStax College
Financial Reporting, Financial Statement Analysis…
Financial Reporting, Financial Statement Analysis…
Finance
ISBN:
9781285190907
Author:
James M. Wahlen, Stephen P. Baginski, Mark Bradshaw
Publisher:
Cengage Learning