ABC co. and XYZ Co. are identical firms in all respect except for their capital
ID: 2793265 • Letter: A
Question
ABC co. and XYZ Co. are identical firms in all respect except for their capital structure. ABC is all equity financed with $780,000 in stock. XYZ uses both stock and perpetual debt; its stock is worth $390,000 and the interest rate on its debt is 8 percent. Both firms expect EBIT to be $87,000. Ignore taxes.
a) Allison own $48,750 worth of XYZ’s stock. What rate of return is she expecting?
b) Show how Allison could generate exactly the same cash flows and rate of return by investing in ABC and using homemade leverage
c) What is the cost of equity for ABC? What is it for XYZ?
d) What is the WACC for ABC? For XYZ? What principle have you illustrated?
Explanation / Answer
a) Rate of return = (EBIT- Interest on debt)/ Stock=( 87000-390000*8%)/390000= 14.31%
b) The shareholder will have to match the capital structure of ABC by selling all shares in XYZ. This will net $48,750. The shareholder should then borrow $48,750.
This will create Interest cash flow =.08*($ 48750)= $ 3,900
Investor need to invest the money (loan +sale value) into buying stock of ABC-
Dividends received = $48750*2*($87000/780000)= $ 10,875
The total cash flow for the shareholder will be:
Total cash flow = 10875- 3900 = 6975
The shareholders return in this case will be:
R = 6975/48750= 14.31%
c) Cost of equity of ABC = EBIT/ Stock= 87000/780000= 11.15%
d) WACC of ABC= 11.15% WACC of XYZ= 14.31%.5+.8%*.5=11.15%
WACC is same irrespective of capital structure due to absence of tax.