(Divisional costs of capital and investment decisions) Saddle River Operating Company (SROC) is a Dallas-based independent oil and gas firm. In the past, the firm's managers have used a single firm-wide cost of capital of 17 percent to evaluate new investments. However, the firm has long recognized that its exploration and production division is significantly more risky than the pipeline and transportation division. In fact, firms comparable to SROC's E&P division have equity betas of about 1.8, whereas distribution companies typically have equity betas of only 0.8. Given the importance of getting the cost of capital estimate as close to correct as possible, the firm's chief financial officer has asked you to prepare cost of capital estimates for each of the two divisions. The requisite information needed to accomplish your task is presented here: The cost of debt financing is 8 percent before taxes of 35 percent. However, if the E&P division were to borrow based on its projects alone, the cost of debt would probably be 9.7 percent, and the pipeline division could borrow at 6.3 percent. You may assume these costs of debt are after any flotation costs the firm might incur. •The risk-free rate of interest on long-term U.S. Treasury bonds is currently 6.3 percent, and the market-risk premium has averaged 5.7 percent over the past several years. • The E&P division adheres to a target debt ratio of 20 percent, whereas the pipeline division utilizes 30 percent borrowed funds. The firm has sufficient internally generated funds such that no new stock will have to be sold to raise equity financing. a. Estimate the divisional costs of capital for the E&P and pipeline divisions. b. What are the implications of using a company-wide cost of capital to evaluate new investment proposals in light of the differences in the costs of capital you estimated previously?

Managerial Accounting
15th Edition
ISBN:9781337912020
Author:Carl Warren, Ph.d. Cma William B. Tayler
Publisher:Carl Warren, Ph.d. Cma William B. Tayler
Chapter10: Evaluating Decentralized Operations
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 17E: Materials used by the Instrument Division of Ziegler Inc. are currently purchased from outside...
icon
Related questions
Question
(Divisional costs of capital and investment decisions) Saddle River Operating Company (SROC) is a Dallas-based independent oil and gas firm. In the past, the firm's managers have used a single firm-wide cost of
capital of 17 percent to evaluate new investments. However, the firm has long recognized that its exploration and production division is significantly more risky than the pipeline and transportation division. In fact, firms
comparable to SROC's E&P division have equity betas of about 1.8, whereas distribution companies typically have equity betas of only 0.8. Given the importance of getting the cost of capital estimate as close to
correct as possible, the firm's chief financial officer has asked you to prepare cost of capital estimates for each of the two divisions. The requisite information needed to accomplish your task is presented here:
• The cost of debt financing is 8 percent before taxes of 35 percent. However, if the E&P division were to borrow based on its projects alone, the cost of debt would probably be 9.7 percent, and the pipeline division
could borrow at 6.3 percent. You may assume these costs of debt are after any flotation costs the firm might incur.
• The risk-free rate of interest on long-term U.S. Treasury bonds is currently 6.3 percent, and the market-risk premium has averaged 5.7 percent over the past several years.
• The E&P division adheres to a target debt ratio of 20 percent, whereas the pipeline division utilizes 30 percent borrowed funds.
• The firm has sufficient internally generated funds such that no new stock will have to be sold to raise equity financing.
a. Estimate the divisional costs of capital for the E&P and pipeline divisions.
b. What are the implications of using a company-wide cost of capital to evaluate new investment proposals in light of the differences in the costs of capital you estimated previously?
Transcribed Image Text:(Divisional costs of capital and investment decisions) Saddle River Operating Company (SROC) is a Dallas-based independent oil and gas firm. In the past, the firm's managers have used a single firm-wide cost of capital of 17 percent to evaluate new investments. However, the firm has long recognized that its exploration and production division is significantly more risky than the pipeline and transportation division. In fact, firms comparable to SROC's E&P division have equity betas of about 1.8, whereas distribution companies typically have equity betas of only 0.8. Given the importance of getting the cost of capital estimate as close to correct as possible, the firm's chief financial officer has asked you to prepare cost of capital estimates for each of the two divisions. The requisite information needed to accomplish your task is presented here: • The cost of debt financing is 8 percent before taxes of 35 percent. However, if the E&P division were to borrow based on its projects alone, the cost of debt would probably be 9.7 percent, and the pipeline division could borrow at 6.3 percent. You may assume these costs of debt are after any flotation costs the firm might incur. • The risk-free rate of interest on long-term U.S. Treasury bonds is currently 6.3 percent, and the market-risk premium has averaged 5.7 percent over the past several years. • The E&P division adheres to a target debt ratio of 20 percent, whereas the pipeline division utilizes 30 percent borrowed funds. • The firm has sufficient internally generated funds such that no new stock will have to be sold to raise equity financing. a. Estimate the divisional costs of capital for the E&P and pipeline divisions. b. What are the implications of using a company-wide cost of capital to evaluate new investment proposals in light of the differences in the costs of capital you estimated previously?
Expert Solution
trending now

Trending now

This is a popular solution!

steps

Step by step

Solved in 5 steps with 6 images

Blurred answer
Similar questions
  • SEE MORE QUESTIONS
Recommended textbooks for you
Managerial Accounting
Managerial Accounting
Accounting
ISBN:
9781337912020
Author:
Carl Warren, Ph.d. Cma William B. Tayler
Publisher:
South-Western College Pub
Principles of Accounting Volume 2
Principles of Accounting Volume 2
Accounting
ISBN:
9781947172609
Author:
OpenStax
Publisher:
OpenStax College
Managerial Accounting: The Cornerstone of Busines…
Managerial Accounting: The Cornerstone of Busines…
Accounting
ISBN:
9781337115773
Author:
Maryanne M. Mowen, Don R. Hansen, Dan L. Heitger
Publisher:
Cengage Learning
Financial And Managerial Accounting
Financial And Managerial Accounting
Accounting
ISBN:
9781337902663
Author:
WARREN, Carl S.
Publisher:
Cengage Learning,
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
EBK CONTEMPORARY FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
EBK CONTEMPORARY FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
Finance
ISBN:
9781337514835
Author:
MOYER
Publisher:
CENGAGE LEARNING - CONSIGNMENT