(Divisional costs of capital and investment decisions) In May of this year Newcastle Mfg. Company’s capital investment review committee received two major investment proposals. One of the proposals was issued by the firm’s domestic manufacturing division, and the other came from the firm’s distribution company. Both proposals promise a
However, managers have long recognized that the manufacturing division is significantly more risky than the distribution division. In fact, comparable firms in the manufacturing division have equity betas of about 1.6, whereas distribution companies typically have equity betas of only 1.1. Given the size of the two proposals, Newcastle’s management feels it can undertake only one, so it wants to be sure that it is taking on the more promising investment. 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 follows:
- The cost of debt financing is 8 percent before a marginal tax rate of 21 percent. You may assume this cost of debt is after any flotation costs the firm might incur.
- The risk-free rate of interest on long-term U.S. Treasury bonds is currently 4.8 percent, and the market-risk premium has averaged 7.3 percent over the past several years.
- Both divisions adhere to target debt ratios of 40 percent.
- 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 manufacturing and distribution divisions.
- b. Which of the two projects should the firm undertake (assuming it cannot do both due to labor and other nonfinancial restraints)? Discuss.
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Foundations Of Finance
- Use the following information for Exercises 11-31 and 11-32: Washington Company has two divisions: the Adams Division and the Jefferson Division. The following information pertains to last years results: Washingtons actual cost of capital was 12%. Exercise 11-32 Residual Income Refer to the information for Washington Company above. In addition, Washington Companys top management has set a minimum acceptable rate of return equal to 8%. Required: 1. Calculate the residual income for the Adams Division. 2. Calculate the residual income for the Jefferson Division.arrow_forwardUse the following information for Exercises 11-31 and 11-32: Washington Company has two divisions: the Adams Division and the Jefferson Division. The following information pertains to last years results: Washingtons actual cost of capital was 12%. Exercise 11-31 Economic Value Added Refer to the information for Washington Company above. Required: 1. Calculate the EVA for the Adams Division. 2. Calculate the EVA for the Jefferson Division. 3. CONCEPTUAL CONNECTION Is each division creating or destroying wealth? 4. CONCEPTUAL CONNECTION Describe generally the types of actions that Washingtons management team could take to increase Jefferson Divisions EVA?arrow_forwardThe condensed income statement for the Consumer Products Division of Tri-State Industries Inc. is as follows (assuming no support department allocations): The manager of the Consumer Products Division is considering ways to increase the return on investment. a. Using the DuPont formula for return on investment, determine the profit margin, investment turnover, and return on investment of the Consumer Products Division, assuming that 143,750,000 of assets have been invested in the Consumer Products Division. b. If expenses could be reduced by 3,450,000 without decreasing sales, what would be the impact on the profit margin, investment turnover, and return on investment for the Consumer Products Division?arrow_forward
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- Mace Manufacturing is in the process of analyzing its investment decision-making procedures. Two projects evaluated by the firm recently involved building new facilities in different regions, North and South. The basic variables surrounding each project analysis and the resulting decision actions are summarized in the following table: Basic variables North South Cost $7,000,000 $6,370,000 Life 12 years 12 years Expected return 7.8% 14.7% Least-cost financing Source Debt Equity Cost (after-tax) 5.1% 16.6% Decision Action Invest Don't invest Reason 7.8%>5.1% cost 14.7%<16.6% cost d. If the firm maintains a capital structure containing 40% debt and 60% equity, find its weighted average cost using the data in the table. e. If both analysts had used the weighted average cost calculated in part d, what recommendations would they have made regarding the…arrow_forwardMace Manufacturing is in the process of analyzing its investment decision-making procedures. Two projects evaluated by the firm recently involved building new facilities in different regions, North and South. The basic variables surrounding each project analysis and the resulting decision actions are summarized in the following table: Basic variables North South Cost $7,000,000 $6,370,000 Life 12 years 12 years Expected return 7.8% 14.7% Least-cost financing Source Debt Equity Cost (after-tax) 5.1% 16.6% Decision Action Invest Don't invest Reason 7.8%>5.1% cost 14.7%<16.6% cost a. An analyst evaluating the North facility expects that the project will be financed by debt that costs the firm 5.1%. What recommendation do you think this analyst will make regarding the investment opportunity? b. Another analyst assigned to study the South facility believes that…arrow_forwardAs a recent graduate of the UWIOC, The General Manager of the company has hired you to work alongside the Financial Controller of the company to help determine whether the company should invest in the new product line. He has provided you with the following questions to guide you in your assessment of the project and to present your findings to the Company. 1. Determine the weighted average cost of capital (WACC) for Vigour Pharmaceuticals. (Formula to be used below)arrow_forward
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