Aaron Athletics is trying to determine its optimal capital structure. The company’s capital structure consists of debt and common equity. In order to estimate the cost of capital at various debt levels the company has constructed the following table:   Percent financed with debt (wD) Percent financed with equity (ws) Before tax cost of debt 0.10 0.90 7.0% 0.20 0.80 7.2% 0.30 0.70 8.0% 0.40 0.60 8.8% 0.50 0.50 9.6%   The company uses the CAPM to estimate its cost of equity, rS . The risk-free rate is 4% and the market risk premium is 5%. Aaron estimates that if it had no debt its beta would be 1.0. (It’s unlevered beta equals 1.0). The company’s tax rate is 40%. On the basis of this information, what is the company’s optimal capital structure, and what is the WACC at that capital structure? (Show your calculations at each debt level).

Essentials Of Investments
11th Edition
ISBN:9781260013924
Author:Bodie, Zvi, Kane, Alex, MARCUS, Alan J.
Publisher:Bodie, Zvi, Kane, Alex, MARCUS, Alan J.
Chapter1: Investments: Background And Issues
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 1PS
icon
Related questions
icon
Concept explainers
Question
100%

Aaron Athletics is trying to determine its optimal capital structure. The company’s capital structure consists of debt and common equity. In order to estimate the cost of capital at various debt levels the company has constructed the following table:

 

Percent financed with debt (wD)

Percent financed with equity (ws)

Before tax cost of debt

0.10

0.90

7.0%

0.20

0.80

7.2%

0.30

0.70

8.0%

0.40

0.60

8.8%

0.50

0.50

9.6%

 

The company uses the CAPM to estimate its cost of equity, r. The risk-free rate is 4% and the market risk premium is 5%. Aaron estimates that if it had no debt its beta would be 1.0. (It’s unlevered beta equals 1.0). The company’s tax rate is 40%.

On the basis of this information, what is the company’s optimal capital structure, and what is the WACC at that capital structure? (Show your calculations at each debt level).

Expert Solution
trending now

Trending now

This is a popular solution!

steps

Step by step

Solved in 5 steps with 8 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
Recommended textbooks for you
Essentials Of Investments
Essentials Of Investments
Finance
ISBN:
9781260013924
Author:
Bodie, Zvi, Kane, Alex, MARCUS, Alan J.
Publisher:
Mcgraw-hill Education,
FUNDAMENTALS OF CORPORATE FINANCE
FUNDAMENTALS OF CORPORATE FINANCE
Finance
ISBN:
9781260013962
Author:
BREALEY
Publisher:
RENT MCG
Financial Management: Theory & Practice
Financial Management: Theory & Practice
Finance
ISBN:
9781337909730
Author:
Brigham
Publisher:
Cengage
Foundations Of Finance
Foundations Of Finance
Finance
ISBN:
9780134897264
Author:
KEOWN, Arthur J., Martin, John D., PETTY, J. William
Publisher:
Pearson,
Fundamentals of Financial Management (MindTap Cou…
Fundamentals of Financial Management (MindTap Cou…
Finance
ISBN:
9781337395250
Author:
Eugene F. Brigham, Joel F. Houston
Publisher:
Cengage Learning
Corporate Finance (The Mcgraw-hill/Irwin Series i…
Corporate Finance (The Mcgraw-hill/Irwin Series i…
Finance
ISBN:
9780077861759
Author:
Stephen A. Ross Franco Modigliani Professor of Financial Economics Professor, Randolph W Westerfield Robert R. Dockson Deans Chair in Bus. Admin., Jeffrey Jaffe, Bradford D Jordan Professor
Publisher:
McGraw-Hill Education