Exam 15: Capital Structure Decisions: Part I

Now assume that AJC is considering changing from its original capital structure to a new capital structure with 50 percent debt and 50 percent equity. If it makes this change, its resulting market value would be $820,000. What would be its new stock price per share?

The Congress Company has identified two methods for producing playing cards. One method involves using a machine having a fixed cost of $10,000 and variable costs of $1.00 per deck of cards. The other method would use a less expensive machine (fixed cost = $5,000), but it would require greater variable costs ($1.50 per deck of cards). If the selling price per deck of cards will be the same under each method, at what level of output will the two methods produce the same net operating income?

The firm's financial risk may have both market risk and diversifiable risk components.

Now assume that AJC is considering changing from its original capital structure to a new capital structure that results in a stock price of $64 per share. The resulting capital structure would have a $336,000 total market value of equity and $504,000 market value of debt. How many shares would AJC repurchase in the recapitalization?

A firm's capital structure can never affect its free cash flows.

Simon Software Co. is trying to estimate its optimal capital structure. Right now, Simon has a capital structure that consists of 20 percent debt and 80 percent equity, based on market values. (Its D/S ratio is 0.25.) The risk-free rate is 6 percent and the market risk premium, rM - rRF, is 5 percent. Currently the company's cost of equity, which is based on the CAPM, is 12 percent and its tax rate is 40 percent. What would be Simon's estimated cost of equity if it were to change its capital structure to 50 percent debt and 50 percent equity?

Because creditors can foresee, to at least some extent, the costs of bankruptcy, they charge a higher rate of interest to compensate for the present value of bankruptcy costs.

If Miller and Modigliani had considered the cost of bankruptcy, it is unlikely that they would have concluded that 100 percent debt financing is optimal for the firm.

Which of the following statements is false? As a firm increases its operating leverage for a given quantity of output, this

Ridgefield Enterprises has total assets of $300 million. The company currently has no debt in its capital structure. The company's basic earning power is 15 percent. The company is contemplating a recapitalization where it will issue debt at 10 percent and use the proceeds to buy back shares of the company's common stock. If the company proceeds with the recapitalization, its operating income, total assets, and tax rate will remain the same. Which of the following will occur as a result of the recapitalization?

If debt financing is used, which of the following is true?

If a firm utilizes debt financing, a decrease in earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) will result in a more than proportionate decrease in earnings per share.

Elephant Books sells paperback books for $7 each. The variable cost per book is $5. At current annual sales of 200,000 books, the publisher is just breaking even. It is estimated that if the authors' royalties are reduced, the variable cost per book will drop by $1. Assume authors' royalties are reduced and sales remain constant; how much more money can the publisher put into advertising (a fixed cost) and still break even?

Dabney Electronics currently has no debt. Its operating income is $20 million and its tax rate is 40 percent. It pays out all of its net income as dividends and has a zero growth rate. The current stock price is $40 per share, and it has 2.5 million shares of stock outstanding. If it moves to a capital structure that has 40 percent debt and 60 percent equity (based on market values), its investment bankers believe its weighted average cost of capital would be 10 percent. What would its stock price be if it changes to the new capital structure?

Financial risk refers to the extra risk stockholders bear as a result of the use of debt as compared with the risk they would bear if no debt were used.

The firm is considering moving to a capital structure that is comprised of 40 percent debt and 60 percent equity, based on market values. The new funds would be used to replace the old debt and to repurchase stock. It is estimated that the increase in riskiness resulting from the leverage increase would cause the required rate of return on debt to rise to 7 percent, while the required rate of return on equity would increase to 9.5 percent. If this plan were carried out, what would be AJC's new WACC and total value?

Whenever a firm goes into debt, it is using financial leverage.

Which of the following events is likely to encourage a company to raise its target debt ratio?

Two firms, although they operate in different industries, have the same expected earnings per share and the same standard deviation of expected EPS. Thus, the two firms must have the same business risk.

Which of the following statements is most correct?