Faris Currently Has a Capital Structure of 40 Percent Debt

question 55

Multiple Choice

Faris currently has a capital structure of 40 percent debt and 60 percent equity, but is considering a new product that will be produced and marketed by a separate division. The new division will have a capital structure of 70 percent debt and 30 percent equity. Faris has a current beta of 1.1 but is not sure what the beta for the new division will be. AMX is a firm that produces a product similar to the product under consideration by Faris. AMX has a beta of 1.6, a capital structure of 40 percent debt and 60 percent equity, and a marginal tax rate of 40 percent. Assuming Faris's tax rate is 40 percent, estimate the levered beta for the new product division.

• A) 2.44
• B) 1.14
• C) 2.74
• D) 3.88

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Definitions:

Dividends

Payments made by a corporation to its shareholders, usually out of profits or reserves.

Net Income

The total profit of a company after all expenses, taxes, and costs have been subtracted from total revenue; a key indicator of financial health.

Dividends

Profits distributed by a corporation to its share owners, regularly as a monetary payment.

Equity Method

An accounting technique used to assess the profits earned by investments in other companies, recognizing income based on the investor's share of the earnings.