LeCompte Learning Solutions Is Considering Making a Change to Its

question 10

Multiple Choice

LeCompte Learning Solutions is considering making a change to its capital structure in hopes of increasing its value.The company's capital structure consists of debt and common stock.In order to estimate the cost of debt,the company has produced the following table: $\begin{array}{ccccc}\begin{array}{c}\text { Percent financed } \\\text { with debt }\left(\mathrm{w}_{\mathrm{d}}\right) \end{array} & \begin{array}{c}\text { Percent financed } \\\text { with equity }\left(\mathrm{w}_{\mathrm{c}}\right) \end{array} & \begin{array}{c}\text { Debt-to-equity } \\\text { ratio }(\mathrm{D} / \mathrm{S}) \end{array} & \begin{array}{c}\text { Bond } \\\text { Rating }\end{array} & \begin{array}{c}\text { Before-tax } \\\text { cost of debt }\end{array} \\\hline 0.10 & 0.90 & 0.10 / 0.90=0.11 & \text { AAA } & 7.0 \% \\0.20 & 0.80 & 0.20 / 0.80=0.25 & \text { AA } & 7.2 \\0.30 & 0.70 & 0.30 / 0.70=0.43 & \text { A } & 8.0 \\0.40 & 0.60 & 0.40 / 0.60=0.67 & \mathrm{BBB} & 8.8 \\0.50 & 0.50 & 0.50 / 0.50=1.00 & \mathrm{BB} & 9.6\end{array}$
The company uses the CAPM to estimate its cost of common equity,r_s.The risk-free rate is 5% and the market risk premium is 6%.LeCompte estimates that if it had no debt its beta would be 1.0.(Its "unlevered beta," b_U,equals 1.0.) The company's tax rate,T,is 40%.
On the basis of this information,what is LeCompte's optimal capital structure,and what is the firm's cost of capital at this optimal capital structure?

• A) w_c = 0.9; w_d = 0.1; WACC = 14.96%
• B) w_c = 0.8; w_d = 0.2; WACC = 10.96%
• C) w_c = 0.7; w_d = 0.3; WACC = 7.83%
• D) w_c = 0.6; w_d = 0.4; WACC = 10.15%
• E) w_c = 0.5; w_d = 0.5; WACC = 10.18%

---

Definitions:

Capital Leases

Leasing agreements classified as purchases of assets for accounting purposes, due to their terms transferring substantial ownership rights to the lessee.

Sales-Type Leases

Leases where the lessor recognizes immediate profit on the transaction, similar to a sale, typically in equipment or vehicle leasing.

Direct-Financing Leases

Direct-Financing Leases are lease agreements where the lessor essentially acts as a financier, purchasing an asset and leasing it to the lessee, without assuming risk of ownership.

Capital Lease

A lease classified as a financial transaction where the lessee effectively buys an asset and finances it over the lease term.