LeCompte Learning Solutions Is Considering Making a Change to Its

question 58

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: $$\begin{array} { c c c c c } \begin{array} { c } \text { Percent financed } \\\text { with debt } \left( \mathrm { wd } _ { \mathrm { d } } \right) \end{array} & \begin{array} { c } \text { Percent financed } \\\text { with equity } \left( \mathrm { w } _ { \mathrm { c } } \right) \end{array} & \begin{array} { c } \text { Debt-to-equity } \\\text { ratio } ( \mathrm { D } / \mathrm { S } ) \end{array} & \begin{array} { c } \text { B ond } \\\text { Rating }\end{array} & \begin{array} { c } \text { Before-tax } \\\text { cost of debt }\end{array} \\\hline 0.10 & 0.90 & 0.10 / 0.90 = 0.11 & \mathrm { AAA } & 7.0 \% \\0.20 & 0.80 & 0.20 / 0.80 = 0.25 & \mathrm { AA } & 7.2 \\0.30 & 0.70 & 0.30 / 0.70 = 0.43 & \mathrm {~A} & 8.0 \\0.40 & 0.60 & 0.40 / 0.60 = 0.67 & \mathrm { BBB } & 8.8 \\0.50 & 0.50 & 0.50 / 0.50 = 1.00 & \mathrm { BB } & 9.6\end{array}$$ 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%

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Definitions:

Adjusting Entry

Journal entries made at the end of an accounting period to update accounts for accurate financial reporting.

Closing Entry

A journal entry made at the end of an accounting period to transfer temporary accounts to permanent accounts and prepare the books for the next period.

Real Account

Another term for permanent account in accounting, referring to accounts that are not closed at the end of the accounting period and carry their ending balance into the next period.

Nominal Account

A nominal account is a temporary financial account that shows the incomes, gains, expenses, or losses over an accounting period, and is reset to zero at the beginning of each new period.