Luther Industries Needs to Borrow $50 Million in Cash

question 31

Essay

Luther Industries needs to borrow $50 million in cash.Currently long-term AAA rates are 9%.Luther can borrow at 9.75% given its current credit rating.Luther is expecting interest rates to fall over the next few years,so it would prefer to borrow at the short-term rates and refinance after rates have dropped.Luther's management is afraid,however,that its credit rating may fall which could greatly increase the spread the firm must pay on new borrowings.How can Luther benefit from the expected decline in future interest rates without exposure to the risk that the potential future changes to its credit ratings brings?

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