Week 6- The Capital Structure Decision Flashcards
What does WACC stand for?
Weighted Average Cost of Capital
The terms required return, appropriate discount rate, and cost of capital differ how?
They do not, they mean essentially the same thing.
What does it mean if the required return on investment is 10%?
If the required return on an investment is 10%, we mean the investment will have a positive NPV only if its return exceeds
10%, which is the cost of capital associated with investment.
How can a firm raise capital?
- Debt by borrowing (either through banks or a bond
- Issuing equity
When is the value of the firm maximised?
When the WACC is minimised
What does a debt-equity ratio that results in the lowest WACC represent?
The optimal capital structure
Why is giving someone equity riskier than taking n debt?
As they are they are the residual owner, in case of bankruptcy you pay debt holder before equity holders. Additionally giving away equity is more volatile; the returns are unknown, whereas debt is generally known (ie the interest)
What is the WACC formula?
WACC = Ke(E/(E+D)) + Kd(D/(E+D)) * (1-Tc)
where:
ππ stands for the corporate tax rate.
πΎπ is the cost of equity.
πΎπ is the cost of debt.
πΈ is the value of equity.
π· is the value of debt.
πΈ/(πΈ+π·) & π·/(πΈ+π·) represent the weights of equity and debt
Why can extra debt be preferable within the capital structure?
As debt is tax deductible
What is the value of the firm calculated by?
Value = Estimate of future cash flows/WACC
Why is WACC used in the regulatory process?
To determine what is a βfairβ level of profit.
Why do companies calculate their WACC?
- As an overall measure of company performance linked to shareholder wealth.
- To use as an input in investment appraisal method.
What does financial leverage concern?
The proportion of debt in its capital structure
What does capital leverage focus on?
Capital leverage focuses on the extent to which a firmβs total capital is in the form of debt. The more debt financing a firm uses
in its capital structure, the more financial leverage it employs
How does capital structure affect financial risk?
If operating profits are high, the geared firmβs shareholders will experience a more than proportional boost in their returns compared to the ungeared firmβs shareholders.
What does geared mean?
Just another term for leveraged
Although firms with leverage operated have higher returns than those without, what is also true about them?
They have higher standard deviations (ie higher risk)
What is business risk?
Business risk is the risk associated with a companyβs profits and earnings varying due to systematic influences on that companyβs business sector.
What does financial risk relate to?
Financial risk is the volatility of distributable profits arising from the need to meet interest payments, which will get progressively higher as a companyβs gearing level increases.
How do we calculate financial risk?
Total Risk- Business Risk = Financial Risk
Why does borrowing reduce net income?
As interest payments are required
Why does borrowing increase EPS?
As thereβs less need to issue additional equity, so there are less shares
Why does a firm borrowing increase risk for shareholders?
As there is increased volatility in the net income
What are the 4 kinds of risk a firm undergoes?
Risk-Free Rate
Business Risk
Financial Risk
Bankruptcy Risk