When companies borrow in global debt markets, the cost of debt capital includes the effect of changes in exchange rates. General Electric needs to borrow the equivalent of $100,000 for one year. GE decides to borrow yen, unhedged, in the Tokyo market. The coupon rate is 2%, and the exchange rate on the issue date is ¥115/$. The exchange rate is ¥95/$ on the day the debt obligation matures. What is GE’s before-tax dollar cost of debt capital?
The company borrows $100,000 but in yen, so from then Tokyo market they actually borrowed $100,000 * 115 = ¥11,500,000.
The coupon rate is 2% so the company will have to return ¥11,500,000 + 2%(¥11,500,000) = ¥11,730,000
The exchange rate after 1 year is ¥95/$. We will have to calculate how much dollars will be required to make ¥11,730,000.
We have ¥95 = $1
1¥ = $(1/95)
= ¥11,730,000 = $(11,730,000/95)
=$123,473.684
So the cost of debt is 23.473% and 23,473.684 in dollars
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