Question:Mercer Corp. has 10 million shares outstanding and $103
million worth of debt outstanding. Its current...
Question
Mercer Corp. has 10 million shares outstanding and $103
million worth of debt outstanding. Its current...
Mercer Corp. has 10 million shares outstanding and $103
million worth of debt outstanding. Its current share price is $64.
Mercer's equity cost of capital is 8.5%. Mercer has just announced
that it will issue $383 million worth of debt. It will use the
proceeds from this debt to pay off its existing debt, and use the
remaining $280 million to pay an immediate dividend. Assume
perfect capital markets.
a. Estimate Mercer's share price just after the
recapitalization is announced, but before the transaction
occurs.
b. Estimate Mercer's share price at the conclusion of the
transaction. (Hint: Use the market value balance sheet.)
c. Suppose Mercer's existing debt was risk-free with a 4.62%
expected return, and its new debt is risky with a 4.88%expected
return. Estimate Mercer's equity cost of capital after the
transaction.