Question

The Ronald Replica Co Ltd (RRL) is contemplating a $30 million national duplication of its replica division. It has forecast after-tax cash flows for the project of $15 million per year in perpetuity. The cost of debt capital for RRL is 8 per cent, and its cost of equity capital is 15 per cent. The tax rate is 30 per cent. Harry Hardly, the company’s chief financial officer, has come up with two financial options: 1) A $30 million issue of 15-year debt at 8 per cent interest. The issue costs would be 1 per cent of the amount raised. 2) A $30 million issue of ordinary shares. The issue costs would be 10 per cent of the amount raised. The target debt/equity ratio of RRL is 0.8. The expansion project will have about the same risk as the existing business. a. What is the NPV of the new project at the target debt/equity ratio? b. Mr. Hardly has advised the company to go ahead with the new project and to use the debt because debt is cheaper and the issue cost will be less with debt. Is Mr. Hardly correct?

Answer 1