34 Two-state Option Pricing and Corporate Valuation Strudler Property plc, a construction firm financed by both debt and equity, is undertaking a new project. If the project is successful, the value of the firm in one year will be £500 million, but if the project is a failure the firm will be worth only £320 million. The current value of Strudler is £400 million, a figure that includes the prospects for the new project. Strudler has outstanding zero coupon bonds due in one year with a face value of £380 million. Treasury bills that mature in one year yield 7 per cent EAR. Strudler pays no dividends.

(a) Use the two-state option pricing model to find the current value of Strudler’s debt and equity.

(b) Suppose Strudler has 500,000 shares of equity outstanding. What is the price per share of the firm’s equity?

(c) Compare the market value of Strudler’s debt to the present value of an equal amount of debt that is riskless with one year until maturity. Is the firm’s debt worth more than, less than or the same as the riskless debt? Does this make sense? What factors might cause these two values to be different?

(d) Suppose that, in place of the preceding project, Strudler’s management decides to undertake a project that is even more risky. The value of the firm will either increase to £800 million or decrease to £200 million by the end of the year. Surprisingly, management concludes that the value of the firm today will remain at exactly £400 million if this risky project is substituted for the less risky one. Use the two-state option pricing model to determine the value of the firm’s debt and equity if the firm plans on undertaking this new project. Which project do bondholders prefer?