Beta and Leverage North Pole Fishing Equipment Corporation and South Pole Fishing Equipment Corporation would have identical equity betas of 1.25 if both were all equity financed. The market value information for each company is shown here:

North Pole South Pole Debt $1,400,000 $2,600,000 Equity $2,600,000 $1,400,000 The expected return on the market portfolio is 12.40 percent and the risk-free rate is 5.30 percent. Both companies are subject to a corporate tax rate of 35 percent. Assume the beta of debt is zero.

a. What is the equity beta of each of the two companies?

b. What is the required rate of return on each of the two companies’ equity?

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