Eni S.p.A. is an Italian oil company. Its current cost of debt is 3.8%, and the 10-year German bond yield, the proxy for the risk-free rate of interest, is 1.4%. The expected return on the market portfolio is 8%. The company's effective tax rate is 24%. Its optimal capital structure is 60% debt and 40% equity.

a. If Eni’s beta is estimated at 1.1, what is its weighted average cost of capital?

b. If Eni’s beta is estimated at 0.8, significantly lower because of the continuing profit prospects in the global energy sector, what is Eni’s weighted average cost of capital?