An all-equity firm wants to raise $60M to fund a major investment project to supplement the current operations of the firm. If the investment project goes well, then the present value of the future cash flows of the firm will be $500M (state G). Otherwise, if the investment project does not go well, then the present value of the cash flows of the firm will only be $250M (state B). The probability of state G is 75 percent and the probability of state B is 25 percent. For now, assume that there are no frictions due to information asymmetries.

a) Suppose that the manager of this firm wants to raise $60M in equity markets to fund the investment project. What percentage of equity will the new shareholders demand in exchange for $60M today?

Now suppose that the manager privately knows for certain which state will occur (state G or B), and the public knows the manager knows this. Unlike the manager, the public does not directly know which state will occur, however.

b) What is the NPV of financing due to information asymmetries if the manager knows that the true state is G and raises the $60M by selling the percentage of equity in part (a)? The NPV of financing due to information asymmetries is calculated as the money received from the new shareholders minus the value of the portion of the firm sold to the new shareholders.

c) What is the NPV of financing due to information asymmetries if the manager knows the true state is B and raises the $60M by selling the percentage of equity in part (a)?

Suppose that the public knows that the manager only issues equity to finance a project when the NPV of financing due to information asymmetries is positive. Otherwise, the manager issues debt to finance a project. Therefore, investors can now infer the true state of the world (state G or B) based on whether the manager issues debt or equity to pay for the new project.

d) Suppose that the manager announces that the firm will fund the new investment project by raising $60M in equity markets. What percentage of equity will the new shareholders demand in exchange for $60M today?