(Divisional costs of capital and investment decisions)

In May of this year, Newcastle Mfg. Company's capital investment review committee received two major investment proposals. One of the proposals was put forth by the firm's domestic manufacturing division, and the other came from the firm's distribution company. Both proposals promise a return on invested capital to approximately 13 percent. In the past, Newcastle has used a single firm-wide cost of capital to evaluate new investments. However, managers have long recognized that the manufacturing division is significantly more risky than the distribution division. In fact, comparable firms in the manufacturing division have equity betas of about 1.7, whereas distribution companies typically have equity betas of only 1.3. Given the size of the two proposals, Newcastle's management feels it can undertake only one, so it wants to be sure that it is taking on the more promising investment. Given the importance of getting the cost of capital estimate as close to correct as possible, the firm's chief financial officer has asked you to prepare cost of capital estimates for each of the two divisions. The requisite information needed to accomplish your task follows:

The cost of debt financing is 9 percent before a marginal tax rate of 21 percent. You may assume this cost of debt is after any flotation costs the firm might incur.

The risk-free rate of interest on long-term U.S. Treasury bonds is currently 7.8 percent, and the market-risk premium has averaged 3.3 percent over the past several years.

Both divisions adhere to target debt ratios of 50 percent.

A- What is the divisional cost of capital for the manufacturing division? % (Round to two decimal places.)

(Divisional costs of capital and investment decisions) In May of this year, Newcastle Mig. Company's capital investment reviow committee received two major investment proposals. One of the proposal's was put forth by the firm's domestic manufacturing division, and the other came from the firm's distribution company. Both proposals promise a return on invested capital to approximately 13 percent, In the past, Newcastle has used a single firm-wide cost of capital to evaluate new investments. However, managers have long recognized that the manufacturing division is significantly more risky than the distribution division. In fact, comparable firms in the marufacturing division have equity betas of about 1.7, whereas distribution companies typically have equity betas of anty 1.3. Given the size of the two proposals: Newcastle's management feels it can undertake only one, so it wants to be sure that it is taking on the more promising investment. Given the importance of gotting the cost of capital estimate as close to correct as possible, the frm's chief financial officer has asked you to prepare cost of capital estimates for each of the tivo divisions. The requisite information needed to accomplish your task follows: - The cost of debt financing is 9 percont before a marginal tax rate of 21 percent. You may assume this cost of debt is atter any flotalion costs the firm might incuir - The risk-free rate of interest on long-term U.S. Treasury bonds is currently 7.8 percent, and the market-risk promium has averaged 3.3 percent over the past several yoars. - Both divisions adhere to tagget debt ratios of 50 percent. a. What is the divisional cont of capital for the mandacturing division? (Round to two decimal places.)