(Divisional

costs of capital and investment

decisions)

Saddle River Operating Company (SROC) is a Dallas-based independent oil and gas firm. In the past, the firm's managers have used a single firm-wide cost of capital of 14 percent to evaluate new investments. However, the firm has long recognized that its exploration and production division is significantly more risky than the pipeline and transportation division. In fact, firms comparable to SROC's E&P division have equity betas of about 1.4, whereas distribution companies typically have equity betas of only 0.7.

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 is presented here:

The cost of debt financing is 8 percent before taxes of 35 percent. However, if the E&P division were to borrow based on its projects alone, the cost of debt would probably be 9.4 percent, and the pipeline division could borrow at 6.6 percent. You may assume these costs of debt are after any flotation costs the firm might incur.

The risk-free rate of interest on long-term U.S. Treasury bonds is currently 3.1 percent, and the market-risk premium has averaged 6.7 percent over the past several years.

The E&P division adheres to a target debt ratio of 10 percent, whereas the pipeline division utilizes 30 percent borrowed funds.

The firm has sufficient internally generated funds such that no new stock will have to be sold to raise equity financing.

a. Estimate the divisional costs of capital for the E&P and pipeline divisions.

b. What are the implications of using a company-wide cost of capital to evaluate new investment proposals in light of the differences in the costs of capital you estimated previously?

(Round to two decimal places.)

ndependent oll and gas im In the past, the fim's manages have used a single 8irm wlide cost of capital of 14 percent to new investmerts owever the finn has og recogued hat its exporason and prouction division is sptianty more y than theppene and bansportaton htsin ntact, firms equity betas of about 1.4, whereas distribution companies typically have equity betas of only 0.7. Given the impartance of prepare cost of capital estsimates for each of the two dvisions. The requishe information needed to accomplish your task is presented here The cost ofdett harcag "s 8 percent bel ve tanes of 35 percent. However, ifthe Espavaion were to borrow based onitspr nthecost of You may assume these costs of debt are atter any flotation costs the fim might incur t would probably be94 The risk-free rate of interest on long-1erm US Treasury bonds is ourenty 3.1 percent, and the market-fisk premium has averaged 6.7 pencent over the past several years The E&P division adheres to a target deee ratio of 10 percent, whereas the pipeline division ulizes 30 peroent borrowed funds . The fim has sufficient internally generated funds such that no new stock will have to be sold to raise equity Sinancing capital you esited previounty? a What is the divisional oost of capital for the E&P divisiont? (Round to two decimal places) two decimal paces