Mace Manufacturing is in the process of analyzing its investment$$ decision$-$making procedures. Two projects evaluated by the firm recently involved building new facilities in different$$ regions, North and South. The basic variables surrounding each project analysis and the resulting decision actions are summarized in the following$$ table: LOADING....

a$.$An analyst evaluating the North facility expects that the project will be financed by debt that costs the firm $6\mathrm{.}9\%.$ What recommendation do you think this analyst will make regarding the investment$$ opportunity?

b$.$Another analyst assigned to study the South facility believes that funding for that project will come from the$$ firm's retained earnings at a cost of $17\mathrm{.}2\%.$ What recommendation do you expect this analyst to make regarding the$$ investment?

c$.$ Explain why the decisions in parts a and b may not be in the best interest of the$$ firm's investors.

d$.$ If the firm maintains a capital structure containing $40\%$ debt and $60\%$equity$,$ find its weighted average cost using the data in the table.

e$.$If both analysts had used the weighted average cost calculated in part d$,$ what recommendations would they have made regarding the North and South$$ facilities?

f$.$ Compare and contrast the$$ analysts' initial recommendations with your findings in part e$.$ Which decision method seems more$$ appropriate? Explain why.