Myers Corporation's stock currently trades at $40 a share. Investors estimate that the year-end dividend will be $2.00 a share and that its dividend will grow at 5% a year (i.e., D 1 = $2.00 and g = 5%). The company needs to issue new stock in order to fund its upcoming projects, and investment bankers estimate that the flotation cost will be 4%. What is Myers' cost of new external equity?

a. 10.2%

b. 12.0%

c. 9.6%

d. 11.3%

e. 8.5%