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Namib Mills, an established manufacturer of consumer goods, expects its sales to remain flat for the next three to five years due to both weak

Namib Mills, an established manufacturer of consumer goods, expects its sales to remain flat for the next three to five years due to both weak economic outlook and an expectation of little new industrial technology development over that period. Based on that scenario the firms management has been instructed by the Board of directors to institute programs that will allow it to operate more efficiently, earn higher profits, and most importantly maximize shareholder wealth. In this regard, the firms chief financial officer (CFO), Theo van Zyl, has been tasked to evaluate the firms capital structure, dividend policy, inventory management strategy, and possible capital projects as well as measuring the corporations cost of capital. Currently the firm has a fixed total capital of $10, 000,000, which is made up of 20 percent debt and 80 percent equity. The firm has 100,000 outstanding ordinary shares and no preference shares. Although Theo feels that the firms current policy of paying out 60 percent of each years earnings in dividends is appropriate, he believes that the current capital structure may lack adequate financial leverage. In order to evaluate the firms capital structure, Theo is considering three alternative capital structures A (30 percent debt ratio), B (50 percent debt ratio), and C (60 percent debt ratio). The interest rate on current debt is 10 percent and is believed to remain the same up to a borrowing limit of $1,000,000. Theo expects the firms current earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) to remain at $1,200,000. The firm expects to have $200,000 of retained earnings available in the coming year. The firm has a tax rate of 40 percent.

In assessing the cost of capital, Theo has the following information which has been compiled about the companys current costs of two sources of capital:

Exhibit 1

Source of capital Range of new financing Cost
Long-term debt $0 to $1,000,000 10%
$1,000,001 and above 11%
Common stock equity $0 to $2,000,000 13%
$2,000,001 and above 14%
Retained earnings

12%

Exhibit 2

NAMIB MILLS
Balance Sheet
Assets 2017 2018 2019
Cash $20,000 $30,000 $20,000
Marketable securities $ 30,000 35,000 50,000
Accounts receivable 150,000 230,000 330,000
Inventory 250,000 285,000 325,000
Total Current Assets 450,000 580,000 725,000
Net Plant and equipment 550,000 720,000 1,169,000
Total Assets.. 1,000,000 1,300,000 1,894,000
Liabilities & Equity
Accounts payable. 100,000 225,000 200,000
Notes payable (bank) 100,000 100,000 300,000
Total Current liabilities 200,000 325,000 500,000
Long-term liabilities 250,000 331,120 550,740
Total liabilities 450,000 656,120 1,050,740
Common stock ($10 par) 400,000 400,000 460,000
Capital paid in excess of par. 50,000 50,000 80,000
Retained earnings 100,000 193,880 303,260
Total stockholders equity.. 550,000 643,880 843,260
Total liabilities and stockholdersequity 1,000,000 1,300,000 1,894,000

Question 2 (10 marks)

Exhibit 1 Namib Mills uses the weights based on the desired target capital structure proportions outlined above: 3

(a) Calculate the breakpoints associated with the firms retained earnings for the three proposed capital structures. (3 marks)

(b) Calculate the breakpoints associated with the firms financial situation for the current capital structure? (2 marks)

(c) Calculate the weighted cost of capital associated with the current and below the first breakpoint in (b). (3 marks)

(d) Calculate the breakpoints associated with the firms 50 percent debt capital structure.(2 marks)

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