Problem 18-5 Beta and Leverage North Pole Fishing Equipment Corporation and South Pole Fishing Equipment Corporation would have identical equity betas of 1.14 if both were all equity financed. The market value information for each company is shown here: North Pole South Pole Debt $2,990,000 $3,900,000 Equity $3,900,000 $2,990,000 The expected return on the market portfolio is 11.7 percent and the risk-free rate is 3.7 percent. Both companies are subject to a corporate tax rate of 24 percent. Assume the beta of debt is zero. a. What is the equity beta of each of each company? (Do not round intermediate calculations and round your answers to 2 decimal places, e.g., 32.16.) b. What is the required rate of return on equity for each company? (Do not round intermediate calculations and enter your answers as a percent rounded to 2 decimal places, e.g., 32.16.) 1.80 North Pole South Pole b. North Polo South Pole 2.27 12.82 % % 21.86 %