Problem 21-03 A firm's current balance sheet is as follows: Assets $ 130 Debt $ 39 Equity $ 91 a. What is the firm's weighted average cost of capital at various combinations of debt and equity, given the following information? Round your answers to one decimal place. Debt/Assets After-Tax Cost of Debt Cost of Equity Cost of Capital 0 % 8% 12% 12 % 10 8 12 % % 20 8 12 x % 30 9 12 x % 40 9 13 % 50 10 14 % 60 12 14 % b. Construct a pro forma balance sheet that indicates the firm's optimal capital structure. Choose the best structure from the options analyzed in part a. Compare this balance sheet with the firm's current balance sheet. Round your answers to the nearest dollar. Assets $ 130 Debt Equity $ What course of action should the firm take? Round your answer to the nearest whole number. Since the firm is currently using % debt financing, it is at its optimal capital structure and should not change the capital structure. c. As a firm initially substitutes debt for equity financing, what happens to the cost of capital? The cost of capital initially decreases. d. If a firm uses too much debt financing, why does the cost of capital rise? If a firm uses too much debt financing, the firm becomes more financially leveraged and riskier. This causes the interest rate to rise and the cost of equity to increase These changes in the cost of debt and equity cause the cost of capital to increase