Question 1

In a world with no frictions (taxes, etc.), value is created by how you finance a project.

Your Answer

False. True.

Question 2

(5 points) The return on equity is equal to the return on assets of a project/firm.

Your Answer

Never true.

Always true.

Sometimes true.

Question 3

Suppose the expected returns on equity of two firms, Macrosoft and Microsoft, that operate in the same industry are 10.50% and 12.60%, respectively. What is the return on assets in this business if Macrosoft has no debt? (Enter the answer with no more nor less than two decimal places, and leave off the % sign. For example, if your answer is 13.97% you should enter it as 13.97 NOT 0.14 nor 14)

Answer: _____________________

Question 4

Suppose CAPM holds, and the beta of the equity of your company is 2.00. The expected market risk premium (the difference between the expected market return and the risk-free rate) is 4.5% and the risk-free rate is 3.00%. Suppose the debt-to-equity ratio of your company is 20% and the market believes that the beta of your debt is 0.20. What is return on assets of your business? (Enter the answer with no more nor less than two decimal places, and leave off the % sign. For example, if your answer is 13.97% you should enter it as 13.97 NOT 0.14 nor 14)

Answer: _____________________

Question 5

You are planning on opening a restaurant chain. You have projected yearly cash flows of $10 million starting next year (t = 1) with a growth rate of 1% over the foreseeable future thereafter. This endeavor will require a substantial investment and you will have to convince investors to provide you the capital to do so. You will invest some of your own money, convincing other investors will of course be useful for your valuing your own investment decision. A critical piece of your analysis is figuring out the present value of the cash flows of the business. Your research has revealed the following information: similar restaurant businesses equity has an average beta of 1.20 and the average debt-to-value ratio in this industry is 25%. The risk-free rate is 3.25% and the expected market risk premium (the average difference between between the market return and the risk-free rate) is 4.50%. What is the value of the cash flows of your business?

Your Answer Score Explanation

Do not have enough information to calculate.

158730159.

130718954.

Question 6

You have just returned to your job after completing your MBA, generously funded by the CEO. A few days later, your CEO requests you to evaluate the following news release he will issue to analysts. "For years we have thought about our business strategy, without worrying about financing. Times have changed and we need to think about our cost of capital. Since (a) debt is always cheaper than equity; (b) we have decided to use debt to finance our next major projects." What is your assessment of this statement?

Your Answer

The statement is false.

The statement is true.

The statement is partly true/false.

Question 7

Two firms, Alpha, Inc., and Beta, Inc., are in the same business. Alpha, Inc., has debt that is viewed by the market as risk-less with a market value of $500 million. Beta, Inc., has no debt. Both firms are expected to generate cash flows of $100 million per year for the foreseeable future and the market value of the equity of Beta, Inc is $1 billion. Estimate the return on equity of Alpha, Inc. Assume there are no taxes, and the risk-free rate is 5%. (Enter the answer with no more nor less than two decimal places, and leave off the % sign. For example, if your answer is 13.97% you should enter it as 13.97 NOT 0.14 nor 14)

Answer: _____________________

Question 8

Mango, Inc. has had debt with market value of $1 million that has paid a 6% coupon and has had an expiration date that is far, far away. The expected annual earnings before interest and taxes for the firm are $2 million and the firm has not grown, nor does it have plans for any growth. The firm however has just raised more equity to retire all its debt. If the required rate of return to equity-holders (after the capital structure change) is now 20%, what is the market value of the firm? Assume there are no taxes. (Enter just the number without the $ sign or a comma; round to the nearest whole dollar.)

Answer: _____________________

Question 9

Suppose all investors are risk-averse and hold diversified portfolios. You are evaluating a new energy company that is going to use wind and will have two divisions: an electricity production unit and a Sales unit. [Transportation of the electricity will be outsourced.] Your CEO and you are arguing about whether projects that emerge in the two units should have the same cost of capital (WACC), or whether the discount rates should be different. If different, what should be the relative magnitudes of the discount rates, that is, which unit Production or Sales should have the higher discount rate. Assume the discount rates of the two units are labeled as P and S, for the production and Sales units, respectively. What do you think?

Your Answer

S>P.

P>S.

Same discount rates for both divisions/units (P=S).

Question 10

NorthSouth Airlines has been granted permission to fly passengers between major U.S. cities. The new company faces competition from four airlines that operate between the major cities. The betas of the equity of the four major competitors (A, B, C, D) are 2.25, 2.50, 2.75, and 3.00; and the debt-to-equity ratios of these four companies (in the same order: A, B, C, D) are 0.21, 0.42, 0.63, 0.83. Although these D/E ratios vary, all airline debt is rated the same. Suppose the yield on airline debt is 7%, the risk-free rate is 3% and the expected market risk premium (the average difference between the market return and the risk-free rate) is 5%. What is the cost of capital (or discount rate) that you should use in valuing NorthSouth Airlines? (Enter the answer with no more nor less than two decimal places, and leave off the % sign. For example, if your answer is 13.97% you should enter it as 13.97 NOT 0.14 nor 14)

Answer: _____________________