Question 2 Assume that you are working as an analyst in VNN Investment Bank. The CFO of Meteor Manufacturing Limited (MM Ltd.) has approached VNN for an advice whether MM should refund its existing bonds with a size of $65 million. The bonds were issued 5 years ago with an original maturity of 15 years and annual coupon rate of 12 percent. At the time of issue, the underwriting cost was $5 million. For tax purposes, this underwriting cost is being amortized on a straight-line basis over the 15-year original life of the bonds. The issues are currently callable at a premium of 10 percent. Coupled with the fact that the market interest rates on new 10- year bonds of the same quality have dropped to 10 percent, MM Ltd. is anxious to determine how much the company would save if the old issue could be refunded at the new rate. VNN has assured MM that the underwriting cost of the new issue will be $1 million lower than what it was required for the old issue at the time of the issuance. This amount, which will be paid upfront, will be amortized on a straight-line basis over the life of the new bonds for tax purposes. The company's tax rate is 30%. Both VNN and MM's senior management anticipate that long-term interest rate will be stable at 10 percent. Your colleague at VNN believes that VNN should advice MM to call the old issue and refund it with the new issue because the new issue has both lower interest rate and lower underwriting costs. Do you think your colleague is correct in their recommendation? Why or why not? As a senior analyst at VNN Investment Bank looking after this case, what recommendation would you make to the CFO of MM Ltd? Provide your analyses with detailed calculations. [10 marks] Question 2 Assume that you are working as an analyst in VNN Investment Bank. The CFO of Meteor Manufacturing Limited (MM Ltd.) has approached VNN for an advice whether MM should refund its existing bonds with a size of $65 million. The bonds were issued 5 years ago with an original maturity of 15 years and annual coupon rate of 12 percent. At the time of issue, the underwriting cost was $5 million. For tax purposes, this underwriting cost is being amortized on a straight-line basis over the 15-year original life of the bonds. The issues are currently callable at a premium of 10 percent. Coupled with the fact that the market interest rates on new 10- year bonds of the same quality have dropped to 10 percent, MM Ltd. is anxious to determine how much the company would save if the old issue could be refunded at the new rate. VNN has assured MM that the underwriting cost of the new issue will be $1 million lower than what it was required for the old issue at the time of the issuance. This amount, which will be paid upfront, will be amortized on a straight-line basis over the life of the new bonds for tax purposes. The company's tax rate is 30%. Both VNN and MM's senior management anticipate that long-term interest rate will be stable at 10 percent. Your colleague at VNN believes that VNN should advice MM to call the old issue and refund it with the new issue because the new issue has both lower interest rate and lower underwriting costs. Do you think your colleague is correct in their recommendation? Why or why not? As a senior analyst at VNN Investment Bank looking after this case, what recommendation would you make to the CFO of MM Ltd? Provide your analyses with detailed calculations. [10 marks]
