RST Plc is a stock exchange listed manufacturing company. Following a decision made by the board to expand its manufacturing facilities, the company needs to raise additional finance amounting to K120million by way of a five year corporate bond issue. The proposed corporate bond will have a par value of K100 and will be redeemed at this par value at the end of year five. Existing funds were raised by way of a ten year bond which matures in three years ‘time. The existing bond has a coupon rate of4.75% and a nominal value of K100. The bond will be redeemed at this nominal value three years ‘time from now and coupon payments are made annually. There will be sufficient funds to redeem the existing bond. The issue will significantly change the company’s capital structure and as such, the credit rating will fall from the current AAA to A. the company’s treasurer has been advised that this is still within the investment grade. Five government bonds are in issue, bond 1, bond 2, bond 3, bond 4 and bond 5. Each bond has a par value of K100 and is redeemable at the par value upon maturity. Coupon payments on each bond are made annually.

The following additional information is available in respect of each bond:

Bond	Maturity term	Annual coupon Rate	price
Bond 1	Year 1	3.25%	K99.90
Bond 2	Year 2	3.75%	K98.75
Bond 3	Year 3	3.85%	K97.80
Bond 4	Year 4	4.15%	K96.50
Bond 5	Year 5	4.20%	K96.10

In addition, the following table showing the credit spreads applicable to the sector in which RST Plc operates has been obtained from accredit rating agency:

Credit spreads in basis points

Credit Rating	Year 1	Year 2	Year 3	Year 4	Year 5
AAA	20	30	40	50	60
AA	45	55	64	76	82
A	52	62	73	85	96

The following proposals have been made in respect of the proposed bond issue:

Proposal A

Issue the proposed corporate bond with a fixed annual coupon rate of 6%, with the first coupon payment being made at the end of year 1.

Proposal B

Issue the proposed corporate bond with an annual fixed coupon rate of 4% from year 1 to year 3 and a fixed annual coupon rate of 7% from year 4 to year 5.

Proposal C

Issue the proposed corporate bond at an annual fixed coupon rate but such that the issue price will be equal to the bond’s par value of K100.

Proposal D

Issue the proposed corporate bond with a variable annual coupon rate based on the Bank Base rate so that the annual coupons will be Bank Base Rate + 40 basis points.

Required:

(a) Calculate the percentage decrease in the market value of the existing bond arising from the decrease in credit rating from AAA to A

(b) Calculate whether the proposed bond would be issued at a discount or at a premium if the terms of issue were:

(i)Those in proposal A

(ii)Those in proposal B

(c)Calculate what the fixed annual coupon rate would be if the proposed bond was issued based on the terms of proposal C

(d)Explain why a company may consider issuing a bond based on the terms stated under proposal B.

(e)Discuss the problems that are likely to be faced by the company if the proposed bond was issued based on the terms of proposal D.