WestGas Conveyance, Inc., is a large U.S. natural gas pipeline company that wants to raise $120 million to finance expansion. WestGas wants a capital structure that is 50% debt and 50% equity. Its corporate combined federal and state income tax rate is 38%. WestGas finds that it can finance in the domestic U.S. capital market at the rates listed in the popup window: Both debt and equity would have to be sold in multiples of $20 million, and these cost figures show the component costs, each, of debt and equity if raised 50% by debt and 50% by equity. A London bank advises WestGas that U.S. dollars could be raised in Europe at the following costs, also in multiples of $20 million, while maintaining the 50/50

capital structure. Each increment of cost would be influenced by the total amount of capital raised. That is, if WestGas first borrowed $20 million in the European market at 7% and matched this with an additional $20 million of equity, additional debt beyond this amount would cost 11% in the United States and 10% in Europe. The same relationship holds for equity financing.

a. Calculate the lowest average cost of capital for each increment of $40 million of new capital, where WestGas raises $20 million in the equity market and an additional $20 in the debt market at the same time.

b. If WestGas plans an expansion of only $60 million, how should that expansion be financed? What will be the weighted average cost of capital for the expansion?

X Data Table Cost of European Debt Cost of Cost of Cost of Domestic Domestic European Equity Costs of Raising Capital in the Market Up to $40 million of new capital $41 million to $80 million of new capital Above $80 million Equity Debt 13% 9% 7% 15% 17% 18% 11% 10% 24% 18% 23% 16% Print Done X Data Table Cost of European Debt Cost of Cost of Cost of Domestic Domestic European Equity Costs of Raising Capital in the Market Up to $40 million of new capital $41 million to $80 million of new capital Above $80 million Equity Debt 13% 9% 7% 15% 17% 18% 11% 10% 24% 18% 23% 16% Print Done