Branson works for a firm that is expanding into a completely new line of business. He has been asked to determine an appropriate WACC for an averageminusrisk project in the expansion division. Branson finds two publicly traded standminusalone firms that produce the same products as his new division. The average of the two firm's betas is 1.40. Further, he determines that the expected return on the market portfolio is 11.00% and the riskminusfree rate of return is 3.00%. Branson's firm finances 70% of its projects with equity and 30% with debt, and has a beforeminustax cost of debt of 8% and a corporate tax rate of 20%. What is the WACC for the new line of business?

11.86%

Explanation:

First we need to calculate the return on equity(Re).

re = rf + B(rm-rf)

re = 0.03 + (1.4)*(0.11-0.03) => 0.142 or 14.2%.

Now the formula for WACC is,

WACC = (re * %of Equity) + ((rd * %of Debt)(1-tax rate))

Hence this is calculated as,

WACC = (0.70*0.142)+((0.30*0.08(1-0.20))

WACC = 11.86% or 0.1186.

Hope this helps. Goodluck.

the WACC for the new line of business is 14.80%

Explanation:

Weighted Average Cost of Capital is the minimum return that a project must offer before it can be accepted.

Capital Source                   Weight               Cost                  Total

Equity                                     70%                18.40%              12,88%

Debt                                       30%                 6.40%               1,92%

Total                                     100%                                          14.80%

Calculation of Cost of Equity

The details available allow us to use the Capital Asset Pricing Model to find the Cost of Equity.

Cost of Equity = Risk Free Rate + Beta × Risk Premium

                       =3.00%+ 1.40×11.00%

                       = 18.40%

Calculation of Cost of Debt

We use the after tax Cost of Debt as follows :

Cost of Debt = Market Interest Rate × (1-tax rate)

                     = 8% × (1-0.20)

                    = 6.40%

i believe that it is a 45% chance.