Medium2 marksMultiple Choice
Estimating the Cost of CapitalSection BEstimating the Cost of CapitalCost of DebtIRR

ACCA · Question 22 · Estimating the Cost of Capital

Section B - Case 2: NeuroLink Prosthetics

Scenario: NeuroLink Prosthetics is a MedTech firm. It has 10 million ordinary shares in issue, currently trading at $4.50 per share. The company's equity beta is 1.2. The risk-free rate of return is 4% and the expected return on the market portfolio is 10%. NeuroLink also has $15 million (nominal value) of 6% redeemable bonds, currently trading at $95 per $100 nominal, redeemable at par in 5 years. The corporate tax rate is 25%.

Question: Which of the following cash flows should be used to calculate the after-tax cost of debt (Kd) for the redeemable bonds using the Internal Rate of Return (IRR) method?

Answer options:

A.

Year 0: $(100.00), Years 1-5: $6.00, Year 5: $100.00

B.

Year 0: $(95.00), Years 1-5: $6.00, Year 5: $100.00

C.

Year 0: $(95.00), Years 1-5: $4.50, Year 5: $100.00

D.

Year 0: $(95.00), Years 1-5: $4.50, Year 5: $95.00

How to approach this question

Identify the three cash flows from the perspective of the investor (or company, signs reversed): 1) Current market value at Year 0. 2) Annual interest payments after tax (Coupon * (1-t)). 3) Redemption value at maturity.

Full Answer

C.Year 0: $(95.00), Years 1-5: $4.50, Year 5: $100.00✓ Correct
To calculate the cost of redeemable debt, we find the IRR of the cash flows associated with the bond. Year 0: Current market value = $(95.00) Years 1-5: After-tax interest payment = $6.00 * (1 - 0.25) = $4.50 Year 5: Redemption value at par = $100.00. The IRR of these cash flows gives the after-tax cost of debt (Kd).

Common mistakes

Forgetting to apply the tax rate to the interest payments, or using the nominal value ($100) at Year 0 instead of the market value ($95).

Practice the full ACCA FM — Financial Management Practice Exam 6

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