Question

LPM’s weighted average cost of capital (WACC) is 13 percent if the firm does not have to issue new common equity; if new common equity is needed, its WACC is 16 percent. If LPM expects to generate $80,000 in retained earnings this year, which project(s) should be purchased? Assume that the projects are independent and indivisible.

Answer 1

Projects D and E should be purchased.

Step-by-step explanation:

since the firm's capital structure is 60% debt and 40% equity, it can pursue up to 2 projects. Only projects D, E and F have an internal rate of return higher than the company's WACC, so project G is discarded immediately.

Since projects D and E have a higher IRR, they should be selected.

• project D: $70,000, IRR = 18%, debt = $42,000, equity = $28,000
• project E: $85,000, IRR = 15%, debt = $51,000, equity = $34,000
• total equity invested = $62,000