Question

Garnet Corporation is considering issuing risk-free debt, or risk-free preferred stock. The tax rate on interest income is 35%, and the tax rate on dividends or capital gains from preferred stock is 15%. However, the dividends on preferred stock are not deductible for corporate tax purposes, and the corporate tax rate is 40%.

a. If the risk-free interest rate for debt is 6%, what is cost of capital for risk-free preferred stock?
b. What is the after-tax debt cost of capital for the firm? Which security is cheaper for the firm?
c. Show that the after-tax debt cost of capital is equal to the preferred stock cost of capital multiplied by (1 −τ*).

Answer 1

Step-by-step explanation:

a) investors wil receive 6% x ( 1-0.35)

= 3.9% risk free debt after tax.

After tax return from risk free preferred stock earnings must be equal.

to evaluate the cost of capital fro preferred stock = 3.9%/(1-0.15)

= 4.59%

b) the after-tax debt cost of capital = 6% x (1- 0.40)

= 3.60%.

therefore, 3.60% is cheaper than the 4.59% preffered stoch cost per capital

c) r* = 1 - [{(1 - 0.40)(1 - 0.15)} / (1 - 0.35)] = 1 - 0.7846 = 0.2154, or 21.54%

Hence, 4.59% x (1 - 0.2154) = 3.60%