In: Finance
The firms AA and BB are identical except for their D/A ratios and interest rates on debt. Each has $50 million in assets, earned $4 million before interest and taxes and has a 40% federal-plus-state tax rate. Firm AA, however, has 1- E/A ratio of 50% and pays 12% interest on its debt, whereas BB has a Wd of 30% and pays only 10% interest on debt.
a. Calculate the rate of return on equity for both firms.
b. Observing that AA has a higher return on equity, BB’s treasurer decides to raise the 1-E/A ratio from 30 to 70%, which will increase BB’s interest rate on all debt to 15%. Calculate the new rate of return on equity for BB