Question

In: Finance

Weston Enterprises is an​ all-equity firm with two divisions. The soft drink division has an asset...

Weston Enterprises is an​ all-equity firm with two divisions. The soft drink division has an asset beta of

0.64, expects to generate free cash flow of $68 million this​ year, and anticipates a 4% perpetual growth rate. The industrial chemicals division has an asset beta of 1.11​, expects to generate free cash flow of

$75 million this​ year, and anticipates a 3% perpetual growth rate. Suppose the​ risk-free rate is 4% and the market risk premium is 4%.

a. Estimate the value of each division.

b. Estimate​ Weston's current equity beta

c. Estimate​ Weston's current cost of capital. Is this cost of capital useful for valuing​ Weston's projects? How is​Weston's equity beta likely to change over​ time?

a. Estimate the value of each division.

The cost of capital for the soft drink division is _____%.  (Round to two decimal​ places.)

The value of the soft drink division is

​$____ million.  ​(Round to one decimal​ place.)

The cost of capital for the industrial chemicals division is _____%.  (Round to two decimal​ places.)

The value of the industrial chemicals division is

​$____ million. ​ (Round to one decimal​ place.)

b. Estimate​ Weston's current equity beta.

​Weston's current equity beta is ____​ (Round to two decimal​ places.)

c. Estimate​ Weston's current cost of capital. Is this cost of capital useful for valuing​ Weston's projects? How is​Weston's equity beta likely to change over​ time?

​Weston's current cost of capital is _____%. (Round to two decimal​ places.)

Is this cost of capital useful for valuing​ Weston's projects?  ​(Select the best choice​ below.)

A. Not​ useful! Individual divisions are always more risky than the​ firm's cost of capital.

B.Useful. Individual divisions are sometimes less risky and sometimes more risky than the​ firm's cost of capital.

C.Not​ useful! Individual divisions are sometimes less risky and sometimes more risky than the​ firm's cost of capital.

D.Useful. Individual divisions are always less risky than the​ firm's cost of capital.

How is​ Weston's equity beta likely to change over​ time?  ​(Select the best choice​ below.)

A.Over​ time, Weston's equity beta will rise toward 1.11​, as the soft drink division has a higher growth rate and so will represent a larger fraction of the firm.

B.Over​ time, Weston's equity beta will decline toward 0.64​, as the soft drink division has a higher growth rate and so will represent a larger fraction of the firm.

C.Over​ time, Weston's equity beta will decline toward 0.64​, as the soft drink division has a lower growth rate and so will represent a smaller fraction of the firm.

D.Over​ time, Weston's equity beta will rise toward 0.64​, as the soft drink division has a higher growth rate and so will represent a larger fraction of the firm.

Solutions

Expert Solution

a) Cost of Capital of Soft Drink Division
= Rf + β(Rm-Rf)
Where,
Rf = Risk Free Rate = 4%
β = Beta of Soft Drink Division = 0.64
(Rm-Rf) = Market Risk Premium = 4%
So,
Cost of Capital of Soft Drink Division
= Rf + β(Rm-Rf)
= 4% + 0.64*4%
= 4% + 2.56%
= 6.56%
Value of Soft Drink Division
= Free Cash Flow / (Cost of Capital - Perpetual Growth Rate)
= $68 million / (6.56% - 4%)
= $68 million / 2.56%
= $2656.25 million
Cost of Capital of Chemicals Division
= Rf + β(Rm-Rf)
Where,
Rf = Risk Free Rate = 4%
β = Beta of Chemicals Division = 1.11
(Rm-Rf) = Market Risk Premium = 4%
So,
Cost of Capital of Chemicals Division
= Rf + β(Rm-Rf)
= 4% + 1.11*4%
= 4% + 4.44%
= 8.44%
Value of Chemicals Division
= Free Cash Flow / (Cost of Capital - Perpetual Growth Rate)
= $75 million / (8.44% - 3%)
= $75 million / 5.44%
= $1378.68 million
Total Value of Weston Enterprises
= Value of Soft Drink Division + Value of Chemicals Division
= $2656.25 million + $1378.68 million
= $4034.93 million
b) Weston's Current equity beta will be weighted average beta of
its 2 divisions.
Weston's Current Beta
= Beta of Soft Drink Division*(Value of Soft Drink Division/Total Value)
+ Beta of Chemicals Division*(Value of Chemicals Division/Total Value)
= 0.64*($2656.25/$4034.93) + 1.11*($1378.68/4034.93)
= 0.42 + 0.38
= 0.80
c) Weston's current cost of capital can be calculated using current
equity beta.
So,
Weston's Current Cost of Capital
= Rf + β(Rm-Rf)
= 4% + 0.80*4%
= 4% + 3.20%
= 7.20%

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