Cost of Capital Comparison. The treasure of a new venture, Start-Up Scientific, Inc., is trying to determine how to raise $6 million of long-term capital. Her investment adviser has devised the alternative capital structures shown below:
Alternative A Alternative B
$2,000,000 9% debt $4,000,000 12% debt
$4,000,000 Equity $2,000,000 Equity
If alternative A is chosen, the firm would sell 200,000 shares of common stock to net $20 per share. Stockholders would expect an initial dividend of $1 per share and a dividend growth rate of 7 percent.
Under alternative B, the firm would sell 100,000 shares of common stock to net $20 per share. The expected initial dividend would be $0.90 per share, and the anticipated dividend growth rate 12 percent.
Assume that the firm earns a profit under either capital structure and that the effective tax rate is 50 percent. (a) What is the cost of capital to the firm under each of the suggested capital structures? Explain your result. (b) Explain the logic of the anticipated higher interest rate on debt associated with alternative B. (c) Is it logical for shareholders to expect a higher dividend growth rate under alternative B? Explain your answer. (CMA, adapted.)