Working Capital Management, Financial Management

Assignment Help:
The management of Nelson plc wish to estimate their firm’s equity beta. Nelson has had a stock market quotation for only two months and the financial management feels that it would be inappropriate to estimate beta from the actual share price behavior over such a short period. Instead it is proposed to ascertain, and where necessary adjust, the observed equity betas of other companies operating in the same industry, and with the same operating characteristics as Nelson, as these should be based on similar levels of systematic risk and be capable of providing an accurate estimate of Nelson’s beta

Three companies have been identified as firms having operations in the same industry as Nelson with identical operating characteristics. However, only one company, Oak plc, operates exclusively in the same industry as Nelson. The other two companies have some dissimilar activities or opportunities in additional to those which are the same as those of Nelson.

Details of the three companies are as follows;

a. Oak plc has an observed equity beta of 1.12. The capital structure at market value is 60% equity, 40% debt.

b. Beech plc has an observed equity beta of 1.11. It is estimated that 30% of the current market value of Beech is caused by risky growth opportunities which have an estimated beta of 1.9. The growth opportunities are reflected in the observed beta. Beech’s other activities are the same as Nelson’s. Beech is financed entirely by equity.


c. Pine plc has an observed equity beta of 1.14. Pine has two divisions, East and West. East’s operating characteristics are considered to be identical to those of Nelson. The operating characteristics of West are considered to be 50% more risky than those of East. In terms of financial valuation East is estimated as being twice as valuable as west. The capital structure of Pine at market values is 75% equity, 25% debt.

Nelson is financed by equity. The tax rate is 40%.

Required

a. Assuming all debt is virtually risk-free, make three estimate of the equity beta of Nelson plc. The three estimates should be based, separately, on the information provided for Oak, Beech and Pine.

b. Explain why the estimated beta of Nelson, when eventually determined from observed share price movements, may differ from the value derived from the approach in (a) above.

c. State the reason why a company has a very volatile share price and is generally considered to be extremely risky can have a lower beta value, and therefore lower financial risk, than an equally geared firm whose share price is much less volatile.

Related Discussions:- Working Capital Management

Effective duration and convexity, Effective Duration and Convexity The ...

Effective Duration and Convexity The modified duration is a measure of the sensitivity of a bond's price to interest rate changes; the assumption made here is that the expected

Role of interest groups in public policy making, Question 1: Explain cl...

Question 1: Explain clearly why "Public Policy Making constitutes a major part of the work of the Government. Question 2: Consider the role of interest groups in public

Factoring, Factoring Denotes of enhancing a business's cash flow whereb...

Factoring Denotes of enhancing a business's cash flow whereby outside organizations pays a firm a certain portion of its trade debts and then gets the full amount of cash from

Financial analysis and interpretation , You have been to carry out the foll...

You have been to carry out the following work: To provide a financial analysis and interpretation of one London stock Exchange registered company. The senior Partner has

How is present value affected by a change in discount rate, How is present ...

How is present value influenced by a change in the discount rate? Present value is oppositely related to the discount rate.  Alternatively, present value moves in the reverse dire

Determine have mergers affected competition, Have mergers affected competit...

Have mergers affected competition? A: Federal Reserve data depict that measured on the local level, where competition occurs; markets have in fact experienced more banking comp

Compute the fair value of the stock, QUESTION Part A Lavista Ltd i...

QUESTION Part A Lavista Ltd is a leading music entertainment company in the country and the stocks of the company are actively traded in the stock exchange. For the year j

Types of investment decisions, Q. Types of investment decisions? (1) Sh...

Q. Types of investment decisions? (1) Short-term investment decisions: - This kind of investment decisions related to the short-term assets. These decisions are as well called

Automatic reinvestment plan, Automatic Reinvestment Plan Like in the US...

Automatic Reinvestment Plan Like in the US, UTI India has also started this plan where the amount of dividend and other income accrued on mutual fund investments is automatical

Basic objectives of cash management, Q. Basic objectives of cash management...

Q. Basic objectives of cash management? The basic objectives of cash management are two-fold: 1) To meet the cash disbursement needs (payment schedule); and 2) To minimize f

Write Your Message!

Captcha
Free Assignment Quote

Assured A++ Grade

Get guaranteed satisfaction & time on delivery in every assignment order you paid with us! We ensure premium quality solution document along with free turntin report!

All rights reserved! Copyrights ©2019-2020 ExpertsMind IT Educational Pvt Ltd