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

Monetary policy, Monetary Policy The Federal Reserve's goal is to regul...

Monetary Policy The Federal Reserve's goal is to regulate the growth of the monetary aggregates to ensure sufficient credit expansion to foster economic growth, without inflati

Explain about money markets by maturity of the securities, Explain about mo...

Explain about money markets by maturity of the securities. On the basis of the maturity of the securities traded, money markets can be introduced here: Money markets are financ

Cost of equity from new common stock, Weaver Chocolate Co. expects to gain ...

Weaver Chocolate Co. expects to gain $3.50 per share during the present year, its expected dividend payout ratio is 65%, its expected constant dividend growth rate is 6.0%, and its

Accounts receivable are sometimes not collected, Accounts receivable are so...

Accounts receivable are sometimes not collected.Why do companies extend trade credit when they could insist on cash for all sales? Extending trade credit almost for all the tim

Annual tax shield, What is the annual tax shield to a firm that has total a...

What is the annual tax shield to a firm that has total assets of $80 million and a net worth of $55 million, if the average interest rate on debt is 8.5% and the marginal tax rate

Working capital cycle for a trade, Working capital cycle for a trade ...

Working capital cycle for a trade Inventories days (time inventories are held before being sold)   Plus   Trade receivables days (how long

Show the projected balance sheet method, Q. Show the Projected Balance Shee...

Q. Show the Projected Balance Sheet Method? Projected Balance Sheet Method: - Under this process an approximate is made of assets and liabilities for a future date and a projec

Strategies of hedge funds, Strategies of Hedge Funds: Hedge funds use ...

Strategies of Hedge Funds: Hedge funds use a range of different strategies, and each fund manager can argue that he or she is unique and could not be compared to other manager

Importance of a sinking fund, "The emphasis on the practice of good corpora...

"The emphasis on the practice of good corporate governance has brought about more negative than positive implications to public-listed companies". Do you agree with the above st

Define factor fx call or put option model price is function, List the argum...

List the arguments (variables) of which a FX call or put option model price is a function.  How does the call and put premium change with respect to a change in the arguments?

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