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

Create a report that fully explains both directors views, The Directors of ...

The Directors of Rohan Plc are discussing the importance of the dividend policy on the market value of their firm. The Chairman considers that the dividend is important and does a

Securities, Calculate the expected rate of return and risk of return

Calculate the expected rate of return and risk of return

Profit maximisation decision criterion, Profit Maximisation Decision Criter...

Profit Maximisation Decision Criterion According to this approach, actions which increase profits must be undertaken and those that decrease profits are to be avoided. In speci

Calculate the price of commonwealth bonds, Calculate the Price of Commonwea...

Calculate the Price of Commonwealth bonds Commonwealth Company has a 10% coupon bond with a par value of $1000, The current yield to maturity on new bonds is 8%. If interest is

Explain about pay back method, Q. Explain about Pay Back Method? Pay Ba...

Q. Explain about Pay Back Method? Pay Back Method (PB) :- The payback process is the simplest method. This method computed the number of years required to pay back the original

State the importance of gearing in accounting, state the importance of gear...

state the importance of gearing in accounting Gearing is one of the most extensively used terms in accounting. Gearing is the relationship between debt and equitywhich means th

Assignment, Discuss the applicability ofan operating cycle in a poultry bus...

Discuss the applicability ofan operating cycle in a poultry business(consider broilers)

What do you mean by average cost and marginal cost, Q. What do you mean by ...

Q. What do you mean by Average Cost and Marginal cost? Average Cost and Marginal cost: the average cost is the combined cost as explain above, but for the difference in the for

Indirect-cost pools, 1. Increasing the number of indirect-cost pools is gua...

1. Increasing the number of indirect-cost pools is guaranteed to sizably increase the accuracy of product or service costs.do you agree? Support your anser using examples 2. The

Contribution plans-pension fund plans, Defined Contribution Plans In de...

Defined Contribution Plans In defined contribution plans, the contributions made by or on behalf of the employee are accumulated and paid on retirement along with such return a

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