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

Ledge ac count, Ask question #Minimum 100 words accepted

Ask question #Minimum 100 words accepted

Financial ratios, Financial Ratios: Another method of measuring and mon...

Financial Ratios: Another method of measuring and monitoring performance is through the use of financial ratios and other comparative tools. Financial ratios use information

Bond derivatives-callable bonds , Callable bonds give the right...

Callable bonds give the right to the issuer to redeem the bond prior to its maturity date, at a specified call price. These bonds are beneficial to the

What do you mean by present value of a future sum, Q. What do you mean by P...

Q. What do you mean by Present Value of a Future Sum? The present value of a future sum will be worth less than the future sum because one foregoes the opportunity to invest an

Problems arising due to the existing structure, Problems Arising Due to the...

Problems Arising Due to the Existing Structure The problems that arise as a result of an increase in the population of older generation is universal in nature. Unless there are

Weak form level of efficiency-forms of efficiency, Weak form level of effic...

Weak form level of efficiency This level states that share prices fully reflect information in historic share price movement and patterns (past information/historic information

Operating cycle, discuss the applicability operating cycle considering broi...

discuss the applicability operating cycle considering broilers in uganda?

Cost of sales and functioning costs, Entity A is significantly smaller than...

Entity A is significantly smaller than B in terms of revenue and would not impact LOP's revenue to the same extent. However A earns a noticeably better gross profit margin at 26% a

Defqa, Ask question #Minimum 100 words acceptedaqs #

Ask question #Minimum 100 words acceptedaqs #

Time series analysis, In Time Series Analysis, we try to identify and deter...

In Time Series Analysis, we try to identify and determine the pattern of changes in the data collected over regular intervals of time. The data collected can be at a periodical int

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