Dickinson Company has $11,980,000 million in assets. Currently half of these assets are financed with long-term debt at 9.9 percent and half with common stock having a par value of $8. Ms. Smith, Vice President of Finance, wishes to analyze two refinancing plans, one with more debt (D) and one with more equity (E). The company earns a return on assets before interest and taxes of 9.9 percent. The tax rate is 40%. Tax loss carryover provisions apply, so negative tax amounts are permissable. Under Plan D, a $2,995,000 million long-term bond would be sold at an interest rate of 11.9% and 374,375 shares of stock would be purchased in the market at $8 per share and retired.
Under Plan E, 374,375 shares of stock would be sold at $8 per share and the $2,995,000 in proceeds would be used to reduce long-term debt.
A. How would each of these plans affect earnings per share?
B-1. Compute the earnings per share if return on assets fell to 4.95%.
B-2. Which plan would be most favorable if return on assets fell to 4.95%?
A. Plan D
B. Current Plan
C. Plan E
B-3. Compute the earnings per share if return on assets increased to 14.9%.
B-4. Which plan would be most favorable if return on assets increased to 14.9%?
A. Current Plan
B. Plan E
C. Plan D
C-1. If the market price for common stock rose to $10 before the restructuring, compute the earnings per share. Continue to assume that $2,995,000 million in debt will be used to retire stock in Plan D and $2,995,000 million of new equity will be sold to retire debt in Plan E. Also assume that return on assets is 9.9%.
C-2. If the market price for common stock rose to $10 before the restructuring, which plan would then be most attractive?
A. Plan E
B. Current Plan
C. Plan D