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Unit 6: Cost of Capital



            Cost of capital is still largely an academic term and the problem of measuring it in operational  Notes
            terms is a recent phenomena. Prior to this development, the problem was either ignored or by
            passed. In modern times, it is widely used as basis of investment projects and evaluating the
            alternative sources of finance.

            6.1 Cost of Capital – Concept

            The term cost of capital is a concept having many different meanings. The three viewpoints,
            regarding the cost of capital is given below:
            1.   From Investors’ View Point: Investor may define it as “the measurement of the sacrifice
                 made by him in capital formation.”

                     Example:  Mr. A an investor invested in a company’s equity shares, amount   1,00,000,
                     instead of investing in a bank at the rate of 7 per cent interest. Here he had sacrificed
                     7 per cent interest for not having invested in the bank.
            2.   Firms Point: It is the minimum required rate of return needed to justify the use of capital.

                     Example:  A firm raised   50 lakhs through the issues of 10 per cent debentures, for
                     justifying this issue, a minimum rate of return it has to earn is 10 per cent.
            3.   Capital Expenditure Point: The cost of capital is the minimum required rate of return, the
                 hurdle or target rate or the cut off rate or any discounting rate used to value cash flows.

                     Example:  Firm ‘A’ is planning to invest in a project, that requires   20 lakh as initial
                     investment and provides cash flows for a period of 5 years. So for the conversion of
                     future 5 years cash flows into present value, cost of capital is needed.

            Cost of capital represents the rate of return that the firm must pay to the fund suppliers, who
            have provided the capital. In other words, cost of capital is the weighted average cost of various
            sources of finance used by the firm. The sources are, equity, preference, long-term debt and
            short-term debt.
            “The rate that must be earned on the net proceeds to provide the cost elements of the burden at the time they
            are due.”
                                                              —Hunt, William and Donaldson
            “Cost of capital is the minimum required rate of earnings or the cut-off rate of capital expenditures.”

                                                                           —Solomon Ezra
            “A  cut-off  rate  for  the  allocation  of  capital  to  investments  of  projects.  It  is  the  rate  of  return
            on a project that will leave unchanged the market price of the stock.”

                                                                      —James C. Van Horne
            “The rate of return the firm requires, from investment in order to increase the value of the firm in the market
            place.”

                                                                         —Hampton, John J
            Thus, as defined above, we can say, that cost of capital is that minimum rate of return, which a
            firm must and is expected to earn on its investments so as to maintain the market value of its
            shares. It is also known as Weighted Average Cost of Capital (WACC), composite cost of capital
            or combined cost of capital. It is expressed in terms of percentage.







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