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Microlesson · 5-min read

WACC — Full Computation with BV and MV Weights

## WACC: Comprehensive Problems with BV and MV Weights

These questions require computing all component costs from raw data before calculating WACC under both weight bases. This is the highest-difficulty WACC question type.

### Equity Cost (New Issue)

Ke = D₁ / NP_new + g

  • NP_new = new issue price – flotation cost
  • g from historical dividends: use (Dₙ/D₀)^(1/n) – 1

### Cost of Retained Earnings

Kr = D₁ / P₀ + g (market price P₀, no flotation deducted)

### Preference Share Cost (YTM approximation)

Kp = [D + (RV – NP)/n] / [(RV + NP)/2]

### Debenture Cost (YTM method)

When market yield differs from coupon rate, the yield on comparable instruments is the correct cost. Then apply tax: Kd = Yield × (1 – t).

Alternatively use approximation: Kd = [I(1–t) + (RV–NP)/n] / [(RV+NP)/2]

### BV Weights

Use balance sheet amounts including retained earnings as a separate line.

### MV Weights

Equity MV = shares × market price (absorbed retained earnings — do not add separately)

Pref MV = shares × market price per pref share

Debt MV = number of debentures × market price per debenture

Worked example

### Example 1

Q43 — Three-part WACC: component costs, BV weights, MV weights (PYQ)

Capital: Equity 80,000 shares @₹100 FV (BV ₹80L, MV ₹200 each → MV ₹1,600L); 9% Pref BV ₹20L MV ₹24L; 11% Deb BV ₹60L MV ₹66L; RE BV ₹40L (no separate MV)

Last dividend = 25% on ₹100 = ₹25; g = 5%; Tax = 30%; Shareholder personal tax = 20%

Component costs:

Ke: D₁ = 25 × 1.05 = ₹26.25; Ke = 26.25/200 + 0.05 = 13.13% + 5% = 18.13%

Kr: 18.13% × (1 – 0.20) = 14.50% (personal tax adjustment)

Kp = 9% (perpetual, no tax)

Kd = 11% × (1 – 0.30) = 7.70%

(2) BV WACC: Total BV = 200L

WACC = (80/200)×18.13 + (40/200)×14.50 + (20/200)×9 + (60/200)×7.70

= 7.25 + 2.90 + 0.90 + 2.31 = 13.36%

(3) MV WACC: Total MV = 1,600 + 24 + 66 = 1,690L (RE absorbed in equity MV)

WACC = (1600/1690)×18.13 + (24/1690)×9 + (66/1690)×7.70

= 17.15 + 0.13 + 0.30 = 17.58%

### Example 2

Q46 — Full BV and MV WACC with new issuance data (PYQ)

Existing BV: Debentures ₹8L, Pref ₹2L, Equity ₹10L. Tax = 50%.

Market prices: Deb ₹110, Pref ₹120, Equity ₹22.

Component costs from new issuance terms:

Kd: 8% coupon, 20-year, 4% flotation, sale ₹100 → NP = ₹96, RV = ₹100

Kd = [8×0.50 + (100–96)/20] / [(100+96)/2] = [4 + 0.20]/98 = 4.29%

Kp: 10% div, 15-year, 5% flotation, sale ₹100 → NP = ₹95, RV = ₹100

Kp = [10 + (100–95)/15] / [(100+95)/2] = [10+0.33]/97.5 = 10.60%

Ke: Flotation ₹2, sale ₹22 → NP = ₹20; D₁ = ₹2; g = 5%

Ke = 2/20 + 5% = 10% + 5% = 15%

BV weights: Deb 8/20, Pref 2/20, Eq 10/20

WACC(BV) = (8/20)×4.29 + (2/20)×10.60 + (10/20)×15 = 1.72+1.06+7.50 = 10.28%

MV: Deb = 8,000/100×110 = ₹8,800; Pref = 2,000/100×120 = ₹2,400; Eq = 1,00,000×22 = ₹22L

Total MV = 8,800+2,400+22,00,000 ≈ ₹23,11,200

WACC(MV) = (8800/2311200)×4.29 + (2400/2311200)×10.60 + (2200000/2311200)×15

≈ 0.02 + 0.01 + 14.28 = 14.31%

⚠️ Common exam mistakes

  • Separately listing retained earnings as a MV weight item — they are captured in the equity market capitalisation.
  • Computing Ke using book value per share instead of current market price.
  • Using face value as NP for debentures when flotation costs are stated — NP = sale price – flotation.
  • For the YTM approach to debentures, using the market yield directly without applying the tax factor.
Reference:
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