Question

STAT Ltd has $20 million loan due at the end of the year and its assets will have a market value of only $15 million when the loan comes due. Currently STAT has $2 million in cash. STAT is considering two possible alternative uses for this cash. One possibility is to pay the $2 million out to the shareholders in the form of special dividends. The second possibility is to invest $2 million in a project. This project has 50% chance to yield a NPV of $2 million and 50% probability to generate a NPV of $6 million. (i). What are the cash flows to the debt and equity holders under the first alternative (special dividend)? (ii). What are the cash flows to the debt and equity holders under the second alternative (risky project)? (iii). Which alternative would equity holders prefer and what is the economic term that describes this situation?

Answer 1

Here we are not clear whether company has filed bankruptcy. If company has filed bankrupt, then company cannot issue special dividend because first debt holders to be serviced and then equity holders to be serviced.

If company has not filed bankruptcy, then complete 2 million will go to equity holders in the form of special dividend. Hence cashflow to debt holders will be 0.

In 2nd case, if invested in a project. Then for that time period no cashflow would go to debt and equity holders. However, it will have obligation to service debt holders. Later company can issue dividends to equity holders.

Obviously equity holders would prefer to receive special dividends because given company situation, it has liabilities more than assets. So there is chance that company might bankrupt.