Question

You represent a REIT which is considering purchasing a certain lease. You are evaluating the potential transaction using the following given information:
  • Lease term: Perpetual.
  • Tenant: Investment grade commercial tenant. This tenant just issued a perpetual bond at a 6% yield (interest rate).
  • No capital expenditures necessary, absolute triple net (NNN) lease.
  • Rent is fixed at $1,000 per year, payable annually on 12/31.
  • Your company has access to perpetual debt at 6%.
  • Your company has a corporate WACC of 8% based on 50% debt/total value with 6% cost of debt and 10% target return on stockholder equity. (Recall that REITs are exempt from corporate-level income taxes.)
  • The market yield is 4.5% in the municipal (tax-exempt) bond market for perpetual debt of similar risk to the lease and the REIT's debt.
(a) What discount rate would you use to determine the market value (MV) of this lease (what your company would have to bid to obtain it)? What is the PV of the lease at that discount rate? (Show your work or calculator steps.) Why is it correct to use the discount rate you selected (1 short sentence answer)?
(b) Suppose the marginal personal tax rate on investment earnings applicable to marginal investors in your REIT's equity shares (traded in the stock market) is 25%. (Note that REITs are not subject to the 15% limit on dividend taxes.) What discount rate would you use to determine the investment value (IV) of the lease for your REIT (i.e., the likely effect on your REIT's equity value in the stock market)? What is the PV of the lease at this discount rate? (Show your work or calculator steps.) Why did you select the cash flow level and the discount rate that you used (1 short sentence answer)?

Answer

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