WACC and gearing

There are two major theories linking a company's WACC and its gearing ratio.

(i) The usual theory of gearing proposes a "U" shaped WACC curve.

Cost of capital

Therefore if Oxfield plc is already at its optimal gearing level, G1, then any change in gearing will cause the WACC to increase. If Oxfield plc isn't already at optimal gearing then were the change in gearing to move it closer to G1 the WACC would drop but if further away from G₁ the WACC would rise.

(ii) Modigliani and Miller ("M&M")

M&M forecasted that with corporation tax but without personal tax firms should gear up as much as possible.

Therefore if Oxfield were to increase it's gearing its WACC would drop and a fall in gearing would increase the WACC.

In practice the force of a change in gearing would depend on market reaction.

Oxfield's current gearing level =Debt/Equity

                                                            =67m*97%/160m 2.10

                                                            =64.99/366

                                                            = 0.19

This appears low

(2) If Oxfield were to progress to a gearing level higher than the industry average the WACC could increase as the company is perceived as being more risky.