How would you answer in the following debate? Q: Isn't it true that the riskiness of a

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How would you answer in the following debate?

Q: Isn't it true that the riskiness of a firm's equity will rise if the firm increases its use of debt financing?

A: Yes, that's the essence of MM Proposition II.

Q: And isn't it true that, as a firm increases its use of borrowing, the likelihood of default increases, thereby increasing the risk of the firm's debt?

A: Yes.

Q: In other words, increased borrowing increases the risk of the equity and the debt?

A: That's right.

Q: Well, given that the firm uses only debt and equity financing, and given that the risks of both are increased by increased borrowing, does it not follow that increasing debt increases the overall risk of the firm and therefore decreases the value of the firm?

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Corporate Finance

ISBN: 978-0077861759

11th edition

Authors: Stephen Ross, Randolph Westerfield, Jeffrey Jaffe, Bradford Jordan

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