Problem:
Zymase is a biotechnology start-up firm. Research at Zymase must choose one of three different research strategies. The payoffs (after-tax) and their likelihood for each strategy are shown below. The risk of each project is diverifiable.
Strategy Probability Payoff ($ million)
A 100% 75
B 50% 140
50% 0
C 10% 300
90% 40
Q1. Which project has the highest expected payoff?
Q2. Suppose Zymase has debt of $40 million due at the time of the project's payoff. Which project has the highest expected payoff for equity holders:
Q3. Suppose Zymase has debt of $110 million due at the time of the project's payoff. Which project has the highest expected payoff for equity holders?
Q4. If management chooses the strategy that maximizes the payoff to equity holders, what is the expected agency cost to the firm from having $40 million in debt due? What is the expected cost to the firm having $110 million in debt due?
SHOW THE CALCULATION FOR EACH ANSWER (A-D) AND GIVE A SHORT WRITTEN EXPLANATION TO EACH.