capital-structure-optimizer

What this skill does

# Capital Structure Optimizer

## Table of Contents
- [Example](#example)
- [Workflow](#workflow)
- [Common Patterns](#common-patterns)
- [Guardrails](#guardrails)
- [Quick Reference](#quick-reference)

## Example

**Scenario**: Manufacturing company, EBIT $300M, current debt ratio 20%, unlevered beta 0.9, riskfree rate 4%, ERP 5.5%, marginal tax rate 25%.

**Current state**:
- Current D/E = 20/80 = 0.25
- Levered beta = 0.9 x (1 + (1 - 0.25) x 0.25) = 1.069
- Cost of equity = 4% + 1.069 x 5.5% = 9.88%
- Interest coverage at 20% debt: high, rating AA, spread 1.00%
- Cost of debt = 4% + 1.00% = 5.00%, after-tax = 3.75%
- WACC = 9.88% x 0.80 + 3.75% x 0.20 = **8.65%**

**WACC schedule**:

| Debt Ratio | D/E   | Levered Beta | Cost of Equity | Rating | Spread | Cost of Debt (AT) | WACC     |
|------------|-------|-------------|----------------|--------|--------|--------------------|----------|
| 0%         | 0.00  | 0.900       | 8.95%          | --     | --     | --                 | 8.95%    |
| 10%        | 0.11  | 0.974       | 9.36%          | AAA    | 0.75%  | 3.56%              | 8.78%    |
| 20%        | 0.25  | 1.069       | 9.88%          | AA     | 1.00%  | 3.75%              | 8.65%    |
| 30%        | 0.43  | 1.189       | 10.54%         | A+     | 1.25%  | 3.94%              | 8.56%    |
| 40%        | 0.67  | 1.350       | 11.43%         | BBB    | 2.00%  | 4.50%              | 8.66%    |
| 50%        | 1.00  | 1.575       | 12.66%         | BB     | 3.50%  | 5.63%              | 9.14%    |
| 60%        | 1.50  | 1.913       | 14.52%         | B-     | 6.00%  | 7.50%              | 10.31%   |

**Optimal**: 30% debt ratio, WACC 8.56% (vs current 8.65% at 20%).

**Value enhancement**:
- Current firm value = $300M x (1 - 0.25) / 0.0865 = $2,601M
- Optimal firm value = $225M / 0.0856 = $2,628M
- Value gain: ~$27M

**Debt type recommendation**: Issue 10-year fixed-rate USD bonds (85% US revenue, long-lived manufacturing assets, stable cash flows favor fixed rate). Move from 20% to 30% debt gradually over 12-18 months.

## Workflow

Copy this checklist and track your progress:

```
Capital Structure Optimization Progress:
- [ ] Step 1: Establish current capital structure and cost of capital
- [ ] Step 2: Compute unlevered beta
- [ ] Step 3: Build WACC schedule across debt ratios (0-90%)
- [ ] Step 4: Identify optimal debt ratio
- [ ] Step 5: Determine appropriate debt type
- [ ] Step 6: Develop implementation path
```

**Step 1: Establish current capital structure and cost of capital**

Gather current debt level (market value), equity market value, EBIT, interest expense, marginal tax rate, riskfree rate, ERP, and current beta. See [resources/template.md](resources/template.md#current-capital-structure-inputs) for input template.

**Step 2: Compute unlevered beta**

Strip leverage effect from current equity beta to isolate business risk. Unlevered beta = Levered beta / (1 + (1 - t)(D/E)). See [resources/methodology.md](resources/methodology.md#unlevering-beta) for procedure and peer-based alternative.

**Step 3: Build WACC schedule across debt ratios (0-90%)**

For each debt ratio in 10% increments: relever beta, compute cost of equity, compute interest expense and interest coverage, look up synthetic rating, determine default spread and cost of debt, compute WACC. See [resources/template.md](resources/template.md#wacc-schedule-table) for the complete table template and [resources/methodology.md](resources/methodology.md#cost-of-capital-approach) for step-by-step mechanics.

**Step 4: Identify optimal debt ratio**

Find the debt ratio where WACC is minimized. Calculate value enhancement from moving to optimal. Compare optimal to industry average debt ratio as a reasonableness check. See [resources/methodology.md](resources/methodology.md#interpreting-the-optimal) for interpretation guidance.

**Step 5: Determine appropriate debt type**

Match debt characteristics to the company's asset and cash flow profile. Maturity should match asset duration, currency should match revenue currency, and fixed vs floating should match cash flow sensitivity. See [resources/methodology.md](resources/methodology.md#debt-type-matching) for matching criteria and [resources/template.md](resources/template.md#debt-type-matching-worksheet) for the matching worksheet.

**Step 6: Develop implementation path**

Choose between gradual adjustment (1-2 years) and immediate recapitalization (leveraged recap). Consider market conditions, company situation, and urgency. See [resources/template.md](resources/template.md#implementation-path-template) for gradual vs immediate frameworks. Validate using [resources/evaluators/rubric_capital_structure_optimizer.json](resources/evaluators/rubric_capital_structure_optimizer.json). Minimum standard: Average score of 3.5 or higher.

## Common Patterns

**Pattern 1: Under-Levered Company**
- **Diagnosis**: Current debt ratio well below optimal (by 10%+ of capital)
- **Typical profile**: Mature company with stable cash flows, high interest coverage, strong credit rating, accumulated cash
- **Action**: Issue debt and repurchase shares (or pay special dividend). Value increases because lower WACC raises present value of cash flows
- **Debt type**: Match to asset profile. Stable companies with long-lived assets favor long-term fixed-rate bonds
- **Implementation**: Can be gradual (annual debt issuance over 2-3 years) or immediate (leveraged recapitalization if large gap)
- **Example**: Tech company with no debt, WACC 10.5%. Optimal at 20% debt, WACC 9.2%. Issue bonds, repurchase shares

**Pattern 2: Over-Levered Company**
- **Diagnosis**: Current debt ratio above optimal, interest coverage thin, rating below investment grade
- **Typical profile**: Company post-acquisition, cyclical firm that added debt during boom, or firm facing industry decline
- **Action**: Reduce debt through asset sales, equity issuance, or retained earnings. Prioritize debt reduction when rating is below BBB
- **Debt type**: Focus on repaying highest-cost debt first. Renegotiate covenants if possible
- **Implementation**: Gradual through cash flow application to debt paydown. Equity issuance only as last resort (signals distress)
- **Example**: Retail company at 60% debt, rating B+. Optimal at 30%. Sell non-core assets, apply FCFE to debt reduction

**Pattern 3: Near-Optimal Company**
- **Diagnosis**: Current debt ratio within 5 percentage points of optimal. WACC difference less than 20 basis points
- **Typical profile**: Well-managed company that has already optimized, or company where WACC curve is flat near minimum
- **Action**: No restructuring needed. Focus on debt type matching and refinancing opportunities
- **Debt type**: Audit existing debt against matching criteria (maturity, currency, rate structure). Refinance mismatched debt
- **Implementation**: Opportunistic refinancing when market conditions are favorable
- **Example**: Industrial company at 25% debt, optimal at 30%. WACC difference 10 bps. Focus on refinancing near-term maturities to better match asset profile

## Guardrails

1. **Beta increases with leverage**: As debt rises, equity beta increases because equity holders bear more risk. At high debt ratios (60%+), beta increases rapidly and the cost of equity dominates, causing WACC to rise even as after-tax debt costs remain moderate.

2. **Synthetic rating drives cost of debt**: Interest coverage ratio determines the synthetic credit rating. At very low coverage (below 1.5x), default spreads jump significantly. Ensure the rating lookup uses the appropriate table for the company's size (large-cap vs small-cap firms have different spread schedules).

3. **Use marginal tax rate for the tax shield**: The tax benefit of debt depends on the marginal rate the company will pay on additional income, not the effective rate it pays on current income. If the company has large NOLs or is in a loss position, the tax shield may be reduced or eliminated.

4. **Deb