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Explanation:
Using the Merton model formula provided to calculate distance to default under the physical measure: Given parameters:
The term inside the probability function is:
Numerator:
Denominator:
$0.30 \times \sqrt{5} = 0.30 \times 2.236068 = 0.67082$
To find the default probability, we evaluate using a standard normal distribution table: , which is approximately 6.6%.
Q.42 Tenacity Limited, a leveraged firm in the United States, has, in its capital structure, a five-year zero-coupon bond with a face value of USD 300 million. The remaining capital is composed of equity. Currently, the market value of the firm’s assets is USD 380 million, and the expected rate of change of the firm’s value is 20%. Analysts have estimated annual volatility of the firm’s assets at 30%. The firm’s risk management unit (RMU) estimates the default probability using the Merton model, i.e.,
Assume that firm value takes on the lognormal distribution with constant volatility. The estimated default probability is closest to:
A
22.4%
B
6.6%
C
12.5%
D
24.8%
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