THE WM. WRIGLEY JR. COMPANY: CAPITAL STRUCTURE, VALUATION, AND COST OF CAPITAL

 Case Questions/Assignments: 1. Explain what is Blanka Dobrynin hoping to accomplish through her active-investor strategy? 2. What will be the effects of issuing $3 billion of new debt and using the proceeds either to pay a dividend or to repurchase shares on: a. Wrigley’s outstanding shares? b. Wrigley’s book value of equity? c. Price per share of Wrigley stock? d. Earnings per share? e. Debt interest coverage ratios and financial flexibility? f. Voting control by the Wrigley family? 3. What is Wrigley’s current (pre-recapitalization) weighted-average cost of capital (WACC)? 4. What would you expect to happen to Wrigley’s WACC if it issued $3 billion in debt and used the proceeds to pay a dividend? Or to repurchase shares? 5. Should Blanka Dobrynin try to convince Wrigley’s directors to undertake the recapitalization?