Cater enterprises can issue floating-rate debt at LIBOR + 2.50% or fixed rate debt at 9.50%. Brence Manufacturing can issue floating-rate debt at LIBOR + 4.60% or fixed rate debt at 11.00%. Suppose Cater issues floating-rate debt and Brence issues fixed rate debt. They are considering a SWAP in which Cater makes a fixed rate payment of 6.70% to Brence and Brence makes a payment of LIBOR + 0.00% to Cater.
a. What are the net payments of Cater and Brence if they engage in the SWAP?
b. Would Cater be better off if it issued floating-rate debt or if it issued fixed-rate debt and engaged in SWAP?
c. Would Brence be better off if it issued floating-rate debt or if it issued fixed-rate debt and engaged in SWAP?