Question: Advance, Inc., is trying to determine its cost of debt. The firm has a debt issue outstanding with 16 years to maturity that is quoted at 96 percent of face value. The issue makes semiannual payments and has a coupon rate of 7 percent annually.
Required: (a) What is Advance's pretax cost of debt? (Do not include the percent sign (%). Round your answer to 2 decimal places. (e.g., 32.16)).
(b) If the tax rate is 36 percent, what is the aftertax cost of debt? (Do not include the percent sign (%). Round your answer to 2 decimal places. (e.g., 32.16))