A Practical Approach To Estimating The Cost Of Equity For South African Firms Undertaking Cross-Border Investments

Abstract

Corporate finance literature has developed a number of models for use in estimating the cost equity in for cross-border investments. Most of the models, if not all, are specifically developed for use by US firms investing in emerging markets. The widely used models are the home country CAPM, the local CAPM, the country-risk adjusted CAPM or the Lessard model, the Godfrey-Espinosa model, the Goldman Sachs model, the Gamma model and the SalomonSmithBarney model. Using a hypothetical case study of FirstRand Limited’s proposed investments in Ireland and Turkey, this study tests for the suitability of the reverse-engineered versions of these models in estimating the cost of equity for a South African firm planning to invest in both Ireland (developed country) and Turkey (emerging country). The results of the study indicate that the Godfrey-Espinosa the Goldman-Sachs models are equivalent. The Lassard model is equivalent to the Gamma or Damodaran mode, and both models yielded estimates closer to the SalomonSmithBarney model. All the models’ estimates for the Turkish investment are consistent with the credit ratings of both Turkey and South Africa. The cost equity estimates show that FirstRand Limited investors will demand an additional risk premium for investments in Turkey. The cost of equity estimates for the Irish investment are mixed, inconsistent with the Ireland’s credit rating and had a higher standard deviation than the estimates for the Turkish investment. The Irish estimates seem to be largely affected by the country’s high country and banking industry betas. The reverse-engineered versions of these models are suitable for use by firms in emerging countries.