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From thinking-frameworks-skills
Analyzes a company's debt-equity mix and determines the optimal capital structure that minimizes WACC. Computes WACC at each debt ratio from 0% to 90%, identifies the minimum, and recommends whether to add or reduce debt with specific debt type matching.
How this skill is triggered — by the user, by Claude, or both
Slash command
/thinking-frameworks-skills:capital-structure-optimizerThe summary Claude sees in its skill listing — used to decide when to auto-load this skill
- [Example](#example)
Scenario: Manufacturing company, EBIT $300M, current debt ratio 20%, unlevered beta 0.9, riskfree rate 4%, ERP 5.5%, marginal tax rate 25%.
Current state:
WACC schedule:
| Debt Ratio | D/E | Levered Beta | Cost of Equity | Rating | Spread | Cost of Debt (AT) | WACC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0% | 0.00 | 0.900 | 8.95% | -- | -- | -- | 8.95% |
| 10% | 0.11 | 0.974 | 9.36% | AAA | 0.75% | 3.56% | 8.78% |
| 20% | 0.25 | 1.069 | 9.88% | AA | 1.00% | 3.75% | 8.65% |
| 30% | 0.43 | 1.189 | 10.54% | A+ | 1.25% | 3.94% | 8.56% |
| 40% | 0.67 | 1.350 | 11.43% | BBB | 2.00% | 4.50% | 8.66% |
| 50% | 1.00 | 1.575 | 12.66% | BB | 3.50% | 5.63% | 9.14% |
| 60% | 1.50 | 1.913 | 14.52% | B- | 6.00% | 7.50% | 10.31% |
Optimal: 30% debt ratio, WACC 8.56% (vs current 8.65% at 20%).
Value enhancement:
Debt type recommendation: Issue 10-year fixed-rate USD bonds (85% US revenue, long-lived manufacturing assets, stable cash flows favor fixed rate). Move from 20% to 30% debt gradually over 12-18 months.
Copy this checklist and track your progress:
Capital Structure Optimization Progress:
- [ ] Step 1: Establish current capital structure and cost of capital
- [ ] Step 2: Compute unlevered beta
- [ ] Step 3: Build WACC schedule across debt ratios (0-90%)
- [ ] Step 4: Identify optimal debt ratio
- [ ] Step 5: Determine appropriate debt type
- [ ] Step 6: Develop implementation path
Step 1: Establish current capital structure and cost of capital
Gather current debt level (market value), equity market value, EBIT, interest expense, marginal tax rate, riskfree rate, ERP, and current beta. See resources/template.md for input template.
Step 2: Compute unlevered beta
Strip leverage effect from current equity beta to isolate business risk. Unlevered beta = Levered beta / (1 + (1 - t)(D/E)). See resources/methodology.md for procedure and peer-based alternative.
Step 3: Build WACC schedule across debt ratios (0-90%)
For each debt ratio in 10% increments: relever beta, compute cost of equity, compute interest expense and interest coverage, look up synthetic rating, determine default spread and cost of debt, compute WACC. See resources/template.md for the complete table template and resources/methodology.md for step-by-step mechanics.
Step 4: Identify optimal debt ratio
Find the debt ratio where WACC is minimized. Calculate value enhancement from moving to optimal. Compare optimal to industry average debt ratio as a reasonableness check. See resources/methodology.md for interpretation guidance.
Step 5: Determine appropriate debt type
Match debt characteristics to the company's asset and cash flow profile. Maturity should match asset duration, currency should match revenue currency, and fixed vs floating should match cash flow sensitivity. See resources/methodology.md for matching criteria and resources/template.md for the matching worksheet.
Step 6: Develop implementation path
Choose between gradual adjustment (1-2 years) and immediate recapitalization (leveraged recap). Consider market conditions, company situation, and urgency. See resources/template.md for gradual vs immediate frameworks. Validate using resources/evaluators/rubric_capital_structure_optimizer.json. Minimum standard: Average score of 3.5 or higher.
Pattern 1: Under-Levered Company
Pattern 2: Over-Levered Company
Pattern 3: Near-Optimal Company
Beta increases with leverage: As debt rises, equity beta increases because equity holders bear more risk. At high debt ratios (60%+), beta increases rapidly and the cost of equity dominates, causing WACC to rise even as after-tax debt costs remain moderate.
Synthetic rating drives cost of debt: Interest coverage ratio determines the synthetic credit rating. At very low coverage (below 1.5x), default spreads jump significantly. Ensure the rating lookup uses the appropriate table for the company's size (large-cap vs small-cap firms have different spread schedules).
Use marginal tax rate for the tax shield: The tax benefit of debt depends on the marginal rate the company will pay on additional income, not the effective rate it pays on current income. If the company has large NOLs or is in a loss position, the tax shield may be reduced or eliminated.
Debt type should match the asset and cash flow profile: Match maturity to asset duration (long-lived assets warrant long-term debt), currency to the primary revenue currency (reduces exchange rate risk), and fixed vs floating to cash flow cyclicality (stable cash flows can support fixed-rate debt; cyclical cash flows may benefit from floating).
Implementation pace depends on urgency and market conditions: Gradual adjustment (1-2 years) is appropriate when the gap is moderate and markets are stable. Immediate recapitalization (leveraged recap) is appropriate when the gap is large and interest rates are favorable. Consider transaction costs and market signaling effects.
Compare to industry average as a sanity check: The optimal ratio should not be wildly different from industry norms without a clear reason. If the model suggests 50% debt for a tech company (industry average 10%), revisit assumptions.
Consider indirect bankruptcy costs: For companies where customer trust, employee retention, or supplier relationships are critical (airlines, warranty-dependent manufacturers, professional services), indirect costs of financial distress may exceed the direct costs. These firms should target a debt ratio below the pure WACC minimum.
Key formulas:
Debt to Capital Ratio = D / (D + E)
Debt to Equity Ratio = D / E
Unlevered Beta = Levered Beta / (1 + (1 - t) x (D/E))
Levered Beta = Unlevered Beta x (1 + (1 - t) x (D/E))
Cost of Equity = Riskfree Rate + Levered Beta x ERP
Interest Coverage = EBIT / Interest Expense
Cost of Debt (pre-tax) = Riskfree Rate + Default Spread (from synthetic rating)
Cost of Debt (after-tax) = Cost of Debt (pre-tax) x (1 - t)
WACC = ke x (E / (D+E)) + kd x (1 - t) x (D / (D+E))
Value Enhancement = Firm Value at Optimal WACC - Firm Value at Current WACC
= EBIT(1-t) / WACC_optimal - EBIT(1-t) / WACC_current
Debt type matching criteria:
| Dimension | Match To | Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| Maturity | Asset duration / life | Aligns debt service with asset cash generation |
| Currency | Revenue currency mix | Reduces currency mismatch risk |
| Rate (fixed/float) | Cash flow stability | Fixed for stable; floating for cyclical |
| Seniority | Collateral availability | Secured if tangible assets; unsecured otherwise |
| Covenants | Operational flexibility needs | Fewer covenants for high-growth firms |
Key resources:
Inputs required:
Outputs produced:
capital-structure-analysis.md: WACC schedule across debt ratios, optimal ratio identification, current vs optimal comparison, value enhancement estimate, debt type recommendation, implementation pathnpx claudepluginhub lyndonkl/claude --plugin thinking-frameworks-skillsAdvises on optimal capital structure design including debt-equity mix, leverage analysis, and financing decisions based on corporate finance theory.
Computes cost of equity (CAPM), cost of debt (synthetic rating), and WACC for any company in any currency, including emerging market risk premiums and bottom-up beta.
Advises on capital structure theory (M&M, trade-off, pecking order), leverage metrics, debt instruments, covenants, WACC, Basel III/IV, and ESG-linked financing. Read-only reference framework for finance professionals.