Chapter 6
6.11 A company’s 5-year bonds are yielding 7% per year. Treasury bonds with the same maturity
are yielding 5.2% per year, and the real risk-free rate (r*) is 2.75%. The average inflation
premium is 2.05%, and the maturity risk premium is estimated to be 0.1 x (t - 1)%, where t =
number of years to maturity. If the liquidity premium is 0.7%, what is the default risk premium
on the corporate bonds?
We have: 𝑟 = 𝑟 ∗ + 𝐼𝑃 + 𝐷𝑅𝑃 + 𝐿𝑃 + 𝑀𝑅𝑃
↔ 7% = 2.75% + 2.05% + 𝐷𝑅𝑃 + 0.7% + [0.1 × (5 − 1)]%
↔ 7% = 2.75% + 2.05% + 𝐷𝑅𝑃 + 0.7% + 0.4%
→ 𝐷𝑅𝑃 = 0.011 = 1.1%
6.12 An investor in Treasury securities expects inflation to be 2.1% in Year 1, 2.7% in Year 2, and
3.65% each year thereafter. Assume that the real risk-free rate is 1.95% and that this rate will
remain constant. Three-year Treasury securities yield 5.20%, while 5-year Treasury securities
yield 6.00%. What is the difference in the maturity risk premiums (MRPs) on the two securities;
that is, what is MRP5 - MRP3?
Three-year Treasury securities
A Treasury security has no default risk premium or liquidity risk premium
We have: 𝑟 = 𝑟 ∗ + 𝐼𝑃 + 𝐷𝑅𝑃 + 𝐿𝑃 + 𝑀𝑅𝑃
2.1% + 2.7% + 3.65%
↔ 5.2% = 1.95% + + 0 + 0 + 𝑀𝑅𝑃3
3
↔ 5.2% = 1.95% + 2.82% + 0 + 0 + 𝑀𝑅𝑃3
→ 𝑀𝑅𝑃3 = 0.43%
5-year Treasury securities
A Treasury security has no default risk premium or liquidity risk premium
We have: 𝑟 = 𝑟 ∗ + 𝐼𝑃 + 𝐷𝑅𝑃 + 𝐿𝑃 + 𝑀𝑅𝑃
2.1% + 2.7% + 3.65% + 3.65% + 3.65%
↔ 6% = 1.95% + + 0 + 0 + 𝑀𝑅𝑃5
5
↔ 6% = 1.95% + 3.15% + 0 + 0 + 𝑀𝑅𝑃5
→ 𝑀𝑅𝑃5 = 0.9%
→ 𝑀𝑅𝑃5 − 𝑀𝑅𝑃3 = 0.9% − 0.43% = 0.47%
6.13 The real risk-free rate, r*, is 1.7%. Inflation is expected to average 1.5% a year for the next 4
years, after which time inflation is expected to average 4.8% a year. Assume that there is no
maturity risk premium. An 11-year corporate bond has a yield of 8.7%, which includes a
liquidity premium of 0.3%. What is its default risk premium?
We have: 𝑟 = 𝑟 ∗ + 𝐼𝑃 + 𝐷𝑅𝑃 + 𝐿𝑃 + 𝑀𝑅𝑃
(1.5% × 4) + (4.8% × 7)
↔ 8.7% = 1.7% + + 𝐷𝑅𝑃 + 0.3%
11
↔ 8.7% = 1.7% + 3.6% + 𝐷𝑅𝑃 + 0.3%
↔ 𝐷𝑅𝑃 = 3.1%