Using the information in this report on the individual WACC parameters we are almost able
to calculate a range for the real pre-tax WACC for WNR and WAGR. One last parameter
must be estimated, to complete the calculations – the risk free rate.
We discussed how this parameter should be estimated in an earlier section. There we chose
to use the ten-year government bond yield and recommended a 10-day average of the rate
preceeding this day noting that a 20-day average would not be inappropriate. The risk free
rate should be estimated in accordance with clause 3(2) of Schedule 4 of the Code, being as of
30 June. The Regulator will make the final determination of the rate and accordingly, any
parameters proposed in this report will be illustrative only.
Given that these values will be updated, it seems most convenient to base these values for
the purposes of this report on the same basis as was set out in the draft report – except that a
10-day average value is provided for the nominal and real risk free rate. Because we are
using this rate rather than the rate that will actually be used in setting WACC, the risk free
rate, the cost of debt capital, the cost of equity capital and the WACC in the table below are
preliminary. Table 9 summarises our parameter estimates for 17 March 2003, which result in
a nominal “vanilla” WACC for WNR of 8.86% (equivalent pre-tax real WACC of 7.70%), and
for WAGR a nominal “vanilla” WACC of 7.82% (equivalent pre-tax real WACC of 6.49%).