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The Global Insight

What are the assumptions of MM theory of capital structure?

Author

Michael Gray

Updated on February 10, 2026

The Modigliani-Miller theorem states that a company’s capital structure is not a factor in its value. Market value is determined by the present value of future earnings, the theorem states. The theorem has been highly influential since it was introduced in the 1950s.

What are the main propositions of MM approach?

Miller and Modigliani theory mentions two propositions. Proposition I states that the market value of any firm is independent of the amount of debt or equity in capital structure. Proposition II states that the cost of equity is directly related and incremental to the percentage of debt in capital structure.

How is Modigliani Miller calculated?

The expected return on equity of Firm A can be calculated based on the following formula: RE Firm A = RE Firm B + D/E *(RE Firm B – RD). Firm A is a levered firm and Firm B is an unlevered firm.

How does the Modigliani and Miller approach work?

Modigliani and Miller Approach: Propositions with Taxes (The Trade-Off Theory of Leverage) The Modigliani and Miller Approach assumes that there are no taxes, but in the real world, this is far from the truth. Most countries, if not all, tax companies. This theory recognizes the tax benefits accrued by interest payments.

How did Modigliani and Miller come up with the theorem?

Finding the published material on the topic lacking, the professors created the theorem based on their own research. The result of this was the article in the American Economic Review and what has later been known as the M&M theorem. Miller and Modigliani published a number of follow-up papers discussing some of these issues.

What was the purpose of Modigliani and Brumberg?

Modigliani and Brumberg (1954) is primarily concerned with the cross-section or microeconomic implications of the theory, while Modigliani and Brumberg (1980) looks at the time-series and macroeconomic implications.

When did Modigliani and Miller propose capital structure irrelevancy?

This approach was devised by Modigliani and Miller during the 1950s. The fundamentals of the Modigliani and Miller Approach resemble that of the Net Operating Income Approach. Modigliani and Miller advocate capital structure irrelevancy theory, which suggests that the valuation of a firm is irrelevant to the capital structure of a company.