Answer:
6.75%
Explanation:
Price of bonds is equal to their par value when coupon rates match with yields to maturity. The 20-year bond with semiannual coupon payments is going to have 40 coupons payment plus 1 par value payment. Let formulate the price of this bond as below:
Bond price = [Par value x (Coupon rate/2)]/[1 + (YTM/2)] + [Par value x (Coupon rate/2)]/[1 + (YTM/2)]^2 + ...+ [Par value x (Coupon rate/2) + Par value]/[1 + (YTM/2)]^40, or:
972.78 = [1,000 x (6.5%/2)]/[1 + (YTM/2)] + [1,000 x (6.5%/2)]/[1 + (YTM/2)]^2 + ...+ [1,000 x (6.5%/2) + 1,000]/[1 + (YTM/2)]^40
Solve the equation we get YTM = 6.75%.
So, the company should set 6.75% coupon rate on its new bonds if it wants to sell them at par.