Answer:
Assets = $200,000
For Plan A
25% debt = 200,000 * 25% = 50,000
75% equity = 200,000 * 75% = 150,000
The debt will generate 8.8% interest expense. Interest expense = 50,000 * 8.8% = 4,400
Income for the expected project under Plan A
Sales revenue 300,00
Operating cost 265,000
EBIT 35,000
Interest expense 4,400
EBT 30,600
Income tax 10,710
Net income $19,890
Times interest earned = EBIT /interest expense = 35,000 / 4,400 = 7.95. So, it achieve the requirement of 4.5 or above.
ROE for plan A = Net income / Equity = 19,890/150,000 = 0,1326 = 13.26%
Under Plan B
We will take as much debt as we can until Times interest earned = 4.5
EBIT / interest expense = Times interest earned
35,000/Interest expense = 4.5
Interest expense = 35,000/4.5
Interest expense = 7.777,78
Net income = (EBIT - interest) x (1- tax-rate)
Net income = (35,000 - 7,777.78) x (1-35%)
Net income = 17.694,443
Interest expense = Debt * Rate
Debt = Interest expense / Rate
Debt = 7,777.78/0.088
Debt = 88.383,86
Asset = Debt + Equity
200,000 = 88,383.86 + Equity
Equity = 200,000 - 88,383.86 =
Equity = 111,616.14
ROE for Plan B = Net income/ Equity = 17,694.443 / 111,616.14 = 0,15852943 = 15.85%
So, we compare both ROE
Plan A = 13.26%
Plan B = 15.85%
Difference = 2.59%
So therefore, using the Plan B will increase the ROE for 2.59%
