FCOJ, Inc., a prominent consumer products firm, is debating whether to convert its all-equity capital structure to one that is 30 percent debt. Currently, there are 5,000 shares outstanding, and the price per share is $86. EBIT is expected to remain at $26,000 per year forever. The interest rate on new debt is 4.5 percent, and there are no taxes.

a. Ms. Brown, a shareholder of the firm, owns 150 shares of stock. What is her cash flow under the current capital structure, assuming the firm has a dividend payout rate of 100 percent?

b. What will Ms. Brown’s cash flow be under the proposed capital structure of the firm? Assume that she keeps all 150 of her shares.

c. Assume that Ms. Brown unlevers her shares and re-creates the original capital structure. What is her cash flow now?

a) EBIT = 26000

Since in the 1st case, there is no debt and no tax, net income = EBIT

So EPS = 26000 / 5000 = $5.2

Since the entire earnings are distributed as dividends, Ms. Brown cash flow = 150 * 5.2 = $780`

b) 30% of capital is converted to debt

Total capital = 5000 * 86 = 430,000

30% of which is 129000 is converted into debt, and assume that company has repurchased shares with this debt.

So number of shares bought = 129000 / 86 = 15000

New number of shares = 5000 - 1500 = 3500

Interest payment = 129000 * 4.5% = 5805

So Net income = EBIT - interest - tax = 26000 - 5805 - 0 = 20195

EPS = 20195 / 3500 = 5.77

So cash flow for Ms. Brown = 150 * 5.77 = 865.5

c)

To replicate the proposed capital structure, the shareholder should sell 30 percent of their shares, or 45 shares, and lend the proceeds at 4.5 percent. The shareholder will have an interest cash flow of:

        Interest cash flow = 45($86)(.045)

        Interest cash flow = $174.15

        The shareholder will receive dividend payments on the remaining 1.5 shares, so the dividends received will be:

        Dividends received = $5.77(1 shares)

        Dividends received = $576  

        The total cash flow for the shareholder under these assumptions will be:

        Total cash flow = $174.15 + 605.85

        Total cash flow = $780

                       This is the same cash flow we calculated in part a