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At the end of fiscal year 2015, a firm reported the following in its balance she

ID: 2587254 • Letter: A

Question

At the end of fiscal year 2015, a firm reported the following in its balance sheet (in millions):

Net operating assets $500

Net financial obligations 300

You forecast that the firm will earn a 20% return on common equity (ROCE) in 2016 (on beginning-of-year equity), after $15 million in net financial expenses (net of taxes). You also forecast that net operating assets will grow 6%. The board of directors has decided that the firm will pay $20 million in dividends in 2016, but there will be no share issues or repurchases.

Forecast for:

a. Return on net operating assets (RNOA) for 2016 (on beginning-of-year net operating assets).

b. Free cash flow for 2016

c. Net financial obligations at the end of 2016.

d. Calculate the financial leverage ratio (FLEV) at the end of 2015 and 2016.

Explanation / Answer

End of 2015

Net Operating Assets

$                500

Net financial obligations

$                300

a. Return on Net Operating Assets for 2016

Forecast for growth of Net Operating Assets

6%

Net Operating Assets

$                530

(500 * 106%)

Expected ROCE

20%

Return on Net Operating Assets

$                106

(530 * 20%)

b. Free Cash Flows

Return on Net Operating Assets

$                106

Less: Payment of Financial Obligations

$                  20

Free Cash Flows

$                  86

(106 - 20)

c. Net Financial Obligations at the end of 2016

Net Financial Obligations at the beginning of 2016

$                300

Less: Payment of Financial Obligations

$                  20

Net Financial Obligations at the end of 2016

$                280

(300 - 20)

d. Financial Leverage Ratio

= Total Debt / Total Equity

2015

2016

Net Financial Obligations

$                300

$                    280

Net Operating Assets

$                500

$                    530

Total Equity

$                200

$                    250

Financial Leverage Ratio

1.5

1.12

End of 2015

Net Operating Assets

$                500

Net financial obligations

$                300

a. Return on Net Operating Assets for 2016

Forecast for growth of Net Operating Assets

6%

Net Operating Assets

$                530

(500 * 106%)

Expected ROCE

20%

Return on Net Operating Assets

$                106

(530 * 20%)

b. Free Cash Flows

Return on Net Operating Assets

$                106

Less: Payment of Financial Obligations

$                  20

Free Cash Flows

$                  86

(106 - 20)

c. Net Financial Obligations at the end of 2016

Net Financial Obligations at the beginning of 2016

$                300

Less: Payment of Financial Obligations

$                  20

Net Financial Obligations at the end of 2016

$                280

(300 - 20)

d. Financial Leverage Ratio

= Total Debt / Total Equity

2015

2016

Net Financial Obligations

$                300

$                    280

Net Operating Assets

$                500

$                    530

Total Equity

$                200

$                    250

Financial Leverage Ratio

1.5

1.12

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