Question

Gatwick Ltd. has after tax profits (net income) of $500,000 and no debt. The owners have a $6 million investment in the business. If they borrow $2 million at 10% and use it to retire stock, how will the return on their investment (equity) change if earnings before interest and taxes remains the same

Answer 1

Return on equity would increase from 8.33% to 9.50%

Step-by-step explanation:

The tax rate of 40% is missing from the question.

Return on equity prior to share repurchase=$500,000/$6,000,000

Return on equity prior to share repurchase=8.33%

With the issue of debt finance of $2,000,000, the after-tax interest expense is computed thus:

after-tax interest expense=$2,000,000*10%*(1-40%)=120000

adjusted net income=$500,000-$120,000=$380,000

new common stock=$6,000,000-$2,000,000=$4,000,000

adjusted return on equity=$380,000/$4,000,000=9.50%