Driver Corporation faces an IOS schedule calling for a capital budget of $60 million. Its optimal capital structure is 60 percent equity and 40 percent debt. Its earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) were $98 million for the year. The firm has $200 million in assets, pays an average of 10 percent on all its debt, and faces a marginal tax rate of 35 percent. If the firm maintains a residual dividend policy and will keep its optimal capital structure intact, what will be the amount of the dividends it pays out after financing its capital budget?
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A. B. C. D. E.C
Calculate interest cost:
Total assets = $200M; 40% debt x $200M = $80 million in debt.
Interest cost = $80M x 0.10 = $8.0 million.
Calculate net income (in millions):
EBIT$98.0 -
less: Interest- 8.0
EBT$90.0 -
less: Taxes (35%) 31.5
Net income$58.5 -
Calculate portion of projects financed with retained earnings:
IOS contains $60 million in positive NPV projects.
Retained earnings portion:$60M x 0.60 = $36.0 million
Debt portion:$60M x 0.40 = $24.0 million
Calculate residual available for dividends:
$58.5M - $36.0M = $22.5 million in dividends.