A New Firm Is Developing Its Business Plan

question 124

Multiple Choice

A new firm is developing its business plan.It will require $715,000 of assets (which equals total invested capital) ,and it projects $450,000 of sales and $355,000 of operating costs for the first year.Management is reasonably sure of these numbers because of contracts with its customers and suppliers.It can borrow at a rate of 7.5%,but the bank requires it to have a TIE of at least 4.0,and if the TIE falls below this level the bank will call in the loan and the firm will go bankrupt.The firm will use only debt and common equity for financing.What is the maximum debt to capital ratio (measured as debt/total invested capital) the firm can use? (Hint: Find the maximum dollars of interest,then the debt that produces that interest,and then the related debt to capital ratio. ) Do not round your intermediate calculations.

• A) 39.86%
• B) 51.38%
• C) 44.29%
• D) 34.10%
• E) 38.53%

---

Definitions:

Investment

The practice of dispensing finances with the goal of making a profit or generating income.

Years

A unit of time equal to 365 days (or 366 days in a leap year) used to measure duration or age.

Total Dollar Return

The overall financial gain or loss on an investment, including capital gains, interest, dividends, and distributions, calculated in absolute dollar terms.

Shares

Instruments of corporate or financial asset ownership, shares entitle owners to a proportional division of profits, paid as dividends, upon declaration.