Finance 7311

Note on Value of Firm



Definitions:

EBIT = earnings before interest & taxes

Tc = corporate tax rate

V = value of firm (assets)

E = value of equity

D = value of debt (thus: V = D + E)

Re = required equity return

Rd = required debt return

WACC = weighted average cost of capital

Ra = asset cost of capital (= Re when D = 0)

CF = cash flows

recall: for a perpetuity, PV = CF/R

Cash flow concepts:

1. Free cash flows to all equity firm:

EBIT(1-Tc) + depreciation - additional investment - NWC

2. Free cash flows to firm: same as to all equity firm

3. Free cash flows to S/H:

Net Income + Depreciation - Additional Investment - NWC + Debt


3 equivalent evaluation methods:

(For simplicity, assume depreciation = Additional Investment & NWC = 0)


1. PV of CF's to all equity firm at Ra + PV(tax shield)

Note: If the firm is all equity, then Re = Ra. In this case Re is an 'unlevered' cost of equity. When there is debt in the firm Re is a 'levered' cost of equity, which is higher.

a. CF's(all equity firm) = EBIT * (1 - Tc)

b. PV(tax shield) = Tc*D (if perpetuity)

V = [EBIT*(1 - Tc)] / Ra + Tc*D (perpetuity)

Vl = Vu + PV(tax shield)

The value of the 'levered' firm, Vl, is equal to the value of the 'unlevered' firm, Vu, plus the present value of the tax savings associated with debt. We can then find the value of equity as follows: E = V - D

If the cash flows are not a perpetuity, then the above equation for V would be replaced with an infinite sum.

Note: In an all equity firm WACC = Ra = Re.

2. PV of CF's to firm at WACC

CF's to firm = EBIT * (1 - Tc)

V = [EBIT * (1 - Tc)] / WACC (perpetuity)

and: E = V - D

If the cash flows are not a perpetuity, then the above equation would be replaced with an infinite sum.

note: here WACC < Ra < Re

The values obtained in methods 1 & 2 should be identical. In method 1 the present value of the tax savings associated with debt are accounted for separately, while in method 2 they are accounted for in the discount rate, WACC. The numerators are the same in each.

3. PV of CF's to S/H's at 'levered' Re (PV of dividends)

E = [CF's to Equity] / Re (perpetuity)

 

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