In: Finance
EBITDA | 220.00 |
Depreciation | (49.50) |
EBIT | 170.50 |
Interest | (17.25) |
EBT | 153.25 |
Tax (30%) | (45.98) |
Net Income | 107.28 |
Assuming that the tax rate is 30%, Working Capital and Fixed Capital investments are Zero, Calculating FCFF from Net Income shows the following:
FCFF = Net Income + Interest Expense (1-T) + Depreciation Expense
FCFF = 107.28 + 17.25 (1-0.3) + 49.50
FCFF = $ 168.85
Required: Why do you add back the after-tax interest but the before-tax depreciation in the calculation of FCFF?
Free cash flow is defined as the cash flows that a firm has left to pay stockholders and debt after meeting its operating and investment expenses.
Net Income includes tax savings from debt and operating expenses. Depreciation is a non cash expense and hence has to be added. It is added back at before- tax depreciation since depreciation is an allowable expenses for companies to deduct as per IRS rules. However , after tax interest is added since there is a cash outflow of interest and the company is only saving on the tax on interest.
As per the above question , depreciation is $49.5 and tax benefit on it 14.85. The company has no cash flow of $49.5 with regards to depreciation and also is deriving a benefit og $14.85 on it . Hence the whole of depreciation is added back. Whereas in case of interest , the company is actually having a cash outflow of 17.25 and tax saving is $5.175.Hence the post tax interest is added to arrive at FCFF.