In: Finance
You are the CFO of ABC Corp. You are looking to hire a financial analyst, and you’ve given an assignment to two short-listed candidates. You’ve given the following information to the job applicants:
| • | The company reported net sales of $50,000,000. Assume that there were no noncash sales. | 
| • | Operating costs (excluding depreciation and amortization) were 65% of the company’s total revenues. | 
| • | Depreciation and amortization charges were 5% of total sales. | 
| • | Interest charges were 15% of earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) with a tax rate of 40%. | 
You’ve asked the candidates to give you a number that best represents the cash flow situation of the company.
FINN: submits a report stating that the firm has $10,150,000 in cash.
ARTY: submits a report stating that the firm has $7,650,000 in cash.
Based on the information given to them, which applicant has provided a better estimate of the company’s current cash flows? Check all that apply.
Arty
Finn
Your follow-up question to both Finn and Arty asks them to think about the difference between their cash flow estimates. The most likely reason for the discrepancy is that failed to:
Subtract the company’s depreciation and amortization expenses from ABC’s EBIT.
Add back the company’s non-cash expenses to ABC’s net income.
| Answer a) | |||||||
| To compute cash we have to first compute Income statement | |||||||
| Income statement | |||||||
| Sales | 50,000,000 | ||||||
| Less | Opearting cost 65% of sales | 32500000 | |||||
| Less | Depreciation and amortization | 5% of sales | 2500000 | ||||
| EBIT | 15,000,000 | ||||||
| Less | Interest | 15% of EBIT | 2250000 | ||||
| Earning before tax | 12,750,000 | ||||||
| Less | Tax @ 40% | 5100000 | |||||
| Earning after tax | 7,650,000 | ||||||
| Cash flow computation | |||||||
| Earning after tax | 7,650,000 | ||||||
| Add | Depreciation and amortization | 5% of sales | 2500000 | ||||
| Cash flow position | 10,150,000 | ||||||
| Therefore FINN submission is correct about the cash flow | |||||||
| Answer b) | 
The most likely reason for the discrepancy is that
Arty      failed
to: Subtract the company’s depreciation and amortization expenses from ABC’s EBIT. Add back the company’s non-cash expenses to ABC’s net income.  | 
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