Which of the following would be most likely to occur in the year after Congress, in an effort to increase tax revenue, passed legislation that forced companies to depreciate equipment over longer lives? Assume that sales, other operating costs, and tax rates are not affected, and assume that the same depreciation method is used for tax and stockholder reporting purposes. a. Companies’/ s net operating profits after taxes (NOPAT) would decline. b. Companies’/ s physical stocks of fixed assets would increase. c. Companies’/ s net cash flows would increase. d. Companies’/ s cash positions would decline. e. Companies’/ s reported net incomes would decline.

Examine the following book-value balance sheet for university products inc. the preferred stock currently sells for $30 per share and pays a dividend of $3 a share. the common stock sells for $16 per share and has a beta of 0.9. there are 2 million common shares outstanding. the market risk premium is 9%, the risk-free rate is 5%, and the firm’s tax rate is 40%. book-value balance sheet (figures in $ millions) assets liabilities and net worth cash and short-term securities $ 2.0 bonds, coupon = 6%, paid annually (maturity = 10 years, current yield to maturity = 8%) $ 5.0 accounts receivable 3.0 preferred stock (par value $15 per share) 3.0 inventories 7.0 common stock (par value $0.20) 0.4 plant and equipment 21.0 additional paid-in stockholders’ equity 13.6 retained earnings 11.0 total $ 33.0 total $ 33.0 a. what is the market debt-to-value ratio of the firm? (do not round intermediate calculations. enter your answer as a percent rounded to 2 decimal places.) b. what is university’s wacc? (do not round intermediate calculations. enter your answer as a percent rounded to 2 decimal places.)

Arnold rossiter is a 40-year-old employee of the barrington company who will retire at age 60 and expects to live to age 75. the firm has promised a retirement income of $20,000 at the end of each year following retirement until death. the firm's pension fund is expected to earn 7 percent annually on its assets and the firm uses 7% to discount pension benefits. what is barrington's annual pension contribution to the nearest dollar for mr. rossiter? (assume certainty and end-of-year cash flows.)

After the embarrassing sign incident at the restaurant you own, you decide to offer employees a six-week fundamental writing skills workshop. a local business communication instructor, who has experience teaching writing skills at treleaven community college, will facilitate the sessions. to encourage employees to attend these optional sessions, write an email that explains why you’re offering the workshop and why employees should participate.