Last year Rennie Industries had sales of $270,000, assets of $175,000 (which equals total invested capital), a profit margin of 5.3%, and an equity multiplier of 1.2. The CFO believes that the company could reduce its assets by $51,000 without affecting either sales or costs. The firm finances using only debt and common equity. Had it reduced its assets by this amount, and had the debt/total invested capital ratio, sales, and costs remained constant, how much would the ROE have changed? Do not round your intermediate calculations. a. 3.03% b. 3.07% c. 4.04% d. 4.52% e. 4.08%

c. 4.04%

Explanation:

Calculation to determine how much would the ROE have changed

First step is to Calculate last year Last year profit

Last year profit = $270,000 × 5.3%

Last year profit = $14,310.00

Second step is to calculate Last year equity

$175,000/Last year equity = 1.2

Last year equity = $175,000/1.2

Last year equity= $145,833.33

Third step is to calculate Last year ROE

Last year ROE = $14,310.00/$145,833.33

Last year ROE= 0.0981*100

Last year ROE= 9.81%

Fourth step is to Calculate New asset value

New asset value = $175,000 - $51,000

New asset value = $124,000

Fifth step is to calculate Equity after asset reduction

Equity after asset reduction = $124,000/1.2

Equity after asset reduction = $103,333.33

Sixth step is to calculate ROE after asset reduction

ROE after asset reduction = $14,310.00/$103,333.33

ROE after asset reduction =0.1385*100

ROE after asset reduction =13.85%

Now let calculate amount of change in ROE

Using this formula

Change in ROE = ROE after asset reduction - Last year ROE

Let plug in the formula

Change in ROE = 13.85% - 9.81%

Change in ROE = 4.04%

Therefore how much would the ROE have changed is 4.04%

answer; consideration;