Morrissey Technologies Inc.’s 2008 financial statements are shown here.

Suppose that in 2009, sales increase by 10% over 2008 sales. The firm currently has 100,000 shares outstanding. It expects to maintain its 2008 dividend payout ratio and believes that its assets should grow at the same rate as sales. The firm has no excess capacity. However, the firm would like to reduce its Operating costs/Sales ratio to 87.5% and increase its total debt ratio to 30%. (It believes that its current debt ratio is too low relative to the industry average.) The firm will raise 30% of 2009 forecasted total debt as notes payable, and it will issue long-term bonds for the remainder. The firm forecasts that its before-tax cost of debt (which includes both short-term and long-term debt) is 12.5%. Assume that any common stock issuances or repurchases can be made at the firm’s current stock price of $45.

   a.  Construct the forecasted financial statements assuming that these changes are made. What are the firm’s forecasted notes payable and long-term debt balances? What is the forecasted addition to retained earnings?

   b.  If the profit margin remains at 5% and the dividend payout ratio remains at 60%, at what growth rate in sales will the additional financing requirements be exactly zero? In other words, what is the firm’s sustainable growth rate? (Hint: Set AFN equal to zero and solve for g.)