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Debt Policy at UST Inc.: Executive Summary
Debt Policy at UST Inc.: Executive Summary
FIN500
Team 4: Jesse Galindo, Sulabh Gupta, Maggie Jones, Wale Olukanmi
Executive Summary
In the 1990’s, UST was a dominant producer of moist smokeless tobacco, controlling 77% of the
market. Smokeless tobacco products consist of snuff (dry and moist) and chewing tobacco (loose leaf,
plug and twist/roll) categories. UST was a market leader of the snuff product category, innovating with
new product forms and flavors over the years. UST has also been a profitable company, boosting its
shareholders’ earnings by undertaking measures such as increasing the cost of its products steadily with
time. UST also benefited from the steady increase in market demand for smokeless tobacco given the
rising restrictions on cigarette second hand smoke. UST was still criticized at the time for its tardiness
with new product introductions and losing its market share to new and smaller competitors. In 1997,
instead of cutting product prices to compete, UST introduced new line of lower priced products such as
Copenhagen Long Cut and Rooster. UST also renewed its focus on the marketing campaigns, launching
For years, tobacco industry had been embattled with health related lawsuits. Majority of these
litigations were for cigarette companies in comparison to smokeless tobacco industry. Still, UST had
seven pending health related lawsuits. UST has historically been one of the most profitable companies in
corporate America. Even though S&P rated the debt of many tobacco companies as investment grade, its
long term outlook of the tobacco industry was unclear given the rising restrictions on tobacco products
and health awareness among consumers. Despite the questionable outlook of tobacco industry, in
December 1998 UST’s board of directors decided for active capital structure change and approved the
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Case 1 - Marriott Corporation: The Cost of Capital FIN500
Team 4: Jesse Galindo, Sulabh Gupta, Maggie Jones, Wale Olukanmi
What are the primary business risks associated with UST Inc.? Evaluate from the viewpoint of a
credit analyst or potential bond holder (1 point). Hint: you may compile a list of factors and
comment on them.?
UST has historically been one of the most profitable companies in corporate America and a
market leader in smokeless tobacco industry; however there are a few associated business risks with
The demand for smokeless tobacco products was minimal in international markets and product
expansion outside USA for greater market segment was not much of an option for UST.
UST had been slow to diversify its product line across various price points, consequently
allowing smaller competitors to gain traction for the lower priced smokeless tobacco product
categories. Companies like Swedish Match, Conwood and Swisher were reporting rising
Tobacco industries (smoke or smokeless tobacco products) were involved in numerous health
related lawsuits and litigations. With FDA regulations, there were increasing restrictions on
tobacco use. Consumers were also getting health conscious and understanding the carcinogen
effects of tobacco with increasing anti-tobacco campaigns. UST had seven pending health related
lawsuits at the end of 1998. Lawmakers were expected to continue to push for new laws to
combat youth tobacco use, restrict tobacco advertising and empower FDA to regulate nicotine as
a drug. These developments made the distant future of tobacco industry and UST unclear.
2. According to Exhibit 3 of the case, the current P/E ratio is 13.8 (i.e., P0/E0 = 13.8). Using the 20-
year T-bond rate of 5.45% from Exhibit 8 of the case, assuming the stock market premium is 7%,
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Case 1 - Marriott Corporation: The Cost of Capital FIN500
Team 4: Jesse Galindo, Sulabh Gupta, Maggie Jones, Wale Olukanmi
and UST’s equity beta is 0.65, and UST will maintain a dividend payout ratio equal to the 5-year
average dividend payout ratio from 1994 until 1998, what is the implied earnings constant growth
rate, g (2 points)?
CAPM
i = Rf + β(RM – Rf)
β = .65
Rf = 5.45% 20-year T-bond rate
RM – Rf = 7%
i = 5.45% + .65(7%)
i = 10%
3. Assume a 38% tax rate, and net sales will grow at 5% from 1998 level, and the ratio of EBIT to
Net sales in 1999 will be equal to the 5-year average EBIT/Net sales ratio from 1994 to 1998
period, prepare a pro-forma income statement as the following table. Will UST will be able to
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Case 1 - Marriott Corporation: The Cost of Capital FIN500
Team 4: Jesse Galindo, Sulabh Gupta, Maggie Jones, Wale Olukanmi
Income Statement Projections (in millions, except per-share data and ratios)
Actual Pro-forma Pro-forma Pro-forma Pro-forma
1998 1999 1999 1999 1999
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Case 1 - Marriott Corporation: The Cost of Capital FIN500
Team 4: Jesse Galindo, Sulabh Gupta, Maggie Jones, Wale Olukanmi
Taxes: (Pro Forma) Pre-Tax Earnings x 38% Tax Rate = 796.05 x .38 = 302.5
(Pro Forma) = 725.55 x .38 = 275.71
(Pro Forma) = 717.85 x .38 = 272.78
(Pro Forma) = 708.85 x .38 = 269.36
Interest Coverage: Times Interest Rate Earned (TIE) = EBIT / Interest Expense
(Pro Forma) = 796.05 / 70.5 = 11.29
(Pro Forma) = 796.05 / 78.2 = 10.18
(Pro Forma) = 796.05 / 87.2 = 9.13
Given that for each set of interest rates, ranging from 7.05%, 7.82%, and 8.72%, each Times Interest
Rate Earned is of these ratios is greater than 1 (11.29, 10.18, and 9.13, respectively), UST will be more
than capable of making the interest payments.
4. Should UST Inc. undertake the $1 billion recapitalization? Assuming the entire recapitalization
is implemented immediately on 01/01/1999. Fill out the following form and show your solution
process and explain whenever necessary, assuming the $1 billion in new debt is constant and
perpetual (2 points). Hint: assumes that recapitalization plan was not anticipated by the capital
markets, so the stock price under recapitalization plan should be equal to the original market
price plus the PV tax shields per share, and assume shares are repurchased at the stock price
Valuation Impact of recapitalization (in millions, except per-share data and ratios)
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Case 1 - Marriott Corporation: The Cost of Capital FIN500
Team 4: Jesse Galindo, Sulabh Gupta, Maggie Jones, Wale Olukanmi
It was given that UST has no debt and PV of tax shield is given as zero, so the market value of UST
is equal to its market value of equity before recapitalization, which was given as 185,516,055.
Therefore,
= $6470.8millions
Market value of UST(after recap)= market value of UST equity before recap + interest tax shield of
debt.
= 6470.8(million) + 175,826,000
= 6646.6(million)
Market value of equity= dividends/ cost of equity (K(e)=5.2% in 1999, dividends = 301.0
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Case 1 - Marriott Corporation: The Cost of Capital FIN500
Team 4: Jesse Galindo, Sulabh Gupta, Maggie Jones, Wale Olukanmi
= 175,826,000
= 42.38
= 4,346,330
Therefore
= 185,516,055
= 0.15
By using debt to repurchase, UST was able to create tax shield, which helped increase the value of the
firm and which will be a positive news for shareholders.
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