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uppose that in $2022,$ sales increase by $12\%$ over $2021$ sales. The firm currently has $100,000$ shares outstanding. It expects to maintain its $2021$ 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 $87\mathrm{.}5\%$ and increase its total liabilities$-$to$-$assets ratio to $35\%.($It believes its liabilities$-$to$-$assets ratio currently is too low relative to the industry average.$)$ The firm will raise $40\%$ of the $2022$ forecasted interest$-$bearing 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$-$ and long$-$term debt$)$ is $13\mathrm{.}5\%.$ Assume that any common stock issuances or

repurchases can be made at the firm's current stock price of $$47.$

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? Round your answers to the nearest cent.

B$.$ If the profit margin remains at $6\mathrm{.}25\%$ and the dividend payout ratio remains at $40\%,$ 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$.)$ Round your answer to two decimal places.

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