Declan Ross wants to sell his business. The firm has no debt and earns an 8% return (ROE) on equity of $150,000. The business can borrow at an after-tax rate of 5%. A consultant has advised that the business will be worth more if its financial statements show a higher return on equity (ROE = net income/equity). Unfortunately an increase in profitability isnt feasible. The consultant also says that leverage can sometimes be used to improve ROE, and that since the firm earns a higher return (8%) than the after-tax loan rate (5%), borrowing money to reduce equity will increase ROE. How much will Declan have to borrow to raise his firms ROE to 12%? (Hint: First calculate net income using the definition of ROE. Then assume Declan borrows $40,000, reducing equity by the same amount. Recalculate net income and ROE. Repeat with different debt amounts until ROE is close to 12%.) Round the answer to the nearest thousand dollars.

Declan must borrow $__________ thousand.