Empire Industries forecasts net income this coming year as shown here (in thousands of dollars): Approximately $150,000 of Empire's earnings will be needed to make new, positive-NPV investments. Unfortunately, Empire's managers are expected to waste 10% of its net income on needless perks, pet projects, and other expenditures that do not contribute to the firm. All remaining income will be returned to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases.

EBIT 1,000

Interest expense 0

Income before tax 1,000

Taxes -400

Net income 600

a. What are the two benefits of debt financing for Empire?

a. Tax and interest cost benefits

b. Interest cost benefits and reducing wasteful investment

c. Dividend and tax benefits

d. Tax benefits and reducing wasteful investment

b. By how much would each $1 of interest expense reduce Empire's dividend and share repurchases?

c. What is the increase in the total funds Empire will pay to investors for each $1 of interest expense?