of EBIT, and is in the $25\%$ federal$-$plus$-$state tax bracket. Both firms are small with average sales of $$25$ million or less during the past $3$ years, so both are exempt

from the interest deduction limitation$.$ Firm $HL,$ however, has a debt$-$to$-$capital ratio of $55\%$ and pays $11\%$ interest on its debt, whereas LL has a $25\%$ debt$-$to$-$capital

ratio and pays only $9\%$ interest on its debt. Neither firm uses preferred stock in its capital structure.

a$.$ Calculate the return on invested capital $($ROIC$)$ for each firm. Round your answers to two decimal places.

b$.$ Calculate the return on equity $($ROE$)$ for each firm. Round your answers to two decimal places.

c$.$ Observing that HL has a higher ROE, LL$\text{'}$s treasurer is thinking of raising the debt$-$to$-$capital ratio from $25\%$ to $60\%$ even though that would increase LL$\text{'}$s

interest rate on all debt to $15\%.$ Calculate the new ROE for LL$.$ Round your answer to two decimal places.

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