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投行面試中,如何回答財務報表問題?

投行面試中,如何回答財務報表問題?

這類題型是現下面試最為常見的一種,旨在考察面試者對三表(income statement, balance sheet, cash flow statement)的理解掌握程度。最常問到的一個問題是: “how does $10 of depreciation affect the three financial statements”,另外還有一些變種,下文會詳細說明。

要回答這類問題,需要將三表依次作分析。這裡建議大家首先從income statement開始,記住如果revenue或costs有任何變化都要算上tax的影響(一般你會被告知tax rate為40%),得到net income,然後開始分析cash flow statement。由於cash flow statement的首行為net income,這樣一來就能比較好的銜接。說完cash flow,得到net change in cash,就可以開始分析balance sheet了。不要忘記balance sheet的基本等式:Assets = Liabilities + Shareholders’ Equity。

當出現這類題型時,不要過於緊張。你所需要做的是冷靜沉著,然後按部就班的將三表一一解析出來。

例題一:If a company incurs $10 (pretax) of depreciation expense, how does that affect the three financial statements?

這是此類題型最常見的.問題。當然,不一定是$10。就如同上面所說的一樣,要回答這個題目,我們需要一個一個的解決三表,下面的答案可供大家參考。

- Income statement: Depreciation is anexpense so operating income (EBIT) declines by $10. Assuming a tax rate of 40%,net income declines by $6.

- Cash flow statement: Net income decreased $6 and depreciation increased $10 so cash flow from operations increased $4.

- Balance sheet: Cumulative depreciation increases $10 so Net PP&E decreases $10.

分析完之後,你很可能會得到一個follow up的問題,例如: “If depreciation is non-cash, explain how this transaction caused cash to increase $4?”

對此的回答是: “Because of the depreciation expense, the company had to pay the government $4 less in taxes so it increased its cash position by $4 from what it would have been without the depreciation expense.”

例題二:A company makes a $100 cash purchase of equipment on Dec 31. How does this impact the three statements this year and next year?

回答這一題時有幾點要注意。首先,題目特意提到Dec. 31是為了告訴你,今年並不用考慮折舊;其次,與例題一相似,三表都要逐一分析,不過既然問到了兩年的情況,那就也應該逐年來說;最後,本題中說的是“cash purchase”,而有的題目會改為“purchase by issuing debt”,這樣一來對三表的影響都會改變,大家需要留意。

下面是對應的回答範例,供大家參考:

第一年

- Income statement: A purchase of equipment is considered a capital expenditure which does not impact earnings. Further, since we are assuming no depreciation, there is no impact to net income, thus no impact to the income statement.

- Cash flow statement: No change to net income so no change to cash flow from operations. However we’ve got a $100 increase in capex so there is a $100 use of cash in cash flow from investing activities. No change in cash flow from financing (since this is a cash purchase) so the net effect is a use of cash of $100.

- Balance sheet: Cash (asset) down $100 and PP&E (asset) up $100 so no net change to the left side of the balance sheet and no change to the right side.

第二年

(假設5年straightline depreciation,40% tax rate)

- Income statement: $20 of depreciation,which results in a $12 reduction to net income.

- Cash flow statement: Net income down $12 and depreciation up $20. No change to cash flow from investing or financing activities. Net effect is cash up $8.

- Balance sheet: Cash (asset) up $8 and PP&E (asset) down $20 so left side of balance sheet doen $12. Retained earnings (shareholders’ equity) down $12. We are balanced.

例題三:如果例題二改為“purchase by issuing debt”,並且在第三年的1月1日發現機器壞了,變得毫無價值,而銀行又要求還款,這種情況三表又會怎樣?

在解答前要注意幾點:

1)按理,第一年無depreciation,第二年有20%,所以第三年1月1日,該機器應為$80;

2)現在機器壞了,毫無價值,需要將其value改0;

3)銀行要求還款。

弄清楚這三點後,就可以開始作答了。範例如下所示:

- Income statement: The $80 writedown causes net income to decline $48. There is no further depreciation expense and no interest expense.

- Cash flow statement: Net income down $48 but the writedown is non-cash so add $80. Cash flow from financing decreases $100 when we pay back the loan. Net cash is down $68.

- Balance sheet: Cash (asset) down $68, PP&E (asset) down $80, Debt (liability) down $100 and Retained Earnings(shareholders’ equity) down $48. Left side of the balance sheet is down $148 and right side is down $148.