Financial Break-even point :
It is that point where company is having sufficient earning to pay of its external liability i.e. it is that earning where EPS is zero. No profit, No loss to equity shareholder, it is that point where EBIT or earning is cover just interest burden as well as preference burden.
In case the EBIT level of a firm is just sufficient to cover the fixed financial charges then such level of EBIT is known as financial break-even level. For example, in the above case, the financial break-even level for firm Y & Co. is Rs. 6,000 and for Z & Co. the financial break-even level is Rs. 9,000 (i.e. just equal to their interest charges respectively) Thus, the financial break-even level is such a level of EBIT at which only the fixed financial charges of the firm are covered and consequently the EPS is zero. If the EBIT reduces below this financial break-even level, the EPS will be negative. The financial break-even level of EBIT may be calculated as follows :
If the firm has employed debt only (and no preference shares, the financial break-even EBIT level is :
If the firm has employed debt as well as preference share capital, then its financial break even EBIT will be determined not only by the interest charge but also by the fixed preference dividend. It may be noted that the preference dividend is payable only out of profit after tax, whereas the financial break-even level is before tax. The financial break-even level in such a case may be determined as follows:
For example, a firm is having interest liability of Rs. 20,000 and preference dividend of Rs. 36,000. Given the tax rate of 40% find out the financial break-even level and verify the result. The financial break-even level for the firm may be ascertained as follows:
Financial break-even EBIT = Interest Charge + Pref. Div. (1-t)
= Rs. 20,000 + Rs. 36,000 (1– 4)
= Rs. 80,000.
Verification : If the firm has EBIT of Rs. 80,000 out of this EBIT interest of Rs. 20,000 will be paid and the remaining profit of Rs. 60,000 will be subject to tax at 40%. So the profit after tax would be Rs. 36,000 which is just sufficient to pay the preference dividend no profit will be available for the equity shareholder and the EPS would be zero. So the financial break-even level may be defined as that level of EBIT at which the EPS would be zero.
Indifference point/level :
The indifference level of EBIT is one at which the EPS remains same irrespective of the debt-equity mix. While designing a capital structure, a firm may evaluate the effect of different financial plans on the level of EPS, for a given level of EBIT. Out of several available financial plans, the firm may have two or more financial plans which result in the same level of EPS for a given EBIT. Such a level of EBIT at which the firm has two or more financial plans resulting in same level of EPS, is known as indifference level of EBIT.
The use of financial break-even level and the return from alternative capital structures called the indifference point analysis. The EBIT is used as a dependent variable and the EPS from two alternative financial plans is used as independent variable, and the exercise is known as indifference point analysis. The indifference level of EBIT is a point at which the after tax cost of debt is just equal to the ROI. At this point the firm would be indifferent whether the funds are raised by the issue of debt securities or by the issue of share capital.
It is that point where company get same EPS in two different options. If a company get same EPS in two different options of capital structure then company will be indifferent to select any one of these options. Means company can select any option, the EPS is same in both the options.