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Sculpted debt service with the DSCR and CFADS

Why sculpted debt service suits projects with seasonal or volatile cash flows, and how to calculate it from CFADS and a target DSCR, with a worked example.

Webinar · Recording · Presented by Leigh Tomlinson · 24 April 2023

Debt sculpting to target DSCR workbook

The workbook for this topic is on our debt sculpting tutorial page.

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Repayments that follow the cash flow

Sculpted debt service is an important repayment method to build into a financial model, particularly where cash flows are seasonal or volatile. Some repayment methods are calculated without reference to the cash flow available for debt service (CFADS), which can lead to liquidity problems and ratio breaches.

This recorded webinar explains sculpted debt service and, through a worked example, shows how to calculate it and how it interacts with the debt service cover ratio (DSCR).

What you will learn

  • The concept and theory behind sculpted debt service
  • Why sculpting is preferred for projects with volatile or seasonal cash flows
  • How sculpted debt service is calculated and how a target DSCR is applied
  • The effect of sculpting on the ratios and on liquidity

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Tutorials

Debt sculpting to target DSCR without VBA

An algebraic approach to debt sculpting that rearranges the DSCR formula to solve for the principal repayment in each period, with no VBA or macro.

Cash flow available for debt service (CFADS)

How CFADS is calculated from revenue, operating costs, tax and working capital, and why project finance lenders size debt on it rather than EBITDA.

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