Project Finance Debt sculpting question. Use NPV of debt to get to the debt size?

Hi all,

When I try to solve for the debt size, using sculpting, I do: CFADS then divide it by DSCR and then, do I take the NPV (at rate of the interest rate) of these values to arrive at the total debt? I am asking because I did the Wallstreet Prep course and they don't take the NPV, they just add the resulting cashflows and that is the total debt, is this version correct?..

2nd question: I read that to get to debt size you have to use the CFADS after.. ..paying interest. But, isn't the whole point of debt sculpting to arrive at the total debt load? So what interest are they even referring to? the CFADS will be EBITDA, so no debt had been paid out yet. What is the context of this technique (to use CFADS after paying interest)?

Thanks all! 

8 Comments
 
[Comment removed by mod team]
 
Most Helpful
cryptomonkey123

Hi all,

When I try to solve for the debt size, using sculpting, I do: CFADS then divide it by DSCR and then, do I take the NPV (at rate of the interest rate) of these values to arrive at the total debt? I am asking because I did the Wallstreet Prep course and they don't take the NPV, they just add the resulting cashflows and that is the total debt, is this version correct?..

2nd question: I read that to get to debt size you have to use the CFADS after.. ..paying interest. But, isn't the whole point of debt sculpting to arrive at the total debt load? So what interest are they even referring to? the CFADS will be EBITDA, so no debt had been paid out yet. What is the context of this technique (to use CFADS after paying interest)?

Thanks all! 

An alternative to using DSCR debt sculpting with an NPV formula is to use what's known as an LLCR or Loan Life Coverage Ratio which is applied to the discounted future CFADS at the cost of your debt (i.e. interest rate). If you set your discount rates to actual interest rates, in theory your debt sizing using DSCR and LLCR should give you the same debt sizing result using identical ratios.

A more comprehensive explanation can be found here:

https://financialmodelling.mazars.com/resources/loan-life-coverage-rati…

As for removing interest from CFADS for debt sizing, it's because you start with a certain DSCR ratio that you apply to your CFADS to get to your Debt Service (Debt Service = Interest + Principal Repayment). So once you calculate your Debt Service amount (CFADS / target DSCR ratio) you then subtract your Interest paid to get to your Principal Repayment amount that remains. The sum of Principal Repayment amounts over your debt sizing period will be your calculated debt size.

 

There’s circular logic involved. You don’t calculate interest based off the overall starting debt balance. You calculate interest based off the “Beginning Balance” for each period. You have to put the formulas in first, then drag them across, then refresh. E.g. heres what the formulas look like in the first period.

These 5 rows are built top down:

CFADS

(/) DSCR

—————-

= Debt Service 

(-) Interest Payment (Rate * Beg Balance below)

—————-

= Cash Available for Principal Repayment

These 3 rows are built from bottom UP:

Beg Balance = End Balance (below) + Principal Repayment

(+) Principal Repayment (= calculated last line above)
 
End Balance = NEXT period’s beginning balance

Drag all lines right, make sure circular reasoning is on in Excel settings, and refresh and you will have the starting debt quantum in the “Beg Balance” cell of the first year. You should understand how the logic is starting backwards and building UP to your beginning balance.

 

Good question. There are many ways to size debt, but most of them either require a macro or guess and check to ensure your debt is repaid in the amort period. In order to avoid circular references, you will use the following formula (called the backward induction method) in each interest period for interest payments:

Starting Balance = Ending Balance + Principal Payment

Principal Payment = CFADS - Interest Payment

Interest Payment = (CFADS - (Ending Debt Balance * Interest Rate))/(1+Interest Rate)

Ending Balance = Starting Balance in Next Period

Your debt sizing is the sum of all principal payments.

 

Est reprehenderit dolor non est earum. Omnis sit iure expedita et doloribus tenetur.

Iure sed vel saepe sed et ad. Ea distinctio voluptatem fuga in rem est. Exercitationem et delectus modi perferendis voluptatibus.

Vero omnis doloremque eum quidem voluptate. Odit sit possimus sequi dicta fugiat tenetur fugit. Placeat illum dolore ut qui.

Temporibus exercitationem et est est. Laborum repudiandae eum numquam delectus atque vitae optio. Sed odio et qui. Eum quis soluta possimus libero.

 

Porro praesentium tempora molestias ut. Nam sed beatae ducimus nemo fugiat.

Mollitia id dolore natus ad occaecati at sed quia. Amet eaque dolor ea sapiente et quibusdam quaerat. Velit fugit quaerat labore labore et. Maxime qui aut et expedita molestias sed aperiam sit.

Voluptate ut ea qui quasi ipsum laborum. Deserunt distinctio distinctio rerum inventore. Ratione quia quisquam eum consequatur. Sequi delectus ab nemo animi voluptatum cumque.

Pariatur sit qui dolor sapiente eveniet aliquam voluptatibus sed. Itaque quas dolorem perferendis consequuntur perferendis. Omnis esse rem commodi et voluptatem. Blanditiis nihil sit id dolores facere ipsa. Vitae ea nam dolor officia magni sit rerum.

Career Advancement Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.3%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.7%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.3%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.7%
  • JPMorgan 01 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (15) $434
  • Associates (46) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (79) $150
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (73) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
6
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
10
Jamoldo's picture
Jamoldo
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”