The value of the firm is the value of its assets, or the present value of the unlevered free cash flow resulting from the use of those assets. In the case of an all-equity financed firm, the equity value is equal to the firm value. When the firm has issued debt, the debt holders have a priority claim on their interest and principal, and the equity holders have a residual claim. The sum of the value of the debt and the value of the equity then is equal to the value of the firm, ignoring the tax benefits from the interest paid on the debt. Considering taxes, the effective value of the firm will be higher since a levered firm has a tax benefit from the interest paid on the debt.