Practice Problems – Chapter 6

 

1.         The following income statement pertains to the last year of a project under consideration:

                                    Revenue                      15,000

                                    Manufacturing cost        8,000

                                    Depreciation                  1,200

                                    Interest                           1,000

                                    Pre-tax income               4,800

                                    Tax (@ 40%)                  1,920

                                    Net Income                     2,880

Working capital employed during the last year is $1,500.  The income statement is based on straight line depreciation.  Tax returns will be based on accelerated depreciation, which will be $500. 

a) Compute net cash flows for purposes of capital budgeting.      

b) Why is accelerated depreciation less than straight line depreciation?

 

 

2.         A four year project requires a capital investment of $500,000.  The assets will be classified as 3-year assets under IRS rules, and depreciated at the rates given in Table 6.4 in the textbook (p. 128).  The expected salvage value at the end of 4 years is $30,000.  Projected operating data for each of the four years is as follows:

                                        (1)                    (2)                    (3)                    (4)

Sales (units)                20,000             30,000             32,000             33,000

Sale price/unit                    20                    22                    21                    21

Variable cost/unit               11                    12.5                 13.5                 14

Fixed costs                  55,000             65,000             75,000            85,000

Interest Charges            8,000               8,500               9,100              9,800

The project requires initial working capital of $5,000.  Working capital requirements will increase by $3,000, $600 and $400 respectively for each subsequent year.  The firm has a tax rate of 34%.  One consequence of accepting this project is that the firm will lose sales of some existing products.  The firm estimates that EBIT for the existing business will decline by $10,000 in the first year, and $8,000 in each subsequent year.  Compute the project’s net cashflows for time 0 through time 4.

 

 

3.         Given below are the income statements, and other information, for the last two years of Looking Glass Inc.’s new project.  Compute the operating cashflows for each year.

                                                                            Year 4             Year 5

                                    Revenue                          32,000             35,000

                                    Manufacturing cost          20,000             21,500

                                    Depreciation                      2,400               1,600

                                    Interest                               3,200               3,300 

                                    Pre-tax income                   6,400               8,600  

                                    Tax (@ 40%)                     2,560               3,440 

                                    Net Income                         3,840               5,160

Working capital requirement for the third year was $1,600; for the last two years, it will be $1,800 and $1,900, respectively. The income statements are based on the accelerated depreciation the firm will use in its income tax returns.  Straight line depreciation for both years would be $3,200.

 

 

4.         Given below are the projected income statements for a project with a four year life.  Compute the project’s net cashflows for each year.

                                                  Year 1            Year 2             Year 3             Year 4

            Revenue                      23,000             24,500             26,250             28,300

            Manufacturing cost      11,000             11,550             12,200             13,000

            Depreciation                  2,900               2,900               2,900               2,900

            Interest                           3,200               3,350               3,550               3,800 

            Pre-tax income               5,900               6,700               7,600               8,600  

            Tax (@ 40%)                  2,360               2,680               3,040               3,440 

           Net Income                      3,540               4,020               4,560               5,160

The project requires capital investment of $100,000.  The working capital requirement will be $2,000 for the first year, $2,100 for the second year, $2,250 for the third year, and $2,400 for the last year. The income statements are based on straight line depreciation. The accelerated depreciation the firm will use in its income tax returns will be 4,400, 3,200,  2,400 and 1,600, respectively.

   

5.         Using the information provided for United Pigpen in question #11 on page 144 of the textbook, compute the project’s net cashflows for each year. 

 

6.         A firm is choosing between two different machines to manufacture a product. Machine A will cost $8,000, last for 6 years and produce equal annual cash inflows of $3,600. Machine B will cost $13,000, last for 8 years and produce equal annual cash inflows of $5,700.  The salvage value of both machines at the end of their useful lives is zero.  If the required return for both machines is 15%, which should the firm choose?

 

7.            Keelhaul Trawlers Inc. has to choose between two different machines for processing its catch of shrimp.  Both machines will yield the same production.  Machine A will cost $36,000, last for 4 years, and generate net cashflows of $15,000 each year.  Machine B will cost $52,000, last for 6 years, and generate net cash flows of $16,000 each year.  Both machines will be depreciated down to a zero book value, and have no salvage value at the end of their lives.  The required return for both machines is 15%.

a)  Which machine should the firm buy?

b)  Try to make the decision only IRR alone (by examining the IRR of the incremental cashflows).  What is the reason why this does not give the correct answer?

 

8.      Bagwell Enterprises is deciding when to replace an existing machine.  If the machine is nor replaced today, it will last for 2 more years.  The efficiency of the machine has declined substantially in recent years, and will decline further each year it remains in use.  In real terms, the net cash flow the machine would generate are:

                        Time                Net Cash Flow      

                           0                             600

                           1                             500

                           2                             400

A replacement machine with the same production capacity would cost  $20,000 and will produce net cash flows of $4,600 each year over its 8-year life.  The cost and cashflows are in real terms, and will be the same no matter when the machine is purchased.  If the real required return is 12% p.a., when should the existing machine be replaced?

 

9.       The Three Happiness restaurant must decide when to replace an existing machine.  If the machine is not replaced today, it will last for 3 more years.  The efficiency of the machine will decline each year.  In real terms, net cashflows from the machine, and its salvage value are as folows:

                        Time                Net Cash Flow      Salvage Value

                           0                             3,000               1,500

                           1                             2,000               1,000

                           2                             1,200                  500

                           3                                500                      0

A replacement machine with the same production capacity would cost  $9,000 and will produce net cash flows of $5,000 each year over its 6-year life.  The cost and cashflows are in real terms, and will be the same no matter when the machine is purchased.  If the real required return is 8% p.a., when should the existing machine be replaced?  

 

10.         Robot E. Robot is considering replacing his existing brain circuits. If not replaced, they will cease to function at time 3.  Over the next three years, they will require annual maintenance expenses of $350, $600 and $ 460 respectively (assume that these expenses are paid at the end of each year).  The existing circuits have zero salvage value.  New circuits cost $1,200, and will last 5 years. Due to the manufacturer's unconditional warranty, maintenance expenses will be zero for the first two years. Maintenance expenses for the next three years will be $200, $320 and $545 respectively. If the cost of capital is 15%, when should Robot replace his circuits?  What assumptions are you making to answer this question?                                                                                                                      (12 points)

 

11.         The Eaglecrest Winery wants to decide how long to age its 2000 Merlot.  The wine is expected to have the following wholesale value (per bottle) at different points in time:

            Time 0             Time 1             Time 2             Time 3             Time 4

            $8.99               $10.75             $12.50             $13.75             $14.99

If storage costs are negligible, and the required return for wine storage is 10%, when should they sell their wine?   

 

12.       Afterlife Entertainment Corp has a project that would have an NPV of $2,400 if it is taken today.  If they wait and take the project in the future, it will generate the following NPVs at different points in time:

      1             2            3             4

NPV       2,850      3,225      3,515      3,725

a) If the required return in 11%, when should they take the project?

b) Here and Now Inc. approaches them, wanting to buy the rights to the project.  How much should they sell the project rights for?

 

13.         Question # 17 from the book (page 145).

 

14.         Kreamy Kold Kustard Co. faces seasonal demand for its products.  They have 2 existing machines.  The production capacity of each machine is 5,000 gallons/year.  In spring/summer the machines produce at 100% of capacity (and produce 2,500 each).  In fall/winter, they produce at 40% of capacity (and produce 1,000 each).  The machines have an indefinite life, and an operating cost of $1.50 per gallon.  New machines are available.  They would cost $30,000 each, would have the same production capacity, an indefinite life and an operating cost of $1 per unit.  If the required return is 5%, should you replace any of the old machines with new ones?

 

15.       A snow shovel manufacturer owns 2 existing machines.  The production capacity of each machine is 12,000 shovels/year.  In fall/winter the machines produce at 100% of capacity (and produce 6,000 each).  In spring/summer, they produce at 60% of capacity (and produce 3,600 each).  The machines have an indefinite life, and an operating cost of $4 per shovel.  New machines are available.  They would cost $100,000, would have the same production capacity, an indefinite life and an operating cost of $3.25 per unit.  If the required return is 5%, should you replace any of the old machines with new ones?

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