Question

Demonstrate your understanding of capital investment techniquesby evaluating the following three case studies. Pleaseinclude the excel spreadsheet or the math behind each solution.Thanks

Case Analysis 1:

You work for a small, local telecommunications company. In fiveyears, the company plans to undertake a major upgrade to itsservers and other IT infrastructure. Management estimates that itwill need up to

$450,000 to cover all related costs; however, as a fairly youngcompany, the goal is to pay for the

upgrade with cash and not to take out loans.

Right now, you have $300,000 in a bank account established forCapital Investments. This account pays

6% interest, compounded annually.

A member of the finance department has approached you with aninvestment opportunity for the

$300,000 that covers a five-year period and has the followingprojected after-tax cash flows:

Year Projected Cash Flow

1 $94,000

2 $114,000

3 $134,000

4 $114,000

5 $94,000

Based on this information, answer the following questions:

1) How much money will be in the bank account if you leave the$300,000 alone until you need it in five

years?

2) If you undertake the investment opportunity, what is theNominal Payback Period?

3) Using the factors for 6%, what is the Discounted PaybackPeriod?

4) What is the Present Value of the benefits from this 5-yearinvestment opportunity?

5) What is the Net Present Value of this investmentopportunity?

6) If you leave the money in the bank and earn 6% compoundedannually, will you have at least

$450,000 in 5 years to fund the server and IT upgrades? By howmuch will you be “over” or “short” of

what you need?

7) If you undertake the investment, will you have at least$450,000 in your checking account in 5 years?

By how much will you be “over” or “short”?

Case Analysis 2 :

The CEO of Dynamic Manufacturing was at a conference and talkedto a supplier about a new piece of

equipment for its production process that she believes willproduce ongoing cost savings. As the

Operations Manager, your CEO has asked for your perspective onwhether or not to purchase the

machinery.

After talking to the supplier and meeting with your Engineersand Financial Analysts, you’ve gathered the

following pieces of data:

• Cost of Machine: $150,000

• Estimated Annual After Tax Savings: $65,000

• Estimated machinery life: 3 years (after which there will bezero value for the equipment and no

further cost savings)

• You seem to recall that Dynamic’s Finance organizationrecommends either a 10% or a 15%

discount rate for all Cost Savings Projects. You are fairly sureit is 10%.

You understand that you need to understand the projectfinancials to ensure that

this investment will be economically attractive to DynamicManufacturing’s shareholders.

Calculate the Nominal Payback, the Discounted Payback, the NetPresent Value and the IRR

assuming:

• Part A, BASE CASE: 3 year project life, flat annual savings,10% discount rate

• Part B. Saving Growth Scenario: BASE CASE but with 10%compounded annual savings growth

in years 2 & 3.

• Part C, Higher Discount Rate Scenario: 3 year project life,flat annual savings, 15% discount rate

• Part D, 5 Year Equipment Life:5 year project and savings life,flat annual savings, 10% discount

rate

Discussion – in a Word Document in paragraph form, respond tothe following:

1) From a Financial perspective, would you recommend thispurchase to Management? Which

scenario would you present and why?

2) In your opinion, which scenario is the most aggressive (i.eis based on the most aggressive

assumptions)? If you were to select this scenario as the basisfor your proposal, how would you

justify the more aggressive assumptions?

3) In SIMPLE English (as in talking to a non-Finance and non-MBAperson), explain why there was

a difference in outcome between Part A and Part B.

4) Beyond Financial measures, what other considerations wouldyou want to consider, before

making a recommendation to Management?

5) If you were the CEO, would you approve this proposal? Why orwhy not?

Case Analysis 3:

You are the General Manager at the Bicker, Slaughter and LynchLaw Firm. There is an opportunity to

buy out a small law firm that was just started by a young MBA/JDand you believe the firm can be grown

and become a lucrative part of your Firm.

With help from your Finance leader, you have estimated thefollowing benefit streams for this new

division:

	Year 1	Year 2	Year 3	Year 4	Year 5	Year 6	Year 7	Year 8
Before Tax Cash Flow FromOperations	$(149,000)	$-	$51,380	$88,760	$114,100	$129,780	$143,640	$167,300
After Tax Net Income FromOperations	$(103,500)	$(50,500)	$36,700	$63,400	$81,500	$92,700	$102,600	$119,500
After Tax Cash Flow FromOperations	$(85,600)	$15,000	$48,600	$72,200	$95,550	$101,300	$125,200	$140,200

You estimate that the purchase price for this firm would be$200,000 and that additional net working

capital would be needed in the amount of $60,000 in year 0, anadditional $20,000 in year 2 and then

$20,000 in year 5.

In addition to the purchase price, you would ask that yourAdvertising budget of $275,000 be increased by

an incremental one time amount of $50,000 in advertising in year0 to publicize the firm’s expansion.

Your Finance leader has indicated that the firm has access to acredit line and could borrow the funds at

a rate of 6%. He also mentions that when he runs Projecteconomics for Capital budgeting (such as a

new copier or a company car), he recommends a standard 10% ratediscount but the one other time they

looked at an acquisition of a smaller firm he used a 12% ratediscount.

At the end of 8 years, the plan will be to sell this division.The estimated terminal value (the sale and the

return of working capital) is conservatively estimated to be$300,000 of after tax cash flow help.

Calculate the N Nominal Payback, the Discounted Payback, the NetPresent Value and the IRR for this

potential acquisition.

Discussion – in a Word Document in paragraph form, respond tothe following:

1) From a Financial perspective, would you recommend thispurchase to Management? Why?

2) What are some of the non-financial elements that need to beconsidered for this proposal?

3) Assumptions in Project Economics can have a huge impact onthe result. Identify 3 financial

elements/assumptions in your analysis that would make thisproject not be financially attractive?

(E.g. Answer the question, what would have to be true for thisto be a bad investment?)

4) If you were the CEO would you approve this proposal? Why orwhy not?