17. Suppose that firms face a 40% income tax rate on positive profits and that net losses receive no credit. (Thus, if profits are positive, after-tax income is (1− 0.4)× profit, while if there is a loss, after-tax income is the amount lost.) Firms A and B have the same cash flow distribution as in the previous problem. Suppose the appropriate effective annual discount rate for both firms is 10%.

a. What is the expected pre-tax profit for A and B?

b. What is the expected after-tax profit for A and B?

c. What would Firms A and B pay today to receive next year’s expected cash flow for sure, instead of the variable cash flows described above?