Corporation and R Inc. are two companies with very similar characteristics. The only difference between the two companies is that Q Corp. is an unlevered firm, and R Inc. is a levered firm with debt of $5 million and cost of debt of 10%. Both companies have earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) of $2 million and a marginal corporate tax rate of 40%. Q Corp. has a cost of capital of 15%

a. Both companies are now evaluating a project that requires an initial investment of $1.15 million and that will yield cash inflows of $500,000 per year for the next three years. Assume that this project has the same risk level as the individual firm’s assets. Should Q invest in this project? Should R invest in this project?

b. Based on your results for part (j), discuss the effects of leverage and its tax shields effects on the future value of the two firms.