1)

The financial advisor to PQR Company is evaluating whether to keep company cars for 3, 4, 5 or 6 years. The following information has been gathered:-

A car costs $80,000 and depreciation is 25% pa straight-line.

Cash expenses are $20,000 per year for the first 2 years, $30,000 in year 3, $40,000 in year 4, $50,000 in year 5 and $60,000 in year 6.

The salvage value is expected to be $30,000 after 3 years, $25,000 after 4 years, $20,000 after 5 years and $10,000 after 6 years.

The after tax required rate of return is 10% pa and the tax rate is 30%.

Q1 an analysis to decide whether company cars should be kept for 3, 4, 5 or 6 years before being replaced with new ones.

2)

Jean Smith, the financial advisory to Creative Manufacturing is evaluating the following new investment in a manufacturing project:-

The project has a useful life of 8 years.

Land costs $10m and is estimated to have a resale value of $13m at the completion of the project.

Buildings cost $5m, with allowable depreciation of 10% pa reducing balance and a salvage value of $1m.

Equipment costs $4m, with allowable depreciation of 30% pa reducing balance and a salvage value of $1.5m. An investment allowance of 20% of the equipment cost is available.

Revenues are expected to be $8m for the first 4 years and $9m for the next 4 years.

Cash expenses are estimated at $4m in year one and rise at 4% pa.

The new product will be charged $400,000 of allocated head office administration costs each year even though head office will not actually incur any extra costs to manage the project.

An amount of $100,000 has been spent on a feasibility study for the new project.

The project is to be partially financed with a loan of $10m to be repaid annually with equal instalments at a rate of 5% pa over 8 years.

Except for initial outlays, assume cash flows occur at the end of each year.

The tax rate is 30% and is payable in the year in which profit is earned.

The after tax required return for the project is 12% pa.

Calculations must be done in Excel

(a)Calculate the NPV.Is the project acceptable?

(b)Conduct a sensitivity analysis showing how sensitive the project is to revenues, the resale value of the land and to the required rate of return. Explain your results.