1. United Pigpen is considering a proposal to manufacture high-protein hog feed. The project would make use of an existing warehouse, which is currently rented out to a neighboring firm. The next years rental charge on the warehouse is $165,000, and thereafter, the rent is expected to grow in line with inflation at 4% a year. In addition to using the warehouse, the proposal envisages an investment in plant and equipment of $1.59 million. This could be depreciated for tax purposes straight-line over 10 years. However, Pigpen expects to terminate the project at the end of 8 years and to resell the plant and equipment in year 8 for $530,000. Finally, the project requires an immediate investment in working capital of $415,000. Thereafter, working capital is forecasted to be 10% of sales in each of years 1 through 7. Year 1 sales of hog feed are expected to be $5.50 million, and thereafter, sales are forecasted to grow by 5% a year, slightly faster than the inflation rate. Manufacturing costs are expected to be 90% of sales, and profits are subject to tax at 21%. The cost of capital is 12%.

What is the NPV of Pigpens project? (Enter your answer in thousands, not in millions, rounded to the nearest dollar.)

2. Ms. T. Potts, the treasurer of Ideal China, has a problem. The company has just ordered a new kiln for $448,000. Of this sum, $56,000 is described by the supplier as an installation cost. Ms. Potts does not know whether the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will permit the company to treat this cost as a tax-deductible current expense or as a capital investment. In the latter case, the company could depreciate the $56,000 straight-line over 5 years. The tax rate is 30% and the opportunity cost of capital is 5%.

a. What is the present value of the cost of the kiln if the installation cost is treated as a separate current expense? b. What is the present value of the cost of the kiln if the installation cost is treated as a part of the capital investment? (Round your answer to the nearest whole dollar amount.)

3. Ilana Industries Inc. needs a new lathe. It can buy a new high-speed lathe for $1 million. The lathe will cost $35,000 per year to run, but it will save the firm $125,000 in labor costs and will be useful for 10 years. Suppose that for tax purposes, the lathe is entitled to 100% bonus depreciation. At the end of the 10 years, the lathe can be sold for $100,000. The discount rate is 8%, and the corporate tax rate is 21%. What is the NPV of buying the new lathe?