2. Investment timing options Aa Aa E Companies often need to choose between making an investment now or waiting until the company can gather more relevant information about the potential project. This opportunity to wait before making the decision is called the investment timing option. Consider the case: Newtown Propane Co. is considering a three-year project that will require an initial investment of $40,000. If market demand is strong, Newtown Propane Co. thinks that the project will generate cash flows of $28,500 per year. However, if market demand is weak, the company believes that the project will generate cash flows of only $1,250 per year. The company thinks that there is a 50% chance that demand will be strong and a 50% chance that demand will be weak. If the company uses a project cost of capital of 14%, what will be the expected net present value (NPV) of this project? O -$5,466 -$4,373 0 -$5,739 O -$6,013 Newtown Propane Co. has the option to delay starting this project for one year so that analysts can gather more information about whether demand will be strong or weak. If the company chooses to delay the project, it will have to give up a year of cash flows, because the project will then be only a two-year project. However, the company will know for certain if the market demand will be strong or weak before deciding to invest in it. The value of an option to wait will be lower if the value of the underlying asset is higher relative to the strike price. An option's value is the longer the time to expiration. The the risk of the underlying asset, the higher the value of the option. What will be the expected NPV if Newtown Propane Co. delays starting the project? (Note: Use the cost of capital to discount all cash flows.) O $8,506 $2,584 $26,167 $3,040