Aqua Corp. is considering a change in marketing strategy which would cost $100,000 per year (pre-tax) and increase the companys overall inventory by 4%. Sales (as well as payables and receivables) would immediately increase by 3% on a permanent basis but would require no additional fixed assets. Currently, the company has annual sales of $33.7 million (20% of which are made on net 30 credit terms) but no growth and maintains 44 days of sales in inventory. Accounts payable averaged $4.2 million over the past 12 months.

a) How long is the companys cash conversion cycle? (1 mark)

b) If the gross margin is 20%, the cost of capital 13%, and the tax rate 25%, does the proposed marketing strategy create value for the firm? (1 mark)