Assignment: Corporate Financial Decisions and Valuation of Fixed Income Securities

You have been hired as a consultant for Pristine Urban-Tech Bikes, Inc. (PUTB), manufacturers of fine electric bikes. The market for electric bikes is growing quickly. The company bought some land three years ago for $1 million in anticipation of using it as a toxic waste dump site but has recently hired another company to handle all toxic materials. Based on a recent appraisal, the company believes it could sell the land for $900,000 on an aftertax basis. In four years, the land could be sold for $1,200,000 after taxes. The company also hired a marketing firm to analyze the bike market, at a cost of $125,000. An excerpt of the marketing report is as follows:

The electric bike industry will have a rapid expansion in the next four years. With the brand name recognition that PUTB brings to bear, we feel that the company will be able to sell 6,700, 7,500, 9,100, and 6,200 units each year for the next four years, respectively. Again, capitalizing on the name recognition of PUTB, we feel that a premium price of $275 can be charged for each bike. Because electric bikes appear to be a fad, we feel at the end of the four-year period, sales should be discontinued.

PUTB feels that fixed costs for the project will be $350,000 per year, and variable costs are 15 percent of sales. The equipment necessary for production will cost $3.1 million and will be depreciated according to a three-year MACRS schedule. At the end of the project, the equipment can be scrapped for $300,000. Net working capital of $120,000 will be required immediately. PUTB has a 38 percent tax rate, and the required return on the project is 13 percent. The 3-year MACRS schedule (which lasts for four years) is as follows:

Year	1	2	3	4
Percent	33.33	44.45	14.81	7.41

a) What is the NPV of the project? Assume the company has other profitable projects.

b) What is the IRR of the project? Shall we accept the project or not?