ControlWe are examining a new project. We expect to sell $5,500$ units per year at $$69$ net cash flow apiece for the next $10$ years. In other words, the annual operating cash flow is projected to be $$69\backslash$times $5,500=$ $$379,500.$ The relevant discount rate is $17$ percent, and the initial investment required is $$1,540,000.$ After the first year, the project can be dismantled and sold for $$1,260,000.$ Suppose you think it is likely that expected sales will be revised upward to $8,500$ units if the first year is a success and revised downward to $4,100$ units if the first year is not a success. Suppose the scale of the project can be doubled in one year in the sense that twice as many units can be produced and sold. Naturally, expansion would be desirable only if the project were a success. This implies that if the project is a success, projected sales after expansion will be $17,000.$ Note that abandonment is an option if the project is a failure.

a$.$

If success and failure are equally likely, what is the NPV of the project? $($Do not round intermediate calculations and round your answer to $2$ decimal places, e$.$g$.,32\mathrm{.}16.)$

b$.$ What is the value of the option to expand?