Indirect cash flows often affect a firm$$s capital budgeting decisions. However, some of these indirect cash flows are relevant to capital budgeting decisions $($because they represent marginal cash flows that depend on the project$$s acceptance$),$ but others should be ignored.

is the cost the firm paid in the past and is unrecoverable. Accepting or rejecting a project will not change them, so they should not be included in capital budgeting analysis.

Consider the case of Bumbly Products Inc. The company is evaluating a capital budgeting project and has come across a few issues that require special attention.

Classify each item as a sunk cost, cannibalization, opportunity cost, or a change in net working capital $($NWC$).$ Then, in the last table, indicate whether the item should be included in the project$$s analysis or not.

Sunk Cost

Opportunity Cost

Cannibalization

Change in NWC

The new project is expected to increase the company$$s overall sales, but it will take away some of the market share from some of its existing products.

The factory that the project will use could be used for another project that is expected to have a slightly positive net present value $($NPV$).$

Before finalizing on this new project, the company tested some earlier prototypes that are not being used in the current product.

For this new product, the company will use an aggressive selling strategy and offer $90-$day credit to its customers. This will lead to an increase in accounts receivable.

The project will use some raw materials that the firm has in its inventory and can sell at a certain price.

Include in the Analysis?

The new project is expected to increase the company$$s overall sales, but it will take away some of the market share from some of its existing products.

The factory that the project will use could be used for another project that is expected to have a slightly positive net present value $($NPV$).$

Before finalizing on this new project, the company tested some earlier prototypes that are not being used in the current product.

For this new product, the company will use an aggressive selling strategy and offer $90-$day credit to its customers. This will lead to an increase in accounts receivable.

The project will use some raw materials that the firm has in its inventory and can sell at a certain price.

Suppose Bumbly will be issuing debt to support this project and other capital budgeting projects this year. The firm$$s interest expense will increase by $$700,000.$ Should the change in interest expense be included in the analysis?

Yes

No