One of your colleagues pointed out that instead of starting construction before the FDA approval, the company can invest only $0.8 B next year (depreciated over 10 years) and delay the remaining $1.2 B investment (depreciated over 8 years) for two years until the drug gets approved. Only if the drug gets approved will Fosbeck proceed with the second stage investment, which will take place in three years. The sales will commence in four years at the level of $10 B with subsequent annual growth of 50% over the next three years, after which the sales will be stable for another 5 years due to delay the company will lose two years of revenues. The probability of patent obsolescence remains the same as before 5% each year.

the npv of this is 46

Is the option to delay the project valuable? Explain.