[Venture Present Values] Ben Toucan, owner of the Aspen Restaurant, wants to determine the present value of his investment. The Aspen Restaurant is currently in the development stage but Toucan hopes tobeginoperations early next year. After-tax cash flows during the next five years are expected to be as follows: Year 1 = 0, Year 2 = 0, Year 3 = 0, Year 4 = $2.5 million, and Year 5 = $3 million. Cash inflows are expected to be $3.18 million in Year 6 and are expected to grow at a 6 percent annual rate thereafter. Recall from Chapter 7 that venture investors often use different discount rates when valuing ventures at various stages of their life cycles. For example, target discount rates by life cycle stage are: development stage, 50 percent; startup stage, 40 percent; survival stage, 35 percent; and early rapid-growth stage, 30 percent. As ventures move from their late rapid-growth stages and into their maturity stages, a 20 percent discount rate is often used.

D. Lets assume that the Aspen Restaurant was started early last year and, thus, is in its startup stage and has the same future cash flow expectations as indicated earlier. Using a typical startup-stage required rate of return or discount rate, calculate the present value of the Aspen Restaurant.

E. Owning a restaurant is often considered to be a risky investment, in that restaurants often are continuously moving into and out of their survival stages. Assume that a typical survival-stage required rate of return is applied to all future cash flows estimated for the Aspen Restaurant. Calculate the ventures present value.