Better Mousetraps has developed a new trap. It can go into production for an initial investment in equipment of $6.3 million. The equipment will be depreciated straight line over 6 years to a value of zero, but in fact it can be sold after 6 years for $549,000. The firm believes that working capital at each date must be maintained at a level of 10% of next year's forecast sales. The firm estimates production costs equal to $1.60 per trap and believes that the traps can be sold for $6 each. Sales forecasts are given in the following table. The project will come to an end in 6 years, when the trap becomes technologically obsolete. The firm's tax bracket is 35%, and the required rate of return on the project is 10%. Use the MACRS depreciation schedule. Year: Sales (millions of traps) 1 5 0.5 Thereafter 0.6 0.8 1.0 1.0 0.3 a. What is project NPV? (Negative amount should be indicated by a minus sign. Do not round intermediate calculations. Enter your answer in millions rounded to 4 decimal places.) X Answer is complete but not entirely correct. NPV 4.3445 X million b. By how much would NPV increase if the firm depreciated its investment using the 5-year MACRS schedule? (Do not round intermediate calculations. Enter your answer in whole dollars not in millions.)

Essentials Of Investments
11th Edition
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Author:Bodie, Zvi, Kane, Alex, MARCUS, Alan J.
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Chapter1: Investments: Background And Issues
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**Project Evaluation: Better Mousetraps**

Better Mousetraps has developed a new trap. It can go into production with an initial investment in equipment of $6.3 million. The equipment will be depreciated using the straight-line method over 6 years to a value of zero, although it can be sold after 6 years for $549,000. The firm requires working capital at each date to be maintained at 10% of next year's forecast sales. Production costs are estimated at $1.60 per trap, with sales anticipated at $6 each. The sales forecasts are as follows:

| Year | Sales (millions of traps) |
|------|---------------------------|
| 0    | 0                         |
| 1    | 0.6                       |
| 2    | 0.8                       |
| 3    | 1.0                       |
| 4    | 1.4                       |
| 5    | 1.0                       |
| 6    | 0.5                       |
| Thereafter | 0                   |

The project's duration is 6 years, after which the product becomes obsolete. The tax rate is 35%, and the discount rate (required return) is 10%. The MACRS depreciation schedule is applicable.

**Questions:**

a. **What is the project's Net Present Value (NPV)?**  
*(Negative amounts should be indicated by a minus sign. Do not round intermediate calculations. Enter your answer in millions rounded to 4 decimal places.)*

- **Provided Answer:** $4.3445 million  
- **Feedback:** Answer is complete but not entirely correct.

b. **By how much would NPV increase if the firm depreciated its investment using the 5-year MACRS schedule?**  
*(Do not round intermediate calculations. Enter your answer in whole dollars not in millions.)*

- **Provided Answer:** The NPV increases by $4,344,551  
- **Feedback:** Answer is complete but not entirely correct.
Transcribed Image Text:**Project Evaluation: Better Mousetraps** Better Mousetraps has developed a new trap. It can go into production with an initial investment in equipment of $6.3 million. The equipment will be depreciated using the straight-line method over 6 years to a value of zero, although it can be sold after 6 years for $549,000. The firm requires working capital at each date to be maintained at 10% of next year's forecast sales. Production costs are estimated at $1.60 per trap, with sales anticipated at $6 each. The sales forecasts are as follows: | Year | Sales (millions of traps) | |------|---------------------------| | 0 | 0 | | 1 | 0.6 | | 2 | 0.8 | | 3 | 1.0 | | 4 | 1.4 | | 5 | 1.0 | | 6 | 0.5 | | Thereafter | 0 | The project's duration is 6 years, after which the product becomes obsolete. The tax rate is 35%, and the discount rate (required return) is 10%. The MACRS depreciation schedule is applicable. **Questions:** a. **What is the project's Net Present Value (NPV)?** *(Negative amounts should be indicated by a minus sign. Do not round intermediate calculations. Enter your answer in millions rounded to 4 decimal places.)* - **Provided Answer:** $4.3445 million - **Feedback:** Answer is complete but not entirely correct. b. **By how much would NPV increase if the firm depreciated its investment using the 5-year MACRS schedule?** *(Do not round intermediate calculations. Enter your answer in whole dollars not in millions.)* - **Provided Answer:** The NPV increases by $4,344,551 - **Feedback:** Answer is complete but not entirely correct.
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