Better Mousetraps has developed a new trap. It can go into production for an initial investment in equipment of $5.4 million. The equipment will be depreciated straight-line over 6 years, but, in fact, it can be sold after 6 years for $668,000. The firm believes that working capital at each date must be maintained at a level of 15% 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 40%, and the required rate of return on the project is 9%.   Year: 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 Thereafter Sales (millions of traps) 0 0.6 0.8 1.0 1.0 0.9 0.6 0     Suppose the firm can cut its requirements for working capital in half by using better inventory control systems. By how much will this increase project NPV?

Essentials Of Investments
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ISBN:9781260013924
Author:Bodie, Zvi, Kane, Alex, MARCUS, Alan J.
Publisher:Bodie, Zvi, Kane, Alex, MARCUS, Alan J.
Chapter1: Investments: Background And Issues
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Better Mousetraps has developed a new trap. It can go into production for an initial investment in equipment of $5.4 million. The equipment will be depreciated straight-line over 6 years, but, in fact, it can be sold after 6 years for $668,000. The firm believes that working capital at each date must be maintained at a level of 15% 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 40%, and the required rate of return on the project is 9%.

 

Year: 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 Thereafter
Sales (millions of traps) 0 0.6 0.8 1.0 1.0 0.9 0.6 0
 

 

Suppose the firm can cut its requirements for working capital in half by using better inventory control systems. By how much will this increase project NPV?

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