Question

Och, Inc., is considering a project that will result in initial aftertax cash savings of $1.75 million at the end of the first year, and these savings will grow at a rate of 2 percent per year indefinitely. The firm has a target debt-equity ratio of .8, a cost of equity of 11.5 percent, and an aftertax cost of debt of 4.3 percent. The cost-saving proposal is somewhat riskier than the usual projects the firm undertakes; management uses the subjective approach and applies an adjustment factor of +3 percent to the cost of capital for such risky projects. What is the maximum initial cost the company would be willing to pay for the project?

Answer 1

Answer:

$18,191,268.19

Explanation:

the company's WACC = (weight of equity x Re) + (weight of debt x after tax cost of debt) = (0.6 x 11.5%) + (0.4 x 4.3%) = 6.9% + 1.72% = 8.62%

discount rate adjustment factor = 8.62% + 3% = 11.62%

to determine the value of the project:

$1,750,000 / (11.62% - 2%) = $1,750,000 / 9.62% = $18,191,268.19

If the initial outlay is $18,191,268.19, then the project's NPV = $0. This is the maximum amount that the firm should be willing to invest in this project.