Answer:
The NPV from opening the branch office is negative ( -$106668.08). Thus the branch office should not be opened.
Explanation:
The decision to open the branch office will be taken based on the NPV provided by opening of the branch office. If the NPV of a project is positive based on the required rate of return used as a discount rate fro cash flows, the investment is worth undertaking.
The net present value (NPV) for a project can be calculated as,
NPV = CF1 / (1+r) + CF2 / (1+r)² + ... + CFn / (1+r)^n - Initial Outlay
Where,
- r is the appropriate discount rate
- Initial Outlay is the Initial cost of the project
- CF represents cash flows from the project
As the required return is 16%, we will take this as the appropriate discount rate.
NPV = 45000 / (1+0.16) + 120000 / (1+0.16)² + 150000 / (1+0.16)³ +
150000 / (1+0.16)^4 + 150000 / (1+0.16)^5 - 485000
NPV = - $106668.08
As the NPV from project is negative at a required return of 16%, the project should not be under taken and the branch office should not be open.
