Micromanaged Widgets (MW) is planning to set up a new factory in London. The new plant...

  

Transcribed Image Text:

Micromanaged Widgets (MW) is planning to set up a new factory in London. The new plant will require an initial investment in plant, property, and equipment (PPE) of £75 million, plus an infusion of £9.1 million of net working capital. Initial sales are projected to be £100 million in the first year of operation (one year from the initial investment). Sales are projected to rise 10% over each of the next two years and then remain flat indefinitely thereafter. MW estimates that cash costs (COGS, SG&A expenses, etc.) will constitute 44% of revenues. New investment in PPE will match depreciation each year, starting at 10% of the initial £75 million investment and growing in line with sales thereafter. The firm plans to maintain net working capital at 10% of each year's projected sales. The project will be financed initially in part by a risk-free bank loan of £80 million with £5 million principal repayments at the end of the first three years of operation, bringing debt outstanding at the end of the third year to £65 million. From that point on, the project's level of debt will not change, in line with the expected lack of growth in MW's operating cash flows. The cost of debt is 10% initially, falling to 8% after year 3, where it is expected to remain indefinitely. Interest is paid at the end of each year. MW pays a 50% tax rate on its marginal profits. The required rate of return on the project's assets, TA, is a constant 20%. When answering this question, state any additional assumptions you need to make and show all your calculations. (a) Estimate the project's free cash flows in years 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4. (b) Calculate the present value of the tax shields associated with this project. (c) What is the value of this project? (d) What is the expected return on the project's equity? What is the project's initial WACC? (Hint: Consider the formulas in the appendix of the Class 4 handout.) (e) Using your results from part (a) and part (d), you could perform a standard WACC valuation of the new factory. Explain whether you should or should not expect to find the same valuation as in part (c). No calculations required. Micromanaged Widgets (MW) is planning to set up a new factory in London. The new plant will require an initial investment in plant, property, and equipment (PPE) of £75 million, plus an infusion of £9.1 million of net working capital. Initial sales are projected to be £100 million in the first year of operation (one year from the initial investment). Sales are projected to rise 10% over each of the next two years and then remain flat indefinitely thereafter. MW estimates that cash costs (COGS, SG&A expenses, etc.) will constitute 44% of revenues. New investment in PPE will match depreciation each year, starting at 10% of the initial £75 million investment and growing in line with sales thereafter. The firm plans to maintain net working capital at 10% of each year's projected sales. The project will be financed initially in part by a risk-free bank loan of £80 million with £5 million principal repayments at the end of the first three years of operation, bringing debt outstanding at the end of the third year to £65 million. From that point on, the project's level of debt will not change, in line with the expected lack of growth in MW's operating cash flows. The cost of debt is 10% initially, falling to 8% after year 3, where it is expected to remain indefinitely. Interest is paid at the end of each year. MW pays a 50% tax rate on its marginal profits. The required rate of return on the project's assets, TA, is a constant 20%. When answering this question, state any additional assumptions you need to make and show all your calculations. (a) Estimate the project's free cash flows in years 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4. (b) Calculate the present value of the tax shields associated with this project. (c) What is the value of this project? (d) What is the expected return on the project's equity? What is the project's initial WACC? (Hint: Consider the formulas in the appendix of the Class 4 handout.) (e) Using your results from part (a) and part (d), you could perform a standard WACC valuation of the new factory. Explain whether you should or should not expect to find the same valuation as in part (c). No calculations required.

Answer rating: 100% (QA)

a Free cash flows in millions Year 0 75 Initial PPE investment 91 Initial working capital 841 Year 1 ... View the full answer