You have been retained to evaluate a major investment for a technology company. The cost of the
Question:
You have been retained to evaluate a major investment for a technology company. The cost of the project is $ 100 million. If the project is successful, it will generate expected profits of $ 15 million per year forever, which has a present value of $ 150 million. However, there is a 50% chance that the project will be a complete failure, in which case it will generate no cash flows. If the project is successful, there will be a follow-on project that can be initiated the following year. The follow-on project will have a cost of $ 1 billion, and if all goes well (probability of 50%), it will generate expected cash flows of $ 150 million per year that will last forever and will result in a value of $ 1.5 billion (in year 1 dollars). If the follow-on project is not successful, it will result in a stream of cash flows with a present value of $ 900 million. Should the initial project be undertaken? Explain your suggestions in commonsense terms to your boss, who is non technology person.
Step by Step Answer:
Valuation The Art and Science of Corporate Investment Decisions
ISBN: 978-0133479522
3rd edition
Authors: Sheridan Titman, John D. Martin