Louisville Co$.$ is a U$.$S$.$ firm considering a project in Austria which it has an initial cash outlay of $$7$ million. Louisville will accept the project only if it can satisfy its required rate of return of $20$ percent. The project would definitely generate $2$ million euros in one year from sales to a large corporate customer in Austria. In addition, it also expects to receive $4$ million euros in one year from sales to other customers in Austria. Louisville's best guess is that the euro's spot rate will be $$1\mathrm{.}26$ in one year. Today, the spot rate of the euro is $$1\mathrm{.}40,$ while the one$-$year forward rate of the euro is $$1\mathrm{.}34.$ If Louisville accepts the project, it would hedge all the receivables resulting from sales to the large corporate customer but none of the expected receivables due to expected sales to other customers.

Estimate the net present value of the project. Do not round intermediate calculations. Round your answer to the nearest dollar. Use a minus sign to enter a negative value, if any.

$

$720,000$

Assume that Louisville considers alternative financing for the project in which it would use $$5$ million cash while the remaining initial outlay would come from borrowing euros. In this case, it would need $1,500,000$ euros to repay the loan $($principal plus interest$)$ at the end of one year. Assume no tax effects due to this alternative financing. Estimate the NPV of the project under these conditions. Do not round intermediate calculations. Round your answer to the nearest dollar. Use a minus sign to enter a negative value, if any.

$

$-1,170,000$

Do you think the Louisville's exposure to exchange rate risk due to the project if it uses the alternative financing $($explained in part b$)$ is higher, lower, or the same as if it has an initial cash outlay of $$7$ million $($and does not borrow any funds$)?$ Briefly explain.

Partial financing with euros

reduces

exposure to exchange rate risk because using the alternative financing

increases

the amount of funds to be remitted to the U$.$S$.$