You have been brought in to assess whether Nucor should be the first adopter of a new technology. This requires a $340 million investment in a commercially unproven technology. If successful, Nucor can expand into the flat sheet segment that was previously a segment where only the large integrated steelmakers competed. This assignment requires that you combine qualitative information (e.g., industry and firm insights) with quantitative analysis in Excel (discounted cash flow analysis). After you read the case, answer both questions: background analysis and cash flow analysis. For cash flow analysis, you need to do calculations using Excel file attached in the assignment on Blackboard. Once you finished your calculations using Excel file, you can answer your second part of the assignment.

1. Background Analysis (20 points)

• Industry: Of the three groups of steelmakers, what are some of the differences between integrated steelmakers and minimill steelmakers?
• Nucor: What are some of the core competencies of Nucor? One way to think about this is to consider what its most distinguishing value chain (i.e., primary and support) activities are that have been difficult for others to imitate.

1. Cash Flow Analysis (20 points)

Use the "CF analysis-thin slab" Excel spreadsheet provided as a template to calculate the cash flows Nucor could expect if it adopted SMS's CSP process. Most of the critical data is already in the spreadsheet, drawn primarily from Exhibits 12A and 12B. Please adhere to the following assumptions and conventions:

• Don't change any of the figures I have input.
• Use 6.45% as the growth rate for the price of steel, not the historical 6.84%
• Assume the entire $280 million construction cost is incurred in 1986
• Depreciate the factory equally over 10 years (1989-1998). The spreadsheet says 12 years, which includes the two years the factory is under construction (1987, 1988). I want you to start in 1989, when the plant comes on line, and assume it loses all value over the next 10 years.
• Note that in applying its investment criterion, Nucor ignored start-up expenses and working capital costs. Thus, in figuring the assets of the minimill in 1989 or later, those expenses need to be added to the asset base before calculating ROA.

2. By Nucor's own investment criterion (i.e., 25% return on assets at five years), what will CEO Ken Iverson think about this investment?
4. As a consultant using more traditional investment criteria (such as NPV or IRR), what do you think about this investment from this part of the analysis?

Answer rating: 100% (QA)

Background Analysis Industry Integrated steelmakers and minimill steelmakers have some key differences Production Process Integrated steelmakers typically follow a vertically integrated production pro... View the full answer