FM – L2 – Q53 – Discounted cash flow

Accra-Nungua Transport Limited is considering an investment in a new machine that would be used to manufacture a new product at its existing production centre. The product and the machine are both expected to have an economic life of four years. The following estimates of revenues and costs have been made.

Year 1 2 3 4
Selling price per unit GH¢8 GH¢9 GH¢10 GH¢10
Variable cost per unit GH¢4 GH¢4.50 GH¢5 GH¢5.50
Sales volume (units) 30,000 40,000 50,000 20,000

It has been estimated that there would be no increase at all in fixed costs, except for depreciation of the new machine. The machine would cost GH¢40,000 at the end of its four-year life it would have no residual value.
The company has a cost of capital of 9%.
Required
Calculate the net present value of the proposed project

Workings
W1 Sales and variable costs

Year DCF factor 9% Sales Variable costs
Actual PV Actual PV
GH¢ GH¢ GH¢ GH¢
1 0.917 240,000 220,080 120,000 110,040
2 0.842 360,000 303,120 180,000 151,560
3 0.772 500,000 386,000 250,000 193,000
4 0.708 200,000 141,600 110,000 77,860
1,050,800 532,480

NPV Calculation

  • Total PV of sales: GH¢1,050,800
  • Total PV of variable costs: GH¢532,480
  • PV of machine cost (Year 0, DCF = 1.000): GH¢40,000 × 1.000 = GH¢40,000
  • Net Present Value = PV of sales – PV of variable costs – PV of machine cost
    = 1,050,800 – 532,480 – 40,000 = GH¢478,320

The NPV of the proposed project is GH¢478,320.