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Problem: 9
a. Find the project's expected cash flows and NPV.
WACC= 12%
Without any real options, reject the project. It has a negative NPV and is quite risky.
WACC= 12% Salvage Value = $6
Risk-free rate = 6%
Bradford Services Inc. (BSI) is considering a project that has a cost of $10 million and an expected life of 3
years. There is a 30 percent probability of good conditions, in which case the project will provide a cash flow
of $9 million at the end of each year for 3 years. There is a 40 percent probability of medium conditions, in
which case the annual cash flows will be $4 million, and there is a 30 percent probability of bad conditions
and a cash flow of -$1 million per year. BSI uses a 12 percent cost of capital to evaluate projects like this.
b. Now suppose the BSI can abandon the project at the end of the first year by selling it for $6
million. BSI will still receive the Year 1 cash flows, but will receive no cash flows in subsequent
years. Assume the salvage value is risky and should be discounted at the WACC.
When abandonment is factored in, the very large negative NPV under bad conditions is reduced, and the
expected NPV becomes positive. Note that even though the NPV of medium is still negative, it is higher than
it would be if the project was abandoned at year 1 if conditions are medium.
c. Now assume that the project cannot be shut down. However, expertise gained by taking it on will lead to
an opportunity at the end of Year 3 to undertake a venture that would have the same cost as the original
Year 3 is known with certainty and should be discounted at the risk-free rate of 6 percent. Hint: do one
decision tree for the operating cash flows and one for the cost of the project, then sum their NPVs.
WACC= 12%
Risk-free rate = 6%
Decision Tree Analysis
Cost NPV this Prob.
0 Probability 1 2 3 4 5 6 Scenario x NPV
NPV this Prob.
0 Probability 1 2 3 4 5 6 Scenario x PV
$0 $0 -$10 $0 $0 $0 -$8.40 -$2.52
WACC= 12%
Risk-free rate = 6%
Future Operating Cash Flows (Discount at WACC)
Future Cost of Implementing Additional Project (Discount at Risk-free rate)
an opportunity at the end of Year 3 to undertake a venture that would have the same cost as the original
project, and the new project's cash flows would follow whichever branch resulted for the original project. In
other words, there would be a second $10 million cost at the end of Year 3, and then cash flows of either $9
million, $4 million, or -$1million for the following 3 years. Use decision tree analysis to estimate the value of
the project, including the opportunity to implement the new project in Year 3. Assume the $10 million cost at
Year 3 is known with certainty and should be discounted at the risk-free rate of 6 percent. Hint: do one
decision tree for the operating cash flows and one for the cost of the project, then sum their NPVs.
d. Now suppose the original (no abandonment and no additional growth) project could be delayed a year.
All the cash flows would remain unchanged, but information obtained during that year would tell the
company exactly which set of demand conditions existed. Use decision tree analysis to estimate the value
of the project if it is delayed by 1 year. Hint: Discount the $10 million cost at the risk-free rate since it is
known with certainty. Show two time lines, one for operating cash flows and one for the cost, then sum
their NPVs.
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$0 $9 $9 $9 $19.30 $5.79
Decision Tree Analysis: Costs
Cost NPV this Probability
0 Probability 1 2 3 4 Scenario x NPV
-$10 -$9.43 -$2.83
Risk-free rate= 6%
Variance of project's rate of return= 22%
Real Option
rRF = Risk-free interest rate = Risk-free interest rate
Find current value of the additional project's cash flows. This includes all cash flows except cost of implementation.
Cost NPV this Prob.
0 Probability 1 2 3 4 5 6 Scenario x NPV
$0 $0 $0 $9 $9 $9 $15.39 $4.62
rRF = 6%
t = 3
X = $10.00
e. Go back to part c. Instead of using decision tree analysis, use the Black-Scholes model to
estimate the value of the growth option. The risk-free rate is 6 percent, and the variance of the
project's rate of return is 22 percent.
Financial Option
Since the NPV from waiting is positive and the NPV from immediate implementation is negative, it makes
sense to delay the decision for a year.
Future Cost of Implementation
(Discount at Risk-Free Rate)
Future Operating Cash Flows of Additional Project (Discount at WACC)
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Value of original project= -$0.39
Value of growth option= $1.71
Total Value= $1.31
Even though the original project has a negative NPV, the value of the growth option is large enough so that
the combination of the original project and the growth option is greater than zero. Therefore, the project
should be accepted.
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