Question

You are a manager at Northern Fibre, which is considering expanding its operations in synthetic fibre manufacturing. Your boss comes into your office, drops a consultant's report on your desk, and complains, "We owe these consultants $1.7 million for this report, and I am not sure their analysis makes sense. Before we spend the $23 million on new equipment needed for this project, look it over and give me your opinion." You open the report and find the following estimates in millions of dollars): 

	1	2	...	9	10
Sales revenue	35.000	35.000		35.000	35.000
- Cost of goods sold	21.000	21.000		21.000	21.000
= Gross profit	14.000	14.000		14.000	14.000
- General, sales, and administrative expenses	1.840	1.840		1.840	1.840
- Depreciation	2.300	2.300		2.300	2.300
=Net operating income	9.860	9.860		9.860	9.860
- Income tax	3.451	3.451		3.451	3.451
= Net income	6.409	6.409		6.409	6.409

All of the estimates in the report seem correct. You note that the consultants used straight-line depreciation for the new equipment that will be purchased today (year 0), which is what the accounting department recommended for financial reporting purposes. CRA allows a CCA rate of 45% on the equipment for tax purposes. The report concludes that because the project will increase earnings by $6.409 million per year for 10 years, the project is worth $64.09 million. You think back to your glory days in finance class and realize there is more work to be done! 

First you note that the consultants have not factored in the fact that the project will require $8 million in working capital up front (year o), which will be fully recovered in year 10. Next you see they have attributed $1.84 million of selling, general and administrative expenses to the project, but you know that $0.92 million of this amount is overhead that will be incurred even if the project is not accepted. Finally, you know that accounting earnings are not the right thing to focus on! 

a. Given the available information, what are the free cash flows in years 0 through 10 that should be used to evaluate the proposed project?

Answer 1