JWI BUSINESS Management

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530 – Assignment 2 (1196) Page 1 of 6

Assignment 2: Cost-Benefit Analysis Parts A and B Due Sunday, Midnight of Week 10 (25% of Final Grade)

Overview

In this assignment, you will take on the role of a senior member of the finance team assigned to lead the

investment committee of a medium-sized telecommunications equipment manufacturer. Your team is

evaluating a “make-versus-buy” decision that has the potential to improve the company’s competitiveness,

but which requires a significant capital investment in new equipment. The assignment is organized into two

parts:

Part A: Data calculations based on the information in the scenarios

Part B: Recommendations based on the calculations

Opportunity Details

The new equipment would allow your company to manufacture a critical component in-house instead of

buying it from a supplier. This capability would help you stabilize your supply chain (which has suffered from

some irregularities and quality issues in the past). It could also have a positive impact on profitability through

the absorption of fixed costs since this new machine will have plenty of excess capacity. There may even be

a possibility that the company could leverage this capability to create a new external revenue stream by

providing services to other companies.

The company has been growing steadily over the past 5 years, and the financials and future prospects look

good. Your CEO has asked you to run the numbers. After doing some digging into the business, you have

gathered information on the following:

 The estimated purchase price for the equipment required to move the operation in-house would be

$500,000. Additional net working capital to support production (in the form of cash used in Inventory,

AR net of AP) would be needed in the amount of $25,000 per year starting in year 0 and through all 5

years of the project to support production.

 The current spending on this component (i.e. annual spend pool) is $875,000. The estimated cash

flow savings of bringing the process in-house is 20% or annual savings of $175,000. This includes

the additional labor and overhead costs required.

 Your company has access to a credit line and could borrow the funds at a rate of 6%.

 Finally, the equipment required is anticipated to have a somewhat short useful life, as a new wave of

technology is on the horizon. Therefore, it is anticipated that the equipment will be sold after five

years for $25,000. (i.e. the terminal value).

JWI 530: Financial Management I

Assignment 2

© Strayer University. All Rights Reserved. This document contains Strayer University confidential and proprietary information and may not be copied, further distributed, or otherwise disclosed, in whole or in part, without the expressed written permission of Strayer University. This course guide is subject to change based on the needs of the class.

530 – Assignment 2 (1196) Page 2 of 6

Input from Stakeholders As part of your research, you have sought input from a number of stakeholders. Each has raised important points to consider in your analysis and recommendation. Some of the points and assumptions are purely financial. Others touch on additional concerns and opportunities.

1. Ann, your colleague from Accounting, recommends using the base assumptions above: 5-year

project life, flat annual savings, and 10% discount rate. Ann does not feel the equipment will have

any terminal value due to advancements in technology.

2. Steve from Sales is convinced that this capability would create a new revenue stream that could

significantly offset operating expenses. He recommends savings that grow each year: 5-year project

life, 10% discount rate, and a 10% compounded annual savings growth in years 2 through 5. In other

words, instead of assuming savings stay flat, assume that they will grow by 10% in year 2, and then

grow another 10% over year 2 in year 3, and so on.

3. Ellen from Engineering believes we use a higher Discount Rate because of the risk of this type of

project. As such, she is recommending a 5-year project life and flat annual savings. Ellen suggests

that even though the equipment is brand new, the updated production process could have a negative

impact on other parts of the overall manufacturing costs. She argues that, while it is difficult to

quantify the potential negative impacts, to account for the risk, a 14% discount rate should be used.

4. Peter, the Product Manager, is convinced the new capability will allow better control of quality and

on-time delivery, and that it will last longer than 5 years. He recommends using a 7 Year Equipment

Life (which means a 7-year project and savings life), flat annual savings, 10% discount rate. In other

words, assume that the machine will last 2 more years and deliver 2 more years of savings. Peter

also feels the equipment will have an estimated terminal value of $15,000 at the end of its 7-year

useful life.

5. Owen, the head of Operations, is concerned that instead of stabilizing the supply chain, it will just add

another process to be managed, and will distract from the core competencies the company currently

has. He feels the company should focus on improving communication and supply chain management

with its current vendor, and he feels confident he can negotiate a discount of 5% off of the annual

outsourcing cost of $875,000 if he lets it be known they are considering taking over this step of the

process. As there is little risk associated with Owen’s proposal due to no upfront capital requirements,

a lower risk-free discount rate of 7% would be appropriate. (NOTE: because there is no “investment”,

the Payback and IRR metrics are not meaningful…simply provide the NPV of the Savings cash

flows).

JWI 530: Financial Management I

Assignment 2

© Strayer University. All Rights Reserved. This document contains Strayer University confidential and proprietary information and may not be copied, further distributed, or otherwise disclosed, in whole or in part, without the expressed written permission of Strayer University. This course guide is subject to change based on the needs of the class.

530 – Assignment 2 (1196) Page 3 of 6

PART A: Data Calculations

Using the data presented above (and ignoring the extraneous information), for this profit and supply chain

improvement project, calculate each of the following (where applicable):

 Nominal Payback

 Discounted Payback

 Net Present Value

 Internal Rate of Return

Scenario Nominal Payback Discounted Payback Net Present Value Internal Rate of

Return

#1: Ann

#2: Steve

#3: Ellen

#4: Peter

#5: Owen

N/A

N/A

N/A

Submission Requirements

Present your calculations and results either in an Excel Spreadsheet or in Word (using tables and headers to

organize the information in a way that is clear and easy to read). Be sure to show your detailed calculations.

If you get something wrong, you may still be able to get partial credit.

JWI 530: Financial Management I

Assignment 2

© Strayer University. All Rights Reserved. This document contains Strayer University confidential and proprietary information and may not be copied, further distributed, or otherwise disclosed, in whole or in part, without the expressed written permission of Strayer University. This course guide is subject to change based on the needs of the class.

530 – Assignment 2 (1196) Page 4 of 6

Part B: Recommendations

After completing the calculations for all scenarios, create a brief memo to the CEO outlining your committee’s

recommendations. You may organize the memo as you see fit, but it must include the following:

 A clear opening statement of your recommendation for or against the project.

 A brief synopsis of the processes and factors that led to your recommendations.

o What information did you gather, and how did you get it?

o From whom did you seek input, and why?

 A summary of the strategic benefits and risks in pursuing (or not pursuing) this project, including:

o Highlights of the main data points that support your position

o Acknowledgement of the data points that oppose your argument

o Identification of open/unresolved items

 An identification of the scenario that, from a purely financial perspective, represents the most

accurate estimate of the anticipated results and your rationale as to why.

 An identification of non-financial elements that need to be considered for the recommended scenario.

 Any assumptions in project economics can have a significant impact on the result. Identify 3 financial

elements/assumptions in your analysis that would make this project financially unattractive. Be as

transparent and candid with your BOD as possible. What would have to be true for this to be a bad

investment?

 A summary restating your recommendation and key action items.

Submission Requirements

 Your memo should be no more than 2 pages, single-spaced, using 10- or 12-point font.

 Focus on the rationale for your recommendations. Include key numbers to support your

recommendations, but do no re-present all your calculations.

JWI 530: Financial Management I

Assignment 2

© Strayer University. All Rights Reserved. This document contains Strayer University confidential and proprietary information and may not be copied, further distributed, or otherwise disclosed, in whole or in part, without the expressed written permission of Strayer University. This course guide is subject to change based on the needs of the class.

530 – Assignment 2 (1196) Page 5 of 6

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