XYZ Corporation is considering an expansion project. To date they have spent $65,000 investigating the viability of the project and have decided to proceed. The CEO of XYZ spent $20,000 last year on his business trip to New York where he discussed about the proposed new project with the board members. The company spent $50,000 on a marketing study before its current analysis regarding whether to accept or reject the project. The proposed project will cost $550,000. The project will be depreciated over a 3 year MACRS class life. XYX would use the 3-year MACRS method to depreciate the machine and equipment which are 33% 45%, 15% and 7%.
If the project is undertaken the company will need to increase its inventories by $45,000, and its accounts payable will rise by $10,000. The company will realize an additional $750,000 in sales over each of the next four years. The company's operating costs (not including depreciation) will increase by $540,000 a year. Both sales and the operating cost are expected to grow 4.5% annually during the life of the project. The company's tax rate is 35%. At t = 3, the project's economic life is complete, but it will have a salvage value (before-tax) of $55,000 after three years. The project's WACC is 10.5%. What is the project's net present value (NPV)? What is the IRR? Should the project be accepted? Why or why not?