Blue Bottling, Inc. (BBI) is a bottling company and is considering expanding into filling 16-ounce bottles. In order to do so, BBI must purchase a new bottling machine. The machine would not replace the machine used to fill 32-ounce bottles. The risk of this project is similar to the current risk of the company. BBI uses Net Present Value as its investment decision method. Therefore, BBI executives have decided that their weighted average cost of capital would be an appropriate discount rate to use when analyzing the project.
About the Machine
BBI managers estimate the cost of the machine to be $260,000. In order for the machine to be usable for BBI, it must be modified, costing $40,000. The machine will be depreciated using straight-line depreciation, assuming a 7-year life and $30,500 salvage value. BBI managers believe that the machine will be replaced at the end of 7 years at which time it will be sold for its salvage value. During the 7 years of its use, managers estimate annual earnings before interest, depreciation, and taxes (EBITDA) to be $60,000. There will be an increase in net working capital of $5000 with the new press, due to increased accounts receivable and inventory costs.
Weighted Average Cost of Capital
Current investigation shows that the firm has a 40% marginal tax rate. (Round all numbers to one-hundredth of one percent).
Debt
The firm has 7000 of its $1000 par, 18-year, 5% semi-annual bonds that are currently outstanding and being quoted at 104:8.
Common Stock
BBI common stock is currently trading for $50 per share and there are 100,000 shares issued and outstanding. There are two methods of computing the cost of capital and you should average the two values for your final cost of common stock.
The firm will pay annual dividends of $3.00 per share in the coming year. The firm's dividends and earnings have been growing at an annual rate of 3.5%, and this is expected to continue in the future. Lang's beta is current .8 and the current 90-day t-bill rate is 2.5% while the historic market average is 10%.
Requirements of the Assignment
1. (Due Module 5) Using Excel, create a spreadsheet that calculates all relevant cash flows (i.e., initial investment, periodic cash flows, and terminal value). Note: The spreadsheet should have data at the top and the cash flow calculations completely in equations, or picking up numbers from a previous cell. The instructor should be able to change inputs. The spreadsheet automatically adjusts to those changes. Round all numbers to the nearest dollar.
Submit the spreadsheet by Sunday of Week 5 so the instructor can review your work and provide suggestions for improvement. No points will be assigned for this, but points will be deducted from your final grade on the Portfolio Project if you fail to submit this assignment by the end of Week 5. Additionally, work received later than Week 6 of the course will not receive feedback prior to the final grading of the Portfolio Project.
2. (Due Module 6) Compute the weighted-average cost of capital (WACC) for the chosen firm on your spreadsheet. Take this number out to the nearest hundredth of a percent (e.g., 33.33%). There is no preferred stock in the company. Determine the weight of debt and common equity by the current market value.
Complete Requirement 2 and submit your work by Sunday of this week so your professor can review and provide suggestions for improvement. No points will be assigned for this, but points will be deducted from your final grade on the Portfolio Project if you fail to submit this assignment by the end of Week 6. Additionally, work received later than Week 7 of the course will not receive feedback prior to the final grading of the Portfolio Project.
3. Using Excel equations, compute the NPV and IRR.
4. BBI management expressed concern over their estimate of EBITDA of $60,000, especially if the economy deteriorated suddenly. Because of this concern, you have been asked to complete a sensitivity analysis, computing the NPV if EBITDA were $54,000 instead of $60,000. (Note that if your spreadsheet is set up correctly, you should be able to change the $60,000 data input to $54,000 and all calculations will change automatically, including the calculation of a new NPV and IRR.) In fact, managers would like an estimate of the break-even level of EBITDA, if you could provide that information.
5. BBI management has also expressed concern over the cost of the new machine. There has been increased demand for the larger bottles so prices have risen recently on the machine. It is possible that the machine will cost 10% more (i.e., $286,000), with installation not changing. If this occurs, managers believe that salvage value will also rise by 10%. Managers want to be sure the project is still a good one to accept if the machine costs more than originally anticipated. Use EBITDA of $70,000.
6. Write a 1-3 page memo (no more, no less) to the managers of BBI discussing your findings. Assume that the managers do not understand capital budgeting, therefore you should minimize financial jargon in your memo. You should assume the managers will review your spreadsheet prior to reading the memo and before making a final decision.