Ride-em-Up Cowboy Meat Processing, Inc. is considering an upgrade to their facilities. The CEO and largest shareholder of the company was recently inspired by the movie about Dr. Temple Grandin, and believes that implementing some of Dr. Grandin's designs could increase the efficiency and profitability of the company.
A task force of engineers and marketers was formed to analyse different designs. They have settled on their top recommendation, and have come to you for a financial analysis.
The upgrades are expected to last for 7 years. It is expected that the implementation of this design will increase the number of cattle that can be processed by 11,250 per year. The revenue generated by one head of cattle is expected to be $2,500 in the first year of the project; and the cost of one head of cattle is expected to be $1,350 in the first year of the project. The revenue and cost per head of cattle are expected to increase at a constant rate of 2% each year for the life of the project.
The updgrades will cost $55 million and will be depreciated on a straightline basis over the 7-year economic life of the project. The project will also require an immediate investment in net working capital of $400,000 which will be recovered at the end of the project.
The company's marginal tax rate is 35%. Additionally, the company is financed entirely with equity, and the cost of equity re = 9%.
What is the NPV of this project?