Scanlin, Inc., is considering a project that will result in initial aftertax cash savings of $1.86 million at the end of the first year, and these savings will grow at a rate of 2 percent per year indefinitely. The firm has a target debt–equity ratio of 0.80, a cost of equity of 12.6 percent, and an aftertax cost of debt of 5.4 percent. The cost-saving proposal is somewhat riskier than the usual project the firm undertakes; management uses the subjective approach and applies an adjustment factor of 3 percent to the cost of capital for such risky projects.

What is the maximum initial cost the company would be willing to pay for the project?