Investment appraisal Flashcards
The four main methods of
investment appraisal
Payback
ARR
NPV
IRR
Basic idea: Payback
Time taken to pay back the initial investment
Basic idea: ARR
Average return on initial investment
Basic idea: NPV
PV of inflows minus PV of outflows
Basic idea: IRR
Discount rate to give NPV = 0
Reasons NPV theoretically supeiror
Takes account of the time value of money (whereas ARR and payback do not)
Is an absolute measure of return (unlike IRR which is relative – sometimes it is
better to have a small return on a big investment than a large return on a small investment)
Is based on cash flows not profits – it is more appropriate to evaluate future cash flows than accounting profits, because profits are more subjective (and
can’t be spent or used to pay dividends)
Considers the whole life of the project (payback, for example, ignores cash
flows after the payback period).
Non-financial factors in considering investment appraisal
Compliance with legislation
Impact on key stakeholders
Impact on reputation
Sustainability
Formula: Present value of a single cash flow
1 / ((1+r)^n)
Formula: Present value of an annuity cash flow
**(1/r) X (1 - **1/((1+r)^n)
Formula: Present value of a perpetuity cash flow
Perpetuity cash flow X (1/r)
Formula: Present value of growing perpetuity
(Cash flow at t1) X (1/(r-g))
g = growth
Relevant cash flow definition
Future incremental cash flows which arise as a result of a decision being taken
Relevant cash flow calculation
Cash flow if action taken
Minus
Cash flow if not taken
Relevant cash flows: Things ignored
Finance costs (interest, divs…)
As accounted for in discount rate
Sunk costs
Committed costs
Allocated and apportioned costs
Non-cash items
Book values
Relevant cash flows: Opportunity cost definition
The change in cash flow if a unit of resource is used in a project rather than on the next best alternative
Deprival value of asset =
Lower of
- Replacement cost
- Recoverable amount
Deprival value of asset: Recoverable amount =
Higher of
- Value in use
(Economic value) - Net realisable value
Working capital definition
Cash ‘tied up’ in the project (Will get it back, but can’t use while in project e.g. inventory, receivables)
Investment appraisal: Treatment of working capital
The initial working capital required is a cost at the start of the project
If the working capital requirement changes during the project, only the increase (or decrease) is a relevant cash outflow (or inflow)
At the end of the project, all the working capital is ‘released’ and therefore gives rise to a cash inflow.
Appraising investments: Tax: Impact of: Operating flows
More income – tax outflow
More costs – tax inflow