Topic 4: Project Evaluation Flashcards
Maximise NPV rule:
Corporation should invest in every project with a positive NPV.
* NPV measures the increase in wealth from an investment in real assets. Therefore choosing NPV positive projects enhances value for firm & shareholders
Project NPV (or MVA = ?
Project NPV (or MVA = EV (with project) - IC (for project) - EV (without project)
Good project selection should be based on: (4)
- timing & magitude of CFs, not just profit
- Discount CFs at appropriate opportunity cost of capital
- Select project that maximises value added on IC
- Be value additive
Incremental cashflows
- when valuing a project, you are concerned with the incremental CFs of the project
- incremental = only those flows that will change as a result of the decision
- Sunk costs are irrelevant, even if they relate to project under consideration. They have already been spent.
- Opportunity costs need to be included (eg opp cost of using land vs selling it)
- effects of a project on existing business (side effect - eg cannibalisation)
Alternative methods to calculate Terminal Value (3)
- Salvage value
- exit value
- continuing value
Continuing Value
- when used
- life
- growth rate
- when used: existing business
- life: impacts whether continuing or salvage value is used (if timeframe is short, use salvage. Note salvage value can have tax implications)
- growth rate: growth in CFs in terminal value period is more likely to be driven by market growth than the exercise of growth options
Exit value
- usually calculated as:
- notes to multiples
- usually calculated as: assumed sales multiple at end of investment period
- notes to multiples:
1. Even if sales price is partially or totally driven by estimate in continuing value; check the 2 terminal value estimates
2. Don’t use current multiples (these incorporate higher growth exectations) Use multiple expected to prevail at end of forecast period.
Salvage value (ie project is finished) - need to (3)
Salvage Value
- Assess disposal value of fixed and other assets - what price, or is there a cost
- Recover outstanding working capital
- Look for tax effects. Eg allow for tax on sale of assets.
Project Risks - assessment when considering a project
Primary objective is to test whether the NPV positive project is consistent
- Understand source of project’s NPV or economic rent
- Market based support for the financial projections used in the evaluation (multiples)
- Risk management plan (address risks & opportunities & ensure these are incorporated into the valuation)
Risk management process steps (6)
- identify potential risks
- assess and quantify potential risks
- determine impact on value
- develop a plan for monitoring and managing the identified critical risks
- tracking of risks through project implementation and after
- accountability & learning
Equivalent Annual COst - define
EAC is the annuity cash flow whose PV is equal to the PV of the after tax outlays, both operating and capital, for a project.
- it is helpful in breakeven analysis because it shows the annual (after tax revenues needed in order to generate zero NPV.
Applying NPV test to acquisitions
- EPS is not how you measure shareholder value; even if it is good for the shareholder.
- drivers of M&A are strategic and competitive
- pay up for a controlling share.
Synergy =
Incremental Cashflows =
Synergy = discounted sum of the incremental cashflows
Incremental Cashflows = change in revenue - chg costs - chg taxes + chg financing benefits - chg capital requirements + chg growth opps
Sources of incremental cashflows:
1. Increased revenues (eg)
- increased mkt power - concentration
2. gains from better marketing efforts
Sources of incremental cashflows:
2. decreased costs (eg)
- economies of scale
- economies of vertical integration
- complementary resources
- elimination of inefficiencies