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Answer (B) is correct. If the cash flows at the end of Year 1 equal $2 million, the expected value of the Year 2 cash flows is only $2 million [(.5 × $0) + (.5 × $4 million)]. If the cash flows at the end of year 1 equal $4 million or $6 million, the expected value of the Year 2 cash flows equals $4 million [(.25 × $6.4 million) + (.75 × $3.2 million)] or $5.75 million [(.4 × $6.875 million) + (.6 × $5 million)], respectively. After discounting these expected values to the end of Year 1, the present values are $1,818,000 (.909 × $2 million) given a $2 million Year 1 cash flow, $3,636,000 (.909 × $4 million) given a $4 million Year 1 cash flow, and $5,226,750 (.909 × $5.75 million) given a $6 million Year 1 cash flow. Accordingly, the real option of abandonment is preferable if the Year 1 cash flow is $2 million. The $3 million salvage value exceeds the expected value of the Year 2 cash flows discounted to the end of Year 1 in this case only. If the real option of abandonment is exercised only when Year 1 cash flows equal $2 million, the expected value of the cash flows at the end of Year 1 is $4.9 million {[.3 × ($2 million + $3 million salvage)] + (.4 × $4 million) + (.3 × $6 million)}, and the present value of this amount is $4,454,100 (.909 × $4.9 million). The expected value of the cash flows at the end of Year 2 if the real option is exercised only when Year 1 cash flows equal $2 million is $3,325,000 (.3 × 1.0 × $0) + (.4 × .25 × $6.4 million) + (.4 × .75 × $3.2 million) + (.3 × .4 × $6.875 million) + (.3 × .6 × $5 million), and the present value of this amount is $2,746,450 (.826 × $3,325,000). Consequently, the NPV with an abandonment option is $1,200,550 ($4,454,100 + $2,746,450 – $6 million initial outlay). This amount is substantially greater than the NPV with no abandonment option. |
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