Question

Better Mousetraps has developed a new trap. It can go into production for an initial investment in equipment of $6.3 million. The equipment will be depreciated straight-line over 6 years, but, in fact, it can be sold after 6 years for $519,000. The firm believes that working capital at each date must be maintained at a level of 10% of next year’s forecast sales. The firm estimates production costs equal to $1.20 per trap and believes that the traps can be sold for $5 each. Sales forecasts are given in the following table. The project will come to an end in 6 years, when the trap becomes technologically obsolete. The firm’s tax bracket is 40%, and the required rate of return on the project is 10%.

Year:	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	Thereafter
Sales (millions of traps)	0	0.5	0.6	0.7	0.7	0.5	0.2	0

Suppose the firm can cut its requirements for working capital in half by using better inventory control systems. By how much will this increase project NPV

Answer 1