Reference no: EM132564865

Speedway Enterprises (SE) is considering a classroom note taking project with an up-front cost $2,500. The project's subsequent cash flows are critically dependent on whether a competitor's similar product is accepted by the University President. If the President rejects the competitive product, SE's product will have high sales and cash flows, but if the competitive product is approved, that will negatively impact SE. There is a 65% chance that the competitive product will be rejected, in which case SE's expected cash flows will be $1,200 at the end of each of the next seven years (t = 1 to 7). There is a 35% chance that the competitor's product will be approved, in which case the expected cash flows will be only $525 at the end of each of the next seven years (t = 1 to 7). SE will know for sure one year from today whether the competitor's product has been approved.

Speedway is considering whether to make the investment today or to wait a year to find out about the President's decision. If it waits a year, the project's up-front cost (in this case at t = 1) will remain the same. The subsequent cash flows will remain at $1,200 per year if the competitor's product is rejected and $525 per year if the alternative product is approved. However, if SE decides to wait, the subsequent cash flows will be received only for six years (t = 2 ... 7).

Assuming that all cash flows are discounted at 9.5%, if SE chooses to wait a year before proceeding, how much will this increase or decrease the project's expected NPV in today's dollars, relative to the NPV if it proceeds today? What should Speedway do?