Analysis on capital budgeting techniques - Part II

Manu

Now tell me, what do you infer from those 8 Years cash flows?

Vinu

Manu!

The cash flows for 8 year

Aggregates to Rs.409.40 Crs whereas initial investment is only Rs.100 Crs.

Its hell a lot of money!

Manu

May be Yes!

But don’t look at values grossly.

You need to understand the nuance of Present value of Future cash flows.

But before that, can you tell me how long this project takes to pay back or say recover the original investment of Rs.100 Crs.

Vinu

Hmmm....

First Year  - Rs.38.75 Crs

Second Year – Rs.42.25 Crs

Third year – Rs.45.05 Crs

So cumulative cash flows up to year three Rs.126.05 Crs.

Manu

It means, between year 2 & 3 you are recovering entire Rs.100 Crs.

Can you find out exact period?

Vinu

Recovery up to Year 2 is Rs.81 Crs [38.75 + 42.25]

Amount to be recovered in Year 3 is Rs.19 Crs [100-81] for making up Rs.100 Crs.

Whereas actual recovery in Year 3 is Rs.45.05 Crs.

If Rs.45.05 Cr is earned in 12 months, then Rs.19 Crs can be earned in 5.06 months [19x 12/45.05]

Manu

Exactly!

By implementing this project, you can recover your investment of Rs.100 Crs in just 2 Years 5 months.

Vinu

Wow!

Manu

This is called Pay Back period of the project. This will play crucial role in Project Investments Decisions especially when you raise debts for shorter period.

Vinu

Correct! If debt have to be repaid in shorter period, then the projects Payback period should also be short.

Manu

Business entities would generally prefer projects with shorter payback period. If the payback is long, then risk associated with the projects is also more. Then return expectations from those projects will also be high.

Vinu

True Manu!

Manu

But this ‘Payback period’ alone as a tool to evaluate investment decision would become lopsided.

Vinu

Why?

Manu

If you are going to take a decision based only on the project which pays you back early, then you are ignoring the project which pays very well in the later years. You are ignoring the long term profitability of the business.

Vinu

Very True!

Manu

You are also ignoring the very important time value of money by placing reliance on payback period only.

Vinu

What is that Time Value of Money?

Manu

It is the fundamental concept in financial management. You cannot afford to be ignorant of that!

Vinu

Please Manu! Throw light on that!

Manu

The money which you get now is not equal to money which you will get in future.

Vinu

Little more please!

Manu

If I offer you Rs.1,000/- now and Rs.1,000/- a year after, which one would you prefer?

Vinu

Both are one and the same! Both are same Rs.1000.

I don’t find any different between the two!

Manu

No! There are differences!

Vinu

Difference?

Manu

If I give you Rs.1000/- now, you can either consume or invest. Which one would you prefer? Consume or Invest?

Vinu

It depends. If I have immediate requirement, I will consume. If not, I will Invest.

Manu

Let’s say you invest in Deposit for 10% for one year.

Vinu

So after one year, I will have Rs.1000 + Rs.100 Interest.

Manu

Correct!

Your present Rs.1000 is equal to Rs.1100 one year later.

So, if I offer you either Rs.1000 now

  (or)

One year after the same Rs.1000, you should automatically prefer now, because you can make it as Rs.1100. after one year by investing.

Instead, if you are accepting my offer of Rs.1000 after one year, you are losing Rs.100.

Vinu

Very True!

Future value of Rs.1000 now for one year is Rs.1100. So I should accept only if you offer Rs.1100 after one year.

Manu

You got that right.

Future value of Rs.1000 now is Rs.1100.

Or I would say present value of Rs.1100 received after one year is Rs.1000.

Does that make sense?

Vinu

Yes very much!

Manu

Ok! Before we get back to our example, let us do a small calculation.

Let’s say, you invest Rs.1000 and you get 10% interest every year on compounding, (meaning interest get accumulated) for a period of 5 years. In that case, what will be the future value of the investment?

Please work out its computation.

Vinu

Ok!

Is it correct?

Manu

Ya!

This table shows,

-if you invest Rs.1000 in the beginning of the year, its future value at end of year 1 is Rs.1100/-.

It means, if you are getting Rs.1100 at end of year 1, it is possible only if you invest Rs.1000 now!

If you are getting Rs.1210 at the end of year 2, it is possible only if you invest Rs.1000/- now!

Similarly, if you are getting Rs.1610/- at the end of year 5, it is possible only if you invest Rs.1000/-

Vinu

True!

Manu

So, we can say, the present value of Rs.1610/- to be received at the end of 5 years is Rs.1000/-

Vinu

Yes!

Manu

So this tells you, don’t get carried away by big numbers which you are going to get in future. You have to find its present value to take some meaning full decision.

Vinu

But Manu, still I am not clear.

How it is going to help investment decision by finding the Present Value of Future Cash Flows?

Manu

It would help you Vinu!

Let’s continue with our present case itself.

Rs.1000 has been invested @ 10% for 5 years, right?

Vinu

Yes!

Manu

So by now you know, this Rs.1000 will become Rs.1610/- at the end of 5 Years.

Vinu

Yes!

Manu

So, if this Rs.1000/- becomes Rs.1610/- in 5 years, it means it means it has earned 10% every year without fail. Am I right?

Vinu

Yes!

Manu

And, only if it earns Rs.1610/- its present value would be equivalent to Rs.1000/- Is that correct?

Vinu

Yes! Very much!

Manu

What would be present value if amount received at the end of 5 years is            Rs.1200/- instead of Rs.1610/- ?

Will it be equivalent to Rs.1000/-

Vinu

No! Because we know, @ 10% interest rate, present value of Rs.1610/- received after 5 years can be Rs.1000/- only. So it cannot be equivalent to Rs.1,000/- it should be obviously less than Rs.1,000/-

Manu

Yes! That’s the point!

Now this information would help you to take decision.

Vinu

How?

Manu

Let’s see.

You are investing Rs.1000 @ 10% for 5 years.

You have two options.

Option 1 will give Rs.1610 at the end of 5 years.

Option 2 will give Rs.1200 at the end of 5 years

Which option you will select?

Vinu

Obviously option 1.

Manu

Yes! You should because, the present value of Rs.1610 is Rs.1000.

In that case, it is equivalent to you give Rs.1000 and take back Rs.1000 now.

But in option 2, the present value of Rs.1200 would be less than Rs.1000. It means, you are investing Rs.1000 now and taking back less than Rs.1000/- simultaneously.

So you should not think of option 2.

Vinu

True!

Manu

I’ll also give you third option.

Option 3 – You will get Rs.1800/- at the end of year 5.

Which option you will prefer?

Vinu

Now I would prefer option 3 because present value Rs.1800/- received at the end of 5 years would be more than Rs.1,000/-

It would mean, I invest Rs.1000 now and take back more than Rs.1000 simultaneously.

Manu

Yes! You got the crux of it.

Any investment proposal should be viewed from this angle.

You should find present value (PV) of future cash flows from project. If the PV of future cash flows are equal to Initial investment or Total Investment, then the investment is earning expected returns.

If PV of future cash flows are greater than the Initial investment or Total Investment, it earns expected + extra. i.e., it earns more than your expected returns.

Vinu

And if PV of future cash flows are less than the Initial investment or Total Investment, it earns less than our expectation.

Manu

Hit on the Nail! To put it with some numbers, if you are expecting 10% returns and the project is going to earn 5%, you should be avoiding those projects.

Vinu

Now I understand the Time value concept Manu! Let us proceed back with our example.