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 to a value of...

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 to a value of zero, but in fact it can be sold after 6 years for $538,000. The firm believes that working capital at each date must be maintained at a level of 15% of next year’s forecast sales. The firm estimates production costs equal to $1.00 per trap and believes that the traps can be sold for $4 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 35%, and the required rate of return on the project is 9%. Use the MACRS depreciation schedule.

a.What is project NPV?

b.By how much would NPV increase if the firm depreciated its investment using the 5-year MACRS schedule?