+598 Focus Drilling is making an expansion. The expansion will occur over 4 years and is expected to require $2.8 million. Management has developed a payment plan for carrying out this expansion. The plan requires a cash input of $300,000 now, $700, 000 one year from now, $800,000 two years from now, and finally, $1,000,000 four years from now.
While Focus Drilling is able to allocate $2.6 million dollars from the cash reserves to fund the project, there is no other contingency fund for cost overruns or construction delays. However, any interest earned on the expansion fund during the four-year time frame will be set aside for the project.
Before the final decision on implementation, the company treasurer is asked to assess the plan to determine if the current $2.6 million allocation will meet the $2.8 million in payment obligations of the plan over the four-year period. The Treasurer has predicted interest rates over the next four years to be as follows:
Year 1: interest rate of 4.5% p.a. compounded semi-annually
Year 2: interest rate of 5.0% p.a. compounded semi-annually
Year 3: interest rate of 5.0% p.a. compounded semi-annually
Year 4: interest rate of 5.5% p.a. compounded semi-annually
Can Focus Drilling meet the cash payment requirements of the expansion given the variable interest rates given above? Use today as a focal date. Show your calculations.
Any help with steps would be greatly appreciated, thanks.
