Final answer:
To calculate the project's NPV, future after-tax cash flows are discounted back to their present value using a 15% required return rate, summed, and subtracted from the initial investment cost.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question given asks about calculating the net present value (NPV) for the purchase of a press by Bonavista Mustang's CFO, Floyd Clymer. The scenario details involve an initial investment of $250,000 for the press and after-tax cash flows that start at $60,000 in the first year and increase by $10,000 each subsequent year until the fifth year, which culminates with a $100,000 cash flow plus a $10,000 liquidation value. To ascertain the NPV, we apply a 15% required return rate to discount the future cash flows back to their present value. The individual present values of these cash flows are summed and then subtracted from the initial investment to determine the NPV. Overall, this NPV calculation will aid in making an informed financial decision regarding the equipment's purchase.