Project Finance for Autopistas del Centro Net Present Value (NPV) / MBA Resources

Introduction to Net Present Value (NPV) - What is Net Present Value (NPV) ? How it impacts financial decisions regarding project management?

NPV solution for Project Finance for Autopistas del Centro case study

At Oak Spring University, we provide corporate level professional Net Present Value (NPV) case study solution. Project Finance for Autopistas del Centro case study is a Harvard Business School (HBR) case study written by Francisco J. Lopez Lubian. The Project Finance for Autopistas del Centro (referred as “Project Marta­nez” from here on) case study provides evaluation & decision scenario in field of Finance & Accounting. It also touches upon business topics such as - Value proposition, Performance measurement, Project management.

The net present value (NPV) of an investment proposal is the present value of the proposal’s net cash flows less the proposal’s initial cash outflow. If a project’s NPV is greater than or equal to zero, the project should be accepted.

NPV = Present Value of Future Cash Flows LESS Project’s Initial Investment

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Case Description of Project Finance for Autopistas del Centro Case Study

In late spring 2009, Osvaldo MartA­nez, Finance Manager at Autopistas del Centro, a private company operating a toll road bypass in Madrid, was analysing with growing concern the financial impact of reduced traffic on its toll road. In 2008, overall freeway traffic in Spain fell by 12%, and the trend did not suggest any improvement in 2009. Mr. MartA­nez believed the situation to be basically unsustainable. The company's lenders wanted to renegotiate costs and deadlines, due to the increase in risk of the project. Due to the drop in revenues and operating earnings, the project would need an additional two million euros and the current shareholders refused to agree to all the refinancing of the project coming out of their pockets. Operational and financial improvements would be needed in order for the project to be viable and offer at least a minimal return. The case describes the progress of a project finance operation from its beginnings in 2004, and the situation of the project in 2009 in the face of a crisis and consequent failure to meet the initially expected cash flows. The case offers an excellent opportunity to discuss what to do when a Project Finance fails, analysing the alternative ways of ensuring the project's viability and profitability.

Case Authors : Francisco J. Lopez Lubian

Topic : Finance & Accounting

Related Areas : Performance measurement, Project management

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Calculating Net Present Value (NPV) at 6% for Project Finance for Autopistas del Centro Case Study

Years	Cash Flow	Net Cash Flow	Cumulative     Cash Flow	Discount Rate @ 6 %	Discounted Cash Flows
Year 0	(10027755)	-10027755	-	-
Year 1	3456980	-6570775	3456980	0.9434	3261302
Year 2	3964528	-2606247	7421508	0.89	3528416
Year 3	3941996	1335749	11363504	0.8396	3309776
Year 4	3245287	4581036	14608791	0.7921	2570571
TOTAL			14608791		12670065

The Net Present Value at 6% discount rate is 2642310

In isolation the NPV number doesn't mean much but put in right context then it is one of the best method to evaluate project returns. In this article we will cover -

Different methods of capital budgeting

What is NPV & Formula of NPV,
How it is calculated,
How to use NPV number for project evaluation, and
Scenario Planning given risks and management priorities.

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Capital Budgeting Approaches

Methods of Capital Budgeting

There are four types of capital budgeting techniques that are widely used in the corporate world –

1. Internal Rate of Return
2. Payback Period
3. Net Present Value
4. Profitability Index

Apart from the Payback period method which is an additive method, rest of the methods are based on Discounted Cash Flow technique. Even though cash flow can be calculated based on the nature of the project, for the simplicity of the article we are assuming that all the expected cash flows are realized at the end of the year.

Discounted Cash Flow approaches provide a more objective basis for evaluating and selecting investment projects. They take into consideration both –

1. Timing of the expected cash flows – stockholders of Project Marta­nez have higher preference for cash returns over 4-5 years rather than 10-15 years given the nature of the volatility in the industry.
2. Magnitude of both incoming and outgoing cash flows – Projects can be capital intensive, time intensive, or both. Project Marta­nez shareholders have preference for diversified projects investment rather than prospective high income from a single capital intensive project.

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Formula and Steps to Calculate Net Present Value (NPV) of Project Finance for Autopistas del Centro

NPV = Net Cash In Flowt1 / (1+r)t1 + Net Cash In Flowt2 / (1+r)t2 + … Net Cash In Flowtn / (1+r)tn
Less Net Cash Out Flowt0 / (1+r)t0

Where t = time period, in this case year 1, year 2 and so on.
r = discount rate or return that could be earned using other safe proposition such as fixed deposit or treasury bond rate. Net Cash In Flow – What the firm will get each year.
Net Cash Out Flow – What the firm needs to invest initially in the project.

Step 1 – Understand the nature of the project and calculate cash flow for each year.
Step 2 – Discount those cash flow based on the discount rate.
Step 3 – Add all the discounted cash flow.
Step 4 – Selection of the project

Why Finance & Accounting Managers need to know Financial Tools such as Net Present Value (NPV)?

In our daily workplace we often come across people and colleagues who are just focused on their core competency and targets they have to deliver. For example marketing managers at Project Marta­nez often design programs whose objective is to drive brand awareness and customer reach. But how that 30 point increase in brand awareness or 10 point increase in customer touch points will result into shareholders’ value is not specified.

To overcome such scenarios managers at Project Marta­nez needs to not only know the financial aspect of project management but also needs to have tools to integrate them into part of the project development and monitoring plan.

Calculating Net Present Value (NPV) at 15%

After working through various assumptions we reached a conclusion that risk is far higher than 6%. In a reasonably stable industry with weak competition - 15% discount rate can be a good benchmark.

Years	Cash Flow	Net Cash Flow	Cumulative     Cash Flow	Discount Rate @ 15 %	Discounted Cash Flows
Year 0	(10027755)	-10027755	-	-
Year 1	3456980	-6570775	3456980	0.8696	3006070
Year 2	3964528	-2606247	7421508	0.7561	2997753
Year 3	3941996	1335749	11363504	0.6575	2591926
Year 4	3245287	4581036	14608791	0.5718	1855503
TOTAL					10451252

The Net NPV after 4 years is 423497

(10451252 - 10027755 )

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Calculating Net Present Value (NPV) at 20%

If the risk component is high in the industry then we should go for a higher hurdle rate / discount rate of 20%.

Years	Cash Flow	Net Cash Flow	Cumulative     Cash Flow	Discount Rate @ 20 %	Discounted Cash Flows
Year 0	(10027755)	-10027755	-	-
Year 1	3456980	-6570775	3456980	0.8333	2880817
Year 2	3964528	-2606247	7421508	0.6944	2753144
Year 3	3941996	1335749	11363504	0.5787	2281248
Year 4	3245287	4581036	14608791	0.4823	1565050
TOTAL					9480258

The Net NPV after 4 years is -547497

At 20% discount rate the NPV is negative (9480258 - 10027755 ) so ideally we can't select the project if macro and micro factors don't allow financial managers of Project Marta­nez to discount cash flow at lower discount rates such as 15%.

Acceptance Criteria of a Project based on NPV

Simplest Approach – If the investment project of Project Marta­nez has a NPV value higher than Zero then finance managers at Project Marta­nez can ACCEPT the project, otherwise they can reject the project. This means that project will deliver higher returns over the period of time than any alternate investment strategy.

In theory if the required rate of return or discount rate is chosen correctly by finance managers at Project Marta­nez, then the stock price of the Project Marta­nez should change by same amount of the NPV. In real world we know that share price also reflects various other factors that can be related to both macro and micro environment.

In the same vein – accepting the project with zero NPV should result in stagnant share price. Finance managers use discount rates as a measure of risk components in the project execution process.

Sensitivity Analysis

Project selection is often a far more complex decision than just choosing it based on the NPV number. Finance managers at Project Marta­nez should conduct a sensitivity analysis to better understand not only the inherent risk of the projects but also how those risks can be either factored in or mitigated during the project execution. Sensitivity analysis helps in –

What will be a multi year spillover effect of various taxation regulations.

Understanding of risks involved in the project.

What are the uncertainties surrounding the project Initial Cash Outlay (ICO’s). ICO’s often have several different components such as land, machinery, building, and other equipment.

What can impact the cash flow of the project.

What are the key aspects of the projects that need to be monitored, refined, and retuned for continuous delivery of projected cash flows.

Some of the assumptions while using the Discounted Cash Flow Methods –

Projects are assumed to be Mutually Exclusive – This is seldom the came in modern day giant organizations where projects are often inter-related and rejecting a project solely based on NPV can result in sunk cost from a related project.

Independent projects have independent cash flows – As explained in the marketing project – though the project may look independent but in reality it is not as the brand awareness project can be closely associated with the spending on sales promotions and product specific advertising.

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Negotiation Strategy of Project Finance for Autopistas del Centro

References & Further Readings

Francisco J. Lopez Lubian (2018), "Project Finance for Autopistas del Centro Harvard Business Review Case Study. Published by HBR Publications.