Diamond Chemical Presentation

Description
Describing the case analysis of diamond chemical's investment.

Diamond Chemicals PLC (B):
Merseyside and Rotterdam Projects

Diamond Chemical PLC

Diamond Chemical Outline
Overview Mutually Exclusive Diamond Chemical’s Investment Criteria Merseyside Project Rotterdam Project Analysis Decision
Diamond Chemical PLC

Mutually Exclusive
• Strategic-Analysis staff says optimum increase in polypropylene is 7%. Both projects are for a 7% increase. • 2 Different technologies, if Rotterdam is accepted, can not change implemented technology • Capital Budgeting • New & better technology in the future • Worldwide economic slowdown • Location of plants: England and Holland • Rotterdam right of way
Diamond Chemical PLC

Investment Criteria
Diamond Chemical evaluates projects based on 5 criteria 1. NPV computed at the appropriate cost of capital 2. IRR 3. Payback period 4. Growth in earnings per share 5. Strategic factors
Diamond Chemical PLC

Does the Merseyside Project meet the Investment Criteria?
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. NPV £ 9 million IRR 25.9% Payback 3.6 years Growth in EPS £ 0.018 Ability to upgrade technology, flexibility option

Diamond Chemical PLC

Does the Rotterdam Project meet the Investment Criteria?
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. NPV £11.57 million IRR 17.9% Payback 7 years Growth in EPS £ 0.179 Technology

Diamond Chemical PLC

Merseyside SWOT Analysis
Strengths

•Receive positive cash flows immediately •Higher cash flows in the beginning •Relatively short payback period •Can wait to see if German technology will be better than Japanese technology

Diamond Chemical PLC

Merseyside SWOT Analysis
Weakness

•Production process is old & not continuous at times •Higher labor costs

Diamond Chemical PLC

Merseyside SWOT Analysis
Opportunities

•Modernization •Increased output/Lower costs •Higher market share •Increased competitiveness •Technology flexibility

Diamond Chemical PLC

Merseyside SWOT Analysis
Threats

•45 day facility closure will cause customers to purchase from competitors •Will have to compete to regain lost market share •Obsolescence of technology

Diamond Chemical PLC

Rotterdam SWOT Analysis
Strengths Polymerization process becomes continuous Flexible payment schedule (over 4 yr pd) Japanese technology proven successful in Japan Propylene gas pipeline option – decreased need for railroad tank car transportation

Diamond Chemical PLC

Rotterdam SWOT Analysis
Weakness Lack of flexibility option Committed to project If better technology is developed can not integrate it

Rotterdam SWOT Analysis
Opportunity Land value Use of right of way Future sale of right of way

Rotterdam SWOT Analysis
Threat German technology Loss of right of way Lost cash flows from not implementing the Japanese technology

Merseyside & Rotterdam Project Rankings
What accounts for the differences in rankings?
NPV IRR Payback Period Growth in Earnings per Share

Diamond Chemical PLC

Managerial Flexibility
Flexibility option Implement Japanese technology at Rotterdam Upgrade Merseyside plant & wait to either Japanese or German technology Effects on the economic attractiveness of the project
Diamond Chemical PLC

Comparison Overview
Basic comparison of the 2 projects

Diamond Chemical PLC

Key Assumptions
If Rotterdam project is undertaken, it will have an erosion effect on Merseyside Merseyside project has lower risk; therefore, it should have a lower cost of capital Inflation is accounted for in the calculations for both projects Overhead costs of 3.5% of investment will be incorporated in the cost of each project The added transportation cost of £2 million will be included in the Merseyside project Cash flow analysis of each project is on an incremental basis Project analysis assumptions not commented on were used directly from the internal company analysis

Elizabeth Eustace Presentation
The Rotterdam project Detailed 90 page analysis Right-of-way for continuous supply of propylene gas Strategic factors:
?

?

Cost and output improvements First major European producer to implement the new technology

Diamond Chemical PLC

Lucy Morris Presentation
The Merseyside project Enhancement of the existing facility Improving the production process

Diamond Chemical PLC

Comparative Analysis of 2 Presentations
Merseyside is simple and to the point Rotterdam proposal is long & in depth

Diamond Chemical PLC

Rotterdam Project Analysis
NPV of Rotterdam project overhauled because of property sale Year 15 recognizes a £ 40.39 property sale NPV of property sale is £ 15.70 NPV of Rotterdam after property sale is taken out is £ (4.13) Should not be included in the project NPV, can be sold without technology being implemented

Merseyside Project Analysis
£ 2 million transportation cost added into the initial cost of the project NPV of Merseyside project after transportation cost is £ 5.10 IRR is 13.0%

Merseyside Project Analysis
Project has a flexibility option to implement new technology Additional cost of £ 4.5 million required for the flexibility option £ Year 4 is the first year after the payback of the initial cost of the Merseyside project is paid back If the flexibility option is exercised at year 4, NPV is £ 18.95

Merseyside Project Analysis
The optimal year for the flexibility option is year 4 In comparison, if the flexibility option was £ exercised at the least appealing year, year 9, the NPV is £ 11.61

Merseyside Project Analysis
The flexibility option makes the Merseyside project more attractive
? ? ?

Improved NPV Improved IRR Improved growth in EPS

Merseyside vs. Rotterdam Project Analysis
Which project scores the best in regards to Diamond Chemical’s criteria?
1. 2. 3. 4. Merseyside w/Flexibility Option @ yr4, NPV= £ 18.95 Merseyside w/Flexibility Option @ yr4, IRR=17.6% Merseyside without Flexibility Option, Payback = 3.6 yrs Merseyside w/Flexibility Option @ yr4, Growth in EPS= £0.058

Recommendation
Which project to choose?

Diamond Chemical PLC

Select Merseyside Project with the exercise flex option in year 4



doc_633032662.ppt
 

Attachments

Back
Top