Rock Minerals Ltd (Rock) is a minerals mining company based in Ghana. Rock is considering an investment opportunity in South Africa, which involves developing and operating a gold mine and later transferring the mine to the South African government.

Last year, the directors commissioned a special committee to assess investments and regulatory requirements relating to the project. Based on the committee’s report, the directors estimate that it will take two years to develop the mine. Development of the mine entails an immediate outlay of ZAR1.2 million in regulatory requirement expenditures, an investment of ZAR20 million in plants and equipment in the first year, and ZAR15 million for development expenditure in the second year. The directors also estimate that Rock will invest ZAR2 million in net working capital at the beginning of the third year. The investment in net working capital is expected to be increased to ZAR3 million at the beginning of the fifth year.

Commercial production and sales are expected to begin in the third year. Below are estimated operating cash flows before tax in the first three years of commercial production:

At the end of the fifth year, Rock will transfer ownership and control of the mine to the South African government for an after-tax consideration of ZAR100 million. The special committee also reports that the income tax rate for mining operations is 30%, and capital expenditure in relation to acquisition of property, plant, and equipment, and development expenditure qualifies for capital allowance at the rate of 20% per annum on a straight-line basis. Capital allowance is granted at the end of each year of commercial production. On repatriation of profit, the committee reports that the South African government does not restrict the repatriation of profit, and there are no profit repatriation taxes. Rock would repatriate cash returns as they become available.

Rock plans to finance this project using existing capital. Rock’s after-tax cost of capital is 25% in Ghana. The annual rate of inflation is expected to be 11% in Ghana and 5% in South Africa in the coming years. Currently, the rate of exchange between the Ghanaian cedi (GH¢) and the South African rand (ZAR) is GH¢0.3822 = ZAR1.

Required:
Evaluate the project on financial grounds using the net present value (NPV) approach and recommend whether the investment proposal should be accepted for implementation or not.
(12 marks)