Practice Problem – Growing Annuity

Practice Question

Intro to Finance
Time Value of Money
Growing Annuity
Short Answer

"Joey, Connor, and Grant are thinking about selling their podcast's media rights to Fuji TV (フジテレビ). The Japanese television network offered a particular deal, and it goes as follows. They're going to be paid $99.97 in 3 year(s) from now, and these initial cash flows will grow by 28.10% per year for 2 years. However, the growth rate will fall to a fixed 6.95% thereafter. Note that Joey, Connor, and Grant's required rate of return is 14.07%. What is the present value of this deal? And, should they accept this deal if they were offered a $430 lump sum payment by a competing Japanese television network?"
Select the closest answer: $1,186.83, $1,278.21, $1,342.12, $1,374.07, $1,207.91

Answer +
Correct Answer: $1,278.21
Explanation +

Step 1: Highlight Relevant Information & Define Key Variables
PMT = $99.97
k = 14.07%
g₁ = 28.10% (for 2 years)
g₂ = 6.95% (in perpetuity)
Note: First payment starts in year 3, growth lasts until year 5, then perpetuity begins

Step 2: Build the Timeline
Separate the problem into two sections: a growing annuity (years 3 to 5), and a growing perpetuity starting from year 6. We'll compute each present value separately, then discount both back to t = 0.

Step 3: Solve for the Growing Annuity (Years 3–5)
Using the formula:
PV₂ = PMT₃ × [(1 - ((1 + g₁)/(1 + k))ⁿ) / (k - g₁)]
PV₂ = 99.97 × [(1 - ((1 + 0.2810)/(1 + 0.1407))²) / (0.1407 - 0.2810)]
PV₂ ≈ $186.06
Now discount back to time 0:
PV₀ = PV₂ / (1 + k)² = 186.06 / (1.1407)² ≈ $142.99

Step 4: Solve for the Growing Perpetuity (Starting Year 6)
PMT₅ = PMT₃ × (1 + g₁)² = 99.97 × (1.2810)² ≈ $163.94
PMT₆ = PMT₅ × (1 + g₂) = 163.94 × 1.0695 ≈ $175.34
PV₄ = PMT₆ / (k - g₂) = 175.34 / (0.1407 - 0.0695) ≈ $1,922.10
Now discount to time 0:
PV₀ = 1922.10 / (1.1407)⁴ ≈ $1,135.22

Step 5: Add Both Components
Total PV₀ = $142.99 + $1,135.22 = $1,278.21

Conclusion:
Since $1,278.21 > $430, Joey, Connor, and Grant should accept the Fuji TV offer.