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Deflating cash flows

ASalawi sayed3y ago
Hello Mr Sir, Q 290 2022-2023 F9 Kaplan exam kit In the following question for asking for the different approaches for dealing with inflation with cash flows in the model Answer they are talking about deflating the current cash flows to reach the real cash flows and then discounting with the real discount rate, So it is a new thing about deflating.Do we have to deflate the cash flows or only have to ignore the inflation and the discount with real discount rate as you said in the lecture. Can you clarify Sir, Thanks, -------------------------------- Q In relation to investment decision 3, describe the two approaches for dealing with  inflation AND provide a reasoned recommendation as to which approach Crocket’s  management should follow. ? Answer When appraising an investment, the treatment of inflation needs to be considered as  it will affect both cash flows and the required rate of return used as the discount rate.  Real?terms and nominal?terms approaches to investment appraisal differ in the way  that the effects of inflation are incorporated into the appraisal calculation.  Nominal?terms approach  With the nominal?terms approach (also known as the money method), both the cash  flows and the discount rate incorporate the effects of inflation. The cost of capital  would also need to include the effects of general inflation on the investors’ required  rate of return. This means Crocket Co will need to apply the specific rates of inflation  to sales, material costs and other cash flows and ensure the cash flows in the appraisal  incorporate these. The uncertainty surrounding the rates of inflation that Crocket Co  faces with this project will certainly make an appraisal in nominal?terms more difficult  to prepare with any accuracy and this should be considered when reviewing the  results.  Real?terms approach  A  real  terms  approach  would  exclude  the  effects  of  general  inflation.  Therefore,  nominal  cash  flows  incorporating  the  effects  of  specific  inflation  rates  would  be  deflated by the general rate of inflation to give real?terms cash flows. The discount  rate will also exclude the effects of inflation. Consequently, a real discount rate would  be used which represents the investors’ base level of return for risk before inflation is  taken into account. 
John MoffatJohn MoffatTutor3y ago#1
When there is inflation, we either discount the nominal (actual) cash flows at the nominal (actual) cost of capital, or alternatively we discount the real cash flows (the cash flows at current prices - I.e. without inflation) at the real cost of capital (i.e. the cost of capital without inflation). Usually in exam questions it is the first approach. This question was actually rather silly of the examiner (which is probably why he has only done it the one time), but if we use the second approach and discount at the real cost of capital we need to remove the inflation from the actual cash flows.
ASalawi sayed3y ago#2
Hi Sir, So usually we will not need to remove the inflation from the cash flows? for the second approach,we get ready as real cash flows? Thanks,
John MoffatJohn MoffatTutor3y ago#3
The real cash flows are the flows without inflation (i.e. at current prices). They are not the actual cash flows - the actual/nominal cash flows include inflation.
ASalawi sayed3y ago#4
Thanks a lot Sir.
John MoffatJohn MoffatTutor3y ago#5
You are welcome :-)
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