You Are Considering a New Project That Will Require an Initial

You are considering a new project that will require an initial buildup of raw materials inventory. The expected life of the project's equipment is seven years. If all goes as you expect, you will replace the equipment at the end of the seven years. If not, you will terminate the project. You currently believe there is a 50-50 chance of either occurrence. How should you treat the raw material inventory in year seven of your present analysis and why?

A) Treat half of it as a cash inflow because there is a 50% chance the project will terminate then.
B) Treat it as a cash outflow because it is expected that the machines will be replaced.
C) Treat it as a cash inflow because the replacement of the machines becomes a new capital budgeting decision at that point.
D) Treat it as both a cash inflow and outflow, net effect zero.
E) Treat half as a cash inflow in year seven, but also treat only half as a cash outflow at the beginning of the project.