Question

Identify and analyze the relevant cash flows for the two alternatives - buying the new machine vs. continuing to use the old ones. Please show excel formulas and how it was calculated.

List and describe briefly any areas of uncertainty or concern for this project. What effect might they have? Bullet points are just fine.

Based on your results in parts from above, explain why you would or would not proceed with the new machine.

Acme Manufacturing, Inc. was originally a family owned operation that has been in business for several generations. It has grown steadily and is now listed on the stock exchange with family members still owning a substantial portion of the shares. Over the years, the company has acquired a reputation for exceptional quality and has won awards from major customers.

The firm is 75% equity financed; shares currently trade at $37 and do not pay a dividend. Debt capital is provided by a single issue of bonds (20 year, $1,000 par value, 81⁄2 annual coupon) currently trading at $1,049. The firm’s beta is 1.25. Their traditional hurdle rate has been 12%, though the rate has not been reviewed in many years. Over the years, shareholders have come to expect a 10% return. Their corporate tax rate is 25%. Treasury securities are yielding 5.25%. The market rate of return on equities is 9.25%.

The Machine Tool Division is considering the purchase of a piece of highly-automated, robotic production equipment. It would replace older machines and would offer improvements in quality, and some additional capacity for expansion. Because of the magnitude of the proposed expenditure, a careful estimate of the projects costs and benefits is needed.

They are currently using several old-style machines that together had cost $700,000. Depreciation of $220,000 has already been charged against this total cost; depreciation charges are $80,000 annually. Management believes these machines will need to be replaced after eight more years. They have a current market value of $250,000.

The old machines require 12 workers per shift earning $13.50/hr plus 3 maintenance workers paid $14.50/hr. The plant operates day and afternoon shifts five days each week; maintenance workers are assigned to the afternoon shift only. Maintenance expenses have been running at $5,000 annually; the cost of electricity has been $26,600 per year. The production process is not only labor intensive, but also physically demanding. Workplace injuries are not uncommon and lately medical claims have increased.

The new machine will have a total cost that includes shipping, installation and testing of $1.5 million. The plant will also need $350,000 in modifications to accommodate the new machine. These costs will be capitalized and depreciated over the eight-year estimated life of the machine. The new machine would require only two skilled operators (one per shift) who would earn $20/hr. Maintenance will be outsourced and cost $90,000 per year. The annual cost of electricity is estimated to be $50,000.

Certain aspects of the decision are difficult to quantify. Management’s relationship with the union hasn’t always been a smooth one and union leadership may not agree to the layoff of the redundant workers. Reassigning them to positions in other divisions might be easier but there are currently only a handful of suitable openings, some of which are not in the collective bargaining unit.

The specs on the new machine indicate that even higher levels of product quality and lower scrap rates are possible. In light of ever-increasing competition, this might prove to be of enormous competitive advantage. The new machine has a maximum capacity 27% higher than the old semi-automated machines which are currently operating at 90% capacity.

Answer 1

		CALCULATION OF WEIGHTED AVERAGE COST OF CAPITAL
		Beta of the firm	1.25
		Rm=Marketa return	9.25%
		Rf=Risk Free return	5.25%
		Required return on equity=Rf+Beta*(Rm-Rf)
	A	Required return on equity=5.25+1.25*(9.25-5.25)=	10.25%		10.25
	B	Weight of equity	0.75
	C	Weight of Debt	0.25
		Annualcoupon for the Bond	$85	(1000*0.085)
		Number of years	$20
		Face Value of Bond	$1,000
		Yield to maturity of Bond	8.0%	(Using RATE functionof excel with Nper=20,Pmt=85, PV=-1049,FV=1000
		Before tax cost of debt	8.0%
	D	After tax cost of debt=8*(1-0.25)	6.0%
	A*B+C*D	Weighted Average Cost of Capital(WACC)	9.19%
		CALCULATION OF PRESENT WORTH OF COST OF REPLACEMENT
		Present Value (PV) of Cash Flow:
		(Cash Flow)/((1+i)^N)
		i=Discount Rate=WACC=9.19%=0.0919
		N=Year of Cash Flow
	N	Years	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8
		COST OF USING OLD MACHINE:
	E	Opportunity cost of retaining the old machine	$250,000
	F	Cost of workers(12*2*13.5*8*5*52+3*14.5*8*5*52)		$        764,400	$ 764,400	$ 764,400	$      764,400	$      764,400	$          764,400	$       764,400	$       764,400
	G	Maintenance expence		$5,000	$5,000	$5,000	$5,000	$5,000	$5,000	$5,000	$5,000
	H	Cost of Electricity		$26,600	$26,600	$26,600	$26,600	$26,600	$26,600	$26,600	$26,600
	I=E+F+G+H	Total annual cost of old machine	$250,000	$        796,000	$ 796,000	$ 796,000	$      796,000	$      796,000	$          796,000	$       796,000	$       796,000
		COST OF USING NEW MACHINE:
	J	Cost of new machine	$1,500,000
	K	Cost of modifications	$350,000
	L	Cost of workers(1*2*20*8*5*52)		$          83,200	$    83,200	$     83,200	$         83,200	$        83,200	$            83,200	$         83,200	$         83,200
	M	Maintenance expence		$90,000	$90,000	$90,000	$90,000	$90,000	$90,000	$90,000	$90,000
	P	Cost of Electricity		$50,000	$50,000	$50,000	$50,000	$50,000	$50,000	$50,000	$50,000
	Q=J+K+L+M+P	Total annual cost of New machine	$1,850,000	$        223,200	$ 223,200	$ 223,200	$      223,200	$      223,200	$          223,200	$       223,200	$       223,200
	R=I-Q	INCREMENTAL Cash flow (Before Tax)	($1,600,000)	$572,800	$572,800	$572,800	$572,800	$572,800	$572,800	$572,800	$572,800
	S	Incrementalafter tax cash flow(25% tax)	($1,600,000)	$429,600	$429,600	$429,600	$429,600	$429,600	$429,600	$429,600	$429,600
		CALCULATION OF DEPRECIATION TAX SHIELD
	T	Annual Depreciation of old machine(totaldepreciation (700000-220000)=480000		$80,000	$80,000	$80,000	$80,000	$80,000	$80,000
		Cumulative Depreciation		$80,000	$160,000	$240,000	$320,000	$400,000	$480,000
	U	Depreciation of new machine (1850000/8)		$231,250	$231,250	$231,250	$231,250	$231,250	$231,250	$231,250	$231,250
		Cumulative Depreciation		$231,250	$462,500	$693,750	$925,000	$1,156,250	$1,387,500	$1,618,750	$1,850,000
	V=U-T	Incrementaldepreciation		$151,250	$151,250	$151,250	$151,250	$151,250	$151,250	$231,250	$231,250
	W=V*0.25	Incremental Cash Flow due to depreciation tax shield		$37,813	$37,813	$37,813	$37,813	$37,813	$37,813	$57,813	$57,813
	X=W+S	Net IncrementalCash flow for investment in new machine	($1,600,000)	$467,413	$467,413	$467,413	$467,413	$467,413	$467,413	$487,413	$487,413	SUM
	Y=X/(1.0919^N)	Present Value (PV ) of net incremental Cash flow	($1,600,000)	$        428,073	$ 392,044	$ 359,047	$      328,828	$      301,152	$          275,806	$       263,401	$       241,231	$989,581
	NPV	Net Present Value=Sumof PVs=	$989,581
		It is recommended that new machine should be purchased
		NPV is positive
		There will be increase of capacity
		Safety concern is addressed Medicalclaims will be reduced