In: Finance
Company ABC Inc has just sold an asset for $2.3 million for the purpose of self-financing a capital expansion program that may include purchase of a piece of manufacturing equipment for $1.6 million. The company’s tax rate is 25%, its required rate of return is 11%, the estimated salvage or recovery value of the equipment at the end of 3 years is $450,000. Given the high-tech nature of its industry, the conservative approach is to use a depreciable life of 3 years on a straight line basis. The alternative is to lease the same piece of equipment for $425,000 over the same period. Should ABC lease or buy? Show your work to justify your decision or recommendation.
Lease alternative has higher NPV. Hence lease the asset.
| Lease | |
| Year | Cash flows |
| 0 | |
| 1 | -318750 |
| 2 | -318750 |
| 3 | -318750 |
| NPV | ($778,934.07) |
| Buy | ||||
| Year | Initial cost | Tax shield | Salvage | Net cash flows |
| 0 | -1,600,000 | -1,600,000 | ||
| 1 | 133333.3 | 133,333 | ||
| 2 | 133333.3 | 133,333 | ||
| 3 | 133333.3 | 337500 | 470,833 | |
| NPV | ($1,027,394.28) | |||
WORKINGS
