Question

“I know headquarters wants us to add that new product line,” said Fred Halloway, manager of Kirsi Products’ East Division. “But I want to see the numbers before I make a move. Our division’s return on investment (ROI) has led the company for three years, and I don’t want any letdown.”

Kirsi Products is a decentralized wholesaler with four autonomous divisions. The divisions are evaluated on the basis of ROI, with year-end bonuses given to divisional managers who have the highest ROI. Operating results for the company’s East Division for last year are given below:

Sales	$	27,000,000
Variable expenses		14,000,000
Contribution margin		13,000,000
Fixed expenses		10,759,000
Net operating income	$	2,241,000
Divisional operating assets	$	6,000,000

The company had an overall ROI of 18% last year (considering all divisions). The company’s East Division has an opportunity to add a new product line that would require an investment of $2,900,000. The cost and revenue characteristics of the new product line per year would be as follows:

Sales	$ 8,120,000
Variable expenses	65% of sales
Fixed expenses	$ 2,281,720

Required:
1.	Compute the East Division’s ROI for last year; also compute the ROI as it would appear if the new product line is added. (Round your intermediate calculations and final answers to 2 decimal places. Omit the "%" sign in your response.)

	ROI
Present	%
New product line alone	%
Total	%

2.	If you were in Fred Halloway’s position, would you accept or reject the new product line?
	Accept Reject

3.	Why do you suppose headquarters is anxious for the East Division to add the new product line?
	Adding the new line would increase the company's overall ROI. Adding the new line would decrease the company's overall ROI.

4.	Suppose that the company’s minimum required rate of return on operating assets is 15% and that performance is evaluated using residual income.

a.	Compute the East Division’s residual income for last year; also compute the residual income as it would appear if the new product line is added. (Omit the "$" sign in your response.)

	Residual income
Present	$
New product line alone	$
Total	$

b.	Under these circumstances, if you were in Fred Halloway's position would you accept or reject the new product line?
	Accept Reject

Answer 1