Question

Beryl's Iced Tea currently rents a bottling machine for

$ 54 comma 000$54,000

per​ year, including all maintenance expenses. It is considering purchasing a machine instead and is comparing two​ options:

a. Purchase the machine it is currently renting for

$ 160 comma 000$160,000.

This machine will require

$ 25 comma 000$25,000

per year in ongoing maintenance expenses.

b. Purchase a​ new, more advanced machine for

$ 265 comma 000$265,000.

This machine will require

$ 19 comma 000$19,000

per year in ongoing maintenance expenses and will lower bottling costs by

$ 12 comma 000$12,000

per year.​ Also,

$ 40 comma 000$40,000

will be spent up front to train the new operators of the machine.

Suppose the appropriate discount rate is

7 %7%

per year and the machine is purchased today. Maintenance and bottling costs are paid at the end of each​ year, as is the cost of the rental machine. Assume also that the machines will be depreciated via the​ straight-line method over seven years and that they have a​ 10-year life with a negligible salvage value. The marginal corporate tax rate is

35 %35%.

Should​ Beryl's Iced Tea continue to​ rent, purchase its current​ machine, or purchase the advanced​ machine? To make this​ decision, calculate the NPV of the FCF associated with each alternative.

Answer 1