Question

​Beryl's Iced Tea currently rents a bottling machine for $52,000 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 $165,000. This machine will require $23,000 per year in ongoing maintenance expenses.

b. Purchase a​ new, more advanced machine for $255,000. This machine will require $16,000 per year in ongoing maintenance expenses and will lower bottling costs by $14,000 per year.​ Also, $40,000 will be spent up front to train the new operators of the machine.

Suppose the appropriate discount rate is 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 38%.

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