Comparing Mutually Exclusive Projects. Mapleton Enterprises Inc. is evaluating alternative uses for a three-story manufacturing and warehousing building that it has purchased for $975,000. The company could continue to rent the buildingto the present occupants for $75,000 per year. These tenants have indicated an interest in staying in the building for at leastanother 15 years. Alternatively, the company could make leasehold improvements to modify the existing structure to use for itsown manufacturing and warehousing needs. Mapleton’s production engineer feels the building could be adapted to handle oneof two new product lines. The cost and revenue data for the two product alternatives follow.
Product A
Initial cash outlay for building modifications $102,000
Initial cash outlay for equipment 382,000
Annual pre-tax cash revenues (generated for 15 years) 323,100
Annual pre-tax cash expenditures (generated for 15 years) 174,700
Product B
Initial cash outlay for building modifications $192,250
Initial cash outlay for equipment 456,000
Annual pre-tax cash revenues (generated for 15 years) 396,000
Annual pre-tax cash expenditures (generated for 15 years) 235,700
The building will be used for only 15 years for either product A or product B. After 15 years, the building will be too small forefficient production of either product line. At that time, Mapleton plans to rent the building to firms similar to the currentoccupants. To rent the building again, Mapleton will need to restore the building to its present layout. The estimated cash cost ofrestoring the building if product A has been undertaken is $19,200; if product B has been produced, the cash cost will be $129,250. These cash costs can be deducted for tax purposes in the year the expenditures occur.Mapleton will depreciate the original building shell (purchased for $975,000) at a CCA rate of 5 percent, regardless of whichalternative it chooses. The building modifications fall into CCA Class 13 and are depreciated using the straight-line method overa 15-year life. Equipment purchases for either product are in Class 8 and have a CCA rate of 20 percent. The firm’s tax rate is 36percent, and its required rate of return on such investments is 16 percent.For simplicity, assume all cash flows for a given year occur at the end of the year. The initial outlays for modifications andequipment will occur att=0, and the restoration outlays will occur at the end of year 15. Also, Mapleton has other profitableongoing operations that are sufficient to cover any losses