Problem:
EnterTech has noticed a significant decrease in the profitability of its line of portable CD players. The production manager believes that the source of the trouble is old, inefficient equipment used to manufacture the product. The issue raised, therefore, is whether EnterTech should (1) buy new equipment at a cost of $120,000 or (2) continue using its present equipment.
It is unlikely that demand for these portable CD players will extend beyond a five-year time horizon. EnterTech estimates that both the new equipment and the present equipment will have a remaining useful life of five years and no salvage value.
The new equipment is expected to produce annual cash savings in manufacturing costs of $34,000, before taking into consideration depreciation and taxes. However, management does not believe that the use of new equipment will have any effect on sales volume. Thus, its decision rests entirely on the magnitude of the potential cost savings.
The old equipment has a book value of $100,000. However, it can be sold for only $20,000 if it is replaced. EnterTech has an average tax rate of 40 percent and uses straight-line depreciation for tax purposes. The company requires a minimum return of 12 percent on all investments in plant assets.
1) Compute the net present value of the new machine using the tables below:
2) What nonfinancial factors should EnterTech consider?
3) If the manager of EnterTech is uncertain about the accuracy of the cost savings estimate, what actions could be taken to double-check the estimate?
Exhibit:
Present Value of $1 Due in n Periods *
Number of
Periods
( n )
Discount Rate
1% 1½% 5% 6% 8% 10% 12% 15% 20%
1 .990 .985 .952 .943 .926 .909 .893 .870 .833
2 .980 .971 .907 .890 .857 .826 .797 .756 .694
3 .971 .956 .864 .840 .794 .751 .712 .658 .579
4 .961 .942 .823 .792 .735 .683 .636 .572 .482
5 .951 .928 .784 .747 .681 .621 .567 .497 .402
6 .942 .915 .746 .705 .630 .564 .507 .432 .335
7 .933 .901 .711 .665 .583 .513 .452 .376 .279
8 .923 .888 .677 .627 .540 .467 .404 .327 .233
9 .914 .875 .645 .592 .500 .424 .361 .284 .194
10 .905 .862 .614 .558 .463 .386 .322 .247 .162
20 .820 .742 .377 .312 .215 .149 .104 .061 .026
24 .788 .700 .310 .247 .158 .102 .066 .035 .013
36 .699 .585 .173 .123 .063 .032 .017 .007 .001
Exhibit:
Present Value of $1 to Be Received Periodically for n Periods
Number of
Periods
( n )
Discount Rate
1% 1½% 5% 6% 8% 10% 12% 15% 20%
1 0.990 0.985 0.952 0.943 0.926 0.909 0.893 0.870 0.833
2 1.970 1.956 1.859 1.833 1.783 1.736 1.690 1.626 1.528
3 2.941 2.912 2.723 2.673 2.577 2.487 2.402 2.283 2.106
4 3.902 3.854 3.546 3.465 3.312 3.170 3.037 2.855 2.589
5 4.853 4.783 4.329 4.212 3.993 3.791 3.605 3.352 2.991
6 5.795 5.697 5.076 4.917 4.623 4.355 4.111 3.784 3.326
7 6.728 6.598 5.786 5.582 5.206 4.868 4.564 4.160 3.605
8 7.652 7.486 6.463 6.210 5.747 5.335 4.968 4.487 3.837
9 8.566 8.361 7.108 6.802 6.247 5.759 5.328 4.772 4.031
10 9.471 9.222 7.722 7.360 6.710 6.145 5.650 5.019 4.192
20 18.046 17.169 12.462 11.470 9.818 8.514 7.469 6.259 4.870
24 21.243 20.030 13.799 12.550 10.529 8.985 7.784 6.434 4.937
36 30.108 27.661 16.547 14.621 11.717 9.677 8.192 6.623 4.993