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11.15 NewTech Insulations Company is considering replacing a broken inspection m

ID: 1207938 • Letter: 1

Question

11.15 NewTech Insulations Company is considering replacing a broken inspection machine, which has been used to test the mechanical strength of electrical insula- tors, with a newer and more efficient one. If repaired, the old machine can be used for another five years, although the firm does not expect to realize any salvage value from scrapping it in five years. Alternatively, the firm can sell the machine to another firm in the industry now for $5,000. If the machine is kept, it will require an immediate $1,200 overhaul to restore it to operable condition. The overhaul will neither extend the service life originally estimated nor increase the value of the inspection machine. The operating costs are estimated at $2,000 during the first

Explanation / Answer

Assumption: 5 years life

Option I - Retain the Machinery

The outflows are Overhaul cost and additional maintenance cost per year which increase by $1000 every year. In this option there is no salvage value as it is already lapsed

In this case the total cash outflow per year is as follows:

Year 0 (Overhaul cost) - 1200

Year I - 2000 Year II - 3000 Year III - 4000 Year IV - 5000 Year V - 6000

Total cash outflow including Overhaul cost = 1200 + 2000 + 3000 + 4000 + 5000 + 6000 = 21200

Option II - Sell the existing machinery and purchasing new

The total cash netflow in this case will be cost of machinery, Maintenance, depreciation and Salvage value. The depreciation is calculated as below

(Initial cost - salvage value at the end of Year 5 ) / 5 = (10000 - 3132) / 5 = 1374 per annum

Since this non cash flow but tax deductible, we will assume tax rate @ 30% and consider the tax benefit as cash inflow i.e 1374 * 30% = 412 per annum

The total cash outflow per year is as follows:

Year 0 = Cost of new machinery - Salvage value of old machinery = 10000 - 5000 = 5000

Year I = 2000 - 412 = 1588

Year II = 2800 - 412 = 2388

Year III = 3600 - 412 = 3188

Year IV = 4400 - 412 = 3988

Year V = 5200 - 412 = 4788 - 3132 (Salvage value of machinery) = 1656

Total outflows = 5000 + 1588 + 2388 +3188 +3988 + 1656 = 17808

Based on year on year and total outflows, the Option II looks better than Option I