Production equipment costing $500,000 has been purchased by a contract manufacturing company to meet the specific needs of a customer (Note: this equipment qualified for a 10% investment tax credit (ITC) at the time of purchase). The contracting award is for a 4-year contract with the possibility of extending the contract for another 4 years. The company plans to use MACRS to depreciate this equipment as a 7-year class property for tax purposes. The income tax rate for the company is 40%, and it expects to have an after-tax rate of return (MARR) of 12% for all its investments. The equipment has generated an annual income of $150,000 for the company for the first four years, however the customer decided not to renew the contract after 4 years. Consequently, the company has decided to sell the equipment for $200,000 at the end of 4 years.

Required:
Use the short-cut method to determine if the company has reached their rate of return (IRR) goal on this contract and investment.

Answer:

Short-cut IRR = 18.75%

The company has not reached their rate of return goal on this contract and investment.

Explanation:

a) Data and Calculations:

Cost of production equipment = $500,000

Qualified investment tax credit (ITC) = 10% = $50,000 ($500,000 * 10%)

Contract period = 4 years with 4 years extension on renewal

Income tax rate for the company = 40%

Expected after-tax rate of return = 12%

Expected before-tax rate of return = 30% (12%/40%)

Annual income generated by the equipment = $150,000 for 4 years

Salvage value at the end of 4 years = $200,000

Short-cut IRR = 100%, divided by the number of years * about 75-80%

= 100%/4 * 75%

= 18.75%

A country has an absolute advantage in trade when it:

A.is the only country that produces a particular good.
B.has a lower opportunity cost producing a good than another country.
C.can produce a good more efficiently than another country.
D.produces all the essential goods its citizens require.

You are considering investing in a bank account that pays a nominal annual rate of 7%, compounded monthly. If you invest $3,000 at the end of each month, how many months will it take for your account to grow to $275,000