(Calculating replacement project cash flows) The Minot Kit Aircraft Company of Minot, North Dakota, uses a plasma cutter to fabricate metal aircraft parts for its plane kits. The company currently is using a used cutter it purchased four years ago.

The cutter has a remaining $80,000 book value that is being depreciated $20,000 per year over the next four years. If the old cutter were to be sold today, the company estimates that it would bring in an amount equal to the book value of the equipment.

The company is considering the purchase of a new, automated plasma cutter that would cost $400,000 to install and that would be depreciated over the next four years toward a $40,000 salvage value using straight-line depreciation. The primary advantage of the new cutter is that it is fully automated and can be run by one operator rather than the three employees currently required. The labor savings would be

$100,000 per year. The firm faces a marginal tax rate of 30 percent.

a. What are the differential operating cash flow savings per year during Years 1 through 4 for the new plasma cutter?

b. What is the initial cash outlay required to replace the existing plasma cutter with the newer model?

c. Sketch a timeline for the replacement project cash flows for Years 0 through 4.

d. If the company requires a 15 percent discount rate for new investments, should the plasma cutter be replaced?