You must evaluate the purchase of a proposed spectrometer for the R&D department. The purchase price of the spectrometer including modifications is

$170,000, and the equipment will be fully depreciated at the time of purchase. The equipment would be sold after 3 years for $60,000. The equipment would require an $8,000 increase in net operating working capital (spare parts inventory). The project would have no effect on revenues, but it should save the firm $50,000 per year in before-tax labor costs.

The firm’s marginal federal-plus-state tax rate is 25%.

a. What is the initial investment outlay for the spectrometer after bonus depreciation is considered, that is, what is the Year 0 project cash flow?

b. What are the project’s annual cash flows in Years 1, 2, and 3?

c. If the WACC is 10%, should the spectrometer be purchased? Explain.