Return on Investment, Effect of Depreciation The Chief Operating Officer of the Wisconsin Corporation is considering the effect of depreciation on company ROI. In the most recent year, net operating profit after taxes was \(\$ 25,000,000\) and investment (total assets of \(\$ 300,000,000\) less noninterest-bearing current liabilities of \(\$ 15,000,000\) ) was \(\$ 285,000,000\).

Required
a. Assuming that total assets will decline each year by 5 percent due to depreciation of plant and equipment but NOPAT will remain constant, calculate ROI for each of the next five years.
b. Explain why evaluation in terms of ROI may lead managers to delay purchases of equipment that, in the long run, will be needed to remain competitive.