Assume the following information for a capital budgeting proposal with a five-year time horizon:

Initial investment:
Cost of equipment (zero salvage value)	$ 525,000
Annual revenues and costs:
Sales revenues	$ 300,000
Variable expenses	$ 130,000
Depreciation expense	$ 50,000
Fixed out-of-pocket costs	$ 40,000

This proposals simple rate of return is closest to:

A. 25%

B. 15%

C. 17%

D. 18%