Billingham Packaging is considering expanding its production capacity by purchasing a new machine, the XC-750. The cost of the XC-750 is $2.81 million. Unfortunately, installing this machine will take several months and will partially disrupt production. The firm has just completed a $45,000 feasibility study to analyze the decision to buy the XC-750, resulting in the following estimates:

Marketing: Once the XC-750 is operational next year, the extra capacity is expected to generate $10.20 million per year in additional sales, which will continue for the 10-year life of the machine.

Operations: The disruption caused by the installation will decrease sales by $5.04 million this year. As with Billingham's existing products, the cost of goods for the products produced by the XC-750 is expected to be 74% of their sale price. The increased production will also require increased inventory on hand of $1.18 million during the life of the project, including year 0.

Human Resources: The expansion will require additional sales and administrative personnel at a cost of $1.93 million per year.

Accounting: The XC-750 will be depreciated via the straight-line method over the 10-year life of the machine. The firm expects receivables from the new sales to be 15% of revenues and payables to be 11% of the cost of goods sold. Billingham's marginal corporate tax rate is 35%.

a. Determine the incremental earnings from the purchase of the XC-750.

b. Determine the free cash flow from the purchase of the XC-750.

c. If the appropriate cost of capital for the expansion is 9.8%, compute the NPV of the purchase.

d. While the expected new sales will be $10.20 million per year from the expansion, estimates range from $8.25 million to $12.15 million. What is the NPV in the worst case? In the best case?

e. What is the break-even level of new sales from the expansion? What is the breakeven level for the cost of goods sold?