Buckingham Packaging is considering expanding its production capacity by purchasing a new machine, the XC$-750.$ The cost of the XC$-750$ is $$3\mathrm{.}00$ million. Unfortunately, installing this machine will take several

months and will partially disrupt production. The firm has just completed a $$50,000$ feasibility study to analyze the decision to buy the XC$-750,$ resulting in the following estimates:

Marketing: Once the XC$-750$ is operating next year, the extra capacity is expected to generate $$9\mathrm{.}5$ 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$ million this year. Once the machine is operating next year, the cost of goods for the products produced by the XC$-750$ is expected

to be $70\%$ of their sale price. The increased production will require additional inventory on hand of $$1\mathrm{.}5$ million, to be added in year $0$ and depleted in year $10.$

Human Resources: The expansion will require additional sales and administrative personnel at a cost of $$2$ million per year.

Accounting: The XC$-750$ has a CCA rate of $35\%$ and no salvage value is expected. The firm expects receivables from the new sales to be $12\%$ of revenues and payables to be $10\%$ of the cost of goods

sold. Buckingham's marginal corporate tax rate is $28\%.$

e$.$ If the appropriate cost of capital for the expansion is $14\%,$ what is the NPV break$-$even level of new sales for the expansion? What is the NPV break$-$even level for the cost of goods sold?

f$.$ Buckingham could instead purchase the XC$-900,$ which offers even greater capacity. The cost of the XC$-900$ is $$4$ million. The extra capacity would not be useful in the first two years of operation, but would

allow for additional sales in years $3-10.$ What level of additional sales $($above the $$9\mathrm{.}5$ million expected for the XC$-750)$ per year in those years would justify purchasing the larger machine?