CHOOSING MANDATORY PROJECTS ON THE BASIS OF LEAST COST

Kim Inc. must install a new air conditioning unit in its main plant. Kim must install one or the other of the units; otherwise, the highly profitable plant would have to shut down. Two units are available, HCC and LCC (for high and low capital costs, respectively). HCC has a high capital cost but relatively low operating costs, while LCC has a low capital cost but higher operating costs because it uses more electricity. The costs of the units are shown here. Kim's WACC is 7%.

HCC -$590,000 -$55,000 -$55,000 -$55,000 -$55,000 -$55,000

LCC -$100,000 -$175,000 -$175,000 -$175,000 -$175,000 -$175,000

Which unit would you recommend?

1. Since we are examining costs, the unit chosen would be the one that had the lower NPV of costs. Since LCC's NPV of costs is lower than HCC's, LCC would be chosen.
2. Since we are examining costs, the unit chosen would be the one that had the lower NPV of costs. Since HCC's NPV of costs is lower than LCC's, HCC would be chosen.
3. Since all of the cash flows are negative, the IRR's will be negative and we do not accept any project that has a negative IRR.
4. Since all of the cash flows are negative, the NPV's cannot be calculated and an alternative method must be employed.
5. Since all of the cash flows are negative, the NPV's will be negative and we do not accept any project that has a negative NPV.

If Kim's controller wanted to know the IRRs of the two projects, what would you tell him?

1. The IRR cannot be calculated because the cash flows are all one sign. A change of sign would be needed in order to calculate the IRR.
2. The IRR cannot be calculated because the cash flows are in the form of an annuity.
3. The IRR of each project will be positive at a lower WACC.
4. There are multiple IRR's for each project.
5. The IRR of each project is negative and therefore not useful for decision-making.