Evaluating Enterprise Solutions Incorporated (ESI) Growth Plans Rachel Rodriguez was very inquisitive growing up. Rachel, like most children in developed economies, enjoyed playing on the computer. Her curiosity went further than normal. Rachel was in the habit of cracking open her laptop, computer and cellphone to see how the electronics were connected and to understand how the devices worked. Initially Rachels parents were not amused. Eventually they encouraged her interest in electronics. Years later Rachel enrolled in a computer class in high school and became certified in Microsoft Office. During high school summers Rachel worked for a local computer store. When business was slow the owner would teach her how computers worked. Rachel went on to major in computer science at the University of Maryland. Her long-term desire was to own her own computer consulting business, helping clients set up their computer networks and servicing all their information technology (IT) needs. After earning B.S. in Computer Science from the University of Maryland, Rachel got a job at a local bank as an IT help desk technician. After five years at bank, Rachel started her own computer consulting company. While Rachels computer consulting had been successful, many of the companys clients wanted to purchase the computer equipment from the business as well. Recently Rachels Enterprise Solutions Inc (ESI) has begun offering leased computer equipment as well as consulting services. ESIs target market was small businesses. After graduating from Regent University with a MBA degree you took a job as a finance analyst at ESI. Rachel believes that you have enough experience to help with the capital budgeting decisions now facing ESI.

Rachel is putting together a growth plan for ESI. She is evaluating whether to substantially invest in company owned equipment, and whether to outsource her online services personnel to a call center in New Dehli, India. Rachel has asked for your analysis of the following two decisions facing ESI: 1. Equipment Purchase - ESI may decide to purchase outright additional computer equipment. ESI can continue to lease equipment from hardware vendors. Such a status quo decision comes with known margins and profitability metrics. The status quo is embodied in the income statement and balance sheet reported in 202x data given above. Rachel believes adding owned equipment to its existing leasing business will enable ESI to more fully utilize their fixed assets, grow faster and provide more customized services to a larger group of future clients. Rachel is proposing to purchase $500,000 of additional IT equipment. The equipment would be installed and prepared for use in the current year. When fully utilized the equipment would generate asset turnover of approximately 2x gross investment. It would likely take four years to reach full utilization. The useful life of equipment for accounting and tax purposes is 10 years. However, due to rapid life cycles in enterprise technology, after six years Rachel expects to sell the equipment for 10% of initial cost. The EBITDA (operating income plus depreciation and amortization) margin of business done with owned equipment is 1.1x the margin of business done with leased equipment. 2. Outsourcing online consultants - Rachel may move her entire online service team to India. As she has tried to re-sign existing clients and win new business Rachel has been feeling pricing and margin pressure. For the time being Rachel has only re-signed or sought new business that matches her current margin profile. Rachel expects to be able to maintain the status quo in the online services business for several more years. However, for the most part Rachels regional and national competitors have outsourced online support to low-cost countries. ESIs higher cost structure limits the future growth of ESI services. ESIs five full time online consultants each make $60,000 per year. The online segment cost of goods sold is a little more than the $300,000 paid to the consultants in the most recent year. Consulting EBITDA is approximately $147,450. If ESI does not outsource its consultants it is estimated consultant margin dollars will remain about flat for the next several years. For comparison, online consultants in India make approximately $30,000 per year, growing at 10% per year. In the first year after moving to India Rachel expects consulting EBITDA margins dollars to be the same as in the US. However, in years 2 through 10 consulting revenue should grow by 20% per year, while the increase labor cost and productivity gains of India employees should just about offset. This means ESI could maintain its current consulting EBITDA margin on a growing revenue base. Uncertainty in technology life cycles means Rachel doesnt think it is reasonable to plan an online services business beyond 10 years into the future. To make the move to India, ESI would pay the cost of a fairly generous severance. It is expected US employees would receive a package valued at 50% of annual compensation. ESI would sell five U.S. based computer terminals and desks for $8000. The setup costs in India, including new office space, equipment and telecom infrastructure is $100,000. The setup costs will be amortized over 10 years. For conservatism, after 10 years ESI assumes zero recovery on any office furniture, and no future lease liabilities. Additional Capital Budgeting Assumptions: Marginal and average corporate tax rate of 21%. Pretax cost of bank borrowing is 5%. As a private firm ESI has an internally defined required return on equity of 10%. ESIs banks charge a 2% premium for international investments. The required equity return should also be charged a risk premium over domestic investments. ESI expects to maintain the ratio of equity and long-term liabilities shown in the 202x balance sheet. The reinvestment rate earned on idle cash is 3%.

Rachel is putting together a growth plan for ESI. She is evaluating whether to substantially invest in company owned equipment, and whether to outsource her online services personnel to a call center in New Dehli, India. Rachel has asked for your analysis of the following two decisions facing ESI:

1. Equipment Purchase - ESI may decide to purchase outright additional computer equipment. ESI can continue to lease equipment from hardware vendors. Such a status quo decision comes with known margins and profitability metrics. The status quo is embodied in the income statement and balance sheet reported in 202x data given above. Rachel believes adding owned equipment to its existing leasing business will enable ESI to more fully utilize their fixed assets, grow faster and provide more customized services to a larger group of future clients. Rachel is proposing to purchase $500,000 of additional IT equipment. The equipment would be installed and prepared for use in the current year. When fully utilized the equipment would generate asset turnover of approximately 2x gross investment. It would likely take four years to reach full utilization. The useful life of equipment for accounting and tax purposes is 10 years. However, due to rapid life cycles in enterprise technology, after six years Rachel expects to sell the equipment for 10% of initial cost. The EBITDA (operating income plus depreciation and amortization) margin of business done with owned equipment is 1.1x the margin of business done with leased equipment.

2. Outsourcing online consultants - Rachel may move her entire online service team to India. As she has tried to re-sign existing clients and win new business Rachel has been feeling pricing and margin pressure. For the time being Rachel has only re-signed or sought new business that matches her current margin profile. Rachel expects to be able to maintain the status quo in the online services business for several more years. However, for the most part Rachels regional and national competitors have outsourced online support to low-cost countries. ESIs higher cost structure limits the future growth of ESI services. ESIs five full time online consultants each make $60,000 per year. The online segment cost of goods sold is a little more than the $300,000 paid to the consultants in the most recent year. Consulting EBITDA is approximately $147,450. If ESI does not outsource its consultants it is estimated consultant margin dollars will remain about flat for the next several years. For comparison, online consultants in India make approximately $30,000 per year, growing at 10% per year. In the first year after moving to India Rachel expects consulting EBITDA margins dollars to be the same as in the US. However, in years 2 through 10 consulting revenue should grow by 20% per year, while the increase labor cost and productivity gains of India employees should just about offset. This means ESI could maintain its current consulting EBITDA margin on a growing revenue base. Uncertainty in technology life cycles means Rachel doesnt think it is reasonable to plan an online services business beyond 10 years into the future. To make the move to India, ESI would pay the cost of a fairly generous severance. It is expected US employees would receive a package valued at 50% of annual compensation. ESI would sell five U.S. based computer terminals and desks for $8000. The setup costs in India, including new office space, equipment and telecom infrastructure is $100,000. The setup costs will be amortized over 10 years. For conservatism, after 10 years ESI assumes zero recovery on any office furniture, and no future lease liabilities.

Additional Capital Budgeting Assumptions: Marginal and average corporate tax rate of 21%. Pretax cost of bank borrowing is 5%. As a private firm ESI has an internally defined required return on equity of 10%. ESIs banks charge a 2% premium for international investments. The required equity return should also be charged a risk premium over domestic investments. ESI expects to maintain the ratio of equity and long-term liabilities shown in the 202x balance sheet. The reinvestment rate earned on idle cash is 3%

Question: Calculate the capital budgeting decision metrics for the proposed expansion in ESI owned computer equipment. Calculate each of NPV, IRR, MIRR, Payback and Profitability Index. Show all calculations including initial outlay, annual differential cash flows, terminal value, and weighted average cost of capital.

Rachel's Enterprises Solutions Incorporated Balance Sheet As at December 31, 202x Rachel's Enterprises Solutions Incorporated Income Statement and Segment EBITDA For the 12 Months Ending December 31, 202x Rachel's Enterprises Solutions Incorporated Balance Sheet As at December 31, 202x Rachel's Enterprises Solutions Incorporated Income Statement and Segment EBITDA For the 12 Months Ending December 31, 202x