Old press Originally purchased 3 years ago at an installed cost of $400,000, it is being depreciated under MACRS using a 5-year recovery period. The old press has a remaining economic life of 5 years. It can be sold today to net $420,000 before taxes; if it is retained, it can be sold to net $150,000 before taxes at the end of 5 years. Press A This highly automated press can be purchased for $830,000 and will require $40,000 in installation costs. It will be depreciated under MACRS using a 5-year recovery period. At the end of the 5 years, the machine could be sold to net $400,000 before taxes. If this machine is acquired, it is anticipated that the current account changes shown in the following table would result. Cash Accounts receivable Inventories Accounts payable + $ 25,400 + 120,000 - 20,000 + 35,000 Press B This press is not as sophisticated as press A. It costs $640,000 and requires $20,000 in installation costs. It will be depreciated under MACRS using a 5-year recovery period. At the end of 5 years, it can be sold to net $330,000 before taxes. Acquisition of this press will have no effect on the firm's net working capital investment. The firm estimates that its earnings before depreciation, interest, and taxes with the old press and with press A or press B for each of the 5 years would be as shown in Table 1 (see page 504). The firm is subject to a 40% tax rate. The firm's cost of capital, r, applicable to the proposed replacement is 14%. TABLE 1 Earnings before Depreciation, Interest, and Taxes for Lasting Impressions Company's Presses Year Old press Press A Press B 1 $120,000 $250,000 $210,000 2 120,000 270,000 210,000 3 120,000 300,000 210,000 4 120,000 330,000 210,000 S 120,000 370,000 210,000