PROBLEM 4-21 Basic Cost-Volume-Profit Analysis; Break-Even Point; Cost Structure; Target Sales [LO1. LO2, LO4, 105, 106, LOS] Northwood Company manufactures basketballs. The company has a ball that sells for $25. At present, the ball is manufactured in a small plant that relies heavily on direct-labour workers. Thus, variable ex- penses are high, totalling $15 per ball, of which 60% is direct labour cost. Last year the company sold 30,000 of these balls, with the following results: Sales. Variable expenses.. Contribution margin.. Fixed expenses. Operating income... $750,000 450,000 300,000 210,000 90,000 Required: 1. Compute (a) the CM ratio and the break-even point in balls, and (b) the degree of operating lever- age at last year's sales level. 2. Due to an increase in labour rates, the company estimates that variable expenses will increase by $3 per ball next year. If this change takes place and the selling price per ball remains constant at $25. what will be the new CM ratio and break-even point in balls? 3. Refer to the data in (2) above. If the expected change in variable expenses takes place, how many balls will have to be sold next year to earn the same operating income, $90,000, as last year? 4. Refer again to the data in (2) above. The president feels that the company must raise the selling price of its basketballs. If Northwood Company wants to maintain the same CM ratio as last year, what selling price per ball must it charge next year to cover the increased labour costs? 5. Refer to the original data. The company is discussing the construction of a new, automated manu- facturing plant. The new plant would slash variable expenses per hall by 40%, but it would cause fixed expenses per year to double. If the new plant is built, what would be the company's new CM ratio and new break-even point in balls? 6. Refer to the data in (5) above. a. If the new plant is built, how many balls will have to be sold next year to earn the same net operating income, $90,000, as last year? b. Assume the new plant is built and that next year the company manufactures and sells 30,000 balls (the same number as sold last year). Prepare a contribution format income statement and compute the degree of operating leverage. c. If you were a member of top management, would you have been in favour of constructing the new plant? Explain.