QUESTION 9

Lowell Inc. is thinking about replacing an old computer with a new one. The new one will cost $1,000,000 and will have a life of FOUR years. The new computer qualifies as 5-year MACRS property.

Years 1 2 3 4

Depreciation rate 20% 32% 19% 12%

It will probably be worth about $330,000 after FOUR years. The old computer is being depreciated at a rate of $110,000 per year. It will be completely written off in FOUR years, at that time it will have zero resale value. We can sell it now for $330,000 after taxes. The new machine will save us $200,000 per year in operating costs. The tax rate (federal plus state) is 25 percent and WACC is 8 percent. What is the NPV?