QUESTION Premium chemicals plc were considering the installation of a new processing plant. The two plants under consideration were: Plant A The capital cost of this plant was $5M. The plant had a proven track record for operating efficiency, but its method of processing tended to be costly. Plant B This newly designed Plant cost $10M. One of Vernon's directors was very enthusiastic about this plant since in operations elsewhere Proved relatively profitable. However, it was known that the plant did tend to have some pollutive effect on the environment and the atmosphere. Forecast information for each of the plants was produced as follows: Additional information 1) A modification to Plant B to treat the pollution would need an extra capital cost of $1.5M. In addition, operating payments would increase in each year by $200,000. The director was convinced that this modification would eliminate the pollution. 2) The Chief Environmental Health Officer of the region consulted a team of government scientist about the pollutive effect. The scientists agreed that he plant modifications would reduce the level of pollution but they could give no precise figure to support the company's claim that it would be eliminated. 3) The company's cost of capital is 10% per annum. 4) The following extract is from the present value table for $1 at 10% per annum. \$u.v