Return on Investment $($ROI$)$ and Residual Income

$$I know headquarters wants us to add that new product line,$$ said Brian Stettler, manager of Sparks Products$$ Central Division. $$But I want to see the numbers before I make a move. Our division$$s return on investment $($ROI$)$ has led the company for three years, and I don$$t want any letdown.$$ Sparks Products is a decentralized wholesaler with four autonomous divisions. The divisions are evaluated on the basis of ROI, with year$-$end bonuses given to divisional managers who have the highest ROI. Operating results for the company$$s Central Division for last year are given below:

Sales $..................................................$

$$22,000,000$

Variable expenses $...............................$

$14,000,000$

Contribution margin $............................$

$8,000,000$

Fixed expenses $...................................$

$6,174,000$

Net operating income $..........................$

$ $1,826,000$

Divisional operating assets $..................$

$ $5,500,000$

The company had an overall ROI of $18\%$ last year $($considering all divisions$).$ The company$$s Central Division has an opportunity to add a new product line that would require an investment of $$3,430,000.$ The cost and revenue characteristics of the new product line per year would be as follows:

Sales $...................................$

$ $10,290,000$

Variable expenses $................$

$65\%$ of sales

Fixed expenses $.....................$

$ $2,870,910$

Required:

Compute the Central Division$$s ROI for last year; also compute the ROI as it would appear if the new product line is added.

If you were in Brian Stettler$$s position, would you accept or reject the new product line? Explain.

Why do you suppose headquarters is anxious for the Central Division to add the new product line?

Suppose that the company$$s minimum required rate of return on operating assets is $15\%$ and that performance is evaluated using residual income.

Compute the Central Division$$s residual income for last year; also compute the residual income as it would appear if the new product line is added.

Under these circumstances, if you were in Brian Stettler$$s position would you accept or reject the new product line? Explain.