Return on Investment (ROI) and Residual Income

"I know headquarters wants us to add that new product line," said Dell Havasi, manager of Billings Company's Office Products Division. "But I want to see the numbers before I make any division's return on investment (ROI) has led the company for three years, and I don't want any letdown."

Billings Company is a decentralized wholesaler with five autonomous divisions. The divi- sions are evaluated on the basis of ROI, with year-end bonuses given to the divisional managers who have the highest ROls. Operating results for the company's Office Products Division for the most recent year are given below:

Sales ......................... $10,000,000

Variable expenses .............. 6,000,000

Contribution margin ............ 4,000,000

Fixed expenses .................. 3,200,000

Net operating income ........... $ 800,000

Divisional operating assets ...$ 4,000,000

The company had an overall return on investment (ROI) of 15% last year (considering all divisions). The Office Products Division has an opportunity to add a new product line that would require an additional investment in operating assets of $1,000,000. The cost and revenue character istics of the new product line per year would be:

Sales ....................... $2,000,000

Variable expenses ............. 60% of sales

Fixed expenses ............... $640,000

Required:

1. Compute the Office Products Division's ROI for the most recent year; also compute the ROI as it would appear if the new product line is added.

2. If you were in Dell Havasi's position, would you accept or reject the new product line? Explain.

3. Why do you suppose headquarters is anxious for the Office Products Division to add the new product line?

4. Suppose that the company's minimum required rate of return on operating assets is 12% and that performance is evaluated using residual income.

a.) Compute the Office Products Division's residual income for the most recent year, also compute the residual income as it would appear if the new product line is added.

b.)Under these circumstances, if you were in Dell Havasi's position, would you accept or reject the new product line? Explain.