Roberts Fabrication and Automation, Inc. (RFA) just completed its Capital Budgeting analysis for a new metallic 3D printing machine that will aid in the design and production of new classic and customautomotive components. The NPV is positive and significant, the IRR is well above the 12% project hurdle rate (required return), and RFA has decided to move forward with the project.

The next part of their analysis involves the financing of the machine, that is, whether to purchase, or to lease the machine.

If the printer is purchased:

The initial investment (printer cost, shipping, & installation) is $327,500. RFA expects to borrow this amount from the 4th Tennessee Bank of the Southeast with a term of 4 years and an interest rate of 7.25%. The loan would call for annual payments at the end of each year. Maintenance costs are predicted to be $20,000 per year. Base on Internal Revenue Service guidelines, the printer will be depreciated using MACRS (half-year convention) and a 5 year class-life. RFAs tax rate is 31%

The Leasing option:

The printer will be made by Custom Tools of Middle Tennessee. It has offered to lease the printer to RFA as an alternative to the purchase option. Their proposed lease terms are:

Lease payments of $85,000 per year beginning on the installation of the printer with a total of 5 payments. (This means payments at t = 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4).

The Lease payments above include all maintenance.

RFA expects to operate this project for 4 years, regardless of whether is purchases or leases the printer.The printer is expected to have a market value of $42,500 (salvage value) at the end of the 4 yearproject.

Using a blank worksheet (or page of paper) conduct the Lease vs Buy analysis.

a. Using Custom Tools proposed lease terms, what is the NAV, and should the 3d printer be leased or

purchased?

b. Using your first analysis (part a.), at what lease payment would the firm be indifferent to either leasing or buying? That is, what annual lease payment results in a NAL=0?

c. The salvage value is the most uncertain cash flow in the analysis. With the additional risk of that cash flow (assume a pre-tax discount rate of 15 percent for this item), what would be the effect of a salvage value risk adjustment on the decision? That is, what is the revised NAV, and decision in this scenario? Note: The salvage value is the only cash flow affected in this scenario.