Highpoint, Incorporated, Is Considering Investing in Automated Equipment with a Ten-Year

Multiple Choice

Highpoint, Incorporated, is considering investing in automated equipment with a ten-year useful life. Managers at Highpoint have estimated the cash flows associated with the tangible costs and benefits of automation, but have been unable to estimate the cash flows associated with the intangible benefits. Using the company's 12% required rate of return, the net present value of the cash flows associated with just the tangible costs and benefits is a negative $282,500. How large would the annual net cash inflows from the intangible benefits have to be to make this a financially acceptable investment? (Ignore income taxes.) Click here to view Exhibit 14B-1 and Exhibit 14B-2, to determine the appropriate discount factor(s) using the tables provided.

A) $20,000
B) $28,250
C) $35,000
D) $50,000