Beryl's Iced Tea currently rents a bottling machine for $ $54,000 per year, including all maintenance expenses. It is considering purchasing a machine instead and is comparing two options:

a. Purchase the machine it is currently renting for $160,000. This machine will require $24,000 per year in ongoing maintenance expenses.

b. Purchase a new, more advanced machine for $250,000. This machine will require $19,000 per year in ongoing maintenance expenses and will lower bottling costs by $12,000 per year. Also, $40,000 will be spent up front to train the new operators of the machine. Suppose the appropriate discount rate is 9 % per year and the machine is purchased today. Maintenance and bottling costs are paid at the end of each year, as is the cost of the rental machine. Assume also that the machines will be depreciated via the straight-line method over seven years and that they have a? 10-year life with a negligible salvage value. The marginal corporate tax rate is 30 %

Should Beryl's Iced Tea continue to rent, purchase its current machine, or purchase the advanced machine? (To make this decision, calculate the NPV of the FCF associated with each alternative. )

Lease vs Buy Decision:

The dilemma of whether to lease or buy an asset can be challenging and requires careful examination. If all relevant cash flows are successfully identified, the decision comes down to selecting the option with the highest net present value (or NPV) or lowest cost.