FM – L2 – Q65 – DCF: Specific applications

A business entity, Volta Ventures, is considering its policy for the replacement of machines. One type of machine in regular use is Machine Y. This machine has a maximum useful life of four years, but maintenance costs and other running costs rise with use. An estimate of costs and disposal values is as follows:

Machine Y: Purchase cost GH₵40,000

Year Maintenance costs and other running costs in the year Disposal value at the end of the year
GH₵ GH₵
1 8,000 25,000
2 12,000 20,000
3 20,000 10,000
4 25,000 0

The cost of capital is 10%.

Required
Calculate the equivalent annual cost of a replacement policy for the machine of replacement:
(a) every one year
(b) every two years
(c) every three years
(d) every four years.
Recommend a replacement policy for the machine.

(a) Replace every year

Year Cash flow Discount factor at 10% PV
GH₵
0 (40,000) 1.000 (40,000)
1 (8,000)
1 25,000
1 17,000 0.909 15,453
(24,547)
Annuity factor at 10%, Year 1 0.909
Equivalent annual cost

(b) Replace every two years

Year Cash flow Discount factor at 10% PV
GH₵
0 (40,000) 1.000 (40,000)
1 (8,000) 0.909 (7,272)
2 (12,000)
2 20,000
8,000 0.826 6,608
(40,664)
Annuity factor at 10%, Years 1-2 1.736
Equivalent annual cost

(c) Replace every three years

Year Cash flow Discount factor at 10% PV
GH₵
0 (40,000) 1.000 (40,000)
1 (8,000) 0.909 (7,272)
2 (12,000) 0.826 (9,912)
3 (20,000)
3 (10,000) 0.751 (7,510)
(64,694)
Annuity factor at 10%, Years 1-3 2.487
Equivalent annual cost

(d) Replace every four years

Year Cash flow Discount factor at 10% PV
GH₵
0 (40,000) 1.000
1 (8,000) 0.909
2 (12,000) 0.826
3 (20,000) 0.751
4 (25,000) 0.683
Annuity factor at 10%, Years 1-4
Equivalent annual cost

Recommendation
The machine should be replaced every two years, because this replacement policy gives the lowest equivalent annual cost.