171) Devon Corporation uses a discount rate of 8% in its capital budgeting. Partial analysis of an
investment in automated equipment with a useful life of 8 years has thus far yielded a net present
value of -$496,541. This analysis did not include any estimates of the intangible benefits of
automating this process nor did it include any estimate of the salvage value of the equipment.
(Ignore income taxes.)
See separate Exhibit 13B-1 and Exhibit 13B-2, to determine the appropriate discount factor(s)
using the tables provided.
Required:
a. Ignoring any salvage value, how large would the additional cash flow per year from the
intangible benefits have to be to make the investment in the automated equipment financially
attractive?
b. Ignoring any cash flows from intangible benefits, how large would the salvage value of the
automated equipment have to be to make the investment in the automated equipment financially
attractive?