“I know headquarters wants us to add that new product line,” said Dell Havasi, manager of Billings Company’s Office Products Division. “But I want to see the numbers before I make any move. Our division’s return on investment (ROI) has led the company for three years, and I don’t want any letdown.” Billings Company is a decentralized wholesaler with five autonomous divisions. The divisions are evaluated on the basis of ROI, with year-end bonuses given to the divisional managers who have the highest ROIs. Operating results for the company’s Office Products Division for the most recent year are given below: Sales $ 22,440,000 Variable expenses 14,094,600 Contribution margin 8,345,400 Fixed expenses 6,130,000 Net operating income $ 2,215,400 Divisional operating assets $ 4,480,000 The company had an overall return on investment (ROI) of 18.00% last year (considering all divisions). The Office Products Division has an opportunity to add a new product line that would require an additional investment in operating assets of $2,430,600. The cost and revenue characteristics of the new product line per year would be: Sales $ 9,705,000 Variable expenses 65% of sales Fixed expenses $ 2,591,710 Required: 1. Compute the Office Products Division’s ROI for the most recent year; also compute the ROI as it would appear if the new product line is added
pute the Office Products Division’s ROI for the most recent year; also compute the ROI as it would appear if the new product line is added
Particular | Prasent | New Line | Total |
(1)Sales | 22440000 | 9705000 | 32145000 |
(2) Operating income . | 2215400 | 805040 | 3020440 |
(3) Operating assets . | 4480000 | 2430600 | 6910600 |
(4) Margin (2) ÷ (1) . | 9.87% | 9.30% | 9.40% |
(5) Turnover (1) ÷ (3) . | 5 | 4 | 4.65 |
(6) ROI (4) × (5). | 49.35% | 37.20% | 43.71% |
Working Notes
Calculation of the net income for the New line
Sales | 9705000 |
Variable expenses (65% x $9705000) . | 6308250 |
Contribution margin . | 3396750 |
Fixed expenses . | 2591710 |
Operating income . | 805040 |
Conclusion
He will be inclined to reject the new product line, since accepting itwould reduce his division’s overall rate of return.