Bethesda Mining is a midsized coal mining company with 20 mines located in Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Kentucky. The company operates deep mines as well as strip mines. Most of the coal mined is sold under contract, with excess production sold on the spot market. The coal mining industry, especially high-sulfur coal operations such as Bethesda, has been hard-hit by environmental regulations. Recently, however, a combination of increased demand for coal and new pollution reduction technologies has led to an improved market demand for highsulfur coal. Bethesda has been approached by Mid-Ohio Electric Company with a request to supply coal for its electric generators for the next 4 years. Bethesda Mining does not have enough excess capacity at its existing mines to guarantee the contract. The company is considering opening a strip mine in Ohio on 5,000 acres of land purchased 10 years ago for $4 million. Based on a recent appraisal, the company feels it could receive $6.5 million on an aftertax basis if it sold the land today. Strip mining is a process where the layers of topsoil above a coal vein are removed and the exposed coal is removed. Some time ago, the company would remove the coal and leave the land in an unusable condition. Changes in mining regulations now force a company to reclaim the land; that is, when the mining is completed, the land must be restored to near its original condition. The land can then be used for other purposes. Because it is currently operating at full capacity, Bethesda will need to purchase additional necessary equipment, which will cost $95 million. The equipment will be depreciated on a 7-year MACRS schedule. The contract runs for only four years. At that time the coal from the site will be entirely mined. The company feels that the equipment can be sold for 60 percent of its initial purchase price in four years. However, Bethesda plans to open another strip mine at that time and will use the equipment at the new mine. The contract calls for the delivery of 500,000 tons of coal per year at a price of $86 per ton. Bethesda Mining feels that coal production will be 620,000 tons, 680,000 tons, 730,000 tons, and 590,000 tons, respectively, over the next four years. The excess production will be sold in the spot market at an average of $77 per ton. Variable costs amount to $31 per ton, and fixed costs are $4,100,000 per year. The mine will require a net working capital investment of 5 percent of sales. The NWC will be built up in the year prior to the sales. Bethesda will be responsible for reclaiming the land at termination of the mining. This will occur in Year 5. The company uses an outside company for reclamation of all the company’s strip mines. It is estimated the cost of reclamation will be $2.7 million. In order to get the necessary permits for the strip mine, the company agreed to donate the land after reclamation to the state for use as a public park and recreation area. This will occur in Year 6 and result in a charitable expense deduction of $6 million. Bethesda faces a 25 percent tax rate and has a 12 percent required return on new strip mine projects. Assume that a loss in any year will result in a tax credit. 204 You have been approached by the president of the company with a request to analyze the project. Calculate the payback period, profitability index, net present value, and internal rate of return for the new strip mine. Should Bethesda Mining take the contract and open the mine?
Bethesda Mining is a midsized coal mining company with 20
mines located in Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and
Kentucky. The company operates deep mines as well as strip
mines. Most of the coal mined is sold under contract, with
excess production sold on the spot market.
The coal mining industry, especially high-sulfur coal
operations such as Bethesda, has been hard-hit by
environmental regulations. Recently, however, a combination
of increased demand for coal and new pollution reduction
technologies has led to an improved market demand for highsulfur coal. Bethesda has been approached by Mid-Ohio
Electric Company with a request to supply coal for its electric
generators for the next 4 years. Bethesda Mining does not
have enough excess capacity at its existing mines to guarantee
the contract. The company is considering opening a strip mine
in Ohio on 5,000 acres of land purchased 10 years ago for $4
million. Based on a recent appraisal, the company feels it
could receive $6.5 million on an aftertax basis if it sold the
land today.
Strip mining is a process where the layers of topsoil
above a coal vein are removed and the exposed coal is
removed. Some time ago, the company would remove the coal
and leave the land in an unusable condition. Changes in
mining regulations now force a company to reclaim the land;
that is, when the mining is completed, the land must be
restored to near its original condition. The land can then be
used for other purposes. Because it is currently operating at
full capacity, Bethesda will need to purchase additional
necessary equipment, which will cost $95 million. The
equipment will be
The contract runs for only four years. At that time the coal
from the site will be entirely mined. The company feels that
the equipment can be sold for 60 percent of its initial purchase
price in four years. However, Bethesda plans to open another
strip mine at that time and will use the equipment at the new
mine.
The contract calls for the delivery of 500,000 tons of
coal per year at a price of $86 per ton. Bethesda Mining feels
that coal production will be 620,000 tons, 680,000 tons,
730,000 tons, and 590,000 tons, respectively, over the next
four years. The excess production will be sold in the spot
market at an average of $77 per ton. Variable costs amount to
$31 per ton, and fixed costs are $4,100,000 per year. The mine
will require a net working capital investment of 5 percent of
sales. The NWC will be built up in the year prior to the sales.
Bethesda will be responsible for reclaiming the land at
termination of the mining. This will occur in Year 5. The
company uses an outside company for reclamation of all the
company’s strip mines. It is estimated the cost of reclamation
will be $2.7 million. In order to get the necessary permits for
the strip mine, the company agreed to donate the land after
reclamation to the state for use as a public park and recreation
area. This will occur in Year 6 and result in a charitable
expense deduction of $6 million. Bethesda faces a 25 percent
tax rate and has a 12 percent required return on new strip mine
projects. Assume that a loss in any year will result in a tax
credit.
204
You have been approached by the president of the
company with a request to analyze the project. Calculate the
payback period, profitability index,
internal
Mining take the contract and open the mine?
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