Alpha and Beta are divisions within the same company. The managers of both divisions are evaluated based on their own division’s return on investment (ROI). Assume the following information relative to the two divisions: Case 1 2 3 4 Alpha Division: Capacity in units 92,000 412,000 162,000 312,000 Number of units now being sold to outside customers 92,000 412,000 112,000 312,000 Selling price per unit to outside customers $ 54 $ 114 $ 135 $ 74 Variable costs per unit $ 42 $ 89 $ 100 $ 50 Fixed costs per unit (based on capacity) $ 6 $ 15 $ 20 $ 9 Beta Division: Number of units needed annually 17,000 42,000 32,000 122,400 Purchase price now being paid to an outside supplier $ 51 $ 113 $ 135* — *Before any purchase discount. Required: 1. Refer to case 1 shown above. Alpha Division can avoid $2 per unit in commissions on any sales to Beta Division. a. What is Alpha Division's lowest acceptable transfer price? b. What is Beta Division's highest acceptable transfer price? c. What is the range of acceptable transfer prices (if any) between the two divisions? Will the managers probably agree to a transfer? 2. Refer to case 2 shown above. A study indicates that Alpha Division can avoid $5 per unit in shipping costs on any sales to Beta Division. a. What is Alpha Division's lowest acceptable transfer price? b. What is Beta Division's highest acceptable transfer price? c. What is the range of acceptable transfer prices (if any) between the two divisions? Would you expect any disagreement between the two divisional managers over what the exact transfer price should be? d. Assume Alpha Division offers to sell 312,000 units to Beta Division for $112 per unit and that Beta Division refuses this price. What will be the loss in potential profits for the company as a whole? 3. Refer to case 3 shown above. Assume that Beta Division is now receiving an 8% price discount from the outside supplier. a. What is Alpha Division's lowest acceptable transfer price? b. What is Beta Division's highest acceptable transfer price? c. What is the range of acceptable transfer prices (if any) between the two divisions? Will the managers probably agree to a transfer? d. Assume Beta Division offers to purchase 32,000 units from Alpha Division at $120 per unit. If Alpha Division accepts this price, would you expect its ROI to increase, decrease, or remain unchanged? 4. Refer to case 4 shown above. Assume that Beta Division wants Alpha Division to provide it with 122,400 units of a different product from the one Alpha Division is producing now. The new product would require $45 per unit in variable costs and would require that Alpha Division cut back production of its present product by 45,900 units annually. What is Alpha Division’s lowest acceptable transfer price?
Alpha and Beta are divisions within the same company. The managers of both divisions are evaluated based on their own division’s
| Case | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| Alpha Division: | ||||
| Capacity in units | 92,000 | 412,000 | 162,000 | 312,000 |
| Number of units now being sold to outside customers | 92,000 | 412,000 | 112,000 | 312,000 |
| Selling price per unit to outside customers | $ 54 | $ 114 | $ 135 | $ 74 |
| Variable costs per unit | $ 42 | $ 89 | $ 100 | $ 50 |
| Fixed costs per unit (based on capacity) | $ 6 | $ 15 | $ 20 | $ 9 |
| Beta Division: | ||||
| Number of units needed annually | 17,000 | 42,000 | 32,000 | 122,400 |
| Purchase price now being paid to an outside supplier | $ 51 | $ 113 | $ 135* | — |
*Before any purchase discount.
Required:
1. Refer to case 1 shown above. Alpha Division can avoid $2 per unit in commissions on any sales to Beta Division.
a. What is Alpha Division's lowest acceptable transfer price?
b. What is Beta Division's highest acceptable transfer price?
c. What is the range of acceptable transfer prices (if any) between the two divisions? Will the managers probably agree to a transfer?
2. Refer to case 2 shown above. A study indicates that Alpha Division can avoid $5 per unit in shipping costs on any sales to Beta Division.
a. What is Alpha Division's lowest acceptable transfer price?
b. What is Beta Division's highest acceptable transfer price?
c. What is the range of acceptable transfer prices (if any) between the two divisions? Would you expect any disagreement between the two divisional managers over what the exact transfer price should be?
d. Assume Alpha Division offers to sell 312,000 units to Beta Division for $112 per unit and that Beta Division refuses this price. What will be the loss in potential profits for the company as a whole?
3. Refer to case 3 shown above. Assume that Beta Division is now receiving an 8% price discount from the outside supplier.
a. What is Alpha Division's lowest acceptable transfer price?
b. What is Beta Division's highest acceptable transfer price?
c. What is the range of acceptable transfer prices (if any) between the two divisions? Will the managers probably agree to a transfer?
d. Assume Beta Division offers to purchase 32,000 units from Alpha Division at $120 per unit. If Alpha Division accepts this price, would you expect its ROI to increase, decrease, or remain unchanged?
4. Refer to case 4 shown above. Assume that Beta Division wants Alpha Division to provide it with 122,400 units of a different product from the one Alpha Division is producing now. The new product would require $45 per unit in variable costs and would require that Alpha Division cut back production of its present product by 45,900 units annually. What is Alpha Division’s lowest acceptable transfer price?
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