Question
Hot & Cold and Caldo Freddo are two European manufacturers of home appliances that have merged. Hot & Cold has plants in France, Germany, and
Hot & Cold and Caldo Freddo are two European manufacturers of home appliances that have merged. Hot & Cold has plants in France, Germany, and Finland, where Caldo Freddo has plants in the United Kingdom and Italy. The European market is divided into four regions: North, East, West, and South. Plant capacities (millions of units per year), annual fixed costs (millions of euros per year), regional demand (millions of units), and variable production and shipping costs (euros per unit) are listed in the following table.
Variable Production and Shipping Costs | |||||||
North | East | South | West | Capacity | Annual Fixed Cost | ||
Hot & Cold | France | 100 | 110 | 105 | 100 | 50 | 1000 |
Germany | 95 | 105 | 110 | 105 | 50 | 1000 | |
Finland | 90 | 100 | 115 | 110 | 40 | 850 | |
Demand are in million units per year | |||||||
Demand | 30 | 20 | 20 | 35 | |||
Variable Production and Shipping Costs | |||||||
North | East | South | West | Capacity | Annual Fixed Cost | ||
Caldo Freddo | U.K. | 105 | 120 | 110 | 90 | 50 | 1000 |
Italy | 110 | 105 | 90 | 115 | 60 | 1150 | |
Demand are in million units per year | |||||||
Demand | 15 | 20 | 30 | 20 |
Each appliance sells for an average price of 300 euros. All plants are currently treated as profit centers, and the company pays taxes separately for each plant. Tax rates in the various countries are as follows: France, 0.25; Germany, 0.25; Finland, 0.3; UK 0.2; Italy, 0.35.
- Before the merger, what is the optimal network for each of the two firms if their goal is to minimize costs? What is the optimal network if the goal is to maximize after-tax profits?
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