Continental Industries is a diversified corporation with separate operating divisions. Each divisions performance is evaluated on the

Continental Industries is a diversified corporation with separate operating divisions. Each division’s performance is evaluated on the basis of profit and return on investment. The Air Comfort Division manufactures and sells air-conditioner units. The coming year’s budgeted income statement, which follows, is based upon a sales volume of 15,000 units.

Air Comfort’s division manager believes sales can be increased if the price of the air-conditioners is reduced. A market research study by an independent firm indicates that a 5 percent reduction in the selling price would increase sales volume 16 percent or 2,400 units. The division has sufficient production capacity to manage this increased volume with no increase in fixed costs.
The Air Comfort Division uses a compressor in its units, which it purchases from an outside supplier at a cost of $140 per compressor. The Air Comfort Division manager has asked the manager of the Compressor Division about selling compressor units to Air Comfort. The Compressor Division currently manufactures and sells a unit to outside firms which is similar to the unit used by the Air Comfort Division. The specifications of the Air Comfort Division compressor are slightly different, which would reduce the Compressor Division’s direct material cost by $3 per unit. In addition, the Compressor Division would not incur any variable selling costs in the units sold to the Air Comfort Division. The manager of the Air Comfort Division wants all of the compressors it uses to come from one supplier and has offered to pay $100 for each compressor unit.
The Compressor Division has the capacity to produce 75,000 units. Its budgeted income statement for the coming year, which follows, is based on a sales volume of 64,000 units without considering Air Comfort’s proposal.

Required:
1. Should the Air Comfort Division institute the 5 percent price reduction on its air-conditioner units even if it cannot acquire the compressors internally for $100 each? Support your conclusion with appropriate calculations.
2. Independently of your answer to requirement (1), assume the Air Comfort Division needs 17,400 units. Should the Compressor Division be willing to supply the compressor units for $100 each? Support your conclusions with appropriate calculations.
3. Independently of your answer to requirement (1), assume Air Comfort needs 17,400 units. Suppose Continental’s top management has specified a transfer price of $100. Would it be in the best interest of Continental Industries for the Compressor Division to supply the compressor units at $100 each to the Air Comfort Division? Support your conclusions with appropriate calculations.
4. Is $100 a goal-congruent transfer price? [Refer to your answers for requirements (2) and (3).]

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AIR COMFORT DMISION Budgeted Income Statement (In thousands) Per Uni Sales revenue Manufacturing costs: $1 2,000 $2,100 1,110 $140 Compressor Other direct material. Direct labor Variable overhead Flxed overhead 1,350 960 $6,420 : $ 5,580 Total manufacturing costs $372 Gross margi Operating expenses: $ 540 570 1.140 $2,250 ¡ $ 3,330 S 36 Variable selling Fixed selling Fixed administrative... Total operating expenses S150 Net income before taxes COMPRESSOR DVMISION Budgeted Income Statement In thousands) Total Per Unit Sales revenue $12,800 $200 Manufacturing costs: Direct material Direct labor Variable overhead Fixed overhead 1,536 1,024 1,280 1,408 5,248 7,552 $ 24 16 20 $ 82 $118 Total manufacturing costs Gross margin Operating expenses: $768 512 896 2,176 5,376 12 Variable selling Fixed selling Fixed administratiwe 14 $ 34 $ 84 Total operating expenses Net income before taxes