A chocolatier, Alain, in Belgium conducted extensive market research and focus groups, to understand the perfect chocolate for a distinct group of consumers. The perfect piece of chocolate would have a target weight of 60 grams. The voice of the specific consumers prefers a specification of +/- 2 grams. Alain has targeted a selling price of 15 Euros a piece. A box of dozen would be 150 Euros, gift wrapped for special occasions. Alain searched for a depositor that would give the most accurate fill weight, with a tight tolerance, a machine that would not only make elegant shapes of chocolate with precise caramel filling and clean impression. A confectionery machinery maker, Mod d’Art has several models. Model A costs $5,000 and could produce fill weights at average of 60.50 grams, and standard deviation of 1.5 grams. Model B costs $15,000, but with a standard deviation of 0.95 grams, with 59.95 grams average fill weight. Model C runs $25,000; this deluxe model has standard deviation of 0.60 grams, average fill weight of 60.15 grams.

The east asiatic company (eac), a danish company with subsidiaries throughout asia, has been funding its bangkok subsidiary primarily with u. s. dollar debt because of the cost and availability of dollar capital as opposed to thai baht-denominated (b) debt. the treasurer of eac-thailand is considering a 1-year bank loan for $247,000.the current spot rate is b32.03 /$, and the dollar-based interest is 6.78% for the 1-year period. 1-year loans are 12.04% in baht. a. assuming expected inflation rates of 4.3 % and 1.24% in thailand and the united states, respectively, for the coming year, according to purchase power parity, what would the effective cost of funds be in thai baht terms? b. if eac's foreign exchange advisers believe strongly that the thai government wants to push the value of the baht down against the dollar by5% over the coming year (to promote its export competitiveness in dollar markets), what might the effective cost of funds end up being in baht terms? c. if eac could borrow thai baht at 13% per annum, would this be cheaper than either part (a) or part (b) above?