Northwind Energy Faces a Discount Entrant

Strategy
medium45 min0 submissions
Razorpay
Scenario

Northwind Energy is the share leader in renewables in Europe, with 30% of the market, €691 M of revenue and a 27% operating margin.

A venture-backed entrant launched nine months ago at a price roughly 20% below Northwind Energy's. It has taken about 3 points of share, concentrated in the price-sensitive segment. Its product is credibly good, though narrower in scope.

What is known:

  • 34% of Northwind Energy's revenue comes from premium customers with switching costs and multi-year contracts
  • The entrant has raised heavily and is understood to be operating at a loss
  • Northwind Energy's sales team is asking for authority to discount to hold accounts

The board wants a considered answer, not a price war.

Supporting data

entrant

profitable
false
price discount pct
20
share taken points
3

incumbent

revenue
691
market share pct
30
operating margin pct
27
premium revenue mix pct
34

derived hints

operating profit
187
margin if matched pct
7
Your task

Recommend a competitive response. Your answer should provide:

  1. Analysis — the entrant's position and economics, and what is actually at risk.
  2. Risks — what could go wrong with your response, and what you would monitor.
  3. Recommendation — a specific course of action, including what you would not defend.

State any assumptions you make.

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How you'll be graded

100 points, 60% to pass.

  • recommendation25
  • competitor analysis25
  • problem structuring25
  • quantitative analysis25
Hint
Reveal suggested structure

Segment the base; entrant sustainability; match vs hold economics; targeted response