Astral Records Ltd Case Report

- - KOZMINSKI UNIVERSITY - Financial Statement Analysis - - Critical Review - - Astral Records Ltd - Ewelina laguna 23200 - Joanna Czechowicz 23155 -Yue Jingtong 23275 - - April 15, 2012 - Academic Year 2012/2013 - - I hereby certify that this paper is the result of my own work and that alone sources I apply have been reported. - - Signature - Kozminski University 2010 1. Please assess the current monetary wellness and young financial performance of the company. What strengths and/or weaknesses would you highlight to Sarah Conner? The group managed to pick out(a) a few factors to confine the current financial health and recent financial performance of the company entirely they did not drumhead out the total sales from income statement are increase. The thing we did not like was from the notification pose of view the group didnt direct us the skillful assessment of the situation like their report, and during the presentation it is so hard to catch the point of the capu t.The group gives us impressive amount which we thought is from evaluating the financial situation but from the case exhibits. They didnt mention the situation of the company (CEO been killed) they only talking virtu all in ally the digits, in this point of view the group focus on numbers as well more on this question. And in our opinion it will be check if they put some graph to show the impetus. The trend green goddess show us the financial health. The confuse disunite is they didnt go to the point of the question directly. They didnt give us the certain answer in the first part of question one.The good part is from the report we can see the group was really focus on this question differentiate rest of the questions, besides the answer of first question is much better comparing the presentation. It will be good if they are not only showing the numbers but alike available to formulate the numbers. From the report we can see idlely to the highest degree the EBITDA ratio however we cannot find anything from the presentation. Here is the copy from the report In operating management we used gross profit and EBITDA ratios (Table 2. ,). We use EBITDA ratio to better evaluate Astral financial condition- companies have different distribution and pricing policies which lead to different represent structure. The ratios showed really clear in the report, and they think it is the most important ratio to see the financial health however they did not show anything during the presentation. 2. Please forecast the financial statements of the firm for 1994 and 1995. What will be the away financing requirements of the firm in those historic period? Can the firm repay its loan within a reasonable period?The purpose of this question was to detect the skills of preparing financial forecast. However, during the presentation the group did not show us how to forecast but only numbers again. Audience may lose interest to follow. And it is also to catch the point duri ng the presentation. Besides the groups answer to this question, in the presentation and report, conduct too much as they just mentioned Sales growth 15%, Dividends, Fixed-assets, Interest expense , Production represent & expense and Admin & selling expense In our point of view here is no need to assume too many unchanged numbers.And more assumption means more incorrect of the result. For example here is no need to assume stable interest expensive. During the presentation, when people asking why using the numbers they said just because of assumption. The growth rate they were using is 15% and they give no reason, however the 15% is from the expected growth rate not only from the assumption. Considering all the previous calculation is from assumptions and we must couple but if they do it more careful and using less assumption it will be much better compare the thing they have straightaway. 3.What are the key driver assumptions of the firms afterlife financial performance? * What are the managerial implications of those key drivers? * That is, what aspects of the firms activities should Conner especially focus on? Question 3 is not clear during the presentation however they showed everything in their report. 4. What is Astrals plodding average address of capital (WACC)? * What methods did you use to estimate the WACC? * What key assumptions especially influenced the WACC? Question 4 looks correct, but they didnt show us numbers and we feel like the result is from the heaven.After checking the report we found out they use the unseasonable data. What they wrote in their report WACC was calculated using the following inputs Using information from the comparables, Haris-Bershel and Donaldson, Inc E = Equity = average outstanding shares of the two comparables used multiplied by their average book nourish per share D = Debt= long-term debt E(re )= cost of equity = Gordon growth model= average comparable dividend, 10% growth, average comparable share price D(r e) = cost of debt= libor + 1% They have to tell us the number they were using whatever during the presentation or in the report.The most confusing part is cost of equity. in that location are 2 ways to calculate the cost of equity And they were choosing the first way. They were using the different dividend and we eve cannot find out the number they use. And they feel the number incorrect so they even divided by 2 to make the number similar as what we usually use during the lecture. In our case we got all the numbers to evaluate the cost of equity and the different ways should show the similar numbers of cost of equity. So our calculation of the cost of equity=risk-free return (6%)+beta(1. 45)*(average stock return(0. 8)-risk free return)=8. 9% And the WACC=5. 1. This part of the present is the worst and people cannot understand the point during the presentation. The report is not enough explanations. As you can see the groups method would be not only confusing themself but provide d them with the wrong answer. 5. What are the free cash flows of the packaging machine investment? Should Conner approve the investment? The Group did not answer to this question at all. It was not clear where there it actually is better to buy a machine later or not. They did not compare the two situations, just put not clear assumption.Therefore here is a proposition of alternative approach that in our opinion makes it clearer. * The discount rate used for calculation is the WACC from previous question. If you look at the totals and the differences between them it becomes quite clear that buying the machine today will result cost only 718,401 in terms of all cost for 10 years projection. At the same time the present value of all sawing to be made is higher by 280,028 if the machine is to be bought now. Evidently looking at this numbers will make you conclude that it is in fact worth to but the new equipment now.However it is important to look at general condition of the company. retention that in mind we must say that even thou the calculation would suggest to buy it now the company would have to finance it with a loan. It already has a lack of cash so qualification it even worst by investing another million is not a best idea. in particular that they can buy it any time in the future I would first deal with their shortage of cash and excess of account receivables and inventories. Then it will be a time to think about new investment in the equipment.