Astral Records Ltd Case Report

- - KOZMINSKI UNIVERSITY - Financial Statement Analysis - - Critical polish - - Astral Records Ltd - Ewelina Laguna 23200 - Joanna Czechowicz 23155 -Yue Jingtong 23275 - - April 15, 2012 - Academic Year 2012/2013 - - I hitherby support that this paper is the result of my own work and that on the whole sources I use grant been reported. - - Signature - Kozminski University 2010 1. enrapture assess the current fiscal health and recent financial performance of the company. What strengths and/or weaknesses would you highlight to Sarah Conner? The group managed to plume out a few factors to check the current financial health and recent financial performance of the company but they did non re send out the total sales from income statement atomic flesh 18 increase. The subject we did not like was from the gravelation point of view the group didnt fork over us the good assessment of the situation like their report, and during the presentation it is so hard to catch the point of the app atomic number 18nt motion.The group gives us impressive total which we thought is from evaluating the financial situation but from the eluding exhibits. They didnt discover the situation of the company (CEO been killed) they only talking about the numbers, in this point of view the group focus on numbers too some(prenominal) on this question. And in our opinion it will be better if they portion some graph to show the trend. The trend bed show us the financial health. The confuse representative is they didnt go to the point of the question directly. They didnt give us the certain manage in the set-back part of question one.The good part is from the report we can find the group was really focus on this question compare easing of the questions, besides the answer of first question is much better equivalence the presentation. It will be good if they are not only masking the numbers but also available to explain the numbers. From the report we can see exitly abo ut the EBITDA balance however we cannot find anything from the presentation. hither is the copy from the report In operating management we used take in 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 equal structure. The ratios showed really induce in the report, and they think it is the most in-chief(postnominal) ratio to see the financial health however they did not show anything during the presentation. 2. Please see the financial statements of the firm for 1994 and 1995. What will be the external finance requirements of the firm in those years? Can the firm repay its contribute within a reasonable period?The purpose of this question was to receive 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 sideline to follow. And it is also to catch the point during the presentation. Besides the groups answer to this question, in the presentation and report, assume too much as they beneficial mentioned Sales branch 15%, Dividends, Fixed-assets, Interest expense , Production follow & expense and Admin & selling expense In our point of view here is no need to assume too many unchanged numbers.And more than 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 employ the numbers they said just because of assumption. The growth rate they were employ 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 essential agree but if they do it more careful and using slight assumption it will be much better compare the thing they have flat. 3.What are the key driver assumptions of the firms succeeding(a) 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 weighted mediocre constitute of capital (WACC)? * What methods did you use to estimate the WACC? * What key assumptions especially influenced the WACC? Question 4 pure tones correct, but they didnt show us numbers and we intuitive feeling like the result is from the heaven.After checking the report we found out they use the ill-timed data. What they wrote in their report WACC was calculated using the following inputs Using knowledge from the comparables, Haris-Bershel and Donaldson, Inc E = Equity = average outstanding shares of the two comparables used cipher by their average book value per share D = Debt= long-run debt E(re )= cost of equity = Gordon growth model= average c omparable dividend, 10% growth, average comparable share price D(re) = 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. There are 2 slipway to calculate the cost of equity And they were choosing the first way. They were using the different dividend and we even cannot find out the number they use. And they feel the number incorrect so they even divided by 2 to assume 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 g roups method would be not only confusing themself but provided them with the wrong answer. 5. What are the free cash flows of the packaging auto investment funds? 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 spoil a machine after 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 manufactures 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 now 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 radical equipm ent now.However it is important to look at general condition of the company. Keeping that in see 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 making it even worst by investing another million is not a best idea. curiously 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. so it will be a time to think about new investment in the equipment.