Trend Ltd (“TL”) manufactures gym clothing and footwear. It supplies several large design companies who then market the clothes and shoes under their own brands. The company last year had a turnover in excess of £300 million. Two key corporate customers are Tkechers Ltd and Sadidas Ltd. The company is managed by Arpha, who owns 30% of the shares in the company, while the remaining 70% is split between four other family members. The other shareholders are concerned about the business. Although there seems to be plenty of business coming in and the last year has been reasonably profitable (Operating profit was £60 million last year before interest and tax), the company’s debt has increased to £95 million from £60 million the year before. Arpha has started talking about the need for the other shareholders to invest more money to reduce the debt. Towards the end of last year, TL acquired a 30% stake in a company that produces a range of walking clothes and sandals. TL invested £20 million in the company to acquire the shares and has agreed to pay a £5 million advance fee for the exclusive supply of the products. The company is owed £10 million pounds for a series of large orders placed by Tkechers last year. There is also an outstanding dispute about a £12.5 million delivery to Sadidas completed in 2019. This has led to payment being withheld while negotiations continue between lawyers and industry consultants. There is a further problem that Arpha believes the Sadidas issue arose due to the supply of sub-standard materials by a supplier in 2018. He has refused to pay the supplier which is now threatening legal action. In the meantime, a large stock of materials and supplies has built up at the company’s London warehouse. Arpha insists that the company needs to have this level of stock for when the dispute is sorted out. He is also reluctant to press his key customers too hard for payment. The other shareholders have approached TL’s accountants to review the situation. Requirements: Prepare a report of up to 1,250 words for the shareholders addressing the following issues. 1.Explain: a. what is meant by Profit and Cashflow and how they are different b. what is meant by Working Capital and, the meanings of Receivables, Inventory, and Payables c. how changes in Working Capital affect Cashflow 2. Apply the concepts in (1) above to this company to show how the way the company is being managed might affect its financial results. 3. Analyse and recommend what steps should now be taken to improve this company’s cash flow through better Working Capital management.
Trend Ltd (“TL”) manufactures gym clothing and footwear. It supplies several large design companies who then market the clothes and shoes under their own brands. The company last year had a turnover in excess of £300 million. Two key corporate customers are Tkechers Ltd and Sadidas Ltd.
The company is managed by Arpha, who owns 30% of the shares in the company, while the remaining 70% is split between four other family members.
The other shareholders are concerned about the business. Although there seems to be plenty of business coming in and the last year has been reasonably profitable (Operating profit was £60 million last year before interest and tax), the company’s debt has increased to £95 million from £60 million the year before. Arpha has started talking about the need for the other shareholders to invest more money to reduce the debt.
Towards the end of last year, TL acquired a 30% stake in a company that produces a range of walking clothes and sandals. TL invested £20 million in the company to acquire the shares and has agreed to pay a £5 million advance fee for the exclusive supply of the products.
The company is owed £10 million pounds for a series of large orders placed by Tkechers last year. There is also an outstanding dispute about a £12.5 million delivery to Sadidas completed in 2019. This has led to payment being withheld while negotiations continue between lawyers and industry consultants.
There is a further problem that Arpha believes the Sadidas issue arose due to the supply of sub-standard materials by a supplier in 2018. He has refused to pay the
supplier which is now threatening legal action. In the meantime, a large stock of materials and supplies has built up at the company’s London warehouse. Arpha insists that the company needs to have this level of stock for when the dispute is sorted out. He is also reluctant to press his key customers too hard for payment.
The other shareholders have approached TL’s accountants to review the situation.
Requirements:
Prepare a report of up to 1,250 words for the shareholders addressing the following issues.
1.Explain:
a. what is meant by Profit and Cashflow and how they are different
b. what is meant by Working Capital and, the meanings of Receivables, Inventory, and Payables
c. how changes in Working Capital affect Cashflow
2. Apply the concepts in (1) above to this company to show how the way the company is being managed might affect its financial results.
3. Analyse and recommend what steps should now be taken to improve this company’s cash flow through better Working Capital management.
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