Just Play Limited Financial Analysis and Strategy

Plagiarism

100%

unique text

Download this

Introduction

Just Play Ltd is a company that deals in the sales of sport equipment for all kinds of sporting activities and operates within Birmingham area . In the light of increasing sporting events, the business is set to expand in an attempt to boost profits. Therefore, the business current income statement was evaluated so as to determine whether the business can form a merger or acquire Going Nowhere Ltd as a business strategy to capitalize on the sporting demand during the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Just Play Limited Income Statement

Table 1: A table showing Just Play Ltd financial income for the year that ended 31^st December 2013

Just Play income statement presented in table 1 above shows that the business management used the company’s resources in January to generate a gross profit of 44,000 pounds. Specifically, the management brought resources worth 150,000 pounds in the form of revenues while maintaining a relatively high cost of operating expenses. Since the income calculated is based on all expenses incurred, it can be used for decision making.

Going Nowhere Limited Financial Performance between 2012 and 2013

Going Nowhere Ltd is a company that Just Play Ltd. would like to include in its expansion strategy. The company had a liquid capital of 315,000 pounds in 2012, but increased its liquidity to 339,000 pounds in 2013. The company’s normalized net income stands at 142,150 pounds with a nominal growth rate of 3.5 percent. The company, following the financial information provided, can be valued at 1,  134, 607 pounds with 11% required rate of return by the end of 2013. Furthermore, the company had an operational leverage of 0.9 for the trading period 2012/13.

During the company’s operation in 2012 and 2013, the gross profit margin grew from 0.4 in 2012 to 0.43 in 2013. It is evident from the growth that customers’ willingness to buy the sporting products that the company buys are over and above the company’s set cost for that product. It can be concluded, from the gross profit margin,  that Going Nowhere Ltd adds values to the products that it sells; thus attracting the larger customers than the margin proxies. The value added that is implied by  the gross profit margin comes at a cost; therefore, it is true that Going Nowhere management invests heavily on their services. The growing profit margin, as shown between 2012 and 2013, renders the company a probable candidate for acquisition. In fact, the higher the margin  the most likely that the business prospect initiated between that company and others will prosper since it indicates the strength in the market niche that the acquiring company would have upon completion of the deal  (Megginson & Smart, 2008; Sarngadharan & Rajitha, 2011).

The return on assets of the company’s also strengthened between 2012 and 2013. The company recorded anROA  of 0.081 in 2012 while a higher value of 0.12 the following year. Therefore, Going Nowhere Ltd management team values their role in the company and strives to achieve their strategy. The Return on Investment (ROI), a term commonly identified as a return on assets is the best measure of a company’s management, and for this case, it asserts that Going Nowhere’s management team is effective and goal oriented.

Going Nowhere’s current ratio for the two years were 2.32 and 2.03  in 2012 and 2013 respectively. The current ratio fell to a lower value  in 2013 suggesting that the company’s management did put to good use the company’s assets in 2013 compared to 2012. Therefore, the company performed better in the year  2013 compared to 2012. The company’s quick ratio further revealed that the company’s receivable accounts can be quickly converted to cash to meet the demands of payable accounts . In 2012, the quick ratio was 1.72 while, in 2013, it turned to 1.45. The ease of converting the account receivable to accounts payable reduced though during this period (Brigham & Ehrhardt, 2007).

Finally, as per the information provided, the company’s inventory turnover ratios were 6.4 in 2012 and 5.7 in 2013. Clearly, the sporting products that the company specializes in have a longer life span; hence are not regularly purchased. However, the volume of sales of these products reduced in 2012 as supported by a lower inventory turnover ratio (Mittal, n.d.).

Financial Accounting and decision making

Going by the financial analysis of Going Nowhere Ltd financial data documented in the previous section, I find it prudent that an acquisition be effected so that Just Play limited can achieve its set objectives. The management of Just Play Ltd should go ahead and purchase and/or launch an official acquisition process of the Going Nowhere Ltd. The previous analysis done on the company revealed healthy information regarding the financial position of the business, the liquidity, and results of business operation. The performance of the company is supported by the synergies unveiled in its financial data and if Ash purchases the business, then it stands better chances of improving the market niche that Just Play Ltd currently occupies. The information that supports this stand regarding the purchase of Going Nowhere by Just Play is found within the financial analysis results which focused on ratios.

The financial analysis shed light on the liquidity status of the company and going by the results, Ash should feel safe to purchase a business because the business can settle its debts on a short-term basis effectively as revealed by its current ratio computed values. For instance, the company had a current ratio of 2.03 in 2013 implying that the company has £2.03 in current assets for each and every £1 in liabilities; Ash should understand that Going Nowhere’s liabilities are covered 2.03 times over; therefore, it is safe for purchase. Regardless of the decline in the current ratio between 2012 and 2013, which signals a decline in trend of the company’s liabilities, Ash should purchase the company and heavily invest in it since the quick ratio indicates that the company has loyal customers who are ready to support despite the prices set.  Similarly, the current ratio for the current market is greater than one  and as such the business upon purchase will be efficient in terms of managing accounts payable. Given the position of the business, payments to the bank will not result in a reduction of the current ratio. Nonetheless, Ash must be aware that the company’s debt ratio stands at 1 ; hence there is 100% chance that the business liabilities are funded by debts. However, no data to this effect was given, and a conclusion to that effect cannot be made without prejudicing  the company’s financial position (Baker & Powell, 2009; Megginson & Smart, 2008).

In the light of inventory turnover ratio, Ash should be informed that the business targeted utilizes its assets efficiently. For instance, in 2012, the business had an inventory turnover of 6.4 and was able to accrue £6.4 to net sales for a single pound. The reduction of the inventory turnover from 6.4 to 5.7 can be attributed to depreciation that again was not accounted for by the financial data analyzed. In the process of acquiring the business, Ash should be prepared to make major investments that will improve the assets of the company. Similarly, Ash is assured of a dedicated customer willing to support and even purpose sporting products at prices much higher than the company’s standard profits as indicated y the inventory turnover ratio (Baker & Powell, 2009; Mittal, n.d.).

One outstanding reason,  besides the liquidity of Going Nowhere, is the company’s prolific gross profit margin. Ash, like any other business person, endeavors to expand the business territory while expanding the profit margins and also aim to do so with little losses. Despite the decline in the current ratio during the two year period, the profit margin improved from 0.4 to 0.43; by the end of 2013, the company was making 43% profit on each £ 1 worth of sale. In this case, Ash should focus on capitalizing on that gross profit margin not only to expand his business but also effectively manage the business and improve its liquidity. The business harbors greater profit margins that will enable Just Play Limited achieve its objective set for this intense sporting period  (Megginson & Smart, 2008; Sarngadharan & Rajitha, 2011)

The Return on Investment  further gives Ash a higher hand and more reasons to buy the company. The net earnings of the target business illustrate proper operational management and Ash would not have to wander  looking for managers and other employees. Just Play Ltd can be assured of a dedicated management team that would be added on its remarkable management profile. Ash has got every supporting reason working to his advantage, and the acquisition should be a successful one. The purchase will impact positively on the business market position in the sporting industry and improve its market share and consequently net income and profits.

References

• Baker, H. K., & Powell, G. E. (2005). Understanding financial management: a practical
  guide. Oxford: Blackwell Pub.
• Brigham, E. F., & Ehrhardt, M. C. (2013). Financial management: Theory and practice. Mason, Ohio: South-Western.
• Megginson, W. L., & Smart, S. B. (2009). Introduction to corporate finance. Mason, Ohio: South-Western Cengage Learning.
• Mittal, R., n.d. Management Accounting and Financial Management. New York: McGraw-Hill.
• Sarngadharan, M., & Kumar, R. S. (2011). Financial analysis for management decisions. New Delhi: PHI Learning Private Limited.