Clarkson Lumber Case Study

CLARKSON quality field contain B RADY CLIFFORD DAN HORTON EMIL HYMAS Y RICH WILKINSON EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Clarkson Lumber Company, owned by Mr. Keith Clarkson, has been in business for 15 years and contemporaryly has 15 employees. Firms who discombobulate worked with Clarkson communicate very highly of him, saying that he is conservative and his operating expenses argon low. The play a bulkys revenues are intercommunicate to continue to grow. Recently, Clarkson Lumbers accounts reconcile fitted and notes collectable have increased signifi nookietly.The caller has not been able to take advantage of trade discounts in recent years because of miss of funds and because of investments receivable to the companys egression. While Clarkson Lumber has been much and more(prenominal)(prenominal) profitable in recent years, the company has found the read for extra pay. Clarksons menstruum bank allow not provide more than $399,000 in financial support without a personal guarantee. Clarkson is hoping to secure more financing in order to improve profitability by taking generousy advantage of trade discounts. The company is working with Northrup National Bank to by chance secure a grownupr loan up to $750,000.Northrups character department is currently investigating Clarkson Lumber to let on if the firm qualifies for this extra financing. Our team has identified several key issues with Clarkson Lumbers current fiscal situation. The companys over-arching financial issue is coin feast. Clarkson is borrowing too much to make up for a interchange function trivialage. Clarksons accounts due is increase and the company is still using a 2% accounts payable discount, which is contributing to the lack of available change. The currency flow that the company does have is world used inefficiently as the sources of hard currency comes from financing.Thus, Clarkson Lumber is growing at an unsustainable cast and is too reliant on short- edge fin ancing. Even if Clarkson receives the $750,000 from Northrup, the company lead eventually be shiver if it does not curtail its growth rate. We suggest that the company utilize more colossal-term debt instead of short-term debt. Long-term financing will posit smaller payments at lower interest rates, which will increase CLARKSON woodland racing shell STUDY FINAN 6022-002 summon 1 Clarksons cash flow. Clarkson whitethorn benefit from reducing chronicle by increasing sales or reducing inventory growth.another(prenominal) option would be to lower costs by negotiating cheaper prices with suppliers. Both options will increase the companys cash flow. Finally, we recommend increasing accounts receivable turnover. With an increase in account receivable turnover, Clarkson will stimulate quicker collections and will not have to pay as much in finance charges, again leading to additive cash flow. ANALYSIS The approval process for the loan from Northrup National Bank, expectd that i nvestigators be sent to research Mr. Clarkson and his company. The investigation pointed out a few distinguished financial aspects of the company that are worth mentioning.In 1994, Mr. Clarkson bought out the other company partner for $200,000. This amount was to be paid off in 1995 and 1996 using semi-annual payments at an interest rate of 11%. From 1993 to 1995, net sales masses for CLC has increased from 2. 9 million to just over 4. 5 million. after(prenominal) yield profits for the same years also increase from $60,000 in 1993 to $77,000 in 1995 (see showing 1). The investigation also paid special financial aid the debt position and current ratio of CLC. It was reported that sales are anticipate to reach $5. 5 million in 1996 and could be more if the prices of pound off rise.Despite these profits, there was a shortage in cash which lead to an increase in borrowing. In order to stay within the borrowing limits flock by Suburban Nation Bank, a lot of borrowing was being do ne through trade credits. In 1995 and 1996 this trade debt was rapidly increasing and was creating some concern. If the market is struggling past trade credit is usually not recommended however, for CLC the trade credit was a short fix for long term problem. Even with the growing trade debt, CLC still was comparable to the general offices of other lumber outlets (see give 3).It is also outstanding to recognize detail ratios related to the company. The current ratio, which is helpful in understanding asset runniness or inefficient use of cash flow, decreased from 2. 5 in 1993 to 1. 1 in 1995. High-profit companies have a current CLARKSON impound CASE STUDY FINAN 6022-002 PAGE 2 ratio of 2. 52. ROE for Clarkson Lumber rest relatively steady it increased from 1993 to 1994 but decreased to 17. 1% in 1995. This ROE is only slightly lower than the ROE for high-profit companies which is at 22. 1%. After reviewing Clarkson Lumbers financial situation, several key issues became a pparent.First, the company is clearly growing at an unsustainable rate. Exhibit 3 (various statistical ratios), shows the amount internal growth rate of the company at 6. 06% and the second-rate sustainable growth rate at 15. 78%. However, over the three full years analyzed, the company has an sightly growth margin of 24. 5% and an clean asset growth margin of 33. 69%. This continues in the forecasted 1996 year as the company is projected to increase revenue by roughly 21. 7%. At the companys current level, it cannot continue to support its current growth rate going forward and will require more debt to finance this growth.Therefore, the company seems to be overly reliant on short term financing for its operations. As seen in Exhibit 5, the company projects to have $5. 5M, with most other accounts are establish on the historical averages. Exhibit 5 also shows that Clarkson would impoverishment between $971K or $696K of external financing. Another issue found dealt with the comp anys cash flow (see Exhibit 4). When the company generates net income, it is immediately engulfed in two areas the increase in accounts receivable, which increased from $306K to $411K to $606K from 1993 to 1995, and inventory, which also increased from $337K to $432K to $587K during those years.Due to these increases, and despite rising the liability accounts of notes payable from trade and accrued expenses, the company had negative cash flow from operations and needed external financing to corrupt its fixed assets and pay bring the debt they already had (again see Exhibit 4). Although having negative cash flows from operations is not necessarily bad in the short run, if this trend continues, it provides no long term benefit for the company. Thus, we found that the company cannot continue to allow its accounts receivable and inventory to increase at the same rate.CLARKSON LUMBER CASE STUDY FINAN 6022-002 PAGE 3 The final issue we noticed was the accounts payable 2% discount. Cla rkson was offered a discount if it pays off its payables to its suppliers within ten days. Even though there is value here, Mr. Clarkson said the company has taken few get discounts in recent years. Exhibit 3 attests to this as the company pays its suppliers on an average of 38 days. If the company used this discount on its financial projections, it would receive a purchase discount of $86K to add to its operating income.However, the trade-off is that Clarkson will have a significantly lower amount in accounts payable and will need financing to pay down these payables in order to obtain the discounts. If the company does not proceed with the discount, it will experience significantly lower net income, but will not need as much external financing. RECOMMENDATIONS One of our preferred recommendations for the company would be to replace some, or all, of the short term debt with a long term note. If the company used the amount of the external financing, about $975K, at 6% for 10 years , Clarkson will pay $130K a year.At 15 years, the company will be paying $99K a year. Or the company could use one-half of the external financing amount, roughly $488K, at those same terms and pay $65K or $49K for ten years or fifteen years, respectively. These numbers tell that by replacing short-term debt with long-term debt, Clarkson will be fashioning smaller payments at a lower interest rate, freeing up additional cash flow. Another way Clarkson can increase their cash flow is by diminish the accounts receivable period.In Exhibit 3, we can see that on average the company takes 39 days to collect from accounts receivable and the company has a cash cycle of 55 days, meaning there is a 55 day delay between paying for inventory and collecting the sale. Thus, we recommend that the company use a stricter policy for collections for its customers. For example, if Clarkson could require payments in 30 days, their cash cycle drops to 45 days. By decreasing the accounts receivable peri od, the company can collect cash more apace and will pay less in finance CLARKSON LUMBER CASE STUDY FINAN 6022-002 PAGE 4 harges. The cash collected from accounts receivable can then be used to manage accounts payable. Our next recommendation is based on Clarksons need to increase the amount of cash available, and then capitalizing on growth opportunities. From 1993-1995, the companys need for increased financing despite profitability comes from Mr. Clarksons buyout of Holtzs share of the company, as advantageously as the increase in inventory and accounts receivable as explained above. It is important for Clarkson Lumber to have access to larger amounts of cash to support its growth in the short and long term.Clarksons current success is due to the ability to compete on price thus a large growth opportunity exists if they can continue to use trade discounts. If the company can use trade discounts, they will receive a purchase discount of around $86K added to income. The trade- off comes from the company having significantly lower accounts payable. In the long run the company will clearly need the additional credit, shown by the internal growth rate of 6. 1% and a projected sales growth of 21. 7%.The company will also need to alter the equity/debt ratio due to the projected growth rate of sales in 1996 which is greater than their sustainable growth rate of 15. 8%. Clarkson Lumber will potentially start producing positive free cash flows, as long as their growth rate stabilizes at a more reasonable rate. Our recommendations are aimed at producing positive free cash flows sooner, and the increase in quantity discounts will lower the cost of goods of change and offset the financial obligations. If the $750,000 line of credit is extended by Northrup Bank, then debt and interest expenses will increase.This creates even more of a necessity to support the increase in available credit in such a way that will reduce costs. CLARKSON LUMBER CASE STUDY FINAN 6022-0 02 PAGE 5 EXHIBIT 1 CLARKSON LUMBER COMPANY INCOME STATEMENT 1993 kale gross sales COGS low armory PURCHASES ENDING archive contribute COGS rough-cut PROFIT run depreciateS EBIT INTEREST expense clear up INCOME BEFORE TAXES provision FOR TAXES fire INCOME 1994 1995 1ST QTR 1996 $2,921 $3,477 $4,519 $1,062 $330 $2,209 $2,539 $337 $2,202 $337 $2,729 $3,066 $432 $2,634 $432 $3,579 $4,011 $587 $3,424 $587 $819 $1,406 $607 $799 $719 $622 $97 $23 $74 $14 $60 $843 $717 126 $42 $84 $16 $68 $1,095 $940 $155 $56 $99 $22 $77 $263 $244 $19 $13 $6 $1 $5 CLARKSON LUMBER CASE STUDY FINAN 6022-002 accompaniment EXHIBIT 2 CLARKSON LUMBER COMPANY counterpoise SHEET 1993 1994 1995 1ST QTR 1996 money ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE, mesh INVENTORY certain ASSETS FIXED ASSETS descend ASSETS $43 $306 $337 $686 $233 $919 $52 $411 $432 $895 $262 $1,157 $56 $606 $587 $1,249 $388 $1,637 $53 $583 $607 $1,243 $384 $1,627 NOTES collectible, BANK NOTE PAYABLE TO HOLTZ (CPLTD) NOTES PAYABLE, TRADE ACCOUN TS PAYABLE ACCRUED EXPENSES call LOAN, CURRENT PORTION CURRENT LIABILITIES TERM LOAN NOTE PAYABLE TO HOLTZ TOTAL LIABILITIESNET WORTH $0 $0 $0 $213 $42 $20 $275 $140 $0 $415 $504 $60 $100 $0 $340 $45 $20 $565 $120 $100 $785 $372 $390 $100 $127 $376 $75 $20 $1,088 $100 $0 $1,188 $449 $399 $100 $123 $364 $67 $20 $1,073 $100 $0 $1,173 $454 TOTAL LIABILITIES AND NET WORTH $919 $1,157 $1,637 $1,627 CLARKSON LUMBER CASE STUDY FINAN 6022-002 APPENDIX EXHIBIT 3 1993 1994 1995 AVERAGE LOW PROFIT OUTLETS HIGH PROFIT OUTLETS COGS OPERATING EXPENSE money ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE INVENTORY FIXED ASSETS TOTAL ASSETS PURCHASES 75. 39% 21. 29% 1. 47% 10. 48% 11. 54% 7. 98% 31. 46% 75. 62% 75. 75% 20. 62% 1. 50% 11. 82% 12. 42% 7. 54% 33. 28% 78. 49% 5. 77% 20. 80% 1. 24% 13. 41% 12. 99% 8. 59% 36. 22% 79. 20% 75. 64% 20. 91% 1. 40% 11. 90% 12. 32% 8. 03% 33. 65% 77. 77% 76. 9% 22. 0% 1. 3% 13. 7% 12. 0% 12. 1% 39. 1% 75. 1% 20. 6% 1. 1% 12. 4% 11. 6% 9. 2% 34. 3% per centum OF TOTAL ASSETS CURRENT LIABILITIES LONG-TERM LIABILITIES EQUITY 9. 41% 4. 79% 17. 25% 16. 25% 6. 33% 10. 70% 24. 08% 2. 21% 9. 94% 16. 58% 4. 44% 12. 63% 52. 7% 34. 8% 12. 5% 29. 2% 16. 0% .54. 8 CURRENT RATIO RETURN ON SALES RETURN ON ASSETS RETURN ON EQUITY 2. 49 3. 32% 6. 53% 11. 90% 1. 58 3. 62% 5. 88% 18. 28% 1. 15 3. 43% 4. 70% 17. 15% 1. 74 3. 46% 5. 70% 15. 78% 1. 31 -0. 70% 1. 80% -14. 30% 2. 52 4. 30% 12. 20% 22. 10% 6. 85 53. 28 9. 70 37. 63 9. 53 38. 32 90. 91 52. 60 6. 72 54. 31 8. 89 41. 07 9. 56 38. 16 95. 38 57. 22 6. 79 53. 80 9. 29 39. 35 9. 55 38. 24 93. 15 54. 91 6. 24% 18. 28% 19. 03% 25. 90% 4. 94% 17. 15% 29. 97% 41. 49% 6. 06% 15. 78% 24. 50% 33. 69% PERCENT OF SALES INVENTORY TURNOVER (AVG) INVENTORY consummation RECEIVABLES TURNOVER RECEIVABLES PERIOD PAYABLES TURNOVER PAYABLES PERIOD OPERATING CYCLE funds CYCLE infixed offshoot RATE SUSTAINABLE GROWTH RATE ACTUAL GROWTH MARGIN ASSET GROWTH MARGIN 6. 98% 11. 90% CLARKSON LUMBER CASE STUDY FINAN 6022-002 APPENDIXEXHIBIT 4 CA SH FLOWS FOR CLARKSON 1994 1995 1993 T0 1995 $68 ($105) ($95) $127 $3 $77 ($195) ($155) $163 $30 $145 ($300) ($250) $290 $33 CASH FROM OPERATIONS ($2) ($80) ($82) SOURCE OF CASH CASH FROM OPERATIONS CASH FROM BANK LOANS SOURCES OF CASH ($2) 60 $58 ($80) 330 $250 ($82) 390 $308 $29 $20 $49 $126 $20 $100 $246 $155 $40 $100 $295 $9 $4 $13 CASH FROM OPERATIONS NET INCOME CHANGE IN A/R CHANGE IN INVENTORY CHANGE IN N/P TRADE CHANGE IN ACCRUED EXP. USE OF CASH FIXED ASSETS CPLTD HOLTZ LOAN USE OF CASH CHANGE IN CASH CLARKSON LUMBER CASE STUDY FINAN 6022-002 APPENDIX EXHIBIT 5CLARKSON LUMBER COMPANY FORECASTS PROJECTED INCOME STATEMENT WITH PURCHASE rabbet PROJECTED INCOME STATEMENT WITHOUR PURCHASE DISCOUNT 1996 NET SALES COGS BEGINNING INVENTORY PURCHASES* 1996 $5,500 ENDING INVENTORY TOTAL COGS** $587 $4,279 $4,866 $708 $4,158 GROSS PROFIT OPERATING EXPENSES*** EBIT PURCHASE DISCOUNT**** INTEREST EXPENSE***** NET INCOME BEFORE TAXES training FOR TAXES NET INCOME NET SALES COGS BEGI NNING INVENTORY PURCHASES $1,342 $1,150 $192 $86 $93 $185 $55 $130 ENDING INVENTORY TOTAL COGS 1996 ASSETS CASH A/R, NET INVENTORY CURRENT ASSETS FIXED ASSETS TOTAL ASSETS 1996 LIABILITIESA/P (10 years of Purchases) ACCRUED EXP. (1. 5% of Sales) CPLTD BANK NOTE PAYABLE (PLUG) CURRENT LIABILITIES LT DEBT TOTAL LIABILITIES NET WORTH TOTAL LIABILITIES AND NET WORTH $1,342 $1,150 $192 $93 $99 $41 $58 PROJECTED BALANCE SHEET PROJECTED BALANCE SHEET $77 $655 708 $1,440 $411 $1,851 $587 $4,279 $4,866 $708 $4,158 GROSS PROFIT OPERATING EXPENSES EBIT INTEREST EXPENSE NET INCOME BEFORE TAXES PROVISION FOR TAXES NET INCOME * Purchases based on average percentage of Sales (77. 8%) ** Total COGS based on average percentage of Sales (75. 6%) *** Operating Costs based on average percentage of Sales (20. 1%) **** 2% Discount on Purchases of $4,277 ***** 11% on the LOC and 10% on Term Loan ASSETS CASH (1. 4% of Sales) A/R NET (11. 9% of Sales) INVENTORY CURRENT ASSETS FIXED ASSETS* TOTAL ASSETS $5, 500 $117 $83 $20 $972 $1,192 80 $1,272 $579 $1,851 0. 075 77 655 708 1440 411 1851 LIABILITIES A/P ACCRUED EXP. CPLTD BANK NOTE PAYABLE (PLUG) CURRENT LIABILITIES LT DEBT TOTAL LIABILITIES NET WORTH $465 83 20 $696 $1,264 80 $1,344 $507 TOTAL LIABILITIES AND NET WORTH $1,851 * I used the average total assets of sales percentage and backed into Fixed Assets CLARKSON LUMBER CASE STUDY FINAN 6022-002 APPENDIX