You are the portfolio manager of a highyield bond portfolio at Solomon Group.

You are concerned about the financial stability of Florida Gypsum Corporation (FGC), whose bonds represent one of the holdings in your portfolio at the middle of Year 6. The bonds you hold, 13.25% senior subordinated debentures due in Year 16, were issued at par in Year 5, and are currently priced in your portfolio at 53. Your high-yield bond sales staff is not optimistic they can even develop a bid at that level. FGC is a large producer of gypsum products, accounting for approximately one-third of total gypsum sales. The company also manufactures ceiling tile, caulks, sealants, floor and wall adhesives, and other specialty building products.

In Year 5, FGC did a leveraged recapitalization of its balance sheet. This involved paying a large dividend to common shareholders financed with several new subordinated debt financings, including the 13.25% debentures that you hold. The company’s primary competitor, American Gypsum, is highly leveraged, following its acquisition by a large Canadian company. Due to a downturn in residential and commercial construction activity beginning in Year 4, demand for gypsum wallboard fell off through the middle of Year 6. However, capacity continues to expand at a rate of nearly 2% per year. As a result, capacity utilization has declined to 85% currently, from 87% in Year 4 and a peak of 95% in Years 1 and 2. The price of wallboard, which peaked in Year 2, has subsequently declined by more than 30%.

To help you in analyzing FGC’s prospects, you assemble various financial data that follow. The director of fixed income research at Solomon Group suggests that you look carefully at ratios of short-term liquidity and operating performance, specifically the quick ratio, accounts receivable turnover ratio, inventory turnover ratio, and operating profit margin. You prepare the table below and schedule a meeting with the director to discuss what the firm should do with FGC.

Financial statement data for Florida Gypsum Corporation include the following:

Required:

a. The director of fixed income research subsequently argues that the four ratios computed do not reveal important changes in the financial condition of FGC. Discuss limitations of these ratios in assessing the liquidity and operating performance of a company like FGC.

b. Identify at least two better measures of short-term liquidity and operating performance for FGC. Calculate their values and discuss their trend over the period Year 4 through middle of Year 6. Explain why these measures better reflect FGC’s liquidity and operating performance.

c. Based on the analysis performed in (b) and on the background information provided, recommend and justify whether you should attempt to sell the FGC bonds, retain them, or buy more FGC bonds.

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FLORIDA GYPSUM CORPORATION Selected Liquidity and Operating Performance Ratios Six Months YEAR ENDED Ended Year 4 Year 5 Mid-Year 6 Quick (acid-test) ratio . Accounts receivable turnover. Inventory turnover. Operating profit margin* . 16.6% 0.78 0.73 0.77 8.1 7.4 11.4 12.4 13.3 13.3% 14.9% FLORIDA GYPSUM CORPORATION Balance Sheets End of Year 4 End of At middle of ($ millions) Year 5 Year 6 Assets Current assets $ 31.3 274.1 $ 250.0 $ 95.6 Cash & cash equivalents. Accounts receivable. 278.3 320.4 Inventories. 144.1 124.6 128.4 Net assets of discontinued operations 415.1 20.4 Total current assets. 864.6 673.3 544.4 Property, plant & equipment, net. Purchased goodwill. 909.0 906.4 878.4 148.9 146.5 144.5 Other assets . 35.0 95.0 90.0 Total assets $1,957.5 $1,821.2 $1,657.3 Liabilities and shareholders' equity Current liabilities $ 38.3 Commercial paper & notes payable.. Accounts payable.. Accrued expenses.. Other current liabilities.. 1.3 1.6 141.6 125.4 125.2 188.2 256.9 244.0 14.8 38.7 13.7 Current portion of long-term debt 33.0 259.3 154.5 Total current liabilitie. Long-term debt. 415.9 681.6 539.0 724.9 2,384.3 2,344.0 194.1 12.8 Deferred income tax 206.2 212.6 Minority interest.. Shareholders' equity.. 20.0 22.0 609.8 (1,470.9) (1,460.3) Total liabilities and shareholders' equity. $1,957.5 $1,821.2 $1,657.3