Evaluate the American Creations proposal on behalf of Bellingham plc, supporting your arguments with relevant theory and
Question:
Evaluate the American Creations proposal on behalf of Bellingham plc, supporting your arguments with relevant theory and calculations and indicating any non-financial matters you feel should be taken into consideration.
Your report should consider the following areas:
1. An analysis of Bellingham's current position using relevant financial ratios. You should show the calculation of the ratios and provide interpretation of the results.
2. Calculation of Bellingham's cost of capital, using alternative methods and arriving at the most appropriate figure.
3. An investment appraisal of the American Creations proposal assuming the valuation suggested in the case, using a variety of methods and evaluation of the results.
4. A sensitivity analysis of the proposal and interpretation of the results.
5. Calculation and discussion of alternative valuations for acquiring the share in American Creations and how these would impact on the investment appraisal.
6. A discussion of the various available methods of financing the acquisition and consideration of which is the most appropriate.
Your calculations and arguments should be supported by relevant theory, with evidence of wide reading around the subject.
You should provide a complete bibliography with appropriate referencing in your report.
Arthur Scroggs was a farmer. His family has owned and farmed 500 acres of prime land in the Vale of Aylesbury for four generations. In the mid 1980's small farms were finding the financial climate difficult with falling farm incomes and much talk of putting farm land to "alternative use". By 1985 Arthur had already sold his dairy herd to focus on cereal production when a fortuitous meeting with Lucy Bellingham at a business conference led him to reconsider the future of the family farm. Bellingham is a designer of bespoke fitted kitchens who had a business plan but little capital. The plan was to manufacture top quality fitted kitchen furniture and establish design studios/showrooms in high income areas. Having recently sold his dairy herd, Arthur had enough capital to fund the new business and also a number of large barns and outbuildings suitable for manufacturing the kitchen units subject to refitting and planning consent being obtained. Lucy's business plan was so convincing that Arthur decided to get out of farming altogether (by leasing his arable land to a local cooperative) and focus on developing the new business. From this small beginning grew the now publicly quoted company of Bellingham plc.
Initially, showrooms were established in Beaconsfield and then Kensington. Demand for their kitchens was brisk and ?Bellingham Bespoke Kitchens? expanded rapidly but remained a partnership. The firm?s clients are mainly celebrities from the entertainment world and the cost of a Bellingham Bespoke Kitchen is now ?40,000 - ?150,000 or more. The firm was restructured as a limited company in 1990 and subsequently experienced rapid growth until 1999.
Valuation The Art and Science of Corporate Investment Decisions
ISBN: 978-0133479522
3rd edition
Authors: Sheridan Titman, John D. Martin