George Weston Limited (GWL), Canada’s largest retailer, decided in March 2023 to sell its bakery operations to focus on food, retail, and real estate development. The company distributed a package outlining the operational and financial performance of the bakery unit, Weston Foods, to likely bidders. Before bids were received, GWL needed to estimate the unit’s fair market value. GWL hoped to complete the sale before its December year-end, and had until then to decide on the best bid for Weston Foods.
The sole owner and chief executive officer of Delisle Industries received Delisle's 2010 financial statements from the company's auditors and compared the results with previous years. While she was very happy with Delisle's rapid growth, she had a number of serious concerns about its future. In particular, she was concerned about operating problems that had arisen as a result of rapid expansion as well as Delisle's dependence on one vendor, Eagle Wholesale Club, to distribute Delisle's product. She also had concerns about the establishment of a new production facility, wondered what could be done about the company's poor cash management and overreliance on debt financing, and was seeking opportunities to finance future growth.
In 2011, the sole owner and chief executive officer of Delisle Industries received Delisle’s 2010 financial statements from the company’s auditors and compared the results with previous years. While she was very happy with Delisle’s rapid growth, she had a number of serious concerns about its future. In particular, she was concerned about operating problems that had arisen as a result of rapid expansion as well as Delisle’s dependence on one vendor, Eagle Wholesale Club, to distribute Delisle’s product. She also had concerns about the establishment of a new production facility, wondered what could be done about the company’s poor cash management and overreliance on debt financing, and was seeking opportunities to finance future growth.
Accountant Sarah McIvor, a junior partner with PricewaterhouseCoopers, has been selected to conduct a financial review of Gemini Electronics Ltd. Gemini is an up-start American electronics company that recently went public and now wants to expand its business to rival the major Korean and Japanese producers. Before the company finalizes any expansion plans, Dr. Wang, the founder, feels it is prudent to conduct an independent evaluation of Gemini’s financial condition.
The CEO of Strong Tie received the draft 2008 financial statements for the company, which was a manufacturer of structural connectors used in the building industry. He began to question the company’s performance when he compared the statements to those of previous years. How were profits holding up given the intense price competition in the industry? Were attempts to lower costs through more automation paying off? Were the current problems in the U.S. housing market going to continue to reduce demand for connectors? How would lenders react to this poor performance? Was the company’s financing in danger?<br><br><br><br>After discussing the matter extensively with Strong Tie’s CFO, it was decided that an outside consultant should be hired to provide an independent analysis of the company’s recent performance and to provide suggestions for future action.
The CEO received the draft 2008 financial statements for Strong Tie, a manufacturer of structural connectors used in the building industry. He began to question the company's performance when he compared them to previous years. How were profits holding up given the intense price competition in the industry? Were attempts to lower costs through more automation paying off? Where the current problems in the U.S. housing market going to continue to reduce demand for connectors? How would lenders react to this poor performance? Was the company's financing in danger? After discussing the matter extensively with Strong Tie's CFO, it was decided that an outside consultant should be hired to provide an independent analysis of the company's recent performance and to provide suggestions for future action.
Sarah McIvor, CA, a junior partner with Price Waterhouse Coopers, has been selected to conduct a financial review of Gemini Electronics Ltd. Gemini is an "up-start" American electronics company who recently went public and now wants to expand its business to rival the major Korean and Japanese producers. Before the company finalizes any expansion plans, Dr. Wang, the founder, feels it is prudent to conduct an independent evaluation of Gemini's financial condition.
High Mountain Technologies is a diversified research and manufacturing company that produces a wide array of products based on patented technology. A certified management accountant has been given the assignment of completing a capital budgeting analysis of two projects — a GPS transmitter and surveillance aircraft. Rogers has been instructed to calculate the net present value for each project, including an appropriate cost of capital, so that the company can make its final decision.
The certified management accountant (CMA) has been asked to evaluate two potential new products for the New Products Review Committee (NPRC) of High Mountain Technologies. The case focuses on the application of the net present value approach to capital budgeting, determining an appropriate cost of capital and capital rationing.