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BAO5734 – Financial Analysis
Group Case Study - Boral
Group #1
GoranVukovic - 3755904
Manpreet Singh Mann - 4517948
HirajitSaha - 4371919
SiddharthPitowala - 4385068
Page 3 of 21
Table of Contents
Introduction ............................................................................................................................................5
Business and Organisational Structure...................................................................................................6
Boral's purpose is to create sustainable solutions for a worldwide building and construction
industry. ..........................................................................................................................................6
Boral's Strategic Intent and Objectives...................................................................................................6
Business and Strategy Analysis ...............................................................................................................8
Analysis of the economy.....................................................................................................................8
Economic/ Social.............................................................................................................................8
Political............................................................................................................................................8
Industry analysis .................................................................................................................................9
Threat to new entrants...................................................................................................................9
Threat of substitutes.......................................................................................................................9
Bargaining power of customers....................................................................................................10
Bargaining power of suppliers ......................................................................................................10
Intensity of competition ...............................................................................................................10
Company competitive and corporate strategy.................................................................................11
Risk Drivers....................................................................................................................................11
Accounting Analysis ..............................................................................................................................12
Three key accounting policies...........................................................................................................13
Three Red flags..................................................................................................................................13
Financial Analysis ..................................................................................................................................14
Operating Management....................................................................................................................14
EBIT margin...................................................................................................................................14
Operating Efficiency......................................................................................................................14
Production Efficiency ....................................................................................................................15
NOPAT margin...............................................................................................................................15
Investment Management .................................................................................................................16
Accounts Receivable turnover ......................................................................................................16
Inventory Turnover .......................................................................................................................16
Net PPE Turnover..........................................................................................................................16
Accounts Payable turnover...........................................................................................................16
Financial Management .....................................................................................................................17
Current ratio..................................................................................................................................17
Quick Ratio....................................................................................................................................17
Debt to Capital Ratio.....................................................................................................................17
Page 4 of 21
Major Changes In The Operation, Financial And Investment Decisions...........................................18
Prospective analysis..............................................................................................................................19
Sales Growth.....................................................................................................................................19
NOPAT Margin ..................................................................................................................................19
Working Capital to Sales ...................................................................................................................19
Long Term Assets to Sales.................................................................................................................19
Debt ratio..........................................................................................................................................19
After Tax Cost of Debt.......................................................................................................................19
Dividend rate.....................................................................................................................................19
Recommendation..................................................................................................................................20
Page 5 of 21
Introduction
Group one has been tasked by our client Maria Prokofieva to analyse market and business trends
related to Boral Limited, a construction supplies company listed on ASX.
The following is an overview of the organisation itself a brief description of its main competitor, an
industry overview followed by in depth investigation of the company, competitor and industry
financial trends. An explanation of all forecasts is provided to explain the approach taken this is
followed by a brief recommendation for the client.
Page 6 of 21
Business and Organisational Structure
Boral is an international building and construction materials group, with its headquarters in
Sydney, Australia. With some A$5.2 billion worth of sales, Boral had 8,953 full-time
equivalent employees working across over 550 operating sites as at 30 June 2014.
Boral produces and distributes a broad range of construction materials, including quarry
products, cement, fly ash, pre-mix concrete and asphalt; and building products, including
clay bricks and pavers, clay and concrete roof tiles, concrete masonry products,
plasterboard and timber. Boral primarily serves customers in the building and construction
industries with operations concentrated in three key geographical markets - Australia, the
USA and Asia.
http://www.boral.com.au/corporate/organisational_structure.asp
Boral's purpose is to create sustainable solutions for a worldwide building and
construction industry.
http://www.boral.com.au/article/borals-purpose-and-values.asp
Boral's Strategic Intent and Objectives
Boral's Strategic Intent is to be a value(s) and market driven, focused building and
construction materials supplier, operating in Australia and increasingly offshore. Boral's
Objectives are to:
 Exceed the weighted average cost of capital (WACC) on a sustainable basis through
the building cycle
 Deliver better financial returns than the competition in comparable markets
 Deliver superior total shareholder returns
 Achieve superior returns in a sustainable way
Our Strategic Intent and Objectives define what and where we want Boral to be.
We are focused on delivering shareholder value, value to our customers and value to other
stakeholders in our company. Our corporate Values of Leadership, Respect, Focus,
Persistence and Performance are referred to in our Strategic Intent to reinforce their ongoing
importance in Boral.
Page 7 of 21
Our market driven focus reflects the increased importance we place on addressing market
needs through improved product development and innovation processes. We must be aware
of future market trends and anticipate the changing needs of our customers. In order to do
this effectively we strive to understand what is important to our customers and what they
value.
In particular, we are committed to:
 Pursuing focused strategies that create and build on competitive advantage.
 Providing customers with better value and service than our competitors.
 Investing in people so that we have the best in our industries.
 Encouraging and implementing innovation to further improve our processes, products
and services and to satisfy the needs of our markets.
 Growing around our leading reserve and market positions.
 Ensuring our operations are sustainable in terms of their social, employee and
environmental impacts.
http://www.boral.com.au/article/boral_strategic_intent_objectives.asp
Page 8 of 21
Business and Strategy Analysis;
Analysis of the economy
Economic/ Social- Capital expenditure on private dwellings, demand from commercial
and industrial building construction, demand from institutional building construction and
natural disastersare the main positive economic factors that are contributing to Boral‟s
growth in sales and profits. Australia is a developed country and one of the wealthiest in the
world, with the world's 12th-largest economy, nevertheless, its population density, 2.8
inhabitants per square kilometre, remains among the lowest in the world. Infrastructure in
Australia is increasing every year and the demand for new dwellings has risen dramatically.
Just in March 2015 there were 19 333 dwellings approved and it has been projected to rise
by 2.5% per month for the next 12 months. Furthermore, the latest interest cut, lowest in
history might generate more houses being built and more business investing in
infrastructure. Boral‟s products are used in each stage of building a house, starting from
concrete, bricks, insulation, plaster boards, roof tiles, etc.
Boral Concrete, through a high level of technical know-how, has developed mixes using high
quality materials to guarantee the long term durability of your concrete structure as well as
deliver the workability and consistency that professional concrete placers require. Boral's
Normal Class Standard Concretes are suitable for a number of general purpose applications
including house foundations, driveways, footpaths, industrial floors and structures. Boral's
Special Class Concrete products are designed to help you deliver your project on time and
within budget. From concrete for road construction to concretes designed to line tunnels with
a 100 - year design life our technical experts will work with you to ensure the concrete has
the right performance characteristics required. ( Boral 2015)
Political
 Limited political policies as political power is always changing. Example of this is the
Boral and CSR brick merger; many people argue that the government should never
allowed for this merger to happen. The merger was initiated because both companies
believe brick demand in Australia is experiencing a sustained structural
decline.(Sourceable 2015)
 Boral and CFMEU union had a clash and went to court several times, costing the
Boral shareholders 10 million dollars. This was all due to Boral‟s dealing with a
company called Grocon PTY LD. Union wanted to stop Boral dealing with Grocon as
Grocon was involved in an accident where a brick has fallen of a building and has
killed 3 people.
Page 9 of 21
Industry analysis
Boral belongs to the construction material supply industry group the company is considered
a top performer being „one of Australia's largest plaster product manufacturers‟ (Ibis world)
and also providing other building products such as bricks, masonry, timber, concrete and
asphalt. It operates numerous manufacturing plants throughout Australia distributing its
products to retail outlets and directly to trade account customers at building sites. The main
competitor to Boral is CSR which has a larger presence in the plaster manufacturing
industry, CSR has 29.5% market share compared to Boral‟s 20.5%. CSR however diversifies
its business into other non-construction businesses such as sugar and aluminium.
Below is an industry analysis on the plaster product industry in Australia using Porter‟s five
forces model:
Threat to new entrants
 Low
 Due to plaster products being very heavy and low cost shipping from overseas is not
viable thus if new entrants wish to gain a foothold in the market they must establish
manufacturing plants locally this requires large sums of capital.
 Both Boral and CSR have half the market share available and thus have gained
buyer loyalty combined with the ability to fit new entrants due to their financial
position and economies of scale of their operations.
Threat of substitutes
 Low
 Plaster products have the benefit and disadvantage of being the industry norm.
 Most consumers recognise these products as being standard fare in construction
coupled with their low cost mean substitute products are difficult to sell.
 With consumers looking for individuality and more environmentally friendly options
the chance of a substitute is ever present but it requires high levels of innovation and
time to be considered a credible threat.
Page 10 of 21
Bargaining power of customers
 Medium
 Customers are very price sensitive especially with the weak economic outlook but do
not yield large amounts of power due to limited choice in the market, Boral and CSR
are the main sellers.
 The demand for housing is ever growing so large scale builders setup large supply
contracts which can be complex and costly to shift to other suppliers but the threat is
ever present as these builders like all business are looking to cut costs and increase
profits.
Bargaining power of suppliers
 Low
 „Plasterboard products are manufactured from a combination of natural gypsum, and
paper liner made from 100% reclaimed and recycled paper waste‟ (Boral
sustainability)
 The gypsum used is supplied from a Boral part owned operation „USG Boral is a 50%
shareholder in Gypsum Resources Australia (GRA)‟ (USG Boral)
Intensity of competition
 Medium
 Due to CSR and Boral having a stranglehold on the market the incentive to be highly
competitive is not great it is in the best interest of both companies to go along as they
are.
 The smaller companies in the market are creating the competition for Boral and CSR
to contend with.
Viewing the above analysis it can be assessed that the industry‟s current profitability is
strong and growth potential is quite high, it can be seen that as long as Boral does the basic
business requirements correctly, good customer service, ensure quality standards are met
and provide the customer with a valued exchange, that the business should thrive and grow.
Page 11 of 21
Company competitive and corporate strategy
Boral has prioritised efforts to ensure that businesses are focused on those areas that will
make the most difference to shareholders, customers, communities, employees and the
environment. Key areas of focus include health and safety, energy efficiency and emissions
reduction, sustainable product development, and community partnerships. Boral is confident
that these priorities will grow the Group‟s sustainable competitive advantage and represent
the critical levers in terms of business continuity and present opportunities to continually
lower costs.(Boral 2011, p. 1)
 Resources and the expertise to perform for customers Australia wide.
 Innovative product platforms - addressing market needs through improved product
development and innovation processes. Boral must be aware of future market trends
and anticipate the changing needs of customers.
 Create sustainable solutions for a worldwide building and construction industry. Boral
products are good quality, durable, reliable and clients trust their products.
Risk Drivers
 Competition risk- Boral operates against domestic suppliers and in some cases
imported product suppliers. The competitive environment can be significantly
affected by local market forces, such as new market entrants.
 Foreign exchange risk – Boral has significant operation in USA and Asia and it
also depends on imported products and supply of plant and equipment. Movement in
AUD and US dollar can be a huge factor.
 Health and Safety and Environment risk- Due to the nature of the business there
is a risk of incident‟s occurring that might cause injury to Boral‟s staff or contractors
or damage to the environment. Any such events might results in penalties and fines
which can affect Boral‟s reputation.
Page 12 of 21
Accounting Analysis
The financial statement are general purpose financial statements which have been prepared
in accordance with Australian Accounting Standards adopted by the Australian Accounting
Standards Board (AASB) and the Corporations Act 2001. Furthermore, financial statements
of the group comply with the International Financial reporting Standard (IFRS). Financial
Statements are presented in Australian dollars which is the companies‟ functional currency.
(Boral 2014)
Boral‟s Annual report is transparent, easy to read and the information is very accessible and
in very detailed. Accounting policy notes are 10 pages long and notes for financial
statements are 45+ pages long and are very detailed and easy for reader to understand.
(Boral 2014)
Boral is a multiple business segment firm as it has operations in the following; Construction
Material & Cement, Building products, Gypsum, Boral USA, Discontinued Operations,
Unallocated. Quality of Segment disclosure is very clear as there is a separate section in the
notes that explains segment transactions.
Boral is committed to complying with its continuous disclosure obligations and to ensuring
that trading in its securities takes place in a market which is orderly and informed and is not,
or is not likely to be, false. The purpose of this Policy is to assist employees, particularly
executives, officers and managers, to understand Boral‟s continuous disclosure obligations
and to set out the procedures that must be followed for the release of information to the
ASX, the investment community, the media and the public. (Boral 2014)
Boral recognises the importance of maintaining open and effective two-way communications
with all stakeholder groups including employees, customers, local communities and
shareholders and the financial community. For Boral to continue to be successful,
stakeholders must be informed and their views must be considered.
Page 13 of 21
Three key accounting policies
1. Estimation of useful lives of assets – This is based on historical experience.
Condition of asset is assessed annually and considered against remaining useful life
2. Good will and intangibles – goodwill and intangible assets are stated at cost less
any accumulated amortisation impairment loses
3. Receivables – Trade receivables are recognised initially at fair value and
subsequently measured at amortised cost, less allowance for impairment.
Three Red flags
1. Large increase in non-current payables, this is solely comprised of deferred
income no other information is given as to why this has doubled when compared to
the preceding two years. It has been flagged due to the change but it can be viewed
as a positive due to its guarantee of income.
2. Significant increase in cash and cash equivalent, main reason for change is
significant increase in short term bank deposits. No clear reason for increase found in
disclosure.
3. Significant variance in profit for the year, due to restructuring the previous
financial year Boral suffered a significant loss and has been able to return to profit
this year. Not enough data available to determine if restructuring will be successful in
long term.
Page 14 of 21
Financial Analysis
From the results of the financial statements and ratio analysis for Boral Limited we have
selected four ratios from three different areas and then we have made a comparison of the
same ratios with the main Competitor for Boral limited which is CSR. For our part of the
financial analysis annual reports of Boral and CSR limited was undertaken for three
consecutive years from 2012 to 2014. The ratio selected was based on the importance of the
business they are in and it is directly related with the business strategy followed by Boral
Limited. Also the ratios were analysed periodically every year and time series analysis was
conducted. We have categorically conducted cross sectional analysis and time series
analysis under the following sub heads
Operating Management
Operating management is an area of management where the main focus is on the day to
day operations of the enterprise. It involves procurement of raw materials as an input source
and providing the finished goods and services as per customer needs as an output.
EBIT margin
The EBIT margin is the analysis of the Earnings before interest and tax to Sales. EBIT
margin is an essential factor for any company as deciding factor before entering the market.
EBIT for Boral has been very fluctuating from 2012 to 2014. From the recasting calculations
we have found that there was a EBIT margin of 4.95% during the 2012 financial statements.
This margin went into negative percentage of 5.32% during the end of 2013 financial year.
The main reason that was analysed for such a huge difference was the excessive operating
expenditure during the year 2013 as well the revenue for the same year dropped by around
12%.
The EBIT margin for CSR is the similar to Boral. From the recasting tool it is analysed that
the percentage of EBIT margin for 2012 was standing at 5.39%. For the year 2013 the EBIT
margin went down to negative 12.62% and again increased to 6.92% in year 2014.
Operating Efficiency
The Operating efficiency is the analysis of the gross profit margin to Earnings before interest
and tax. As the gross profit margin is inclusive of tax and interest while EBIT is exclusive
operating efficiency provides the actual efficiency of the operations of the business.
The Operating efficiency for Boral limited as at 2012 was 18.08%. As there was a change in
the EBIT margin in 2013 the operating efficiency of Boral limited was affected and so it
showed a negative ratio of 19.81%. After implementing measures to increase the EBIT in
2014 the operating efficiency again went up to 18.92%
Page 15 of 21
The operating efficiency for CSR is standing at 23.62% as of 2014 comparing the 2013
results the operating efficiency was in negative 46.91%. The similar results were analysed in
the year 2012 where in percentage of operating efficiency was standing at 18.56%.
Production Efficiency
The production efficiency is associated with the margin i.e Sales less Cost of Goods sold to
the actual revenue of the same year. The production efficient lets us know the efficiency of
our cost of production and whether that is helping us to improve the sales performance.
The production efficiency for Boral limited is consisted during the three years with a slight
decrease in the year 2013. In 2012 the production efficiency stands at 27.37% which was
decreased slightly to 26.87% in 2013 and it again increased to 27.47% in 2014.For CSR
limited the production efficiency remained between 25 to 30%. In 2012 the productive
efficiency stands at 29.03% which was dropped to 26.91% in 2013 and then again increased
to 29.28%.
NOPAT margin
The net operating margin is the result of net operating profit after tax to sales for any
particular period. The net operating profit is the summation of the net income of entity and
net interest expense after tax.
The NOPAT margin for Boral was 5.03% during the year 2012 which decreased to 3.38% in
2013 and then increased to 4.97% in 2014.The NOPAT margin for CSR was 5.59% during
the 2012 year which decreased to 8.18% during the year 2013. The margin increased to
5.77% during the year 2014.
Page 16 of 21
Investment Management
The investment management is an area of management which deals the management of
various types of securities of a firm that will help the organisation to attain maximum benefits
to the shareholders. Most of the investment management ratios are focused on the turnover
of the organisation. The turnover of the company is compared with the actual investment
undertaken. Following are the ratios undertaken for study.
Accounts Receivable turnover
Account receivable turnover is the analysis of Sales to Account receivable for a particular
period of time. The high ratio of Accounts receivable turnover is highly preferable for any
organisation.
Boral limited is consistently increasing its Accounts receivable every year. In 2012 the
accounts receivable turnover was 5.83 times which has increased to 6.12 in 2013 while
there is a huge jump of 8.44 in 2014.For CSR the Accounts receivable turnover went down
from 5.70 times in 2012 to 5.51 in 2013 and then further decreased to 5.45 times in 2014.
Inventory Turnover
Inventory turnover is the analysis related to the Cost of goods sold to inventory. To calculate
inventory the average of opening and closing stock of inventory is calculated. The inventory
turnover specifies the times the inventory is sold during a particular year.
The inventory turnover for Boral limited is showing high fluctuation during the year 2013. The
inventory turnover ratio was 4.5 times during the 2012 year which increased suddenly to 65
times in 2013 and came back again to 3.7 times in 2014.CSR limited is showing an average
of 2 to 3 times of inventory turnover for all the three years.
Net PPE Turnover
Net PPE turnover ratio is the comparison of the revenue of the firm with the property plants
and equipment of the firm. If the ratio of PPE is higher than the company is earning higher
revenue without having more investment in PPE.
Boral limited PPE turnover ratio stands at 1.19 in 2013 and it increased to 1.5 in 2014 which
is good sign for the company. CSR limited on the other side is gaining more PPE turnover
with 1.68 in 2013 to 2 times in 2014.
Accounts Payable turnover
Accounts payable turnover is time undertaken by entity to pay of its creditors. If the ratio is
high it denotes that the company is speedy in making payments to its payables. Accounts
receivable is calculated by dividing the sales to accounts payable of an organisation.
Page 17 of 21
Boral limited Accounts payable turnover is 4.68 times in 2012 which increased to almost 24
times in 2013 and then again went down to 15 times in 2014. CSR limited has increased
constantly from 5.87 times in 2012 to 6.33 in 2014.
Financial Management
The management of funds in an effective and efficient manner so as the goals and strategies
of organisation is achieved. Financial management is an important part of an organisation for
the analysis.
Current ratio
Current ratio is the analysis of Current assets to current liabilities. Current assets include
cash and inventory. Current liabilities include creditors and bills which can be paid easily.
Current ratio for Boral limited has increased from 1.7 to 2.5 from 2012 to 2014. Current ratio
for CSR limited has been decreased from 2 to 1.9 from 2012 to 2014. A higher current ratio
explains that the company is having enough funds to pay off their liabilities.
Debt to equity ratio
Debt to equity ratio denotes the amount of debt and equity possessed by the company. The
debt equity should remain 0 to 1. Boral limited debt to equity ratio is 0.04 in 2012 which
decreased to 0.01 in 2014. While CSR is standing at 0.01 in 2012 and it increased to 0.04 in
2014.
Quick Ratio
Quick ratio signifies the short term liquidity of the company. It is the company ability to meet
its short obligations with the liquid assets available in the company. Boral limited has shown
a variation in the quick ratio from 0.9 in 2012 to 1.19 in 2013 and again decreasing it to 0.8 in
2014. CSR quick ratio stands around 0.75 to 0.85 during the same period
Debt to Capital Ratio
A debt to capital ratio indicates the amount of debt and amount of capital of an organisation.
A debt is the outsider money while the capital is the owner/shareholder money. A higher
debt to capital ratio indicates that the company is heavily in debt compare to the capital it
possesses. Boral debt to capital ratio stands at 0.04 in 2012 which decreased to 0.01 in
2014. In CSR the debt to capital ratio was at 0.01 at 2012 and increased to 0.03 in 2014.
Page 18 of 21
Major Changes In The Operation, Financial And Investment
Decisions
There were various factors which led to the changes in the ratios shown above. Starting from
the operational management 2013 had been very bad for both the companies. Both the
companies suffered a loss with a high margin in 2013. The decrease in profit had led to a
decrease in the operating and productive efficiency of Boral and CSR. Also the Operating
profit decreased largely during the same time.
With the Investment decisions Boral has been inconsistent with the inventory as there is a
sudden drop in the inventory in 2013 which affected the turnover of inventory as well as
other factors. Accounts receivable and payable have been consistent for both the companies
whereas the PPE turnover for CSR is high compared to Boral.
The financial management of Boral is consistent with the quick and current ratio remaining
neutral and same is with CSR. Additionally the debt to equity and capital ratio is consistent
across all the years.
Following are the reasons for the fluctuations in the ratios of the Boral limited
 Boral‟s FY2014 reflected 64 % increase in profit after tax and the company was
benefited from realignment of portfolio and restructuring and also from the ongoing
US market recovery.
 USG Boral plasterboard and ceiling joint venture and Leighton Boral Amey joint
venture also added to a key factor in strengthening future growth.
 “FIX, EXECUTE and TRANSFORM” was the poster strategy implemented to
strengthen profit generation.
 Cost reduction initiative to offset higher cost to develop new technologies and
broader product portfolio.
 Net debt of $1446m was reduced to $718m from 2013 to 2014 by cash generation
and limiting capital expenditure.
 Company developed a geographically balanced portfolio and reduced cost through
restructuring and procurement activities.
 The company ceased its production of clinker, Victoria and increased level of imports
thus reduced the cost of manufacturing.
 In June, small subscale cement kiln at Maldon, NSW was announced to be closed
and shifted to Berrima facility which resulted to $13.8m being recorded as impairment
and restructuring change.
 Boral set to have a goal of “zero harm” to its people and the environment, driven by
the approach to Health, Safety and Environment (HSE)
Page 19 of 21
Prospective analysis
In order to decide whether Boral represents a good investment it is essential to analyse current
market/company trends and try to predict based on that information how the company is likely to
perform in the near future.To do this forecast we must estimate the below variables:
Sales Growth
 Sales are expected to be strong over the next few years
 Industry very sensitive to 10 year Bond rate (mortgage) this is at a record low
 Low mortgage rate will fuel housing demand and thus increase Boral sales
NOPAT Margin
 Due to the expected increase in sales Boral can expect to increase production and try to
increase its economies of scale.The resulting effect on NOPAT is minimal though due to
Boral already having most systems in place to achieve a good economy of scale
 For the above we expect Boral to maintain or slightly increase its NOPAT
Working Capital to Sales
 Boral’s working capital to sales has been fluctuating largely over the last few years due to its
restructuring releasing large amounts of cash.
 We expect that the peak it is on now will not last due to the business settling from the
fluctuations. We have put working capital back towards 20% which is in line with industry
and competitor CSR
Long Term Assets to Sales
 Boral improved its long term assets to sales from 2013 to 2014 slightly
 With the added anticipated increase in sales expected we expect this ratio to decrease back
towards its 2013 levels
Debt ratio
 Expected to remain steady at 25%
 Will most likely increase over the next few years as Boral borrows more to increase
production but for the next year it will not change due to time constraints
After Tax Cost of Debt
 Stable at 4.9% as set by the federal Government
Dividend rate
 With an expected better performance over the next year, we expect dividend rate to
increase to 2.5%
Page 20 of 21
Recommendation
Having reviewed all currently available information and conducting a forecast for the next fiscal year
it is recommended that the investor consider their risk return profile and other options over Boral, it
is has been seen that Boral is not a market leading stock and does not show signs of being a high
performer in the near future.
If the investor would like to invest into Boral for more than financial reasons than be advised that
the company is expected to grow over the future but it should be bought as a long term investment
with above average security due to its business interest and industry. The stock is not recommended
for a quick buy/sell investor as it is a long term returning investment.
Page 21 of 21
References
Boral 2014, Boral Annual Report 2014, viewed 17 May 2015, retrieved from Boral‟s Website.
Boral, 2015, Sustainability report, viewed 13 May 2015,
http://www.boral.com.au/Images/common/pdfs/annual-reports/2011-sustainability-in-
boral.pdf
Sourceable, 2015, What is the impact of Boral and CSR Brick Merger, viewed 12 May 2015,
https://sourceable.net/whats-behind-the-boral-and-csr-brick-merger/#
Boral, 2015, Boral Construction Material and Cement, viewed 13 May 2015,
http://www.boral.com.au/Boral_Companies/CI_ACM.asp
IBIS world, accessed 11-05-2013
http://0clients1.ibisworld.com.au.library.vu.edu.au/reports/au/industry/majorcompanies.aspx?
entid=329
USG Boral Plasterboard Export - Sustainability. 2015. USG Boral Plasterboard Export -
Sustainability. [ONLINE] Available at:
http://www.boral.com.au/plasterboardexport/sustainability.asp. [Accessed 11 May 2015].
USG Boral . 2015. USG Boral . [ONLINE] Available at:
http://www.boral.com.au/Boral_Companies/CI_Plasterboard.asp. [Accessed 11 May 2015].
http://www.boral.com.au/images/common/pdfs/Corp_Gov/Continuous-Disclosure-Policy.pdf
Mint Global accessed various May-2015, to check data for Boral, CSR and industry

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BAO5734 - Case Study - BORAL (1)

  • 2. Page 2 of 21 BAO5734 – Financial Analysis Group Case Study - Boral Group #1 GoranVukovic - 3755904 Manpreet Singh Mann - 4517948 HirajitSaha - 4371919 SiddharthPitowala - 4385068
  • 3. Page 3 of 21 Table of Contents Introduction ............................................................................................................................................5 Business and Organisational Structure...................................................................................................6 Boral's purpose is to create sustainable solutions for a worldwide building and construction industry. ..........................................................................................................................................6 Boral's Strategic Intent and Objectives...................................................................................................6 Business and Strategy Analysis ...............................................................................................................8 Analysis of the economy.....................................................................................................................8 Economic/ Social.............................................................................................................................8 Political............................................................................................................................................8 Industry analysis .................................................................................................................................9 Threat to new entrants...................................................................................................................9 Threat of substitutes.......................................................................................................................9 Bargaining power of customers....................................................................................................10 Bargaining power of suppliers ......................................................................................................10 Intensity of competition ...............................................................................................................10 Company competitive and corporate strategy.................................................................................11 Risk Drivers....................................................................................................................................11 Accounting Analysis ..............................................................................................................................12 Three key accounting policies...........................................................................................................13 Three Red flags..................................................................................................................................13 Financial Analysis ..................................................................................................................................14 Operating Management....................................................................................................................14 EBIT margin...................................................................................................................................14 Operating Efficiency......................................................................................................................14 Production Efficiency ....................................................................................................................15 NOPAT margin...............................................................................................................................15 Investment Management .................................................................................................................16 Accounts Receivable turnover ......................................................................................................16 Inventory Turnover .......................................................................................................................16 Net PPE Turnover..........................................................................................................................16 Accounts Payable turnover...........................................................................................................16 Financial Management .....................................................................................................................17 Current ratio..................................................................................................................................17 Quick Ratio....................................................................................................................................17 Debt to Capital Ratio.....................................................................................................................17
  • 4. Page 4 of 21 Major Changes In The Operation, Financial And Investment Decisions...........................................18 Prospective analysis..............................................................................................................................19 Sales Growth.....................................................................................................................................19 NOPAT Margin ..................................................................................................................................19 Working Capital to Sales ...................................................................................................................19 Long Term Assets to Sales.................................................................................................................19 Debt ratio..........................................................................................................................................19 After Tax Cost of Debt.......................................................................................................................19 Dividend rate.....................................................................................................................................19 Recommendation..................................................................................................................................20
  • 5. Page 5 of 21 Introduction Group one has been tasked by our client Maria Prokofieva to analyse market and business trends related to Boral Limited, a construction supplies company listed on ASX. The following is an overview of the organisation itself a brief description of its main competitor, an industry overview followed by in depth investigation of the company, competitor and industry financial trends. An explanation of all forecasts is provided to explain the approach taken this is followed by a brief recommendation for the client.
  • 6. Page 6 of 21 Business and Organisational Structure Boral is an international building and construction materials group, with its headquarters in Sydney, Australia. With some A$5.2 billion worth of sales, Boral had 8,953 full-time equivalent employees working across over 550 operating sites as at 30 June 2014. Boral produces and distributes a broad range of construction materials, including quarry products, cement, fly ash, pre-mix concrete and asphalt; and building products, including clay bricks and pavers, clay and concrete roof tiles, concrete masonry products, plasterboard and timber. Boral primarily serves customers in the building and construction industries with operations concentrated in three key geographical markets - Australia, the USA and Asia. http://www.boral.com.au/corporate/organisational_structure.asp Boral's purpose is to create sustainable solutions for a worldwide building and construction industry. http://www.boral.com.au/article/borals-purpose-and-values.asp Boral's Strategic Intent and Objectives Boral's Strategic Intent is to be a value(s) and market driven, focused building and construction materials supplier, operating in Australia and increasingly offshore. Boral's Objectives are to:  Exceed the weighted average cost of capital (WACC) on a sustainable basis through the building cycle  Deliver better financial returns than the competition in comparable markets  Deliver superior total shareholder returns  Achieve superior returns in a sustainable way Our Strategic Intent and Objectives define what and where we want Boral to be. We are focused on delivering shareholder value, value to our customers and value to other stakeholders in our company. Our corporate Values of Leadership, Respect, Focus, Persistence and Performance are referred to in our Strategic Intent to reinforce their ongoing importance in Boral.
  • 7. Page 7 of 21 Our market driven focus reflects the increased importance we place on addressing market needs through improved product development and innovation processes. We must be aware of future market trends and anticipate the changing needs of our customers. In order to do this effectively we strive to understand what is important to our customers and what they value. In particular, we are committed to:  Pursuing focused strategies that create and build on competitive advantage.  Providing customers with better value and service than our competitors.  Investing in people so that we have the best in our industries.  Encouraging and implementing innovation to further improve our processes, products and services and to satisfy the needs of our markets.  Growing around our leading reserve and market positions.  Ensuring our operations are sustainable in terms of their social, employee and environmental impacts. http://www.boral.com.au/article/boral_strategic_intent_objectives.asp
  • 8. Page 8 of 21 Business and Strategy Analysis; Analysis of the economy Economic/ Social- Capital expenditure on private dwellings, demand from commercial and industrial building construction, demand from institutional building construction and natural disastersare the main positive economic factors that are contributing to Boral‟s growth in sales and profits. Australia is a developed country and one of the wealthiest in the world, with the world's 12th-largest economy, nevertheless, its population density, 2.8 inhabitants per square kilometre, remains among the lowest in the world. Infrastructure in Australia is increasing every year and the demand for new dwellings has risen dramatically. Just in March 2015 there were 19 333 dwellings approved and it has been projected to rise by 2.5% per month for the next 12 months. Furthermore, the latest interest cut, lowest in history might generate more houses being built and more business investing in infrastructure. Boral‟s products are used in each stage of building a house, starting from concrete, bricks, insulation, plaster boards, roof tiles, etc. Boral Concrete, through a high level of technical know-how, has developed mixes using high quality materials to guarantee the long term durability of your concrete structure as well as deliver the workability and consistency that professional concrete placers require. Boral's Normal Class Standard Concretes are suitable for a number of general purpose applications including house foundations, driveways, footpaths, industrial floors and structures. Boral's Special Class Concrete products are designed to help you deliver your project on time and within budget. From concrete for road construction to concretes designed to line tunnels with a 100 - year design life our technical experts will work with you to ensure the concrete has the right performance characteristics required. ( Boral 2015) Political  Limited political policies as political power is always changing. Example of this is the Boral and CSR brick merger; many people argue that the government should never allowed for this merger to happen. The merger was initiated because both companies believe brick demand in Australia is experiencing a sustained structural decline.(Sourceable 2015)  Boral and CFMEU union had a clash and went to court several times, costing the Boral shareholders 10 million dollars. This was all due to Boral‟s dealing with a company called Grocon PTY LD. Union wanted to stop Boral dealing with Grocon as Grocon was involved in an accident where a brick has fallen of a building and has killed 3 people.
  • 9. Page 9 of 21 Industry analysis Boral belongs to the construction material supply industry group the company is considered a top performer being „one of Australia's largest plaster product manufacturers‟ (Ibis world) and also providing other building products such as bricks, masonry, timber, concrete and asphalt. It operates numerous manufacturing plants throughout Australia distributing its products to retail outlets and directly to trade account customers at building sites. The main competitor to Boral is CSR which has a larger presence in the plaster manufacturing industry, CSR has 29.5% market share compared to Boral‟s 20.5%. CSR however diversifies its business into other non-construction businesses such as sugar and aluminium. Below is an industry analysis on the plaster product industry in Australia using Porter‟s five forces model: Threat to new entrants  Low  Due to plaster products being very heavy and low cost shipping from overseas is not viable thus if new entrants wish to gain a foothold in the market they must establish manufacturing plants locally this requires large sums of capital.  Both Boral and CSR have half the market share available and thus have gained buyer loyalty combined with the ability to fit new entrants due to their financial position and economies of scale of their operations. Threat of substitutes  Low  Plaster products have the benefit and disadvantage of being the industry norm.  Most consumers recognise these products as being standard fare in construction coupled with their low cost mean substitute products are difficult to sell.  With consumers looking for individuality and more environmentally friendly options the chance of a substitute is ever present but it requires high levels of innovation and time to be considered a credible threat.
  • 10. Page 10 of 21 Bargaining power of customers  Medium  Customers are very price sensitive especially with the weak economic outlook but do not yield large amounts of power due to limited choice in the market, Boral and CSR are the main sellers.  The demand for housing is ever growing so large scale builders setup large supply contracts which can be complex and costly to shift to other suppliers but the threat is ever present as these builders like all business are looking to cut costs and increase profits. Bargaining power of suppliers  Low  „Plasterboard products are manufactured from a combination of natural gypsum, and paper liner made from 100% reclaimed and recycled paper waste‟ (Boral sustainability)  The gypsum used is supplied from a Boral part owned operation „USG Boral is a 50% shareholder in Gypsum Resources Australia (GRA)‟ (USG Boral) Intensity of competition  Medium  Due to CSR and Boral having a stranglehold on the market the incentive to be highly competitive is not great it is in the best interest of both companies to go along as they are.  The smaller companies in the market are creating the competition for Boral and CSR to contend with. Viewing the above analysis it can be assessed that the industry‟s current profitability is strong and growth potential is quite high, it can be seen that as long as Boral does the basic business requirements correctly, good customer service, ensure quality standards are met and provide the customer with a valued exchange, that the business should thrive and grow.
  • 11. Page 11 of 21 Company competitive and corporate strategy Boral has prioritised efforts to ensure that businesses are focused on those areas that will make the most difference to shareholders, customers, communities, employees and the environment. Key areas of focus include health and safety, energy efficiency and emissions reduction, sustainable product development, and community partnerships. Boral is confident that these priorities will grow the Group‟s sustainable competitive advantage and represent the critical levers in terms of business continuity and present opportunities to continually lower costs.(Boral 2011, p. 1)  Resources and the expertise to perform for customers Australia wide.  Innovative product platforms - addressing market needs through improved product development and innovation processes. Boral must be aware of future market trends and anticipate the changing needs of customers.  Create sustainable solutions for a worldwide building and construction industry. Boral products are good quality, durable, reliable and clients trust their products. Risk Drivers  Competition risk- Boral operates against domestic suppliers and in some cases imported product suppliers. The competitive environment can be significantly affected by local market forces, such as new market entrants.  Foreign exchange risk – Boral has significant operation in USA and Asia and it also depends on imported products and supply of plant and equipment. Movement in AUD and US dollar can be a huge factor.  Health and Safety and Environment risk- Due to the nature of the business there is a risk of incident‟s occurring that might cause injury to Boral‟s staff or contractors or damage to the environment. Any such events might results in penalties and fines which can affect Boral‟s reputation.
  • 12. Page 12 of 21 Accounting Analysis The financial statement are general purpose financial statements which have been prepared in accordance with Australian Accounting Standards adopted by the Australian Accounting Standards Board (AASB) and the Corporations Act 2001. Furthermore, financial statements of the group comply with the International Financial reporting Standard (IFRS). Financial Statements are presented in Australian dollars which is the companies‟ functional currency. (Boral 2014) Boral‟s Annual report is transparent, easy to read and the information is very accessible and in very detailed. Accounting policy notes are 10 pages long and notes for financial statements are 45+ pages long and are very detailed and easy for reader to understand. (Boral 2014) Boral is a multiple business segment firm as it has operations in the following; Construction Material & Cement, Building products, Gypsum, Boral USA, Discontinued Operations, Unallocated. Quality of Segment disclosure is very clear as there is a separate section in the notes that explains segment transactions. Boral is committed to complying with its continuous disclosure obligations and to ensuring that trading in its securities takes place in a market which is orderly and informed and is not, or is not likely to be, false. The purpose of this Policy is to assist employees, particularly executives, officers and managers, to understand Boral‟s continuous disclosure obligations and to set out the procedures that must be followed for the release of information to the ASX, the investment community, the media and the public. (Boral 2014) Boral recognises the importance of maintaining open and effective two-way communications with all stakeholder groups including employees, customers, local communities and shareholders and the financial community. For Boral to continue to be successful, stakeholders must be informed and their views must be considered.
  • 13. Page 13 of 21 Three key accounting policies 1. Estimation of useful lives of assets – This is based on historical experience. Condition of asset is assessed annually and considered against remaining useful life 2. Good will and intangibles – goodwill and intangible assets are stated at cost less any accumulated amortisation impairment loses 3. Receivables – Trade receivables are recognised initially at fair value and subsequently measured at amortised cost, less allowance for impairment. Three Red flags 1. Large increase in non-current payables, this is solely comprised of deferred income no other information is given as to why this has doubled when compared to the preceding two years. It has been flagged due to the change but it can be viewed as a positive due to its guarantee of income. 2. Significant increase in cash and cash equivalent, main reason for change is significant increase in short term bank deposits. No clear reason for increase found in disclosure. 3. Significant variance in profit for the year, due to restructuring the previous financial year Boral suffered a significant loss and has been able to return to profit this year. Not enough data available to determine if restructuring will be successful in long term.
  • 14. Page 14 of 21 Financial Analysis From the results of the financial statements and ratio analysis for Boral Limited we have selected four ratios from three different areas and then we have made a comparison of the same ratios with the main Competitor for Boral limited which is CSR. For our part of the financial analysis annual reports of Boral and CSR limited was undertaken for three consecutive years from 2012 to 2014. The ratio selected was based on the importance of the business they are in and it is directly related with the business strategy followed by Boral Limited. Also the ratios were analysed periodically every year and time series analysis was conducted. We have categorically conducted cross sectional analysis and time series analysis under the following sub heads Operating Management Operating management is an area of management where the main focus is on the day to day operations of the enterprise. It involves procurement of raw materials as an input source and providing the finished goods and services as per customer needs as an output. EBIT margin The EBIT margin is the analysis of the Earnings before interest and tax to Sales. EBIT margin is an essential factor for any company as deciding factor before entering the market. EBIT for Boral has been very fluctuating from 2012 to 2014. From the recasting calculations we have found that there was a EBIT margin of 4.95% during the 2012 financial statements. This margin went into negative percentage of 5.32% during the end of 2013 financial year. The main reason that was analysed for such a huge difference was the excessive operating expenditure during the year 2013 as well the revenue for the same year dropped by around 12%. The EBIT margin for CSR is the similar to Boral. From the recasting tool it is analysed that the percentage of EBIT margin for 2012 was standing at 5.39%. For the year 2013 the EBIT margin went down to negative 12.62% and again increased to 6.92% in year 2014. Operating Efficiency The Operating efficiency is the analysis of the gross profit margin to Earnings before interest and tax. As the gross profit margin is inclusive of tax and interest while EBIT is exclusive operating efficiency provides the actual efficiency of the operations of the business. The Operating efficiency for Boral limited as at 2012 was 18.08%. As there was a change in the EBIT margin in 2013 the operating efficiency of Boral limited was affected and so it showed a negative ratio of 19.81%. After implementing measures to increase the EBIT in 2014 the operating efficiency again went up to 18.92%
  • 15. Page 15 of 21 The operating efficiency for CSR is standing at 23.62% as of 2014 comparing the 2013 results the operating efficiency was in negative 46.91%. The similar results were analysed in the year 2012 where in percentage of operating efficiency was standing at 18.56%. Production Efficiency The production efficiency is associated with the margin i.e Sales less Cost of Goods sold to the actual revenue of the same year. The production efficient lets us know the efficiency of our cost of production and whether that is helping us to improve the sales performance. The production efficiency for Boral limited is consisted during the three years with a slight decrease in the year 2013. In 2012 the production efficiency stands at 27.37% which was decreased slightly to 26.87% in 2013 and it again increased to 27.47% in 2014.For CSR limited the production efficiency remained between 25 to 30%. In 2012 the productive efficiency stands at 29.03% which was dropped to 26.91% in 2013 and then again increased to 29.28%. NOPAT margin The net operating margin is the result of net operating profit after tax to sales for any particular period. The net operating profit is the summation of the net income of entity and net interest expense after tax. The NOPAT margin for Boral was 5.03% during the year 2012 which decreased to 3.38% in 2013 and then increased to 4.97% in 2014.The NOPAT margin for CSR was 5.59% during the 2012 year which decreased to 8.18% during the year 2013. The margin increased to 5.77% during the year 2014.
  • 16. Page 16 of 21 Investment Management The investment management is an area of management which deals the management of various types of securities of a firm that will help the organisation to attain maximum benefits to the shareholders. Most of the investment management ratios are focused on the turnover of the organisation. The turnover of the company is compared with the actual investment undertaken. Following are the ratios undertaken for study. Accounts Receivable turnover Account receivable turnover is the analysis of Sales to Account receivable for a particular period of time. The high ratio of Accounts receivable turnover is highly preferable for any organisation. Boral limited is consistently increasing its Accounts receivable every year. In 2012 the accounts receivable turnover was 5.83 times which has increased to 6.12 in 2013 while there is a huge jump of 8.44 in 2014.For CSR the Accounts receivable turnover went down from 5.70 times in 2012 to 5.51 in 2013 and then further decreased to 5.45 times in 2014. Inventory Turnover Inventory turnover is the analysis related to the Cost of goods sold to inventory. To calculate inventory the average of opening and closing stock of inventory is calculated. The inventory turnover specifies the times the inventory is sold during a particular year. The inventory turnover for Boral limited is showing high fluctuation during the year 2013. The inventory turnover ratio was 4.5 times during the 2012 year which increased suddenly to 65 times in 2013 and came back again to 3.7 times in 2014.CSR limited is showing an average of 2 to 3 times of inventory turnover for all the three years. Net PPE Turnover Net PPE turnover ratio is the comparison of the revenue of the firm with the property plants and equipment of the firm. If the ratio of PPE is higher than the company is earning higher revenue without having more investment in PPE. Boral limited PPE turnover ratio stands at 1.19 in 2013 and it increased to 1.5 in 2014 which is good sign for the company. CSR limited on the other side is gaining more PPE turnover with 1.68 in 2013 to 2 times in 2014. Accounts Payable turnover Accounts payable turnover is time undertaken by entity to pay of its creditors. If the ratio is high it denotes that the company is speedy in making payments to its payables. Accounts receivable is calculated by dividing the sales to accounts payable of an organisation.
  • 17. Page 17 of 21 Boral limited Accounts payable turnover is 4.68 times in 2012 which increased to almost 24 times in 2013 and then again went down to 15 times in 2014. CSR limited has increased constantly from 5.87 times in 2012 to 6.33 in 2014. Financial Management The management of funds in an effective and efficient manner so as the goals and strategies of organisation is achieved. Financial management is an important part of an organisation for the analysis. Current ratio Current ratio is the analysis of Current assets to current liabilities. Current assets include cash and inventory. Current liabilities include creditors and bills which can be paid easily. Current ratio for Boral limited has increased from 1.7 to 2.5 from 2012 to 2014. Current ratio for CSR limited has been decreased from 2 to 1.9 from 2012 to 2014. A higher current ratio explains that the company is having enough funds to pay off their liabilities. Debt to equity ratio Debt to equity ratio denotes the amount of debt and equity possessed by the company. The debt equity should remain 0 to 1. Boral limited debt to equity ratio is 0.04 in 2012 which decreased to 0.01 in 2014. While CSR is standing at 0.01 in 2012 and it increased to 0.04 in 2014. Quick Ratio Quick ratio signifies the short term liquidity of the company. It is the company ability to meet its short obligations with the liquid assets available in the company. Boral limited has shown a variation in the quick ratio from 0.9 in 2012 to 1.19 in 2013 and again decreasing it to 0.8 in 2014. CSR quick ratio stands around 0.75 to 0.85 during the same period Debt to Capital Ratio A debt to capital ratio indicates the amount of debt and amount of capital of an organisation. A debt is the outsider money while the capital is the owner/shareholder money. A higher debt to capital ratio indicates that the company is heavily in debt compare to the capital it possesses. Boral debt to capital ratio stands at 0.04 in 2012 which decreased to 0.01 in 2014. In CSR the debt to capital ratio was at 0.01 at 2012 and increased to 0.03 in 2014.
  • 18. Page 18 of 21 Major Changes In The Operation, Financial And Investment Decisions There were various factors which led to the changes in the ratios shown above. Starting from the operational management 2013 had been very bad for both the companies. Both the companies suffered a loss with a high margin in 2013. The decrease in profit had led to a decrease in the operating and productive efficiency of Boral and CSR. Also the Operating profit decreased largely during the same time. With the Investment decisions Boral has been inconsistent with the inventory as there is a sudden drop in the inventory in 2013 which affected the turnover of inventory as well as other factors. Accounts receivable and payable have been consistent for both the companies whereas the PPE turnover for CSR is high compared to Boral. The financial management of Boral is consistent with the quick and current ratio remaining neutral and same is with CSR. Additionally the debt to equity and capital ratio is consistent across all the years. Following are the reasons for the fluctuations in the ratios of the Boral limited  Boral‟s FY2014 reflected 64 % increase in profit after tax and the company was benefited from realignment of portfolio and restructuring and also from the ongoing US market recovery.  USG Boral plasterboard and ceiling joint venture and Leighton Boral Amey joint venture also added to a key factor in strengthening future growth.  “FIX, EXECUTE and TRANSFORM” was the poster strategy implemented to strengthen profit generation.  Cost reduction initiative to offset higher cost to develop new technologies and broader product portfolio.  Net debt of $1446m was reduced to $718m from 2013 to 2014 by cash generation and limiting capital expenditure.  Company developed a geographically balanced portfolio and reduced cost through restructuring and procurement activities.  The company ceased its production of clinker, Victoria and increased level of imports thus reduced the cost of manufacturing.  In June, small subscale cement kiln at Maldon, NSW was announced to be closed and shifted to Berrima facility which resulted to $13.8m being recorded as impairment and restructuring change.  Boral set to have a goal of “zero harm” to its people and the environment, driven by the approach to Health, Safety and Environment (HSE)
  • 19. Page 19 of 21 Prospective analysis In order to decide whether Boral represents a good investment it is essential to analyse current market/company trends and try to predict based on that information how the company is likely to perform in the near future.To do this forecast we must estimate the below variables: Sales Growth  Sales are expected to be strong over the next few years  Industry very sensitive to 10 year Bond rate (mortgage) this is at a record low  Low mortgage rate will fuel housing demand and thus increase Boral sales NOPAT Margin  Due to the expected increase in sales Boral can expect to increase production and try to increase its economies of scale.The resulting effect on NOPAT is minimal though due to Boral already having most systems in place to achieve a good economy of scale  For the above we expect Boral to maintain or slightly increase its NOPAT Working Capital to Sales  Boral’s working capital to sales has been fluctuating largely over the last few years due to its restructuring releasing large amounts of cash.  We expect that the peak it is on now will not last due to the business settling from the fluctuations. We have put working capital back towards 20% which is in line with industry and competitor CSR Long Term Assets to Sales  Boral improved its long term assets to sales from 2013 to 2014 slightly  With the added anticipated increase in sales expected we expect this ratio to decrease back towards its 2013 levels Debt ratio  Expected to remain steady at 25%  Will most likely increase over the next few years as Boral borrows more to increase production but for the next year it will not change due to time constraints After Tax Cost of Debt  Stable at 4.9% as set by the federal Government Dividend rate  With an expected better performance over the next year, we expect dividend rate to increase to 2.5%
  • 20. Page 20 of 21 Recommendation Having reviewed all currently available information and conducting a forecast for the next fiscal year it is recommended that the investor consider their risk return profile and other options over Boral, it is has been seen that Boral is not a market leading stock and does not show signs of being a high performer in the near future. If the investor would like to invest into Boral for more than financial reasons than be advised that the company is expected to grow over the future but it should be bought as a long term investment with above average security due to its business interest and industry. The stock is not recommended for a quick buy/sell investor as it is a long term returning investment.
  • 21. Page 21 of 21 References Boral 2014, Boral Annual Report 2014, viewed 17 May 2015, retrieved from Boral‟s Website. Boral, 2015, Sustainability report, viewed 13 May 2015, http://www.boral.com.au/Images/common/pdfs/annual-reports/2011-sustainability-in- boral.pdf Sourceable, 2015, What is the impact of Boral and CSR Brick Merger, viewed 12 May 2015, https://sourceable.net/whats-behind-the-boral-and-csr-brick-merger/# Boral, 2015, Boral Construction Material and Cement, viewed 13 May 2015, http://www.boral.com.au/Boral_Companies/CI_ACM.asp IBIS world, accessed 11-05-2013 http://0clients1.ibisworld.com.au.library.vu.edu.au/reports/au/industry/majorcompanies.aspx? entid=329 USG Boral Plasterboard Export - Sustainability. 2015. USG Boral Plasterboard Export - Sustainability. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.boral.com.au/plasterboardexport/sustainability.asp. [Accessed 11 May 2015]. USG Boral . 2015. USG Boral . [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.boral.com.au/Boral_Companies/CI_Plasterboard.asp. [Accessed 11 May 2015]. http://www.boral.com.au/images/common/pdfs/Corp_Gov/Continuous-Disclosure-Policy.pdf Mint Global accessed various May-2015, to check data for Boral, CSR and industry