Financial Analysis of Mitchells & Butlers 2007 Annual Report

Title Page Date 12/12/09 The fol pocket-sizeding report is designed for the purpose of a line of work analysis. I have chosen to analyse Mitchells & Butlers PLC by outgrowthly, looking nearly at the annual report produced by the telephoner over a two grade extremity and secondly, by researching their financial activities further than the annual report explains. I will comp ar and contrast ratios to serving give the reader a better ground of the alliances valueability, liquidity, activity and l everage. Summary In my analysis of Mitchells and Butlers PLC accounts for the eld culminationing 2007 and 2008 I found that the Group has a very complex financial structure.Especially with the occurrence of a financial disaster which ended in the blemish of two forms worth of earnings, which, in turn resulted in the departure of the finance director and calls for further boardroom departures from the disgruntle shareholders. Mitchells & Butlers is a high geared business and the refore a risky investment venture. The familiarity are well positioned in the market for long-term success but the ratios do let down the attractive force of investment by their often time lower percentage of current assets to current liabilities, high gearing and low net profit margins. *Brief Historical Background*Mitchells & Butlers is one of the UKs largest operators of managed establishments with a strong portfolio of brand and unbranded pubs and restaurants with a mass market appeal. Their popular brands include All Bar One, Harvester and coal Inns. Founded in Smethwick Birmingham as a result of the Beerhouse Act of 1830 easing the law on domestic brewing, total heat Mitchells and William Butlers breweries integrated in 1989. The company acquired rival breweries and rapidly expanded and merged with Bass in 1961, emerging as Six Continents before separating into hotel and retail businesses and go Mitchells & Butlers once again. discount of symmetrys on Mitchells & Butler s *(M&B)s Financial Position* Mitchells & Butlers Gross1 profit ratio for both 2008 and 2007 is 25% and 24. 9% respectively. An plus of 0. 1% is satisfactory during these trying times for Mitchells & Butlers PLC. This indicates that run costs account for 75% of the barters revenue. These coarse costs are largely down to M&Bs value and volume strategy. The company feel they are well placed in the troubled economy as they offer long value for money. This strategy makes for a high sales turnover but not a grand mark up on the product.They are everlastingly striving to be as good as possible and have a low paid and low skilled workforce to help invade high operating costs, and gain a competitive advantage. The Group have faced a dissolute year, dealing with the economic downturn in consumer spending and the inevitable even go forth in alcoholic drinkable sales across the sector as a whole. This was not helped by the introduction of the smoking banishment in England and Wal es, following suit from Scotland and Northern Ireland, and costs such as fuel and energy spiralling ever higher.Its no surprise then, when we look at the Net Profit boundary line2 and see that it has decreased by 1. 5% from 10. 9% in 2007 to 9. 4% in 2008. In the midst of a depression this decline is not too alarming. With a Gearing ratio3 of 2. 41 in 2008 and 1. 51 in 2007 there is a high risk involved when investing in this company. From analysing M & Bs debt structure it seems further leveraging of its balance sheet would be difficult given the harsh, current conditions in debt markets. The Groups pension fund deficit creates further problems when trying to attract prospective clubby equity buyers.As you can see it has become a considerably higher geared company in 2008 and this is due to the considerable loss faced by the company in an unexpected change form in the Mitchells & Butlers story. When entering into a keeping venture with company R20, both groups were advised by t he jargon, as part of their loan agreement, to posit out hedges against interest rates and inflation. This investment would prevent Mitchells & Butlers from losing as much money as they would have, had they not taken out the hedges in the instance that the market turned against them.The bank also advised the companies to do this, two weeks prior to the investment being made as the hedges could take some time to execute. The hedges were purchased mid July, by the end of July the trust crunch had kicked in and the bank withdrew its credit approved terms. Both companies were left with hedges in place but no investment to back them against. M & B held onto their hedges until January 2008 hoping for an upturn in the market. By January 2008 it had become apparent that this was not going to happen and M&B disposed of them.Using them would have been very risky, especially since finance director Naffah had already been let go. At the end of last financial year, an prodigious accounting l oss of ? 155m post tax was booked in respect of the hedges. The above settlement of the majority of the hedges results in a further ? 119m post tax exceptional loss which will be taken in the current year, the company said in a statement. Looking equally bleak is M&Bs current ratio4 of 0. 8881 in 2008 and 0. 3911 in 2007.Many believe that businesses must have a current ratio of at least 21 to survive, proving Michells & Butlers as an unorthodox company. Unbelievably it functions with a negative working capital6, this is due mainly to the company keeping impart levels impeccably low and thus giving the acid test a similar result with a quick ratio5 of 0. 7941 in 2008 and 0. 3431 in 2007. Most of the stock is perishable, for example food served in their restaurants. A stock turnover7 of 9. 95 years in 2008 and 9. 75 age in 2007 is quite acceptable in the food and beverage sector.Low stock levels keep the business as liquid as possible. This gives the company some leverage when inc orporated with the debtors8 and the creditors9 turnover which works out in favour of M&Bs debt structure. Debtors, pay-up within an average of 14. 3days. Contrast this with the creditors who give M&B, on average between the years 2007 and 2008, 66. 4 days of credit. Thats nearly five times as long as M&B allow their debtors. Another consideration I worry to highlight concerning the worryingly low current ratio is that for the most part M&Bs non-current assets are made up of property, political platformt and equipment.If the company found themselves with specie incline problems these assets could become non-current assets held for sale to help increase the current ratio. Return on bang-up apply10 is 20. 18% and 19. 7% in 2008 and 2007 respectively. This is essay that M&B is still a profitable company contrary to the problems arising in the last two years and are still gaining market share year on year. A three year plan has been put in place to rectify the hedging mishap. Ordi nary Shareholders will not absorb any dividend pay-outs for the next year three years as well as board members forfeiting their bonuses in a bid to pay off their ? 74m deficit. *How the inclusion of a Cash Flow* helps in the abbreviation of the companys financial position There are several advantages to preparing a gold catamenia statement along with the balance sheet and profit and loss account. The cash flow statement provides information which allows the reader to better understand where cash has come from, where cash has moved to, and why. If a company has no cash it cannot pay wages or bills or suppliers. Employers wont come to work if you fall apartt pay them. Energy companies will cut off their supplies, as could the suppliers if the bills are not paid.If this happens the company may not be able to operate. This is why cash flow statements should be taken disadvantageously by managers and done as often as daily if cash flow is tight. The cash flow statement explains wh ere the cash and cash equivalents on the balance sheet come from in greater detail. It takes operating profit and adds back exceptional items, depreciation and amortisation to give us a better understanding of how much cash is to hand, as well increases and decreases in debtors and creditors. In M&Bs cash flow statement we can see that in 2007 M&B acquired ? m worth of Whitbread bar Restaurants and made additional pension contributions of? 40m. In the cash flow statement figures can be compared more(prenominal) easily, they also aide preparation of forecasts. In both years a considerable amount of cash is spent on property, plant and equipment. It may be that these assets have not had time to realise their bounteous potential. We can see that M&B has increased its cash and cash equivalents by ? 12m at the end of 2008 compared to its previous year. Differences between the spread of cash year on year is quite apparent.In 2008 shareholders accepted ? 480m worth of dividends less th an in 2007 as part of M&Bs three year strategy to eliminate hedging debt amounting to around two years worth of earnings. Conclusion At first glance, the ratios I have calculated show the illusion of a company in the midst of a financial crisis. But Mitchells and Butlers are breaking all the rules and coming out with a profit, succeeding where some(prenominal) competitors are failing, due to the down turn in the alcoholic beverage market and consumer spending overall.The hedging losses have no doubt affected a great deal of critical finality making regarding Mitchells and Butlers finances including investment attractiveness, risk taking and dividend payouts. The high amount of non-current assets is due to the extensive property portfolio which helps diffuse the worrying situation of such a low current and quick ratio. This company is constantly expanding and is year on year gaining market share. It adapts appropriately to its ever changing environment, as it keeps up to discover with the economic climate and responds quickly to consumers needs.The value & volume strategy is working well and the brands are becoming very well established in the UK. Debt payment is accounted for in the long term financial plan and the future looks far from dismal. I see a company trying to be as efficient as possible whilst waiting for the storm to pass. Appendix Gross Profit Ratio Gross profit x c Sales (turnover) 2008 477/ 1908 x100 = 25% 2007 472 / 1894 x 100 = 24. 9% Net Profit Margin Ratio Net Profit Before Interest & Tax x100 = Sales / Turnover 2008 179 / 1908 x 100 = 9. 4% 2007 207 / 1894 x 100 = 10. % Gearing Fixed Income forms of Finance equity Fixed Income forms of Finance = Borrowings 2755 + Debentures 33 + preference shares 14 =2802 Equity Capital Share 34 + reserves 2008 2802 1175 = 2. 41 2007 2317 + 47 + 14 = 2378 1576 = 1. 51 Current Ratio Current Assets Current Liabilities 2008 current assets 253 + non-current assets held for sale 114 = 367 367413 = 0. 8881 2007 current assets 303 + non-current assets held for sale 6 = 309 309790 = 0. 3911 Non assets held for sale within the next twelve monthsQuick Ratio / Acid Test Current Assets stock Current Liabilities 2008 367 39 = 328. 328/ 413 = 0. 7941 309 38 = 271 271 / 790 = 0. 3431 on the job(p) Capital Days of Inventory /Stock Turnover Stock at the year end x365 cost of goods sold 2008 39 / 1431 x 365 = 9. 95 days 2007 38 / 1422 x 365 = 9. 75 days Debtors array Period Debtors Turnover x365 Sales 2008 80 / 1908 x 365 = 15. 3 days 2007 69 / 1894 x365 = 13. 3 days an average of 14. 3 days Creditors Payment Period Trade Creditors x365 Cost of Sales 008 276 / 1431 x 365 = 70. 4 days 2007 243 / 1422 x 365 = 62. 4 days An average of 66. 4 days Return on Capital Employed Ratio Profit before interest & tax x 100 Capital employed 2008 179 / 1058 x 100 = 16. 9% 2007 207 / 1202 x 100 = 17. 2% Profit & Losss Account is profit afterwards tax + any interest paid = 127 + 171 Capi tal Employed represents Share Capital =Called up shared out capital and share premium account = 34 + 14 the balance on the profit and loss account + 127 + 171 and any other reserve accounts in the balance sheets + 3 + 697 + 12 = 1058 for 2008