RECENT ASSIGNMENT

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Question One 25 Marks
Application of Modules 1 & 2
Some common news article headlines over the last 6 months for Forge Group Ltd include:
Forge wins Roy Hill contract 2 Sept 2013Forge to lose $290 million 19 Sept 2013Forge wins pile up 7 Oct 2013Forge over the barrel 18 Nov 2013Forge’s baptism of fire 28 Nov 2013Lawsuits could be next chapter in Forge Story 30 Nov 2013Forge enters trading halt 10 Jan 2014
Forge: Third time unlucky 29 Jan 2014Forge exists ASX200 index 13 Feb 2014.Forge group job losses at nearly 1500 after company collapse 17 Feb 2014
On 11 February 2014 Forge Group Ltd was placed in a trading halt. Forge Group Ltd was a successful construction company with a good outlook and great management of operations. It took over a company called CTEC in January 2012 for $16 million + $22.6 million earn-outs. In effect, the takeover meant they bought two major contracts for the construction of 1. the Diamantina Power Station and 2. the West Angelas Power Station. It was these two contracts that seemed to have underperformed with cost blowouts causing considerable strain on resources. The contracts were said to be worth approximately 25% of the $1.8 billion order book. So they were significant contracts.
Required:
1. Outline the key duties of directors. 5 marks
2. Outline the arguments for the directors of Forge Group Ltd that they carried out their duties. 5 marks
3. Outline the arguments for shareholders, creditors and employees that the directors of Forge Group Ltd didn’t carry out their duties. 5 marks
4. Give your opinion as to whether the directors of Forge Group Ltd carried out their duties. 2 marks
5. Journalist Paul Garvey from The Australian on 18 February, 2014 stated:
“A spokesman for Ferrier Hodgson said the group was aware of claims circulating on social media that allegedly detail expenses incurred ahead of the group’s slip into administration last week. Allegations suggest some senior managers cashed out their leave entitlements earlier this year and relocated to Sydney at the company’s cost. … The Australian revealed on Saturday that senior Forge managers had been relocated to Sydney at significant expense in the months after Forge first revealed the power station contract issues that ultimately proved fatal. …. News of the spending and the rumours of the annual leave payout have angered some Forge shareholders whose holdings now appear worthless ……”
Assume Paul Garvey’s allegations are founded, compare and contrast the concepts of utilitarianism and Kantianism using the context of the allegations to illustrate your main arguments. 8 marks

Question Two 75 Marks
Application of Modules 3-6
1. Refer to the 30 June 2013 financial reports of Forge Group Ltd on their web site http://www.forgegroup.com/images/files/Reports_Presentations/Forge_Group_2013_Annual_Report.pdf Answer the following questions using the consolidated financial report and the notes to the consolidated financial report for the year ending 30 June 2013: (2 marks each for a total of 24 marks)
a) Does Forge Group Ltd use historical cost accounting or some other basis?
b) State the accounting equation at the beginning and end of the year and the changes between the beginning and end of the year.
c) State the changes in the company’s equity during 2013. Speculate on why the change.
d) What is the main asset the company owns and what is its value? Compare this to the total equity. State your conclusion from this comparison.
e) Outline the ‘other’ item that makes up comprehensive income. Why would it be important to segregate this amount on the income statement?
f) Outline the largest expenses on the income statement. Compare them to the cash, debtors, creditors and inventory balances. Comment on this comparison.
g) State the total revenue, net profit attributable to members of Forge Group Ltd and EBIT.
h) Compare the net profit with the net cash flows from operating activities. Which amount is larger? Is this normal?
i) Examine the Reconciliation of Cash Flows from Operations with the NPAT. Outline the three major reconciliation items and state how they changed.
j) Comment on the changes discovered in the cash flow/profit reconciliation amounts from (i) above.
k) Outline the changes that have occurred in the company’s financing activities.
l) State what investment activity Forge Group Ltd undertook during 2013. Was there a net investment or a divestment?
2.
a) For the Forge Group Ltd for the years ending 30 June 2013 and 30 June 2011 compute and discuss the ROE, ROA, profit margin ratio, asset turnover ratio, current ratio, cash flow ratio, debt to equity ratio, interest coverage ratio, debt coverage ratio, NTAB, EPS, DPS and the PER. (3 marks per ratio for a total of 39 marks)
b) Discuss the major differences between your analysis of the 30 June 2013 report and the 30 June 2011 report (prior to the takeover of CTEC). (10 marks)
Note:
Structure, clarity and presentation of the assignment will be awarded 2 marks.
(Sources withheld: Questions for this assignment are taken from other sources. Details of this source have been withheld for assessment purposes. This material is reproduced under the provisions of the Section 200 (1) (b) of the Copyright Amendment Act 1980.)



Marks


Available
Question One

Application of Module 1 & 2




Key Duties

5
Arguments for directors
5
Arguments for others
5
Opinion

2
Ethics application
8
Total Q1

25



Question Two

Application of Modules 2-6




Part 1


a.Basis

2
b.accounting equation
2
c.Equity change
2
d.Assets v equity
2
e.Other revenue
2
f.Expenses Comparison
2
g.earnings

2
h.profit v cash
2
i. reconciliation
2
j.comment reconciliation
2
k.financing

2
l.investment
2
Total Q1 Part 1
24



Part 2


ROE

3
ROA

3
Profit Margin
3
Asset Turnover
3
Current Ratio
3
Cash Flow Ratio
3
Debt to equity
3
Interest coverage
3
Debt coverage
3
NTAB

3
EPS

3
DPS

3
PER

3
Discuss comparison
10
Total Q1 Part 2
49
Structure, Clarity and Presentation Q1 & Q2
2
Total

100
General Requirements:
1. Be as concise and efficient in your writing as possible. You should not need any more than four double spaced A4 pages (12 point font) to answer question one. You may be able to answer sufficiently in a lot less. Question two involves numbers and calculations and therefore the format of presentation will mainly determine your pages required. Please try to present this in a neat and easy to follow format.
2. Place references for all questions at the end of the assignment not at the end of each question.
3. You can use dot points or tables to help present your answer if you wish.
4. Assignment extensions will be granted if needed due to medical, work or personal reasons. Generally extensions will be granted for one week. If an extension of more than two weeks is required then a different assignment will be given. This is because I cannot release marked assignments and solutions until all assignments have been received. It is unfair on other students to delay the return of their marked assignments unduly.
5. You should note that the assignment is based on modules 1-6.
6. Assignments can be submitted through the EASE system (link located on the top right hand side of study desk). File types allowed include doc, docx and pdf. Only one file will be accepted. If more than one file is uploaded, only first file listed will be marked.