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CASE STUDY EXERCISES
CASE 4
FARMING SUCCESS LIMITED
INTRODUCTION
Farming Success Limited is an agricultural private limited liability company, engaged in the production of Special Palm Oil (SPO). The company
was established 25 years ago by a group of private promoters. It purchased a total of 10,000 hectares of farmland from some families in a local
community. The company has developed 60% of the land and the palm trees are fully matured. The remaining 40% of the land is not yet developed.
The company had been doing well since the planted area matured. The financial statements for the past five years are contained in Appendices 1 and
2. The company had been able to get sufficient labour for its various operations from the local community.
The gestation period for the type of palm trees planted is a minimum of five years and by the beginning of the sixth year of existence, the company
had started to produce Fresh Fruit Bunches (FFB) for sale. The production schedule of FFB since the company's plantation matured is contained in
Schedule 3. The company commenced the processing of its FFB in the seventh year of its existence. The company had devoted its resources mainly
to the production of SPO, hence it did not acquire a palm kernel crushing plant along with the palm oil processing mill.
The company's SPO had enjoyed a very good market, with a market share of about 30%. There are seven other companies in the industry, of which
four are quoted. The buyers of the company's SPO usually pay (between four to six weeks) in advance before any supply is made. This system
provides a good source of working capital for the company. Though the company is a private limited liability company, it compares favourably with
quoted companies in the industry in terms of turnover and profitability. The average P/E ratio of a good quoted company with stable earnings and
dividend for several years in the industry is 9.5 while that of Farming Success Limited is 9.8. The shareholders have not been willing to get the
company quoted so as not to dilute the ownership structure.
The company's operations are seasonal. The main season is usually from February to May and the light season runs from September to November.
The company must take advantage of the main season in order to ensure that sufficient cash is realised to be able to operate during the off-season.
The company, during its early years of operations, when the palm trees had not matured made use of casual labour, it was discovered when SPO
processing started, that the system of using casual labour was inadequate.
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Since the peak period coincides with the land preparation for local farming activities, it becomes difficult for the company to get sufficient labour
during the peak period. To retain its labour force throughout the year, the company makes effective use of its labour for plantation upkeep during the
off-season. The company also has a policy of retaining any casual labourer who has worked conscientiously for a period of one year.
In the early years of SPO processing, the company made it a policy to grant an annual scholarship award to indigenes of the community from which
the land for the plantation was purchased. The company also assisted on some community development projects and strived to give indigenes
preference in the recruitment of personnel.
In view of the good relationship, the community seven years ago, indicated its intention to give more land to the company for its expansion
programme when the 4,000 hectares are fully developed.
The shareholders of the company had been declaring 80% of its distributable profits as dividends for the first five years and ploughing back the
balance. The amount ploughed back had been invested on purchase of posh cars for the directors and top management of the company. Very little
amount was invested in agricultural equipment which had been a limiting factor for the effective harvesting of the FFB needed for the production of
the company's product.
MARKET SITUATION
Usually, the customers of the company had to pay four to six weeks in advance for any purchase. The company, being in a sellers' market, had always
passed any increase which may be due to inefficiency in its operations to the customer. The demand for the company's product is fairly inelastic.
Considering the present state of encouragement by the government for investment in palm plantation and the ever increasing foreign exchange rate
which has made it unattractive to import SPO or its substitutes into the country, the company could still enjoy this fairly inelastic demand for the next
few years.
Currently, as a result of the problems listed below, the company's customers may have to pay three months in advance for any supplies:
(a) Incessant breakdown of the mill which is now aging;
(b) Low extraction ratio due to inefficiency of the mill;
(c) Low staff productivity due to low morale; and
(d) Inability to procure spare parts in time for the mill and other farm equipment due to liquidity problems.
Recently, a customer, Faith Palm Products Limited (FPPL) paid for 150 tonnes of SPO at N50,000 per tonne. The supply had been delayed for four
months. The company increased its price to N65.000 per tonne and Faith Palm Products Limited was requested to pay an additional N15.000 per
tonne before supply could be made to it.
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The company had also offered to refund N7.5 million paid by FPPL if the latter could not afford to pay the additional N15,000 per tonne. FPPL had
taken the company to court to press for the supply at the price demanded and for which it had paid.
STAFF DEVELOPMENT
The company has a total work force of 500, of which 150 are casuals. In the past, the usual labourers were converted to permanent staff after a year's
service but at present there is no such opportunity, as casual labourers are laid off during the off season. Rather than making use of them for the usual
farm upkeep, contractors are mow used for farm upkeep. These contractors are connected persons to top management. In most cases, the contracts
were poorly executed but were paid for. These contractors, in most cases, made use of the laid off casual labourers.
The remaining 350 permanent staff are in the following cadres:
Top management 4
Senior management 21
Middle management 30
Supervisory 50
Junior 245
350
Most staff do not attend any staff improvement courses or training programmes except members of top management and a few favoured staff in the
senior and middle management cadres. The junior staff cadre does not enjoy any training opportunity at all.
MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE
The management of the company is headed by a Managing Director who holds a first degree in physiotherapy. He-is a cousin of the Chairman, a
major promoter of the company. The Executive Director (Finance) has an Ordinary Diploma in Accounting. He rose through the ranks to this
position. He enjoys good rapport with the Managing Director. He is fond of telling the Managing -Director any adverse comments by any other
management staff. The Executive Director (Operations) is a specialist in the field of agriculture. He has a good knowledge of the industry but his
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performance was impaired as the Managing Director and the Finance Director did not co-operate with him. Most equipment needed for effective
operations are always not provided. The Executive Director (Technical) holds a Diploma in Automobile Engineering. He was recruited 15 years
ago to take charge of the Mechanical Workshop. He rose to the present position a year ago through the assistance of his in-law, who is related to a
Director and one of the promoters of the company. The former Technical Director who holds a degree in Production Engineering and Masters
degree in Business Administration was frustrated out of the company. His problem started when he advised that the company be prudent by setting
aside funds for the refurbishment or replacement of the mill rather than encouraging the shareholders to distribute almost all the profits.
CURRENT PROBLEMS OF THE COMPANY
The immediate problems of the company are as follows:
( a ) The company is currently experiencing a liquidity crisis arising from low production of SPO. Delays in supplying customers had discouraged
many from making advance payment which had been a good source of working capital in the past.
Management had estimated that the company would need N5 million to buy essential spare parts for the mill. This amount would sustain the
mill till a major refurbishment or replacement would take place which should not be later than a year if the company is to avoid a complete
shutdown. It would take three months before any repayment can be made from the sales proceeds. The company could not raise the funds
from its bankers as it could not service its present commitments.
The agricultural loan of M25 million taken 5 years ago for the planting of undeveloped land was diverted to the construction of a
sophisticated office complex in the plantation. The loan has a three-year moratorium. The principal has net been repaid at all and the loan has
not been serviced effectively.
The two options now available to get the funds required for the spare parts are:
(i) To borrow from a local finance company at an annual interest rate of 42%. The repayment of capital will start after three months and
will be spread equally over three months.
(ii) The spare parts could be obtained at exhorbitant prices from a supplier who is ready to supply the parts needed on credit or for cash.
The supplier is ready to allow six months credit.
(b) There is an urgent need to refurbish the mill within the next one year. The repairs to be carried out as a result of the problem listed above is
only a temporary measure. The mill should be replaced as it has become technologically obsolete. The cost implications of refurbishing and
replacing the mill are contained in Schedules 4 and 5.
(c) The company had been selling its uncracked kernel to local mini kernel crushers, but substantial revenue is lost in this process. In the light of
these, the company planned to purchase a palm kernel crushing plant. The production of palm kernel will require three grades of labour.
Grades 1 and 11 will have to be recruited at the inception of operating the palm kernel crushing plant. Grade 111 labour is available in the
company and they are currently not engaged. They are being retained because their services will be required in a year's time when the
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company's planting programme is expected to have fully matured. It is reckoned that by this time the company will recruit Grade III labour for
the palm kernel plant, if acquired.
The cost implications of buying and running the palm kernel crushing plant are contained in Schedule 6.
(d) Due to the current financial crisis, the company had stopped granting scholarships to deserving indigenes and had not aided any community-
based project in recent times. This situation had generated a lot of bad feelings from the host community.
(e) The company is presently experiencing a serious encroachment problem on its undeveloped land. The local farmers have recently gone to the
extent of planting permanent cash crops on the land. The recent inability of the company to aid the community on its development projects
had reduced the support being given by the chiefs and leaders of the community who had been preventing their subjects from encroaching into
the company's farmland.
The company would need to plant 1,500 hectares within the next three years, in order to stop the community from encroaching on its
property. Failure to plant may result in the community taking over the property completely. Any attempt to dislodge any trespassers could
lead to crises.
The cost implications of planting the 1,500 hectares are given in Schedule 7. The planting may be spread over three years at 500 hectares per
annum.
FUTURE PLAN
Apart from solving the immediate problems, the company is proposing in the medium term to:
a) Plant the remaining 2,500 hectares if it is able to plant the 1,500 hectares in an area prone to encroachment within the next three years; and
b) Produce refined palm kernel oil which is enjoying increased demand and can be a good foreign exchange earner for the company.
MANAGEMENT CONSULTANCY
The company has commissioned its external auditors to look into its problems and recommendations for solving them. They had been auditing the
company's financial statements for the past 15 years and the audit constitutes 50% of their see income. The firm has good rapport with the
management. The top management had intimated the auditors that the shareholders would not like the company to go public in order to avoid dilution
of the present ownership structure and that the current shareholders may not be able to inject further funds into the company.
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SCHEDULE 1
FARMING SUCCESS LIMITED
FIVE-YEAR BALANCE SHEETS AS AT 31 DECEMBER
2000 1999 1998 1997 1996
N’000 N’000 N’000 N’000 N’000
Paid up share capita! 25,000 25,000 25,000 25,000 25,000
Long term Loan 25,000 25,000 25,000 25,000 25,000
Profit and Loss Account 36.500 33.000 26.000 20,000 16.000
86.500 83.000 76.000 70.000 66.000
Represented by:
Fixed assets 88.750 79.500 73.400 64,370 61.000
Current Assets:
Stock of spare parts 2,000 4,000 3,500 6,500 7,000
Trade debtors 1,500 1,200 1,750 950 1,050
Pre payment 750 1,050 600 800 720
Cash and bank balances 4,500 3,750 2,860 3,450 2,770
Less: Current Liabilities (11.000) (6.500) (6.110) (6.070) (6,540)
Net current assets (liabilities) (2,250) 3,500 2,600 5,630 5,000
86.500 83,000 76.000 70,000 66.000
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SCHEDULE 2
FARMING SUCCESS LIMITED
FIVE-YEAR INCOME STATEMENTS FOR
THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER
2000 1999 1998 1997 1996
N'000 N'000 N'000 N'000 N'000
Turnover 346,000 378,000 313,100 304,000 300,300
Cost of production (211,060) (215.460) (172.000) (158.080) (154.150)
Gross profit 134,940 162,540 141,100 145,920 146,150
Administrative and
Distribution expenses (109.940) (112.540) (98.243) (117.169) (123,150)
Other income 2,000
Profit before tax 25,000 50,000 42,857 28,751 25,000
Tax (7,500) (15.000) (12.857) (8.751) (7.500)
Profit after tax 17,500 35,000 30,000 20,000 17,500
Dividend (14.000) (28.000) (24.000) (16.000) (14.000)
rRetained profits 3,500 7,000 6,000 4,000 3.500
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SCHEDULE 3
FARMING SUCCESS LIMITED
20 YEARS FRESH FRUIT BUNCHES (FFB) PRODUCTION SCHEDULE
Year FFB Production (in tonnes)
2000 51,000
1999 54,000
1998 55,000
1997 59,000
1996 61,000
1995 72,180
1994 72,000
1993 72,850
1992 71,000
1991 60,000
1990 72,000
1989 72,500
1988 71,500
1987 71,190
1986 73,150
1985 70,500
1984 72,205
1983 72,000
1982 54,000
1981 36,000
Note: The palm trees were expected to achieve the standard production of 12 tonnes of FFB per hectare by year 1984 and the normal standard should
be maintained for the next 20 years.
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SCHEDULE 4 FARMING SUCCESS LIMITED COST DATA FOR MILL
REFURBISHMENT
Cost of refurbishment N150,000,000
Life span of refurbished Mill 5 years
Salvage value N 30,000,000
Production capacity (SPO) p.a. 10,000 tonnes
Production cost per tonne of SPO other than FFB:
Labour N 1,200
Material other than FFB N 4,800
Fixed overheads of which depreciation comprises 40% N 4,000
Selling price per tonne N 65,000
Value of the Mill if sold now N 20,000,00
Notes:
(i) Necessary farm upkeep operations would be carried out to bring production to normal standard of 12 tonnes of FFB per hectare.
(ii) The total planted and mature area is 6000 hectares
(iii) Production of FFB will increase every five years by 20% due to maturity of new planting.
(iv) FFB not processed could be sold for N6,000 per tonne. The refurbishment could be carried out every five years at a cost of N150 million for
each refurbishment.
(v) The refurbishment cannot be carried out for more than three times after which the mill has to be scrapped finally. The final salvage value of
the mill is the same value of refurbished mill after 5 years of usage.
(vi) The production capacity after every refurbishment remains constant at
10,000 tonnes of SPO per annum.
(v) The extraction ratio of SPO is 12.5% of FFB input.
SCHEDULE 5
FARMING SUCCESS LIMITED
COST IMPLICATIONS OF A NEW MILL
Cost of purchase, including installation costs Estimated life N2.4 billion
Production capacity (SPO) p.a. 15 years
Production cost per tonne of SPO other than FFB: 24,000 tonnes
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N
Material other than FFB 2,400
Labour 800
Fixed overhead of which depreciation comprise 40% 3,000
Selling price per tonne 65,000
Salvage value 25,000,00
Notes:
(i) The total estimated production of FFB is currently 72,000 tonnes annum. FFB that cannot be processed could be sold for N6,000 per tonne.
(ii) Production of FFB will increase every five years by 20% as a result maturity of new planting.
(iii) The extraction ratio of SPO is 20% of FFB input.
SCHEDULE 6
FARMING SUCCESS LIMITED
COST OF ACQUISITION AND OPERATION OF
PALM KERNEL CRUSHING PLANT
Useful life 10 years
N
Cost of acquisition including installation 15,000,000
Salvage value 1,500,000
One Engineer (salary p.a.) 360,000
One technical supervisor (salary p.a.) 180,000
Other fixed overheads p.a. (excluding depreciation) 1,350,000
VARIABLE COSTS OF PRODUCTION OF ONE TONNE OF PALM KERNEL
10 hours of grade 1 labour
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20 hours of grade II labour
20 hours of grade III labour
Other variable costs N500
(i) Grades 1,11 and 111 labour are paid N25, N15 and N10 respectively per hour.
(ii) The expected production of FFB is 72,000 tonnes per annum. Uncracked kernel production is 75% of FFB input.
(iii) Extraction ratio of palm kernel is 50% of uncracked kernel.
(iv) One tonne of uncracked kernel can be sold for N2,500
(v) The plant is capable of processing all palm kernel produced.
(vi) Selling price per tonne of palm kernel is N7,000.
SCHEDULE 7
FARMING SUCCESS LIMITED
COST OF NEW PLANTING
Notes: N
Cost of initial land clearing per hectare 5,000
Cost of seedling per stand 180
Cost of planting per stand 70
Supervision cost per hectare p.a. 2,500
Plantation upkeep per hectare p.a 4,500
Cost of fertiliser per hectare p.a. 1,200
Notes:
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(i) Number of palm trees per hectare 150 stands
(ii) The planting will be spread over three years. 500 hectares new planting will be done annually.
QUESTION 4.1
(a) Highlight some of the personnel problems farming Success Limited and make suggestions on what the company can do to revitalise the
management of the company.
(b) Community relationship is very important for land-based agricultural companies, what are the ways to improve the social relationship of the
QUESTION 2
(a) Using the financial statements in Appendices 1 and 2, you are required to compute the following ratios for Farming Success Limited for the
five years and comment on the trend.
(i) Earning Per Share
(ii) Quick ratio
(iii) Current ratio
(iv) Cost of production/turnover ratio. -
(b) The dividend payout ratio for the past five years had been 80% per annum. You are required to comment on this payout ratio having regard to
the current problems of the company .
QUESTION 4.3
(a) What is your advice to Farming Success Limited on the litigation instituted against it by Faith Palm Products Limited?
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(b) What will be the implication on the pricing of the company's product B government introduced a special tax on SPO.
QUESTION 4.4
(a) Calculate the Net Present value of the refurbishment and replacement options* of the mill. Which option would you recommend? Assume the
cost of capital to be 15% and ignore inflation.
(b) There are two options to solve the immediate problem of spare parts procurement. You are required to advise on the more appropriate option.
Supporting your recommendation with necessary calculations. "
QUESTION 5
Compute the estimated full standard cost of a tonne of palm kernel in the first year of operation. A prospective customer had offered to pay N6.200
per tonne for the supply of 500 tonnes of palm kernel. Would you recommend the acceptance of this offer? The supply will not affect supplies to
other anticipated customers.
QUESTION 4.6
The company is desirous of planting 1.500 hectares in areas prone to local farmers' encroachment. You are required to prepare a three-year budget to
show the cost implication of the new planting, assuming 500 hectares will be planted every year.
QUESTION 4.7
(a) What are the ethical issues the company's external auditors should consider in its appointment as management consultant by the company?
(b) As the Management Consultant highlight the various ways of solving the problems of the company.
QUESTION 4.8
Extract the FFB production variances for the years 1989-2000 and comment briefly on possible causes of the variances.