Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Users of Cash Flow Statements expect the information provided as cash flow from operating and investing activities to serve as a possible indicator that the company is facing bankruptcy. Traditionally, companies disclose depreciation as an operating activity and replacement of fixed assets as an investing activity. Companies that direct cash payments toward dividend and future expansion without addressing replacement of fixed assets are creating an unrealistic picture of their operating and investing activities. Generally accepted accounting practices (GAAP) have limited its disclosure requirements and has not addressed the issue of separating the expansion of fixed assets from replacement. This mini-study project researches the impact of disclosing depreciation as an investing activity and the replacement of fixed assets as an operating activity. Based on the findings, it is recommended that GAAP make it a requirement that the replacement and expansion of fixed assets be disclosed separately. It is further recommended that either depreciation be disclosed as an investing activity, or that replacement of fixed assets be disclosed as an operating activity on the Cash Flow Statement. The methods of disclosure investigated in the study will lead to an improvement in the ability of the two activities to serve as possible early indicators of bankruptcy. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Gebruikers van kontantvloeistate verwag dat die inligting wat verskaf word van die bedryfs- en investeringsaktiwiteite as 'n moontlike indikator van die ondergang van die onderneming moet kan dien. Waardevermindering word tradisioneel as 'n bedryfsaktiwiteit openbaar, terwyl die vervanging van vaste bates as 'n investeringsaktiwiteit openbaar word. Ondernemings wat direkte kontantbetalings as dividende en toekomstige uitbreiding openbaar sonder dat die vervanging van vaste bates aangespreek word, skep 'n onrealistiese beeld van hul bedryfs- en investeringsaktiwiteite. Algemeen aanvaarde rekeningkundige beginsels het die openbaarmakingsvereistes beperk en spreek nie die skeiding tussen uitbreiding van bates en die vervanging daarvan aan nie. Hierdie mini-werkstuk ondersoek die impak van die openbaarmaking van waardevermindering as 'n investeringsaktiwiteit en vervanging van vaste bates as 'n bedryfsaktiwiteit. Gebaseer op die bevindinge word daar aanbeveel dat die algemeen aanvaarde rekeningkundige beginsels dit 'n vereiste maak dat die vervanging en uitbreiding van vaste bates apart openbaar word. Verder word aanbeveel dat waardevermindering as 'n investeringsaktiwiteit of vervanging van vaste bates as 'n bedryfsaktiwiteit in die kontantvloeistaat openbaar word.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 1997. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study project comprises an analysis of the Cash Flow Statements of a number of delisted companies for the years in which the companies were listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. The trends in the cash flow infonnation for the years prior to delisting is summarised in order to detennine whether the Cash Flow Statement can be utilised as an aid in the prediction of financial failure. The validity of the foUowing hypothesis is tested against the results of the study: If the cash flow from operations of a company is very low or negative for two years, the company will be delisted, except if an issue of shares can be done. From a sample of 46 companies, the following was derived: 16 companies encountered cash flow problems and tried to delay delisting by issuing shares. 19 companies encountered cash flow problems, but did not try to delay delisting through tbe issue of shares. 11 companies were delisted for reasons other than cash flow problems. The fmal conclusion is tbat the Cash Flow Statement can be utilised as an aid in the prediction of fmancial failure, but compliance to tbe bypotbesis does not necessarily mean tbat failure is inevitable. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie werkstuk behels 'n ontleding van die Kontantvloeistate van 'n aantal gedenoteerde maatskappye vir die jare waarin die maatskappye genoteer was op die Jobannesburgse Effektebeurs. Die tendense wat waargeneem word in die kontantvloei oor 'n aantal jare tot en met denotering word saamgevat ten einde vas te stel of die Kontantvloeistaat gebruik kan word as hulpmiddel in die voorspelling van finansiele mislukking. Die volgende hipotesestelling word gemaak en dan getoets aan die hand van die resultate van die studie: Indien die kontantvloei uit bedrywighede van 'n maatskappy vir twee jaar baie laag of negatief is, sal die maatskappy denoteer behalwe as 'n uitgifte van aandele gemaak kan word. Uit 'n steekproef van 46 maatskappye is die volgende afgelei: 16 maatskappye het kontantvloeiprobleme ondervind en het deurgaans denotering probeer vertraag deur aandele-uitgifte te maak. 19 Maatskappye het kontantvloeiprobleme ondervind maar het die aandele-uitgifte gebruik om denotering te vertraag. 11 maatskappye is gedenoteer weens redes anders as kontantvloeiprobleme. Die uiteindelike gevolgtrekking is dat die Kontantvloeistaat wel kan dien as bulpmiddel in die voorspelling van finansiele mislukking, maar voldoening aan die hipotese beteken nie noodwendig dat mislukking onvermydelik is nie.

Thesis (MBA)--University of Stellenbosch, 1998. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In many ways, the cash flow statement can be more informative than the other financial statements. It is relatively freer from subjective accounting and reveals managerial choices, such as investment and financing decisions, which are less apparent from the balance sheet or income statement. One of the components of the cash flow statement, cash flow from operations, is the primary focus and the primary variable of interest in this study. The study set out to create a database for the University of Stellenbosch Business School by using cash flow ratios of listed industrial companies on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange for the period 1974 to 1997. This is an initial attempt to have such a facility in place to assist future researchers in establishing patterns present in the ratios. Descriptive statistics were calculated for all the ratios. Twenty-two ratios were calculated in three ways: (a) Ratios were pooled over time and over sector; (b) Ratios were pooled over time for each of the 17 sectors; and (c) Ratios were pooled over sectors for each of the years 1974 to 1997. In addition, chi-square and Kolmogorov-Smirnov tests for normality were conducted. To get insight into the potential patterns, some of the statistical properties of cash flow ratios have been examined with particular reference to two ratios, (ratio 14 and ratio 20). These were chosen since they are considered to be the most important ratios in the study. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die kontantvloeistaat kan op baie maniere meer inligting as die ander finansieIe state verskaf. Dit word relatief gesproke minder deur subjektiewe rekerungkunde beYnvloed en dit 1aat die klem val op bestuursbesluite, S005 investerings- en finansieringsbesluite. Laasgenoemdes is minder duidelik waameembaar as daar na die balansstaat en inkomstestaat gekyk word. Kontant uit bedryfsaktiwiteite. een van die komponente van die kontantvloeistaat, is die primere fokus en die belangrikste item in hierdie studie. Die doel van die studie is om 'n datahasis vir die Bestuurskool van die Universiteit van Stellenbosch daar te stel, deur gebruik te maak van kontantvloeiverhoudings van aile genoteerde industriele maatskappye op die Johannesburg Effektebeurs vir die periode 1974 tot 1997. Dit was 'n eerste poging om so 'n fasiliteit daar te stel ten einde toekomstige navorsers in staat te stel om patrone aanwesig in die verhoudings waar te neem. Beskrywende statistiek is bereken Vlf al die verhoudings. Twee en twintig verhoudings is bereken op drie maniere: (a) Verhoudings gepoel oor tyd en oor sektore heen; (b) Verhoudings verpoel oor jare vir elk van die 17 sektore; en (c) Verhoudings verpoel oor sektore heen, per jaar vanaf 1974 tot 1997. Verder is die chi-kwadraat en die Kolmogorov-Smirnoftoetse vir normaliteit gedoen. Twee van die verhoudings. verhoudings 14 en 20, is uitgesonder as die belangrikste verhoudings in die studie. Ten einde insig in die potensieie patrone van die kontantvloeiverhoudings te verkry, is die statistiese eienskappe van hierdie twee verhoudings verder ondersoek.

published_or_final_version / Business Administration / Master / Master of Business Administration

published_or_final_version / Business Administration / Master / Master of Business Administration

Mergers and acquisitions within the chemical industry is a common practice to increase market presence and customer base. Common justifications for M&A include synergy, business growth and competitive advantages, and management reasoning. Synergies are benefits a combined firm is able to receive through cost reductions, market expansion, and efficiencies in processes. As a result, firms are able to grow and position themselves competitively. To prevent an overpriced acquisition, numerous valuation techniques exist. The discount cash flow examines the value of a firm based on future cash flow. The market multiple compares target firms to similar firms in the industry. Lastly, the asset valuation determines the value of a firm based on the liquidation of the firm. To maximize the return on an acquisition, proper due diligence should be conducted based on the needs and goals of the purchaser, and the value added by the target firm. The premium paid for an acquisition should be based on the valued added through the synergies identified. Current business cycles and future outlook should also factor into the pricing of the acquisition. Having a thorough analysis of a target firm can help the acquirer to clearly understand what is being purchased and hence, determine an appropriate price for the acquisition. / text

Background: Previous studies show that recommendations accuracy partly can be explained by numerous variables. Prior research leave out several variables, which based on theoretical support, may have a connection with accuracy, such as the cash flows’ volatility. Based on the DCF-model’s structure, accuracy of target prices is assumed to have a positive relationship with companies that have stable cash flows. Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to analyze the accuracy of stock analysts' target prices and their connection with stable cash flows. The purpose of the study is also to analyze the role of less highlighted variables’ relationship with the accuracy of target prices, in combination with earlier investigated variables. Completion: Including less highlighted variables is supported by theory about corporate valuation, where cash flows’ volatility is the main focus of this study. The accuracy of the target prices is analyzed by regression analysis for three time horizons, where the dependent variable is the absolute margin of error and the dependent variables are represented by the explanatory factors that the study examines. The relationships are estimated by OLS, due to the fact that data are unbalanced. Conclusion:  Stock analysts’ target prices present relationships with numerous of the variables examined in the study. The strongest relationships with the accuracy of target prices are shown by cash flows’ variation, the number of stock analysts, goodwill in terms of total capital and companies’ size. The results show that companies with stable cash flow have a positive relationship with the accuracy of target prices, which supports the theories of the DCF-model for valuation of companies with stable cash flow. The estimations show that the accuracy of target prices also is explained by other factors than those this very study investigates. The results show that the accuracy is higher for shorter time horizons. / Bakgrund: Tidigare studier finner att prognosers träffsäkerhet delvis kan förklaras av flertalet variabler. De variabler som studeras i tidigare forskning visar bitvis på tvetydigheter och utelämnar flertalet variabler som utifrån teoretiskt stöd kan ha ett samband med träffsäkerheten, som exempelvis kassaflödens volatilitet. Utifrån DCF-modellens uppbyggnad antas riktkursers träffsäkerhet ha ett positivt samband med bolag som har stabila kassaflöden. Syfte: Studiens syfte är att ekonometrisk analysera träffsäkerheten i aktieanalytikers riktkurser och söka systematiska förklaringsfaktorer till avvikelser mellan riktkurser och de faktisk realiserade kurserna. Fokus ligger på att, i kombination med tidigare undersökta variabler, analysera tidigare mindre uppmärksammade variablers så som kassaflödens samband med riktkursers precision.   Genomförande: Från teori kring bolagsvärdering hämtas stöd för mindre belysta faktorer som kan tänkas påverka riktkursers träffsäkerhet, där kassaflödens volatilitet är studiens huvudsakliga fokus. Riktkursernas träffsäkerhet analyseras via regressionsanalys för tre olika tidshorisonter, där beroendevariabeln är den absoluta felmarginalen i riktkursen och de oberoende variablerna representeras av företagens kassaflöden och övriga påverkansfaktorer som identifierats i tidigare forskning. Studien bygger på data från den amerikanska aktiemarknaden. Slutsats: Aktieanalytikers riktkurser uppvisar samband med flertalet av de variabler studien undersöker. Starkast samband med riktkursers träffsäkerhet visar kassaflödens variation, antalet aktieanalytiker, goodwill i termer av totalt kapital och bolags storlek. Resultaten visar att bolag med stabila kassaflöden har ett positivt samband med riktkursers träffsäkerhet. Detta ger stöd åt DCF-modellens teorier vid värdering av bolag med stabila kassaflöden. Skattningarna visar att riktkursers träffsäkerhet även förklaras av andra faktorer än de som studien undersöker. Resultaten visar att träffsäkerheten är högre för kortare tidshorisonter.

This doctoral thesis focuses on modelling as an efficient tool in industrial practice in the field of power industry and environmental engineering. It represents the modelling for technical as well as for economic part and their combination. Industrial companies do not evaluate only technical solutions in terms of investment costs, however, they search for optimized technical-economic solutions. The doctoral thesis describes the modelling of individual equipment as well as technological units in various levels of complexity. Case studies utilising various levels of modelling are represented herein.

This thesis deals with the specifics of valuation of small businesses and is trying to find practical solutions to particular problems on the example of a travel agency SALLY TOURS. The selected company was evaluated for the purpose of sale and settlement of marital property. Financial and strategy analysis was performed followed by determination of value drivers and future free cash flow. Discounted cash flow and capitalized earnings method were used. The conclusion summarizes the main differences in the valuation of small businesses and companies, and recommends their solutions.

[pt] O gerenciamento de riscos de mercado é um assunto que já assume papel relevante e definitivo no ambiente das instituições financeiras. Mais recentemente o assunto vem ganhando espaço também no âmbito de instituições não financeiras. Dentre os benefícios advindos da implantação de sistemas de medição e gerenciamento de riscos de mercado no âmbito das instituições não financeiras, destacam-se como os mais diretos: o controle dos fluxos de caixa necessários ao cumprimento dos investimentos programados pela empresa, a redução da volatilidade desses fluxos e, conseqüentemente, da probabilidade de a empresa deixar de honrar compromissos futuros. Benefícios adicionais incluem o aumento da transparência aos investidores e a rápida assimilação de novas fontes de riscos de mercado pelos gestores. Considerando a existência deste espaço e a importância do tema para as empresas, este trabalho propõe a construção de um modelo teórico para mensuração do fluxo de caixa em risco e o aplica a uma única empresa pertencente ao setor de distribuição de energia elétrica no Brasil. Tal modelo deve ser capaz de informar a probabilidade dessa empresa não dispor de recursos para honrar seus compromissos em determinada data de pagamento futura, ou vértices do fluxo. / [en] In the last years, risk management assumed a relevant and definitive role in the environment of financial institutions. More recently however, the subject has also been gaining ground in the environment of non- financial institutions. Among the benefits arising from the introduction of risk management within the environment of non-financial institutions, those that stand out as being the most direct are the control of the cash flow necessary for the investments that have been programmed, reduction in the volatility of this cash flow, and consequently in the probability of the company failing to honor its future commitments. Additional benefits include an increase in transparency as far as investors are concerned, a rapid assimilation of new risk sources by the managers. Considering this gap and the theme`s importance to non-financial institutions, this work proposes a theoretical model, which aims to measure firm cash flow-at-risk. Afterwards, the proposed model is applied and tested in only one Brazilian distribution electric sector company. Such a model may be able to return the probability that a company faces a financial distress, for not being able to make due payments in the set dates.