Apix Printing, Inc. is a private, domestic United States printer of periodicals

Apix Printing, Inc. is a private, domestic United States printer of periodicals

Apix Printing, Inc.

Apix Printing, Inc. is a private, domestic United States printer of periodicals, newspaper inserts, and advertising materials that accompany distributions of Sunday and weekday circulations of large metropolitan newspapers. The company, headed by chief executive officer (CEO) John Matthews, generates $450 million in revenues from three product lines (periodicals, inserts, and advertising) and has long-term contracts with several large U.S. retailers to produce weekly sales flyer inserts as well as metropolitan newspapers to produce Sunday magazine inserts and coupons. Its printing presses are characterized by offset print technology and are capable of high-capacity output; in addition, the company recently migrated to water-soluble inks, which considerably reduces manufacturing emissions.

The company’s executive team, employees, and above all, its vice president (VP) of Production, Luke Stewart, are committed to environmentally-sustainable manufacturing practices. Presently, the only substrate Apix uses is paper, specifically newsprint of various weights. Trim and waste are recycled in accordance with the company’s sustainability commitment. Manufacturing divisions are geographically aligned with customers’ locations to minimize logistics costs and response time to customer requirements; however, a centralized corporate entity administers functions such as human resources, information technology, and financial reporting. The VP of sales and administration, James Simeon, oversees administration and quality compliance among the various divisions. There are presently five manufacturing divisions: Northwest, Southwest, Northeast, Southeast, and Midwest.

Currently, Apix is only marginally profitable, and as such, the chief financial officer (CFO), Mary Francis, has indicated that external financing will be required to support a company expansion into a new segment of the printing sector: food packaging. This endeavor will require new investments in equipment as well as substrate inventory; promotional costs will also increase. In addition, Timothy Russell, the new Audit Committee Chair, has pointed out that the company’s compliance with the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) will also cause administrative costs to increase. Following the requirements is paramount to successfully file a registration statement and to issue equity to shareholders in an initial public offering (IPO).

As the newly hired VP of finance, you report to the CFO. In this capacity, your responsibilities include preparation of financial statements, comparative analysis and benchmarking to sector performance, and the assessment of new business investment opportunities to grow Apix’s expansion endeavors in a challenging market.

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Main Assignment Description

Respond to the following scenario with your thoughts, ideas, and comments. Be substantive and clear, and use research to reinforce your ideas.

Apix is considering coffee packaging as an additional diversification to its product line. Here’s information regarding the coffee packaging project:

Initial investment outlay of $40 million, consisting of $35 million for equipment and $5 million for net working capital (NWC) (plastic substrate and ink inventory); NWC recoverable in terminal year

Project and equipment life: 5 years

Sales: $27 million per year for five years

Assume gross margin of 50% (exclusive of depreciation)

Depreciation: Straight-line for tax purposes

Selling, general, and administrative expenses: 10% of sales

Tax rate: 35%

Assume a WACC of 10%.

Should the coffee packaging project be accepted? Why or why not? Compute the project’s IRR and NPV.

In addition, answer the following questions:

Do you believe that there was sufficient financial information to make a solid decision on what to do?

Was there further financial information that you required that was not provided to you?

What financial figure do you believe was the determinant to your decision and why?

How would you be able to apply this particular financial information to other situations?

Discuss risk methodologies used in capital budgeting.