Be Our Guest
Be Our Guest, a Boston based company, is a rapidly growing equipment rental company with substantial seasonality in its revenues and profits. For years, the company has been renting party supplies and furniture to caterers, event planners and hotels; it has also managed to grow gradually in a very volatile and seasonal business. The founder, Stephen Lizio and co-owners Al Lovata and Simone Williamson found it difficult to fund daily operations because of seasonal cash shortages. In 1996, the company had secured a $100,000 revolving line of credit at the prime rate plus 1.5%, and a $390,000 five-year loan at a fixed rate of 9.25%. By the end of 1997, the loan outstanding balance was reduced to $315,000 and the monthly
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In the short run, refinancing its existing debt to obtain better terms, such as lower interest rates, is also a likely way to quickly free up cash. The company has very strong balance sheet and profitable growth, so it has plenty of bargaining power to negotiate a better deal with State Street, especially in a banking climate where financing is plentiful. All of those covenant on State Street's loan, like prohibiting two consecutive quarters of net losses and not incur a net loss for any fiscal year, suggest further that Be Our Guest may need to find another lender who will not be as strict with its terms. Ultimately, the company must devise a plan for funding its growth long term. While refinanced bank loans may be adequate to finance the company, it should consider raising funds from selling equity. Proceeds from such a deal might be invested in a business that generates revenue during Be Our Guest's slow seasons and eases the firm's reliance on credit for working capital. The way the company should approach the bank should be in a way that would allow Be Our Guest be comfortable, specify its own terms and not let the bank tell them what to do. The company is in good standing in terms of sales and revenues. Even though they have low seasons, the bank needs to accept the fact that this company is in seasonal business and that profits come at different
Reducing the big increases in owners' pay is another way Be Our Guest can improve its cash position. Ultimately, the company must devise a plan for funding its growth long term. While refinanced bank loans for now may be adequate to finance the company, it should consider raising funds, from selling equity for example. Proceeds from such a deal might be invested in a business that generates revenue during Be Our Guest's slow seasons and eases the firm's reliance on credit for working capital. The company "needs a game plan". Such an outline will forecast its financial needs and how to achieve them. It also would help Be Our Guest's principals decide to what extent they even want their business to expand. The owners say that they want to grow, but that is not necessarily always a good thing. With growth bigger problems will occur, bigger challenges will need to be faced, but at the same time bigger profits might be in place
Be Our Guest’s balance sheet shows good signs of liquidity. Current Ratios for the past four years have remained above 1 proving that the company can handle its current liabilities. The current ratios are not extremely high (19941.27, 1995- 2.17, 1996- 1.15 and 1997- 1.16), but they can cover the current liabilities. It is important to note that the company is operating on a thin line because the current assets are barely covering the current liabilities. This is particularly unpleasant because we are dealing with a company operating in a seasonal business. It is a concern that the current ratio slightly eroded after 1995, and this is primarily due to Be Our Guest converting the bank line into long term debt in
This company, a retail clothing store with three suburban locations in Atlanta, Georgia, is incorporated, with each of the three Boudoir sisters owning one-third of the outstanding stock. The company is profitable, but rapid growth has put it under severe financial strain. The real estate is all under mortgage to an insurance company, the inventory is being used under a blanket chattel mortgage to secure a bank line of credit, and the accounts receivable are all being factored. With total assets of $7 million, the company now needs an additional $450,000 to finance a building and fixtures for a new outlet.
The company has an agreement with a bank that allows the company to borrow the exact amount needed at the beginning of each month. The interest rate on these loans is 1% per month and for simplicity we will assume that interest is not compounded. At the end of the quarter, the company will pay the bank all of the accrued interest on the loan and as much of the loan as possible while still retaining at least $50,000 in cash.
Immigration has existed around the world for centuries, decades, and included hundreds of cultures. Tired of poverty, a lack of opportunities, unequal treatment, political corruption, and lacking any choice, many decided to emigrate from their country of birth to seek new opportunities and a new and better life in another country, to settle a future for their families, to work hard and earn a place in life. As the nation of the opportunities, land of the dreams, and because of its foundation of a better, more equal world for all, the United States of America has been a point of hope for many of those people. A lot of nationals around the world have ended their research for a place to call home in the United States of America. By analyzing
The American Dream is that dream of a nation in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with options for each according to capacity or accomplishments. It is a dream of social stability in which each man and each woman shall be able to achieve to the fullest distinction of which they are essentially competent, and be distinguished by others for what they are, despite of the incidental conditions of birth or stance. People consider America the land of opportunities, a new beginning to a new life in which they can strive and succeed. America is known as the land of the free where if you have the perseverance you can achieve what you want from life. However does the American Dream apply to even those of color equally?
Debate over immigration and immigration policy is not new to the nation's history. For a long time, Congress debated legislation to control the immigration problem. As immigration rises and hatred grows more laws will be carried out trying to release some of the pressure. Immigrants offer cheaper labor to businesses. Immigrants do not get minimum wage, but instead they get paid lower, this gives the business an edge over other competitors.
Today the Society is split into three separately minded groups. In no specific ordering, the first is determined to believe that any one person born in the United States is a citizen and which means their parents should become citizens along with them. These are the ones whom obtain “birthright citizenship” (Raul). The second are firm believers in the only ones that should be citizens are the ones who go through the proper process of becoming a citizen and according to the article in “USA today,” it states that illegal immigrants are “having babies as a way to obtain citizenship,” which too many Americans “cheapens the whole idea of being American”. The last group is the “other” the ones whom are completely neutral or believe in the
The company lost money almost every year since its leveraged buyout by Coniston Partners in 1989. The income generated was not sufficient to service the interest expenses of the company which stood at $2.62B in 1996. From Exhibit 1, we can say that interest coverage ratio computed as EBIT / Interest Expense was 1.31 in 1989 and has been decreasing over years and currently stands at 0.59. This raises a question of how the company can meet its interest payments without raising cash or selling assets.
Immigration to the United States has been happening since the Mayflower landed at Plymouth Rock in 1492. America is one of the most diverse nations in the world, attracting people from every corner of the globe in hopes of a better way of life. America in the past has relied on migrant workers to balance the economies growth when internal resources have been exhausted; moreover, the agriculture business has depended on the seasonal employment of migrant workers from Mexico to meet the labor demand. Programs have been created in the past granting work contracts for the flood of Mexican labor into the United States, and new work programs are being analyzed to suffice the needs of
Even though the company has been turning in profits, the ineffective collection practice, not availing trade discounts on time and ineffective inventory management has led the company in need of larger financing needs.
The company currently faces serious financial challenges. It was struggling with declining sales and increasing costs. Since 2004, revenues had fallen by more than 40% while costs especially for employees health insurance, maintenance, and utilities climbed. Credits and loans had been borrowed to
All my life, my mother and father has told me how hard it has been to support our families in Vietnam. The economy from here to there is so horrible that we have to support them. We're always sending at least about a million in Vietnamese money which is equal to about a hundred in American money due to the currency between America and Vietnam. Because of these two reasons, I am in favor of having better immigration process for people who come outside the US.
Based on the Time Interest Earned Ratio Landry’s ability to pay interest bills from profit earned decreased. In 2002 Landry’s could pay their interest bill just over 13 times from earnings before interest tax. In 2003 Landry’s ability to pay interest bills was almost cut in-half to 7 times. We think that as a result of the decrease in ability to pay interest bills, creditors could be concerned about these findings.
The financial analysis of the balance sheet shows that the percentage of equity in the sources of funds is decreasing while the debt is escalating. Short term liability has compounded from 14% to 39% while long term liability had increased from 16% to 24%. The Debit/equity ratio shows an almost double increase in dependence on borrowed funds between 2007-2008, leading to a greater obligation of fixed interest payment, and a lessor safety margin for long term creditors. An increasing Debit-equity ratio can also create difficulties in raising additional loans. This triggered a potential lack of future financing, considering that Gerhard Schroder property developer had indicated that he was unwilling to continue to provide financial support to the organization. Additionally, they