Allocated firm: Fortescue Metal Group
Memorandum
DATE: Monday 23 May, 2010
TO: The Board of FMG
FROM: Truman Chun Wai , a senior financial officer
SUBJECT: Future growth strategy analysis
Dear the Board,
I am glad to present to you the future growth strategy analysis report for Fortescue Metal Group.
This report had been prepared requested by the Board. The content of this report concentrated on evaluating the performance of Iron Ore Mining and providing a recommendation of any potential financial justified growth strategies for the next strategic planning horizon (3 years).
Should you have any inquires in regard to this report, please do not hesitate to contact me.
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Research summary
1) Economic overview
There are three major economic factors that have combined contribution to FMG’s growth over the past 5 years, including the strong AUD , the amazing export feature due to the Chinese boom which drives up the commodity price and the interest rate decision by RBA. Australia dollar has appeared strong for the past 5 years and maintained at $6-$6.8 level for AUD/CNY at most time. It promised a high level of foreign income for Australia exporter. In 2009, China demanded almost 60% of the world’s iron ore to produce 47% of world’s steel production. It contributes the most to the price rocket from $31.78 to $180.6 US cents/mts in 5 years time. In addition, Australia borrowing cost remains high over the past few years which may alter the finance decisions of FMG.
2) Industry overview
The seaborne iron-ore industry is very competitive globally. The company has to compete in both domestic and international markets, facing domestic competition from BHP and Rio Tinto along with international competition from CVRD. In order to gain market share, FMG has at least 10 contracts with Chinese steel companies at a bellowed-market price. In early 2010, the big three ore miners, BHP in particular, have been pushing for a renovation of the annual system, arguing that shorter-term pricing would be fairer. 40-year tradition
The figure obviously had not return to pre-crisis level. Moreover, recent commodity prices had fallen significantly which will affect Australia’s short and long term economy.
Australia has also experienced a rising terms of trade to 130.0 in late 2011 due to the commodities boom as a result of the industrialization of the BRICs, whereby Australia has experienced high export and national income, but has resulted in less competitiveness in other sectors due to the high AUD, causing the ‘Dutch disease’ whereby non-commodity sectors lose competitiveness. Similarly is can be seen in its narrow export base whereby in 2012-13 one third of export revenue came from coal and iron ore ($96 billion from 300 billion), furthermore 57% of Australian export revenue is made up of mineral and energy exports, whereby Australian growth has been largely fuelled by commodity exports and mining boom.
The Australian PMI has been mostly below 50 with an average of 47.98 in past 12 months and an average of 47.94 this year, which suggests a likely contraction in manufacturing. Fluctuation is expected due to its volatile nature but a large percentage change is likely to drive the economy. A 14.03% growth in July is expected to lead to an increase in the coming month but contraction may continue in 2015-2016. From these PMI figures, Australia’s economy might not be performing at its best. The industry might suffer
ExxonMobil is identified as one of the world’s leading oil and gas businesses. It manages market commodities and means countrywide. ExxonMobil is entail in “marketing, gas, and oil exploration, transportation and production in roughly 200 nations” (ExxonMobil, 2015). This company furnishes assistance and products under label names such as “Mobil, Esso, and Exxon. ExxonMobil is known as one of the biggest oil industrial installation where a substance is refined in the nation” (ExxonMobil, 2015). This essay discusses ExxonMobil’s strategic initiative from
Within Australia’s current economic climate, a lower exchange rate provides more economic advantages than a high exchange rate. However, some experts argue that a higher exchange rate is overall beneficial for the economy through having an increased purchasing power, whilst others disagree. By having a lower exchange rate, a country is able to accelerate its exports industry, making exports cheaper abroad, in turn increasing demand for their goods. This report will discuss the recent trends in Australia’s exchange rate, in addition to exploring factors that influence the exchange rate and its impact on the trade industry. The effects of a depreciating
Over the past decade, the Australian dollar has devaluated strongly against the US dollar. Especially in the second half year of 2014, the Australian currency losing around 14 per cent of its value against the US dollar and almost as much against the Chinese RMB (Dixon, J 2015). After the devaluation of Australian dollar, several results would both have positive and negative influences on Australian multinational corporations (Faff, R 2000). It would cause: reduce imports and increase exports, domestic employment opportunities, reduce unemployment, domestic consumer goods prices, stock prices and house prices fell, not conducive to go to study abroad and rising gold prices. More specifically, the impact would explain in the following:
When the supply of AUD is more in the market, the value AUD is decreasing as there is not sufficient export done during the year. As the major importer is china, and the economy of that country does not goes well, that will have direct impact on the Australian economy. The exports will decrease dramatically and there will be less inflow of AUD in the market. Likewise, when Australia imports more of goods, there will be more outflow of AUD to other counties and it will create less supply of AUD in the market and value of AUD will increase.
The Australian economy faces new challenges like the high exchange rate of Australian dollar that has impacted the international competitiveness of its trade activities, mainly manufacturing. Another long-run challenge the economy faces is the dependence of Chinese economy, as they are major trade partners. The future will depend on how the Australian economy prepares itself with corrective/reactive policy measures, trade agreements, and innovative strategies to keep Australia’s dream run of prosperity.
Please do not hesitate to contact me should you have any questions regarding this report. You will be kept informed of any developments with this
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