Question

Creative Activewear Inc. (CAI) is a Montreal based company that designs, manufactures and distributes undecorated active wear (t-shirts, track pants and hoodies) in large quantities.CAI's customers are primarily wholesale distributors who in turn decorate the products with designs and logos and sell the imprinted active wear. CAI's active wear products are often used for work or school uniforms, athletic team wear or company promotional materials.CAI produces approximately 150 different product styles and each style is offered in a variety of colours and sizes (approx. 3600 different combinations of style and colour). Every year CAI introduces approximately 50 new styles and colours and discontinues the same number of styles. The industry for undecorated active wear is highly competitive.Maintaining a product line that is consistent with current fashion trends is one of CAIs main competitive advantages.However, the classic T-shirt and the various colours and sizes has been a standard item in the product line since inception.The classic T-Shirt normally constitutes 30% of the inventory balance at any point in time.

CAI was founded in 2006 and is equally owned by Catherine Binder and Francis Draper.Both owners are actively involved in the day-to-day operations of the business.Catherine oversees the sales, administrative and finance areas while Francis oversees inventory management.CAI is a profitable company and since 2006 it has experienced tremendous growth.In 2013, CAI purchased a manufacturing facility in Bradford Ontario.The purchase was financed by a $7 million bank loan.The terms of the loan require CAI to maintain a current ratio of above 1.3 and the manufacturing facility is pledged as collateral for the loan.The bank loan also requires that CAI provide audited financial statements in compliance with ASPE within 60 days of year end.CAI's year-end is December 31st.

Cotton is the main raw material used in the manufacturing.CAI mitigates fluctuations in cotton prices by purchasing cotton futures (sold in U.S. dollars).In late 2018 the costs of cotton futures declined and Catherine and Francis decided to reduce selling prices in order to pass on the cost reductions to its distributers.Due to a miscommunication between Francis and Catherine, Catherine reduced the selling prices before the reduction in cotton prices were realized.The impact was a severe reduction in gross margins for the 2019 fiscal year.

This error has caused a significant disagreement between Catherine and Francis and, as a result, Francis doesn't feel that she can continue to work collaboratively with Catherine anymore.She is considering triggering a buy-out clause in the shareholders agreement.The clause allows her to purchase Catherine's shares for 5 times net income.Once Francis places this offer, Catherine must either accept the offer or counter the offer with a 30% premium.

CAI's credit risk for trade accounts receivable is highly concentrated as the majority of its sales are to a relatively small group of wholesale distributors.CAI's ten largest customers constitute 61% of total trade receivable and its largest customer, Print and Go Inc. accounts for 20% of total accounts receivable.Many of CAI's customers are highly leveraged and rely on CAI providing favourable credit terms.Most customers receive 45 day terms and long standing customers receive 60 day terms. Terms greater than 30 days are standard in the industry because of the time lapse between when the wholesale distributer will ultimately receive collection from the end consumer.

Extending credit to customers involves considerable judgment. CAI has a dedicated credit manager, Nancy Tight, who evaluates each customer's financial condition and payment history.It is her responsibility to prepare recommendations for customer credit limits and payment terms.Nancy reviews external credit ratings (if available), the customer's financial statements and obtains bank and other references.In the case of existing customers, she also reviews the customers past payment history. Based on this analysis she prepares a recommendation and forwards it to Francis for approval.

Francis is very conservative when it comes to granting credit to new customers or increasing credit limits of existing customers.She diligently reviews the research conducted by Nancy.She often requires Nancy to reduce her recommended limits and has often denied extending credit to potential customers despite Nancy's recommendation. Historically, due to this stringent process, CAI has had insignificant bad debts.

Once new customers are approved Nancy enters the new customer details and agreed upon terms into the company's ERP system.Nancy and Francis are the only employees who have access rights to add new customers and make changes to credit terms.The system requires that Francis approve all changes.At the end of each week the system generates a report noting all changes to the customer Masterfile.This report is reviewed by both Francis and Catherine.

When customer orders are received, they are entered into the system by a customer order clerk.The system automatically validates the order and performs a check to ensure the order value plus the current customer balance is below the authorized credit limit.When goods are shipped, the system automatically generates the sales invoice and the sales is recorded.Standard sales terms are FOB shipping point.

The accounts receivable aging for the period ended December 31st 2019 is as follows:

# of new Number of customers in Range of Balances Customers this category Total Balance Current 30-60 days 60-90 days over 90 days Less than $0 7 (750,000) (750,000) $0-$50,000 157 16 4,335,524 2,341, 183 1,885,953 65,033 43,355 $50,001 to $ $100,000 200 20 4,231,475 2,284,997 1,840,692 63,472 42,315 $100,001 to $150,000 303 61 5,990,652 3,294,859 1,198, 130 599,065 898,598 greater than $150,001 10 21,814,114 8,071,222 13,742,892 677 35,621,765 15,242,260 18,667,667 727,570 984,268# of new Number of customers in Range of Balances Customers this category Total Balance Current 30-60 days 60-90 days over 90 days Less than $0 7 (750,000) (750,000) $0-$50,000 157 16 4,335,524 2,341, 183 1,885,953 65,033 43,355 $50,001 to $ $100,000 200 20 4,231,475 2,284,997 1,840,692 63,472 42,315 $100,001 to $150,000 303 61 5,990,652 3,294,859 1,198, 130 599,065 898,598 greater than $150,001 10 21,814,114 8,071,222 13,742,892 677 35,621,765 15,242,260 18,667,667 727,570 984,268