Read the case study and answer the questions that follow: ORBIT LIMITED: FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE AND FORECASTING The mission of Orbit Limited is to achieve its vision by providing an innovative product and creative customer experiences. Its talented staff are guided by the values, social conscience and customer-centric mindset espoused by the board of directors. At the core of Orbit Limited is its customers. The company is committed to successful growth by delivering excellent service to its customers to whom it offers quality and value. It is for these reasons that Orbit Limited was able to achieve success in the marketplace. However, the management has identified the need to improve in certain respects. The following are the financial statements for the past two years: Orbit Limited Statement of Financial Position as at 31 December: 2022 2021 R R ASSETS Non-current assets 11 810 000 7 560 000 Property, plant and equipment 10 025 000 6 250 000 Investments 1 785 000 1 310 000 Current assets 4 190 000 4 690 000 Inventories 1 875 000 2 350 000 Accounts receivable 1 925 000 2 200 000 Cash 390 000 140 000 Total assets 16 000 000 12 250 000 EQUITY AND LIABILITIES Equity ? ? Ordinary share capital 5 480 000 3 680 000 Retained earnings ? ? Non-current liabilities 4 500 000 3 800 000 Loan (20% p.a.) 4 500 000 3 800 000 Current liabilities 2 300 000 1 500 000 Accounts payable 2 300 000 1 500 000 Total equity and liabilities 16 000 000 12 250 000 Statement of Comprehensive Income for the year ended 31 December: 2022 2021 R R Sales 10 800 000 7 150 000 Cost of sales (6 000 000) (3 650 000) Gross profit 4 800 000 3 500 000 Operating expenses (1 800 000) (1 200 000) Depreciation 580 000 200 000 Other selling, general and administrative expenses 1 220 000 1 000 0000 Operating profit 3 000 000 2 300 000 Investment income ? ? Interest expense (880 000) (600 000) Profit before tax 2 600 000 2 030 000 Company tax (728 000) (568 400) Profit after tax 1 872 000 1 461 600 In addition to the above, the following information is available: All sales and purchases of inventory are on credit. Inventories on 31 December 2020 amounted to R1 500 000. Credit terms of 5/10 net 90 days are granted by creditors. Credit terms of 60 days are granted to debtors. Dividends declared for the years ended 31 December 2021 and 2022 amounted to R1 169 280 and R1 422 000 respectively. The financial manager of Orbit Limited provided the following forecasts for 2023: Sales are estimated at 8 000 units with a selling price of R1 800 each. The manufacturing costs include direct materials of R460 per unit, direct labour of R315 per unit, variable overheads of R170 per unit and fixed overheads of R880 000. Fixed selling and administration costs are estimated at R2 000 000 and the variable selling costs are estimated to be 7.5% of sales. The directors are contemplating diversification in 2024 by entering the passenger transport market. This could be achieved through the purchase of a fleet of midi buses that are expected to cost R9 500 000. An additional R500 000 will be spent on import duties. The cost of operating the buses each year is expected to be R4 100 000 and the annual revenues from transporting the passengers are estimated at R7 000 000. The buses are expected to have a total salvage value of R1 000 000 and the estimated useful life of the buses is five years. The companys cost of capital is expected to reduce to 15%. Depreciation is calculated using the straight-line method.

REQUIRED 1.1 Calculate the increase in the retained earnings over the two-year period. (2 marks) 1.2 By how much did the interest income increase or decrease from 2021 to 2022? Provide a possible reason for the change. (3 marks) 1.3 Comment on the investing activities of the company. (4 marks) 1.4 Calculate the amount that would be reflected as Changes in working capital in the Statement of Cash Flows for the year ended 31 December 2022. (4 marks) 1.5 Without making use of any ratios, provide an interpretation of the following over the twoyear period: 1.5.1 Inventories (4 marks) 1.5.2 Accounts receivable (4 marks) 1.6 Calculate the cost (as a percentage) of not accepting discounts from creditors in settlement of accounts. (4 marks)