as all its future expectations have a growth rate.
y January 2009 the world economy was spiraling downward. Squeezed by market conditions and
burdened by debt, Nine Dragons Paper (NDP), the largest paperboard manufacturer in Asia and second largest
in the world, saw its share price drop to HK$ 2.33, 90% off its high and less than half of book value. As the
economic crisis of 2008 bled into 2009, export-oriented industries suffered. Rumors had been buzzing since
October that NDP was on the ropes. It was carrying so much debt that more than one analyst was asking "Will
they go bust?" Was the financial crisis of 2008 about to claim another victim, or had friction between the
global economic crisis and the company's debt ignited jittery nerves in the global markets?
จากรูปภาพที่5 Fitch pushing NDP has been investing at an incredible pace – best demonstrated by comparing the company’s cash flows from operating activities in 2007 and 2008 with the cash flows from investing activities. The short-fall in operating cash flow must then be made up by financing activities – which has been both raising equity and debt – but mostly debt
NDP has clearly been profitable in recent years, and demonstrates a high rate of profitability one would not ordinarily see in this type of semi-commodity based business
NDP’s rate of profitability, however, has been sliding, reflecting rising input prices and greater competitive markets for its products
The company’s growing debt burden is large and getting larger; most analysts and investors clearly wish Mrs. Cheung would slow her capital expenditure plan – at least a bit – to take growing cash flow and debt-service pressure off the company during the global recession and credit crisis