I have to explain about the Cash Flow Statement for GSK. The directions are Your memo should be addressed to Prof.

I just want to know if I answered all the questions.

Professor Shihong Li:

    This letter is to address the GlaxoSmithKline plc cash flow statement and to explain and answer the questions of what reporting standard is used, how the company's ability to generate cash has been changing over the past three years, what the major uses and sources of cash during the past three years and whether the reporting would be different using GAAP and why.

     GSK uses IFRS (International Financial Reporting Standards) rather than GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles). which is used in the U.S. Interest received or paid is reported as operating activities where IFRS records interest received as investing and interest paid is reported as financing. Dividends received are classified as operating activities in GAAP but IFRS reports them in investing. Dividends paid are classified as financing activities in GAAP but in IFRS receiving dividends are reported as investing and dividend payout is financing. GSK uses pounds in million in their financial statements. There are similarities between the IFRS and FAAP they both can use indirect and direct methods for the cash flow and they must both use operating, finance and investing activities for either method. GSK reports their Bank overdrafts in cash equivalents in the operating activities but under GAAP these are a liability. 

       The cash flow from operations increased by 40% from 2015 to 2016 and 6% from 2016 to 2017. The 6 % change from 2016 to 2017 is due to the purchasing of inventory in advance of the new products. The cash flow from investing for 2015 to 2016 decreased -4.1 but this was due to the disposal of businesses in 2015 with a gain of 10,246. Other than the impact of depreciation, the following should be considered; inventories have increased so cash decreased, payables increased which means GSK is retaining cash.   

      As can be seen by the following chart profit decreased in 2016 from 2015 by 87%. In .2017 profit increased from 2016 by 49%.   Depreciation increased from 2015 to 2017 by 10% which is caused by the depreciating of new equipment. Intangible assets amortization increased from 2015 to 2017 to 21% because of the businesses purchased, you also have patents and goodwill is also increased. Asset s written off has increased 23% due to the disposing of business assets. The loss on sale of businesses has dropped from (9308) in 2015 to (157) in 2017. Although they did not make a profit on the sale of the businesses, they will still receive royalties as a joint venture. As you can see they have increased inventories in advance of new products to be manufactured which should increase profits in the future. 

 The free cash flow for 2015 was (235) which shows that in 2015 they could not pay their payables but there were considerable restructuring costs. The free cash flow for 2016 was 3629 which means they can now pay their current liabilities and invest. There is a 5% decrease in 2017 free cash flow, but they did pay a short-term loan off. The payment of interest and tax are covered by cash generated from operations. The major source of operating cash inflow is sustainable therefore GSK is in a positive position. The operating cash inflow is aided by smaller cash inflow from the sale of small businesses and the issue of shares. These cash flows are not sustainable. The assets purchased will be used to generate cash for future years. The 3200 used to pay off a short-term loan will make it a less risky investment. The size of dividends is a cause for concern although they did decrease every year. In 2015, at 3874 million pounds, they represent 84% of the cash generated from operations. In 2016, at 4850 million pounds, they represent 60% of the cash generated from operations. In 2017, at 3906 million pounds, they represent 47% of the cash generated from operations. This seems to be a high distribution percentage and makes me think why they are returning such large amounts to the shareholders when in 2017 they took out a new long-term loan.

         GSK's cash flows would change in the following matter if they used GAAP instead of IFRS, because the net cash flow for operations in 2016 would change from 6918 million pounds to 4812 million pounds due to the addition of interest paid that would be deducted from investments and added to operations, interest received would be taken from finance and added to operations. Dividends received would be taken from investments and added to operations. Bank overdrafts would be in liabilities instead of cash equivalents. Disposal of businesses would not be in investing but in operations. Overall totals would not change except bank overdrafts would be added back into cash equivalents. The net cash outflow from operating, investing, and financing activities if using GAAP for 2017 is (672) million pounds, for 2016 it is (872) million pounds and in 2015 is 1847 million pounds.

Sincerely,

Sherry Kelly