The company's problems can be interpreted as weaknesses in the value chain. The linkages among the different parts of the value chain are suspect, for example production shortfalls for the Fountain are to do with the attitudes of the workforce rather than resource allocation. Has some characteristics of a Star, but may need to spend even more on marketing. Mixer is in the mature stage and may be near to decline as new materials emerge. Hammer is probably also in the mature stage but there is no evidence that it is near decline.
Fountain is in the growth stage.
This can be regarded as a balanced portfolio and is a good foundation for future growth. There is little evidence of synergy, and Acme seems to have difficulty in incorporating the Fountain workforce into the company culture. Company value is the discounted stream of expected future profit, and the mention of total asset value and owners' equity is a red herring. The analysis of 1.1 can be used to make a rough calculation of the long term equilibrium profit. The details of how this is done are not important.