Exam 16: Working Capital Management

Synchronization of cash flows is an important cash management technique,as proper synchronization can reduce the required cash balance and increase a firm's profitability.

Edwards Enterprises follows a moderate current asset investment policy,but it is now considering a change,perhaps to a restricted or maybe to a relaxed policy.The firm's annual sales are $400,000; its fixed assets are $100,000; its target capital structure calls for 50% debt and 50% equity; its EBIT is $35,000; the interest rate on its debt is 10%; and its tax rate is 40%.With a restricted policy,current assets will be 15% of sales,while under a relaxed policy they will be 25% of sales.What is the difference in the projected ROEs between the restricted and relaxed policies.

On average,a firm collects checks totaling $250,000 per day.It takes the firm approximately 4 days from the day the checks were mailed until they result in usable cash for the firm.Assume that (1)a lockbox system could be employed which would reduce the cash conversion procedure to 2 1/2 days and (2)the firm could invest any additional cash generated at 6% after taxes.The lockbox system would be a good buy if it costs $25,000 annually.

Accruals arise automatically from a firm's operations and are "free" capital in the sense that no explicit interest must normally be paid on accrued liabilities.

Which of the following statement completions is CORRECT? If the yield curve is upward sloping,then the marketable securities held in a firm's portfolio,assumed to be held for emergencies,should

Margetis Inc.carries an average inventory of $750,000.Its annual sales are $10 million,its cost of goods sold is 75% of annual sales,and its receivables collection period is twice as long as its inventory conversion period.The firm buys on terms of net 30 days,and it pays on time.Its new CFO wants to decrease the cash conversion cycle by 10 days,based on a 365-day year.He believes he can reduce the average inventory to $647,260 with no effect on sales.By how much must the firm also reduce its accounts receivable to meet its goal in the reduction of its cash conversion cycle?

Which of the following statements is CORRECT?

The relative profitability of a firm that employs an aggressive working capital financing policy will improve if the yield curve changes from upward sloping to downward sloping.

Firms generally choose to finance temporary current assets with short-term debt because

If a profitable firm finds that it simply must "stretch" its accounts payable,then this suggests that it is undercapitalized,i.e.,that it needs more working capital to support its operations.

Affleck Inc.'s business is booming,and it needs to raise more capital.The company purchases supplies on terms of 1/10,net 20,and it currently takes the discount.One way of acquiring the needed funds would be to forgo the discount,and the firm's owner believes she could delay payment to 40 days without adverse effects.What would be the effective annual percentage cost of funds raised by this action? (Assume a 365-day year.)

Van Den Borsh Corp.has annual sales of $50,735,000,an average inventory level of $15,012,000,and average accounts receivable of $10,008,000.The firm's cost of goods sold is 85% of sales.The company makes all purchases on credit and has always paid on the 30th day.However,it now plans to take full advantage of trade credit and to pay its suppliers on the 40th day.The CFO also believes that sales can be maintained at the existing level but inventory can be lowered by $1,946,000 and accounts receivable by $1,946,000.What will be the net change in the cash conversion cycle,assuming a 365-day year?

Zarruk Construction's DSO is 50 days (on a 365-day basis),accounts receivable are $100 million,and its balance sheet shows inventory of $125 million.What is the inventory turnover ratio?

Edison Inc.has annual sales of $36,500,000,or $100,000 a day on a 365-day basis.The firm's cost of goods sold is 75% of sales.On average,the company has $9,000,000 in inventory and $8,000,000 in accounts receivable.The firm is looking for ways to shorten its cash conversion cycle.Its CFO has proposed new policies that would result in a 20% reduction in both average inventories and accounts receivable.She also anticipates that these policies would reduce sales by 10%,while the payables deferral period would remain unchanged at 35 days.What effect would these policies have on the company's cash conversion cycle? Round to the nearest whole day.

Kirk Development buys on terms of 2/15,net 60 days.It does not take discounts,and it typically pays on time,60 days after the invoice date.Net purchases amount to $550,000 per year.On average,what is the dollar amount of total trade credit (costly + free)the firm receives during the year,i.e.,what are its average accounts payable? (Assume a 365-day year,and note that purchases are net of discounts.)

Swim Suits Unlimited is in a highly seasonal business,and the following summary balance sheet data show its assets and liabilities at peak and off-peak seasons (in thousands of dollars): From this data we may conclude that

The calculated cost of trade credit for a firm that buys on terms of 2/10,net 30,is lower (other things held constant)if the firm plans to pay in 40 days than in 30 days.

If a firm's suppliers stop offering discounts,then its use of trade credit is more likely to increase than to decrease other things held constant.

Exhibit 16.1 Zorn Corporation is deciding whether to pursue a restricted or relaxed working capital investment policy. The firm's annual sales are expected to total $3,600,000, its fixed assets turnover ratio equals 4.0, and its debt and common equity are each 50% of total assets. EBIT is $150,000, the interest rate on the firm's debt is 10%, and the tax rate is 40%. If the company follows a restricted policy, its total assets turnover will be 2.5. Under a relaxed policy its total assets turnover will be 2.2. ​ ​ -Refer to Exhibit 16.1.What's the difference in the projected ROEs under the restricted and relaxed policies?

Which of the following statements is CORRECT?