Fundamental of Financial Management B.com 5th Sem Notes
Fundamental of Financial Management : Unit-5 Working Capital Decision Notes | B.com 5th Sem | Gauhati University 5th sem Notes
UNIT - 5
Working capital decision
Contents of the Chapter : Concepts of working capital, the risk-return trade off, sources of short- term finance, working capital estimation, cash management, receivables management, inventory management and payables management.
Fundamental of Financial Management : Unit-5 Working Capital Decision Notes | B.com 5th Sem | Gauhati University 5th sem Notes
Also Read: Fundamentals of financial management complete notes
Fundamental of Financial Management : Unit-5 Working Capital Decision Notes | B.com 5th Sem | Gauhati University 5th sem Notes
Unit-5
Working Capital Decision
Short Type Questions & Answer
1. What is risk/return tradeoff?
Ans: The risk-return tradeoff is an investment principle that indicates that the higher the risk, the higher the potential reward.
2. Is there always a risk expected return trade-off?
Ans: According to modern portfolio theory, there's a trade-off between risk and return.
3. What is short term finance?
Ans: Short term finance refers to financing needs for a small period normally less than a year.
4. Mention various classes of working capital.
Ans: On the basis of concept, working capital may be :
(i) Gross working capital, (ii) Net working capital.
On the basis of periodically of Requirement it may be :
(i) Permanent of fixed working capital,
(ii) Variable working capital.
5. Mention five importance of working capital.
Ans: The importance of working capital are: (i) Business can avail the advantages of cash discreet by available of working capital.
(ii) It creates a feeling of security and confidence.
(iii) It helps in maintaining the solvency of the business.
(iv) A firm can raise funds from the market, purchase goods on credit
and borrow short term funds from banks.
(v) It make easy to distribute dividend.
6. Mention five sources of working capital.
Ans: The working capital are:
(i) Issue of shares,
(ii) Issue of debenture,
(iii) Retuned profits,
(iv) Sole of Fixed Assets,
(v) Security from Employees and from the customers.
7. Mention various types of inventories?
Ans: The various types of inventories are:
(i) Raw Materials,
(ii) Work-in-progress,
(iii) Consumables,
(iv) Finish goods,
(v) Spares.
8. Give five objectives of inventory management.
Ans: The five objectives of inventory management are:
(i) To ensure continuous supply of materials,
(ii) To avoid both over-stocking and under stoking of inventory,
(iii) To maintain investments in inventories at the optimum level,
(iv) To keep material cost under control so that they contribute in reducing cost of production and overall costs,
(v) To eliminate duplication an ordering or replenishing stocks. 9.
9. Discuss the general principles of working capital management.
Ans: The following are the general principles of a sound working capital management policy:
(i) Principle of risk variation: Risk refers to the inability of a firm to meet its obligations as and when they become due for payment. Larger investment in current assets with less dependence on short-term borrowings increases liquidity, reduces dependence on short-term borrowings increases liquidity, reduces risk and thereby decreases the opportunity for gain or loss. On the other hand less investment in current assets with greater dependence on short-term borrowings increases risk, reduces liquidity and increases profitability. In other words, there is a definite inverse relationship between the degree of risk and profitability.
(ii) Principle of cost of capital: The various sources of raising working capital finance have different cost of capital and the degree of risk involved. Generally, higher the risk lower is the cost and lower the risk higher is the cost. A sound working capital management should always try to achieve a proper balance between these two.
(iii) Principle of equity position : This principle is concerned with planning the total investment in current assets. According to this principle, the amount of working capital invested in each component should be adequately justified by a firm's equity position. Every rupee invested in the current assets should contribute to the net worth of the firm.
(iv) Principle of maturity of payment: According to this principle a firm should make every effort to relate maturities of payment to its flow of internally generated funds. There should be least disparity between the maturities of short term debt and flow of funds because greater risk is generated with greater disparity. A margin of safety should however be provided for any short term payments.
10. What is inventory management control?
Ans: Inventory control is concerned with the acquisition, storage, handling and uses of inventories so as to ensure the availability of inventory whenever needed, providing sufficient protection for contingencies, maximising economy and minimising wastages and losses.
L.R. Harvard observes that "the proper control and management of inventory not only solves the acute problems of liquidity but also increases annual profits and causes substantial reduction in the working capital of a firm."
11. What do you mean by cash funds? What are the motives holding cash?
Ans: Cash is the most liquid asset that a firm owns. It includes money and instruments like cheque, money orders, or bank drafts which banks. normally accept for deposit and immediately credit to the depositor's account. Sometimes, near cash items, such as marketable securities, bank time deposits are also included in cash. The basic characteristic of near cash assets is that they can be easily converted into cash.
Keynes defined liquidity preference as depending upon :
(i) The transaction motive,
(ii) The precautionary motive,
(iii)The speculative motive.
(i) Transaction motive: The business concerns require a certain amount of cash to carry out their day to day transactions. The amount of cash depends on the nature of business. The amount of cash held also depends on the regularity of receipts and disbursements. Business concerns that have highly predictable inflows and outflows of funds can hold relatively less cash than firms that have irregular cash flows.
(ii) Precautionary motive: A firm is required to keep cash for meeting various contingencies. It is also related to the nature and level of business activity. Precautionary balances are those which are set aside because cash inflows and outflows are not synchronised.
(iii) The speculative motive: According to Keynes, the object of the speculative motive is "Securing a profit from knowing better than the market what the future will bring forth". The speculative balances are sensitive to interest rate and are usually held in the form of interest bearing securities.
Fundamental of Financial Management : Unit-5 Working Capital Decision Notes | B.com 5th Sem | Gauhati University 5th sem Notes
12. What are the costs associated with receivables?
Ans: The maintenance of receivables involves tying up of funds, the main costs associated with receivables are as follows:
(i) Collection cost: These are administrative costs incurred in collecting the receivables from the customers. These include additional expenses on creation and maintenance of a credit department with staff, accounting records, stationery, postage and other related costs.
(ii) Capital cost: The time gap between the date of credit sale and the date of final payment necessitates investment in receivables Meanwhile, the firm has to arrange additional funds to meet his own obligations. The capital which is used to support credit sales could have been profitably employed elsewhere and therefore it constitutes a part of the cost of extending credit.
(iii) Delinquency cost: This cost arises out of the failure of the customers to meet their obligations when they fall due after the expiry of the period of credit. Such costs are delinquency costs.
The various components of this cost are: (a) blocking up of funds for an extended period
(b) cost associated with steps that have to be initiated to collect the overdues, such as reminders and other collection efforts and (c) legal expenses if necessary and so on.
(iv) Default cost: There are always some customers from whom money cannot be recovered due to certain reasons, such debts are treated as bad debts and which have to be written off as they cannot be recovered. Such costs are known as default costs associated with receivables.
13. What is receivables? Discuss the objectives or benefits of maintaining receivables.
Ans: Receivables represent the claims of a firm against its customers and are carried to the assets side of the balance sheet under titles such as account receivables, trade receivables, customer receivables or book debts. The objective of such facility is to allow the customers a reasonable period of time in which they can pay for the goods purchased by them.
Hampton John J. defined receivables as "Receivables are assets accounts, representing amount owned to the firm as a result of the sale of goods or services in the ordinary course of business."
The main objectives of maintaining receivables are as follows:
(i) Expansion of sales: Customers who are not willing to buy goods on cash basis have to be encouraged with the offer of credit terms. In the absence of such an offer, a firm may not be able to sell the goods at a desired level. Receivables enable it to push it sales effectively in the market.
(ii) Increase in profits: If the level of sales increases, the profit willalso increase. This is ordinarily so because the marginal contribution
affected by an increase in sales higher than the additional costs associated with such an increase.
(iii) Maintain liquidity: The concept of operating cycle explains that receivables are one step ahead of inventories so, it facilitates to maintain liquidity in the business because it can be easily converted into cash, whenever required.
Fundamental of Financial Management : Unit-5 Working Capital Decision Notes | B.com 5th Sem | Gauhati University 5th sem Notes
LONG TYPE QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
1. Explain the importance of working capital.
Ans: Importance or Advantages of working capital can be discussed under the following points:
(i) Cash Discount: If proper cash balance is maintained the business can avail the advantages of cash discount by paying cash for the purchase of raw materials and merchandise. It will result in reducing the cost of production.
(ii) It creates a feeling of security and confidence: The proprietor or officials or management of a concern are quite carefree, if they have proper working capital arrangements because they need not worry for the payment of business expenditure or creditors. Adequate working capital creates a souse of security, confidence and loyalty not only throughout the business it self but also among its customers, creditors and business associates.
(iii) Must for maintaining solvency and continuing production: In order to maintain the solvency of the business, it is but essential that sufficient amount of funds be available to make all the payments in the as and when they are due. Without ample working capital, productions, will suffer particularly in this era of cut throat competition, and a business can never flourish in the absence of adequate working capital.
(iv) Sound Goodwill and Debit Capacity : It is common experience of all product businessmen that promptness of payment in business creates goodwill and increases the debt capacity of the business creates goodwill and increases the debt capacity of the business. A firm can raise funds from the market, purchase goods on credit and borrow short term funds from the market, purchase goods on credit and borrowers are confident that they will get their due interest and payment of principal in time.
(v) Easy Loan from the Banks: An adequate working capital ie excess of current assets over current liabilities helps the company to borrow unsecured leans from the bank because the excess provides a good security to the unsecured loans, banks far our in granting seasonal loans, if business has a good credit standing and trade reputation.
(vi) Distribution of Dividend: If company is short of working capital, it cannot distribute the good dividend to it shareholders in spite of sufficient profits. Profits are to be retained in the business to make up the deficiency of working capital. On the contrary, if working capital is sufficient, ample dividend can be declared and distributed. It increases the market value of shares.
(vii) Exploitation of Good Opportunities: In case of adequacy of capital in a concern, good opportunities can be exploited e. g. company may make off season purchases resulting in substantial servings as it can fetch big supply orders resulting in good profits.
(viii) Meeting unseen Contingencies: Depression short up the demand of working capital because stock piling of goods become necessary, certain other unseen contingencies e.g. financial crisis due to heavy losses, business oscillations etc. can easily be overcome, if company maintains adequate working capital.
(ix) It increases fixed Assists Efficiency: Adequate working capital increases the efficiency of the fixed assets of the business because of its proper maintenance. Without working capital, fixed assets are like a gun which can not shoot as here are no cartridges. It is therefore said, the fate of large scale investment in fixed capital is often determined by a retiringly small amount of current assets.
2. Discuss the various sources of working capital?
Ans: The sources of working capital may be classified into two categories such as:
(a) Sources of long term working capital.
(b) Sources of short term working capital
(c) Sources of long term working capital: Following are the various souces of long term working capital
(i) Issue of shares: It is the most important source of long term regular working capital out of the proceeds of issue of shares. It creates no burden or the fixed charge on the craning assets of the company. Moreover, the company is not under obligation to return the capital.
(ii) Issue of debenture: Regular working capital can also be procured by issue of debenture or bonds. The cost of capital is lower in the case. By issuing debentures company may trade on equity by issuing debenture if there is no stability in the earning of the firm because they create charges on the earnings assets of the company. Management should make a choice in procuring funds either by issue of shares of by issue of debentures depending upon the various other factors.
(iii) Retained Profits: Accumulated large profits is also considered to be a good source of financing long term working capital requirements. It is the best and the cheapest source of finance. It creates no charge on future profits. A part of earned profits are ploughed back by the firms in meeting the working capital requirement. Retained profits may be represented by various uncommitted reserves created out of profits. reserve and sophists or
(iv) Sole of fixed assets: If there is any idle fixed asset in the firm, it can be sold out and the proceeds may be utilized for financing the working specific
(v) Security from Employees and from customs: Certain companies require a security deposit from their employees before giving them employment under the terms of service contracts. Similarly public utility concerns eg electricity distributing companies or cooking gas supply companies require security deposits from their registered customers. Such security deposits are not refundable during the period the employee is in service of the firm or customer is registered with it. The amount of advances thus can be utilized by the company in meeting its long term working capital needs.
(vi) Term Loans: Mid term and long term loans for a period above 3 years provide important sources of working capital. Such term loans can be borrowed from the special financial institutions such as the Industrial Development Bank of India, the Industrial Finance corporation, the life Insurance Corporation and Commercial Banks etc.
Sources of short term working capital: There are two types of sources of short term working capital: (i) Internal Sources
(ii) Eternal Sources
(i) Internal Sources: Following are the main internal sources of short term working capital.
(a) Depreciation Funds: Depreciation funds created but of profits of the company provide a good source of working capital provided they are not invested in or represented by an assets.
(b) Provision for Taxation: There remains a time lag between making the provision for any payment of taxation. A company may utilize such provision during the intermittent period temporarily.
(c) Accrued Expenses: The company sometimes postpone the payment of certain expenditure due on the date of finalization of the accounts. These accorded (due but bot paid) expense als constitute an important source of working capital.
(ii) Internal sources: Following are the external sources
(a) Normal Trade credit: Trade, creditors provide short term finance to the company by selling the goods, inventories and equipments of the basis of deferred payment. It becomes a very common source of short term finance and normally every concern use this source as a normal trade practice.
(b) Credit Papers: Under this category bills payable note are included. The acceptor of a bill of exchange gets time in making the payment for loan. It is like a credit extended to him by the creditor against his acceptance. The drawer of a bill of exchange or payable of promissory note may also get finance from his banker by discounting these documents to meet short term requirements. Accommodation bill is also an important source of short term finance.
(c) Bank credit: The greater part of the working capital is supplied by commercial banks to their customers through direct advanced in the shape of loans, cash credit or overdraft and through discounting the credit papers e.g. B/R, P/N etc.
(d) Customers credit : Advances may also be obtained from customers against the contracts entered into by the enterprise. Such advances are generally asked for, by the companies manufacturing large plants and machineries involving longer time in completing the process of manufacture e.g. ship building industries. The amount can be used for purchasing raw materials paying wages and so an.
(e) Public Deposits: Most of the companies in recent years depend on this source to meet their working capital requirements. It had been most common in cotton textile mills in Bombay and Ahmeda dad but how almost every public limited company raises finances from this source ranging from 6 months to there years to meet working capital needs under the companies (Acceptance of Deposits) rules, a company is authorized to raise funds equal to 25 per cent of paid up capital and free reserves by this source.
(f) Loans from Managing Director or Directors: Some times directors or managing directors of the company provide loans to the company at a very negligible rate of interest or at no rate of interest.
3. Discuss the various method of determining or analysis working capital.
Ans: The analysis of working capital can be made either through:
(i) ratio analysis,
(ii) fund flow analysis, or
(iii) budgeting analysis.
(i) Ratio Analysis: The ratio analysis of working capital helps the management in checking upon the efficiency with which the working capital is being used in the business. For this purpose, different ratios are calculated to serve different purposes. Ratio analysis (a) Behaviors of ratios over a period of years to determine trends in the business and (b) companying ratios for one concern with those of other concerns in the same line of business. In such compassions, due allowance must be given for differences in the character of enterprise and for special accounting practices and policies followed by each undertaking.
The most important ratios for determining the trend in the business over a period of years are as follows.
(a) Turnover of working capital Ratio: This ratio measures the rate of working capital utilization and is calculated as follows:
Turnover of working capital Ratio= Net Sates/Net working capital
This ratio shows how many times the working capital turns over in trending transactions. If it has an increasing trend over previous years, it shows that the working capital is how being used very efficiently or in other words, working capital is working harder than it worked in the past. On the other hand, if there is decreasing ratio, One can reasonably follow, that the company is used working capital less economically or not so efficiently as it should have been. It indicates relative in efficiency of the management. Every business has to work out its own normal level of variations and its own upper and lower limits of ratio which produce a reasonable combination of profitability and safety in the management of working capital.
(b) Current Ratio: Current ratio is the ratio between current assets and current liabilities of a business.
It is worked out as under:
Current Rate= Current Assets/Current liabilites
Current ratio measures the ability of the company to pay off its short term debts I, e, Current liabilities. It reveals how efficiently a firm can meet the sudden demand, if it at all arises, to pay off all its short-term creditors. It is, therefore, advisable that short term assets should be large enough to meet the sudden demands with some margin taking into consideration the liquidity of assets. The ratio is very useful for bankers and creditors while advancing loans to the company. The ratio is not of much use to the growing concerns.
(c) Acid Test Ratio: It is also called quick-ratio, It is determined by dividing quick assets. I,e, assets which are most easily convertible into cash, by current liabilities. It is a better test of financial strength than the current ratio as it gives no consideration to inventory which cannot be sold at fair prices immediately. This ratio Lays more emphasis on immediate conversion of assets into cash. A quick ratio of 1:1 is us leally considered favorable. The higher the quick ratio, the better the financial position.
(d) Cash Ratio: The relationship of current assets and cash balance in called cash ratio. It may be determined by dividing the total current assets by total cash. The ratio shows availability of cash to meet the day to day requirements in relation to the total current assets. Past experience may show the trend of relationship of cash with current assets. If ratio is higher than the average, it shows that funds are lying idle contributing. nothing to the business. It should be reduced to the average needs of the business.
(e) Ratio of current Liabilities to tangible Net Worth: The ratio is worked out by dividing the current liabilities by tangible wealth. The ratio is helpful in finding out how much capital has been contributed by the short term creditors and how much by the owners. Higher ratio means greater risks to short term creditors.
(ii) Funds Flow Analysis of Working capital: Funds flow analysis is the study of the sources of funds and their application in the business. The analysis shows how the funds in the business have been procured and how they have been employed. By the use of this method, changes in the working capital between the two dates can be very easily analyzed by studding the changes in each type of current assets and current liabilities as the sources from which working capital has been obtained.
A more thorough analysis of current assets and current liabilities can be made by incorporating certain items from the income statement. A detailed study of Fund-flow technique has been given in chapter II.
(iii) Budgeting Analysis: Efficient working capital management is concerned with the careful measurement of future requirements and the formulation of plans to meet them for this purpose a working capital budget as a part of total budgeting process, is prepared stating the future long term and short term working capital needs and the souces to finance them. The objective of working capital budget is to secure the proper utilization of the investment. At the end of the period budgeted figures and the actual figures can be compared and studied using different ratios and standards. The investment utilization can be studied by the rate of turnover as measured against sales or cost of goods sold through scatter charts.
Fundamental of Financial Management : Unit-5 Working Capital Decision Notes | B.com 5th Sem | Gauhati University 5th sem Notes
4. What is Inventory Management ? Discuss its various objectives.
Ans: Inventories are the stocks of the product of a company and component thereof that make up the product. The different form in which inventories exist are- raw materials, Work-in-process and finished goods. Raw materials are those inputs that are converted into finished product through the manufacturing process. Work in progress inventories are semi- finished products. That require move work before they are ready for sale. Finished goods inventories are those which are completely manufactured products and are ready for sale Raw materials and semi- finished goods inventories facilitate production while finished goods ventories are required for smooth marketing operations. Thus inventories serve as a link between the production and the consumption of goods. The objectives of inventory management may be discussed under two heads:
(a) Operating objectives and
(b) financial objectives as follows
(a) Operating objectives:
(i) Availability of Materials: The first and the fore most objective of inventory management is to make all types of materials available at all times whenever they are needed by the production departments so that the production may not be help up for want of materials. It is therefore Sable to maintain a minimum quantity of all types of materials to move on the production on schedule
(ii) Minimizing the wastage: Inventory control is essential to minimize the wastage at all levels I,e. during its storage in the god owns or at work in the factory. Normal wastage, in other words uncontrollable wastage, should only be permitted. Any abnormal but controllable wastage, should only be permitted. Any abnormal but controllable wastage should only be permitted. Any abnormal but controllable wastage should strictly be controlled. Wastage of materials by leakage, theft, embezzlement and spoilage due to rust, dust or dirt should be avoided.
(iii) Promotion of manufacturing Efficiency: The manufacturing efficiency of the enterprise increases if right types of raw materials is made available to the production department at the right time. It reduces wastage and cost of production and improves the morale of workers.
(iv) Better service to customers: In order to meet the demand of the customers, it is the responsibility of the concern to produce sufficient stock of finished goods to execute the orders received. It means, a flow of production should be maintained.
(v) Control of Production Level: The concern may decide to increase or decrease the production level in favorable time and the inventory may be controlled accordingly. But in odd times, when raw materials are in short supply. Proper control of inventory helps in creating and maintaining buffer stock to meet any eventuality, Production, Variations can also be avoided through proper control of inventories.
(vi) Optimal Level of Inventories: Proper control of inventories help management to procure materials in time in order to run the plan efficiently. It thus, helps in the maintaining the optimum level of inventories keeping in view the operational requirements. It also avoids the out of stock danger.
(b) Financial Objectives:
(i) Economy in Purchasing: Proper inventory control brings certain advantages and economics in Purchasing the raw materials, Management makes every attempt to purchase the raw materials in bulk quantity and to take advantage of favorable market conditions.
(ii) Optimum Investment and efficient use of capital Use of capital: The prime objective of inventory control from financial point of view is to have an optimum level of investment in inventories. There should neither be any deficiency of stock of raw materials so as to hold up the production process nor should there be any excessive investment in inventories so as to block the capital that could be used in an efficient manner otherwise. It is, therefore, the responsibility of financial management to set up the maximum and minimum levels of stocks to avoid deficiency or surplus stock positions.
(iii) Reasonable Price: Management should ensure the supply of raw materials at a reasonably Low Price but with out sacrificing the quality of it. It helps in controlling the cost of production and the quality of finished goods in order o maximize the profits of the concern.
(iv) Minimizing Costs: Minimizing inventory costs such as handling ordering and carrying costs, etc, is one of the main objectives of inventory management. Financial management should help controlling the inventory costs in a way that reduces the cost per unit of inventory. Inventory costs are the part of total cost of production hence cost of production can also be minimized by controlling the inventory costs.
4. Describe the various factors influencing inventory.
Ans: Factor influencing the decision of investment in inventories be divided into two parts:
(a) General factors and
(b) Specific factors.
(a) General Factors: These factors include considerations common to the management of all types of assets fixed or current. Such factors are, type and nature of business, anticipated volume of sales, operation level, price level variations, availability of funds and the attitude of the management.
(b) Specific factors: Such factors are those which influence the decision of investment in inventories. These include:
(i) Seasonal Nature of Raw Material and Demand of Finished Goods: If certain raw material is available during a particular season, but its consumption continues throughout the year in the firm, the investment in such raw material shall naturally be heavier to store the stock in order to streamline the production throughout the year. This is true in agro-based industries like sages etc. Similarly seasonal industries purchase raw material in the season and there fore, their investment in raw material increases in that particular season. Conversely, where demand for goods is uneven, shall or seasonal, the management will have to store the finished goods inventory till the demand season approaches for timely execution of orders and therefore will follow longer production runs and more even and efficient production scheduling. It will require higher investment in inventories in off season.
(ii) Length and Technical Nature of the Production Process: If Production process is such that takes much time in its completion, the investment in inventories shall be Larger such as ship-building industry. Moreover if production process is of technical nature, even then it requires heavy investment in inventories.
(iii) Style factor in the End Product: The style factor of end product or nature of finished goods determines the size of investment in inventories. The durability and perish ability of the finished product are such important factors.
(iv) Terms of Purchase: If supply of raw material is available favorable terms 1.e. long credit conditions of supply, concession or rebate available on favorable terms I,e, long credit, conditions of supply, concession or rebate available etc, the management may have larger investment in inventories in order to avail of the opportunity of favorable terms. But, here, the management must consider the cost and benefit effect of ordering raw materials is available only on cash terms, the management will dare not to invest heavy amount in inventories. on
(v) Supply conditions: Certainty and regularity in supply of raw material are also important factors in determining the size of investment from the view point of operating continuity. Suppose, if the source of material is outside the country and a ban on imports is feared or supply may be disturbed due to weather, a great stock of inventory will be needed to avoid the risk of being out of stock. If, on the other hand, the company relies Supon the supplier for regular and speedy supply of raw material, it may carry a very small stock of that raw material.
(vi) Time Factor: Time is also an important factor in determining the size of inventory and affects the inventory management in a number of ways:
(a) bad time I,e. time lag between intending and availability of raw material,
(b) time lag between purchase of raw material and the commencement of process,
(c) time required in production process, and
(d) average time required for sale of product.
These all exercise their impact on investment in inventories. The longer the time, the larger would be the investment in inventories to maintains the flow of production.
(vii) Price Level Variation: If a price rise is expected in the near future, the investment in raw material will be greater in a bid to keep the cost of product minimum. On the other hand, if price level is expected to go down, there will be a tendency to purchase the goods in the open market as and when it is needed.
Fundamental of Financial Management : Unit-5 Working Capital Decision Notes | B.com 5th Sem | Gauhati University 5th sem Notes
6. Explain the various technique of inventory control.
Ans: The following techniques may be used to control the size of inventory in a manufacturing concern.
(i) Fixing the Maximum Minimum.
(ii) Limits of Inventory: In order to have a proper check on the investment in inventory, it is necessary to fix the minimum and the maximum limits of inventory so that there should be no overstocking of materials nor storage of raw materials. In fixing the levels of inventories, the following two factors should be borne in mind.
(a) Time lag between intending and receiving of the raw materials I,e. lead time.
(b) Rate of consumption during lead time. Under this system, an order of sufficient size is placed when a minimum point in inventory is reached, to bring the inventory to the maximum point Past experience help the fixing of minimum and maximum points in inventories.
(iii) Re-ordering Level or ordering Level: It is appoint where orders for fresh supplies of materials are placed with the suppliers. The point is fixed some where in between the maximum and minimum point in such a way that the quantity available between the minimum level and this point is sufficient to meet the requirements of production upon the time fresh supplies are received.
Recording level: Minimum level + (Time in acquiring the materials > rate of consumption).
In fixing the ordering level, a danger level is also considered. It is a level at which normal issues of material are stopped or made at specific instructions of purchase officer. Purchase officer at this point makes the efforts to get the material available within an earliest possible time. This level is below the minimum level of stock.
(iv) Economic order Quantity (EOQ), EOQ in an important factor in controlling the inventory. It is a quantity of inventory which can reasonably be ordered economically at a time. It is also known as 'Standard Order, Quantity, "Economic Lot Size, or Economical Ordering Quantity". In determining this point ordering costs and carrying costs are taken into consideration. Ordering costs are basically the cost of getting. An item of inventory and it includes cost of storage facilities, property insurance, loss of value through physical deterioration, Còst of obsolescence. Either of these two costs affects the profits of the firm adversely and management tries to balance these two costs. The balancing or reconciliation point is know as Economic order quantity.
The quantity may be calculated with the help of the following formula:
EOQ=√24.S./ CH
Here - A = Annual Quantity used (in units)
S=Cost of placing an order (fixed cost).
CH=Cost of holding one unit for one year.
(v) Two-Bin System: Under this system, all inventory items are grouped under two categories. In the first group, a sufficient supply is kept to meet the current requirements over a designated period of time. In the second group or bin, a safety stock is maintained to meet the requirement of inventory at times when stock in the first bin is exhausted and reordering occurs.
(vi) Order cycling system: In this system, review of each item of inventory is made from time to time depending upon the criticality of the item to have the predetermined level of inventory. Critical items may require a short review cycles and on the other hand, lower cost non- critical item may require longer review cycles. At each review date, a required quantity of inventory is ordered to bring it to the predetermined level.
(vii) Statistical Inventory Control System: Statistical models are used by some firms to find out their widely sped distribution system with the help of computers etc. It helps the management in taking the inventory management decisions. But this system is valid only if the sufficient information for cost comparison is available and the data has accurately been compiled otherwise it is very difficult to find out the alternatives.
(viii) A,B,C Analysis System: Under this system, a value item analysis is prepared where there are many items in the inventory. It attempts to relate how the inventory value is concentrated among the individual items. Under this system, all items in the inventory are grouped into three categories A B and C. A being the most important and C the least important. The classification is made on value, usage rate and the criticality of item. After classification as AB or C, they are ranked by their value. We can thus, find as to what percentage of items is held and for what percentage of value.
(ix) Budgetary control system: Under this system, inventory budgets are prepared and then compared with the actual consumption figures. Trough budgets, inventory consumption and levels are coordinated with the expected usage. It serves the purpose of controlling cash and debtors position. The inventory budget is a plan for investing funds in stock at regular intervals via raw materials, work-in-progress and finished stocks.
Fundamental of Financial Management : Unit-5 Working Capital Decision Notes | B.com 5th Sem | Gauhati University 5th sem Notes
7. What do you mean by working capital? What are the different types of working capital?
Ans: Working capital is also referred to as circulating capital because it keeps on moving in a circular direction. In the words of Shubin, "Working capital is the amount of funds necessary to cover the cost of operating the enterprise." According to Gerstenberg "Circulating capital means current assets of a company that are changed in the ordinary course of business from one form to another, as for example, from cash to inventories, inventories to receivables, receivable into cash". Working capital can be classified on the following two basis:
(i) On the basis of concept: Working capital can be classified as gross working capital and net working capital.
(a) Gross working capital: It is the capital invested in total current assets of the enterprise.
Total of all current assets Gross working capital.
(b) Net working capital: Net working capital is the excess of current assets over current liabilities.
Current assets - current liabilities = net working capital.
(ii) On the basis of necessities or time: Working capital can be classified as follows:
(a) Permanent or fixed working capital: Permanent working capital represents the assets required on continuing basis over the entire year.
This is permanently needed for the business and therefore it should be financed out of long-term funds.
The permanent working capital can again be sub-divided into :
(i) Regular working capital: It is the minimum amount of liquid capital required to keep up the circulation of capital from cash to inventories, inventories to receivables and back to cash again.
(ii) Reserve working capital: It is the excess capital over the needs of regular working capital that should be kept in reserve for contingencies that may arise at any time. This contingencies include rise in prices, business depreciation, strikes etc.
(b) Temporary or variable working capital: Variable working capital changes with the increase or decrease in the volume of business. It may also be subdivided into two:
(i) Seasonal variable working capital: The working capital required to meet the seasonal liquidity of the business is seasonal variable working capital. In many lines of business like tea, sugar etc. operations are highly seasonal and as a result, working capital requirement vary greatly during the year.
(ii) Special variable working capital: It is that part of the variable. working capital which is required for financing special operations such as extensive marketing campaign experiments with products etc.
8.Discuss the determinants of working capital.
or Discuss the factors affecting the requirements of working capital.
Ans : The working capital requirements of a concern depend upon number of factors
The are important factors generally influencing the working capital requirements:
(i) Nature and size of business: The working capital requirements highly influence the nature and size of business. Trading and financial firm do not need much to invest in fixed assets, but require a large sum of money to be invested in working capital. On the other hand public utilities have to invest larger sums in fixed assets but their working capital requirements are nominal because they have cash sales only and supply services, not product. The manufacturing firm also require sizeable working capital along with fixed investments. Similarly size may be estimated in scale of operation. A firm with larger operational scale will require more working capital than a smaller firm.
(ii) Manufacturing cycle: In manufacturing business, the requirements of working capital increase in direct proporuon to length of manufacturing process. Longer the process period of manufacture, larger is the amount of working capital required.
(iii) Business cycle fluctuations: Business cycle refers to alternate expansion and contraction in general business activity. In a period of boom Le. when the business is prosperous, there is a need for larger amount of working capital due to increase in sales, rise in prices, etc. But in the times of depression i.e. when there is a down swing of the cycle, the business contracts, sales decline so the firm require less amount of working capital.
(iv) Seasonal operations: It is not always possible to shift the burden of production and sale to slack period. For example, in the case of sugar mill, more working capital will be required at the time of crop and manufacturing.
(v) Availability of credit: The working capital requirements of a firm also depend upon the credit granted to the firm by its creditors. A firm will need less working capital if liberal credit terms are available to it. Similarly, a firm which can get bank credit easily on favourable terms, will operate with less working capital than a firm without such facility.
(vi) Management's ability: Proper coordination in production and distribution of goods may reduce the requirement of working capital as minimum funds will be invested in absolute inventory, non-recoverable debts etc.
(vii) Growth and expansion activities: The working capital requirements of a concern increase with the growth and expansion of its business activities. Although, it is difficult to determine the relationship between the growth in the volume of business and the growth in the working capital of a business, yet it may be concluded that for normal rate of expansion in the volume of business, we may have retained profits to provide for more working capital but in fast growing concerns, we shall require larger amount of working capital.
(viii) Price level changes: As price increases more working capital will be required for the same magnitude of current assets. The need of working capital may further increase due to growth resulting from price level change.
(ix) External environment: With the development of financial institutions, means of communication, transport facility etc. the need of working capital is reduced because it can be available as and when required.
9. Discuss the functions of cash management.
Ans. The firm should develop some strategies for cash management in order to resolve the uncertainty about cash flow prediction and lack of coordination between receipts and payments. The firm should involve strategies regarding the following four functions of cash management:
(a) Cash planning: Cash inflows and outflows should be properly planned to project cash surplus or deficit for each of the planning period. It is a technique to plan for and control the use of cash. The period and frequency of cash planning generally depends upon the size of firm and policy of management. Cash budget is the most significant device to plan for and control the cash receipts and payments. Cash forecasts are needed to prepare cash budget. Cash forecasting may be done on a short term or long term basis.
(b) Managing the cash flow: Cash management will be successful only if cash collections are accelerated and cash disbursements as far as possible, are delayed. A firm can reduce its requirements of cash balances, if it can speed up its collections. Cash collection can be accelerated by reducing the gap between the time a customer pay his bill and the time the cheque is collected and funds become available for use. Within this time gap, the delay is caused by the mailing time. The amount of cheques sent by customers but not yet collected is called deposit float. The greater will be the deposit float, the longer is the time taken in converting cheques into usable funds.
There are mainly two techniques which can be used to save mailing and processing time; decentralised collections and lock box system.
(i) Decentralised collection: A decentralised collection procedure, called concentration banking, is a system of operating through a number of collection centres in place of a single collection centre centralised at the firm's head office. In this system the concern will have a large number of bank accounts operated in the areas where the firm has branches.
(ii) Lock box system: Another technique of reducing collection time is "Lock box system". In a lock box system, the firm establishes a number of collection centres, considering customer's locations and volume of remittances. At each centre, the firm hires a post office box and instructs its customers to mail their remittances to the box.
(c) Optimum cash level: The management should be watchful enough while taking this decision as it also affects the profitability of a firm. If the firm maintains a small cash balance, its liquidity becomes weak and suffers from a paucity of cash to make payments. Vice-versa, if the firm maintains a higher level of cash balance, it will have a sound liquidity position but forgo the opportunities to earn interest. Thus the firm should maintain an optimum cash balance.
(d) Investing idle cash: The idle cash kept for the purpose of safety should be properly and profitably invested. The firm should decide about the division of cash balances between marketable securities and bank. deposits. There is a close relationship between cash and marketable securities and bank deposits. Therefore the investment in marketable securities and bank deposits should be properly managed. Excess cash should normally be invested in such marketable securities which can be conveniently and promptly converted into cash.
Fundamental of Financial Management : Unit-5 Working Capital Decision Notes | B.com 5th Sem | Gauhati University 5th sem Notes
10. What is meant by cash planning and control? Explain the main tools of cash planning and control.
Ans. Cash planning is a technique to plan for and control the use of. cash. It involves formulation of sound cash management policies, procedures and practices. Cash planning induces cash control as well. Cash control involves proper implementation of policies and procedures regarding inflow and outflow of cash. It includes short term investment plans when cash is surplus and borrowing programmes during the days of cash deficit.
Tools of cash planning and control can be divided into two groups:
(a) Tools of cash planning; (b) Tools of cash control.
(a) Tools of cash planning: These include methods which the future cash level in a firm.
They are:
(i) net cash forecast
(ii) cash budget
(iii) working capital position.
(i) Net cash forecast: Forecast of net cash means forecast inflows and cash outflows for a given period establish of cash
There are two methods of forecasting cash position:
(a) cash flow method which plots out estimated receipts and payments and
(b) adjusted earning method.
(ii) Cash Budget: It is a systematic forecast of cash requirements i.e. forecast of cash flows and outflows and thus shows the probable surplus of or deficiency of cash. In forecasting the cash flow, policies regarding other functions such as sales, production, marketing, personnel etc. are taken into consideration.
(iii) Forecasting as overall working capital position: Forecast of the overall working capital position is also an important tool of cash planning. Working capital analysis forecasts the value of current assets and current liabilities to know the cash position of the business.
(b) Tools of cash control: Proper cash control is possible only when there is a person responsible for planning and controlling the cash. Business exigencies and government policies should also be taken into account while planning the control of cash. Following tools are generally used to control the cash position.
(i) Cash budget report: Cash budget report is a prepared as a supplement to cash budget. It presents a comparison between actual and budgeted cash receipts and payments locating the points of deviations, if any. The management may find out the reasons for deviations and take necessary action to remove them.
(ii) Inflow and outflow of cash: In order to check the diminution in cash position, a cash flow statement is prepared. It helps controlling inflows and outflows of cash..
(iii) Ratio analysis: Various cash ratios are used to explain the efficiency or inefficiency of cash management. These ratios are current ratios, quick or acid test ratio, receivable turnover ratio, inventory turnover ratio and cash position ratio etc.
11. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of cash management.
Ans: The advantages of cash management are many few of them are discussed below:
(i) Helpful during recession: Cash management helps the firm to stand strongly at times of recession. It provides an inventory of the financial reserves which are available in the event of a recession.
(ii) Integrated planning and procedures: Cash is needed to conduct various activities of a concern, hence cash management is an integral part of planning and procedure.
(iii) Solvency of the firm : Cash is vital for maintaining solvency of the firm. This is possible only when the firm is able to pay its debts as when they fall due, both immediately and in the foreseeable future.
(iv) Life blood of business: Cash is like the blood stream in a living body, so it is very much the life blood of a business. It must be kept circulating round the arteries of a business because if the circulation gets clogged sickness and death may ensure as they do when a clot is formed in an artery.
(v) Survival of business: The first priority of any business is survival and this can be assured only when a firm has sufficient cash to manage its day to day transactions effectively and for this cash management is very necessary.
(vi) Optimum working capital: An efficient cash management through a relevant and timely cash budget may enable a concern to achieve optimum working capital and ease the strains of cash shortage facilitating temporary investment of cash and providing funds for normal growth and expansion.
(vii) More efficiency with less cash resources: With the help of effective system of cash management balance can be maintained between cash inflows and cash outflows which results in successful operation of business transactions with minimum cash balance.
(viii) Sound debt policy: Effective cash management helps in raising loans when the business is making progress at low rate of interest on the other hand the shareholders enjoy the policy of trading on equity. Disadvantages of cash management:
(i) Uncertain future: When a firm is unable to forecast its future activities and plans, cash management is useless rather it creates hinderance in the development and progress of the firm.
(ii) Other factors than recession: Cash budget is able to forecast future inflation or deflation but is unable to study the changes in customer's taste, technology, politics, which affect the future of a concern. (iii) Cost of holding cash : Cost of holding cash implies to the profit that could have been earned had the funds been put to another use.
(iv) Financial distress: Financial distress is a matter of degree while the declaration of the bankruptcy is an indication of this distress in an extreme form. It occurs when a concern's cash flow fall below expectation.
12. Discuss the factors determining the size of investment in receivables.
Ans: There are different factors which determine the size of investment in receivables. These factors can be classified as general and specific factors.
These are discussed below:
(i) General factors: These include those factors which affect every
type of business which generally are concerned with investment in assets.
These factors are nature and size of business, opinion of management, expected sales figure, quantity of business, changes in price level, etc. All these factors are not in the hands of the concern and their effect is long term.
(ii) Specific factors: These factors are those which can be controlled by the concern and they have a short-term effect on size of investment in receivables.
These factors include the following: (a) Terms of sales: The size of receivables is closely linked with a firm's terms of sales which include the period of credit, rate of discount, etc. If the concern does not sell goods on credit no receivables will come into account. But due to severe competition, market conditions, a firm is forced to offer credit terms which are at least generous as those offered by competitors.
(b) The volume of credit sales: It can be said that what percentage of total sales would be credit sales. There is a positive relationship between volume of credit sales and size of receivables. Increase in credit sales means large size of receivables and decrease is credit sales means small size of receivables.
(c) Stability of sales: If the business of the concern is seasonal in nature (example, woollen clothes, electric fans, ice cream etc.) then in a particular season there will be an increase in size of receivables.
(d) Credit policy of the firm: A firm with a liberal credit policy may keep a higher level of receivables as compared to a firm having rigid credit policy. Due to liberal credit policy of a firm can offer more facilities to its customers for purchasing goods which increases level of sales and size of receivables. On the other hand tight credit policy decreases level of sales and size of receivables.
13. Explain Risk-Return trade off.
Ans: Every type of investment comes with a certain level of risk, which can significantly vary between two options. For instance, equity stocks are known to have one of the highest levels of risks in the financial markets. But there is no denying that they also have the highest returns potential. If you have selected quality stocks, they can generate more than 10%-12% returns annually.
On the other hand, investment options such as bank FDs come with minimum risk. But, the annual returns are generally in the range of 6%- 7%. And this concept not just applies to the financial markets. Every type of investment, be it equity, mutual funds, bullion market, or even real estate, this relationship between risk and returns is prevalent everywhere. So, every investor must consider the risk-return trade-off at the time of selecting an investment so that the risk level is in line with the risk appetite.
14. How is the Risk-Return trade off calculated?
Ans: Generally, the risk and return trade-off are calculated with the help of a few metrics. For instance, in the case of mutual funds, investors determine the trade-off with the help of these metrics:
(i) Alpha: Alpha measures the risk-adjusted returns of a mutual fund scheme against its underlying benchmark. For instance, if a particular mutual fund follows Nifty 50, the risk-adjusted returns of the fund above or below the performance of the benchmark are considered alpha. For instance, a negative alpha of 1 means that the mutual fund underperformed in comparison to its benchmark by 1%. A positive alpha indicates that the fund outperformed its benchmark. Higher the alpha is, the higher is the returns potential of the mutual fund.
(ii) Beta: Beta measures the volatility of the fund in line with its underlying benchmark. Higher or positive beta means that the fund you have selected is more volatile as compared to its benchmark. Funds have lower or negative beta if their volatility is lower than the benchmark. Funds with lower betas are highly recommended to new investors as they are less volatile. But less volatility often leads to lower returns as compared to a fund with higher beta. But higher beta does not guarantee higher returns.
(iii) Sharpe Ratio: Sharpe Ratio is used for analysing the risk-adjusted returns potential of a mutual fund scheme. In other words, it measures the potential returns of a scheme against each unit of risk the scheme has undertaken. So, Sharpe Ratio of 1 means that the returns potential of a fund is higher than what is expected for an investment at a particular risk level. If the ratio is below 1, it signifies that the returns potential of the fund is lower than the quantum of risk carried by the fund.
(iv) Standard Deviation: Standard deviation measures the individual returns of an investment over time against its average return for the same period. So, a higher standard deviation of a mutual fund scheme means that the fund is volatile and carries a higher level of risk as compared to a fund a lower standard deviation. The standard deviation of a fund is compared against the standard deviation of funds from the same category to understand how volatile and risky a particular fund is.
15. What do you mean by short term sources of finance?
Ans: Short term financing means financing for a period of less than 1 year. The need for short-term finance arises to finance the current assets of a business like an inventory of raw material and finished goods, debtors, minimum cash and bank balance etc. Short-term financing is also named as working capital financing. Short term finances are available in the form of:
(i) Trade Credit
(ii) Short Term Loans like Working Capital Loans from Commercial Banks
(iv) Advances received from customers
(v) Creditors
(vi) Payables.
(vii) Factoring Services
(viii) Bill Discounting etc.
Fundamental of Financial Management : Unit-5 Working Capital Decision Notes | B.com 5th Sem | Gauhati University 5th sem Notes
16. Explain the main sources of short term financing?
Ans. The main sources of short-term finance are as follows:
(i) Trade Credit: Trade credit refers to the credit extended by the supplier of goods or services to his/her customer in the normal course of business. It occupies a very important position in short-term financing due to the competition. Almost all the traders and manufacturers are required to extend credit facility (a portion), without which there is no business. Trade credit is a spontaneous source of finance that arises in the normal business transactions without specific negotiation, (automatic source of finance).
(ii) Accruals: Accrued expenses are those expenses which the company owes to the other, but not yet due and not yet paid the amount Accruals represent a liability that a firm has to pay for the services or goods, it has received. It is spontaneous and interest-free source of financing. Salaries and wages, interest and taxes are the major constituents of accruals. Salaries and wages are usually paid on monthly and weekly base, respectively.
(iii) Deferred Income: Deferred income is income received in advance by the firm for supply of goods or services in future period. This income increases the firm's liquidity and constitutes an important source of short- term finance. These payments are not showed as revenue till the supply of goods or services, but showed in the balance sheet as income received in advance.
(iv) Commercial Papers (CPs): Commercial paper represents a short-term unsecured promissory note issued by firms that have a fairly high credit (standing) rating. It was first introduced in the USA and it is an important money market instrument. In India, Reserve Bank of India introduced CP on the recommendations of the Vaghul Working Group on Money Market. CP is a source of short-term finance to only large firms with sound financial position.
(v) Public Deposits: Public deposits or term deposits are in the nature of unsecured deposits, are solicited by the firms (both large and small) from general public primarily for the purpose of financing their working capital requirements.
(vi) Inter-Corporate Deposits (ICDs): A deposit made by one firm with another firm is known as Inter-Corporate Deposit (ICD). Generally, these deposits are made for a period up to six months. Such deposits may be of three types:
(a) Call Deposits: These deposits are those expected to be payable on call/on just one day notice. But, in actual practice, the lender has to wait for at least 2 or 3 days to get back the amount. Inter-corporate deposits generally have 12 per cent interest per annum.
(b) Three Months Deposits: These deposits are more popular among companies for investing the surplus funds. The borrower takes this type of deposits for meeting short-term cash inadequacy. The interest rate on these types of deposits is around 14 per cent per annum.
(c) Six months Deposits: Inter-corporate deposits are made for a maximum period of six months. These types of deposits are usually given to 'A' category borrowers only and they carry an interest rate of around 16 per cent per annum.
(vii) Commercial Banks: Commercial banks are the major source of working capital finance to industries and commerce. Granting loan to business is one of their primary functions. Getting bank loan is not.
17. Describe the objectives of Working Capital Management.
Ans: Following are the objectives of working capital management:
(i) By optimizing the investment in current assets and by reducing the level of current liabilities, the company can reduce the locking-up of funds in working capital thereby; it can improve the return on capital employed in the business.
(ii) Company should always be in a position to meet its current obligations which should properly be supported by the current assets available with the company. But maintaining excess funds in working capital means locking of funds without return..
(iii) The company should manage its current assets in such a way that Company should always be in a position to meet its current obligations which should properly be supported by the current assets available with the company. But maintaining excess funds in working capital means locking of funds without return the marginal returns on investment in these assets is not less than the cost of capital employed to finance current assets. (iv) The company should maintain proper balance between current assets and current liabilities to enable the firm to meet its day to day financial obligations.
Fundamental of Financial Management : Unit-5 Working Capital Decision Notes | B.com 5th Sem | Gauhati University 5th sem Notes
18. Explain the working capital management strategies.
Ans: Working Capital Management Strategies:
(i) Conservative Approach: It suggests not taking any risk in working capital management and carrying high levels of current assets in long- relation to sales. It requires maintaining a higher level of working capital and it should be financed by long-term funds like share capital or term debt. Sufficient stocks of finished goods are maintained to meet the market fluctuations. Large investment in current assets leads to higher interest and carrying cost and encouragement for inefficiency.
(ii) Aggressive Approach: Under this approach current assets are maintained just to meet the current liabilities without keeping any cushion for the variations in working capital needs. The core working capital is financed by long-term sources of capital, and seasonal variations are met through short-term borrowings. Adoption of this strategy will minimize the investment in net working capital and ultimately it lowers the cost of financing working capital. The main drawbacks of this strategy are that it necessitates frequent financing and also increases risk as the firm is vulnerable to sudden shocks.
(iii) Matching Approach: Under this approach, financing working capital requirements of a firm, each asset in thebalance sheet side would be offset with a financing instrument of the same approximate maturity. The basic objective of this method of financing is that the permanent component of current assets, and fixed assets would be met with long- term funds and short-term or seasonal variations in current asset would be financed with short-term debt.
(iv) Financing Strategy: Long-term funds = Fixed Assets + Total Permanent Current Assets Short-term funds = Total Temporary current assets.
Zero Working Capital Approach: This is one of the latest trends in working capital management. The idea is to have zero working capital i.e., at all times the current assets shall equal the current liabilities. Excess investment in current assets is avoided and firm meets its current liabilities out of the matching current assets.
19. Explain the Methods of estimating working capital requirement.
Ans: The following methods are used to calculate the amount of working capital requirement in a business:
(i) Percentage of Sales Method: This method of estimating working capital requirements is based on the assumption that the level of working capital for any firm is directly related to its sales value. If past experience indicates a relationship between the amount of sales and working capital, then this basis may be used to determine the requirements of working capital for future period.
Thus, if sales for the year 2007 amounted to Rs 30,00,000 and working capital required was Rs 6,00,000; the requirement of working capital for the year 2008 on an estimated sales of Rs 40,00,000 shall be Rs 8,00,000; i.e. 20% of Rs 40,00,000.
The individual items of current assets and current liabilities can also be estimated on the basis of the past experience as a percentage of sales. This method is simple to understand and easy to operate but it cannot be applied in all cases because the direct relationship between sales and working capital may not be established.
(ii) Regression Analysis Method (Average Relationship between Sales and Working Capital): This method of forecasting working capital requirements is based upon the statistical technique of estimating or predicting the unknown value of a dependent variable from the known value of an independent variable. It is the measure of the average relationship between two or more variables, i.e.; sales and working capital, in terms of the original units of the data.
(iii) Cash Forecasting Method: This method of estimating working capital requirements involves forecasting of cash receipts and disbursements during a future period of time. Cash forecast will include all possible sources from which cash will be received and the channels in which payments are to be made so that a consolidated cash position is determined. This method is similar to the preparation of a cash budget. The excess of receipts over payments represents surplus of cash and the excess of payments over receipts causes deficit of cash or the amount of working capital required.
Fundamental of Financial Management : Unit-5 Working Capital Decision Notes | B.com 5th Sem | Gauhati University 5th sem Notes
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Fundamentals of Financial Management Unit Wise Notes 😄
👉UNIT 5. working Capital Decision
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