Concept explainers
Karen Johnson, CFO for Raucous Roasters (RR), a specialty coffee manufacturer, is rethinking her company’s working capital policy in light of a recent scare she faced when RR’s corporate banker, citing a nationwide credit crunch, balked at renewing RR’s line of credit. Had the line of credit not been renewed, RR would not have been able to make payroll, potentially forcing the company out of business. Although the line of credit was ultimately renewed, the scare has forced Johnson to examine carefully each component of RR’s working capital to make sure it is needed, with the goal of determining whether the line of credit can be eliminated entirely. In addition to (possibly) freeing RR from the need for a line of credit, Johnson is well aware that reducing working capital will improve
Historically, RR has done little to examine working capital, mainly because of poor communication among business functions. In the past, the production manager resisted Johnson’s efforts to question his holdings of raw materials, the marketing manager resisted questions about finished goods, the sales staff resisted questions about credit policy (which affects accounts receivable), and the treasurer did not want to talk about the cash and securities balances. However, with the recent credit scare, this resistance has become unacceptable and Johnson has undertaken a company-wide examination of cash, marketable securities, inventory, and accounts receivable levels.
Johnson also knows that decisions about working capital cannot be made in a vacuum. For example, if inventories could be lowered without adversely affecting operations, then less capital would be required, and free cash flow would increase. However, lower raw materials inventories might lead to production slowdowns and higher costs, and lower finished goods inventories might lead to stockouts and loss of sales. So, before inventories are changed, it will be necessary to study operating as well as financial effects. The situation is the same with regard to cash and receivables. Johnson has begun her investigation by collecting the ratios shown here. (The partial cash budget shown after the ratios is used later in this mini case.)
Johnson plans to use the preceding ratios as the starting point for discussions with RR’s operating team. Based on the data, does RR seem to be following a relaxed, moderate, or restricted current asset usage policy?
Trending nowThis is a popular solution!
Chapter 21 Solutions
Intermediate Financial Management (MindTap Course List)
- aren Johnson, CFO for Raucous Roasters (RR), a specialty coffee manufacturer, is rethinking her company’s working capital policy considering a recent scare she faced when RR’s corporate banker, citing a nationwide credit crunch, balked at renewing RR’s line of credit. Had the line of credit not been renewed, RR would not have been able to make payroll, potentially forcing the company out of business. Although the line of credit was ultimately renewed, the scare has forced Johnson to examine carefully each component of RR’s working capital to make sure it is needed, with the goal of determining whether the line of credit can be eliminated entirely. In addition to (possibly) freeing RR from the need for a line of credit, Johnson is well aware that reducing working capital can also add value to a company by improving its EVA (Economic Value Added). In her corporate finance course Johnson learned that EVA is calculated by taking net operating profit after taxes (NOPAT) and then subtracting…arrow_forwardOtis is the CEO of Bay Corp. The company has been struggling for the last few years and is in danger of defaulting on several of its bank loan covenants. Otis is facing significant pressure from the board of directors to turn the company around. Unless he meets all of the financial goals for the year, he will be out the door without a golden parachute. To improve the financial appearance of the company, Otis undertakes a scheme to boost the balance sheet by faking inventory. The analysis of what financial ratio would most likely bring this scheme to light? Inventory turnover Quick ratio Collection ratio Profit marginarrow_forwardDavid Lyons, CEO of Lyons Solar Technologies, is concerned about his firms level of debt financing. The company uses short-term debt to finance its temporary working capital needs, but it does not use any permanent (long-term) debt. Other solar technology companies have debt, and Mr. Lyons wonders why they use debt and what its effects are on stock prices. To gain some insights into the matter, he poses the following questions to you, his recently hired assistant: Now assume that Firms L and U are both subject to a 25% corporate tax rate. Using the data given in part b, repeat the analysis called for in parts b(1) and b(2) using assumptions from the MM model with taxes.arrow_forward
- .arrow_forwardVaughn Manufacturing is a growing company whose ability to raise capital has not been growing as quickly as its expanding assets and sales. Vaughn Manufacturing’s local banker has indicated that the company cannot increase its borrowing for the foreseeable future. Vaughn Manufacturing’s suppliers are demanding payment for goods acquired within 30 days of the invoice date, but Vaughn Manufacturing’s customers are slow in paying for their purchases (60–90 days). As a result, Vaughn Manufacturing has a cash flow problem.Vaughn Manufacturing needs $144,200 to cover next Friday’s payroll. Its balance of outstanding accounts receivable totals $838,100. To alleviate this cash crunch, the company sells $161,000 of its receivables.Record the entry that Vaughn Manufacturing would make. (Assume a 2% service charge.) (Credit account titles are automatically indented when amount is entered. Do not indent manually.) ACCOUNT TITLES AND EXPLANATION account title debit…arrow_forwardPenco Ltd’s board of directors are looking into expanding the company’s business operations. Before investing in a new product, the board conducted one focus group, and based on this one bit of feedback, invested $5m of company funds to develop the product. Within two years, the company had lost $8m due to poor sales. Shareholders are furious and wish to hold directors personally liable for this loss. Analyse the likely outcome for directors if shareholders were to accuse the board of breaching CA s 180.arrow_forward
- Reed Kohler is in his final year of employment as controller for Quality Sales Corporation: he hopes to retire next year. As a member of top management, Kohler participates in an attractive company bonus plan. The overall size of the bonus is a function of the firm's net income before bonus and income taxes - the larger the net income, the larger the bonus. Due to a slowdown in the economy due to Coronavirus, the company has encountered difficulty in managing its cash flow. The company auditors have recommended that the company change its inventory method from FIFO to LIFO . The change would cause a significant increase in the cost of goods sold for the year. Kohler thinks the company shouldn't switch to LIFO b/c its inventory quantities are too large. After expressing this opinion to the firm's treasurer, Kohler is stunned at the treasurer's reply "Reed, I can't believe that after all these years with the company, you put your personal interests ahead of the companies…arrow_forwardHansabenarrow_forward"We must get it," Erickson Santos, president of Industrial Fasteners, roared. "Without it, we're in big trouble." The "it" Mr. Santos referred to is the renewal of a $20 million loan with Manila First Bank. The big trouble he fears is the lack of funds necessary to repay the existing debt and few, if any, prospects for raising the funds elsewhere. Mr. Santos had just hung up the phone after a conversation with a bank vice-president in which it was made clear that this year's statement of cash flows must look better than last year's. Mr. Santos knows that improvements are not on course to happen. In fact, cash flow projections were dismal. Later that day, Timothy Dela Cruz, assistant controller, was summoned to Mr. Santos's office. "Dela Cruz," Santos barked, "I've looked at our accounts receivable. I think we can generate quite a bit of cash by selling or factoring most of those receivables. I know it will cost us more than if we collect them ourselves, but it sure will make our cash…arrow_forward
- Waterway Industries is a growing company whose ability to raise capital has not been growing as quickly as its expanding assets and sales. Waterway Industries's local banker has indicated that the company cannot increase its borrowing for the foreseeable future. Waterway Industries's suppliers are demanding payment for goods acquired within 30 days of the invoice date, but Waterway Industries's customers are slow in paying for their purchases (60-90 days). As a result, Waterway Industries has a cash flow problem. Waterway Industries needs $147,100 to cover next Friday's payroll. Its balance of outstanding accounts receivable totals $767,100. To alleviate this cash crunch, the company sells $164,200 of its receivables. Record the entry that Waterway Industries would make. (Assume a 2% service charge.) (Credit account titles are automatically indented when amount is entered. Do not indent manually.) Account Titles and Explanation Debit Creditarrow_forwardDavid Lyons, CEO of Lyons Solar Technologies, is concerned about his firm’s level of debt financing. The company uses short-term debt to finance its temporary working capital needs, but it does not use any permanent (long-term) debt. Other solar technology companies have debt, and Mr. Lyons wonders why they use debt and what its effects are on stock prices. To gain some insights into the matter, he poses the following questions to you, his recently hired assistant: Who were Modigliani and Miller (MM), and what assumptions are embedded in the MM and Miller models?arrow_forwardIdentify an example of a systematic risk faced by QANTAS Ltd. from the scenarios below. Select one: a. The CEO of QANTAS resigns unexpectedly. b. A lawsuit is taken out against the management for poor governance. c. The government decreases company tax for all registered corporations. d. The price of jet fuel dramatically accelerates.arrow_forward
- Intermediate Financial Management (MindTap Course...FinanceISBN:9781337395083Author:Eugene F. Brigham, Phillip R. DavesPublisher:Cengage Learning