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Chapter 8Chapter 8Overview of Overview of

Working Capital Working Capital ManagementManagement

© Pearson Education Limited 2004Fundamentals of Financial Management, 12/e

Created by: Gregory A. Kuhlemeyer, Ph.D.Carroll College, Waukesha, WI

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After studying Chapter 8, After studying Chapter 8, you should be able to:you should be able to:

Explain how the definition of "working capital" differs between financial analysts and accountants.

Understand the two fundamental decision issues in working capital management -- and the trade-offs involved in making these decisions.

Discuss how to determine the optimal level of current assets. Describe the relationship between profitability, liquidity, and risk

in the management of working capital. Explain how to classify working capital according to its

“components” and according to “time” (i.e., either permanent or temporary).

Describe the hedging (maturity matching) approach to financing and the advantages/disadvantages of short- versus long-term financing.

Explain how the financial manager combines the current asset decision with the liability structure decision.

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Overview of Working Overview of Working Capital ManagementCapital Management

Working Capital Concepts Working Capital Issues Financing Current Assets:

Short-Term and Long-Term Mix Combining Liability Structure

and Current Asset Decisions

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Working Capital ConceptsWorking Capital Concepts

Net Working CapitalNet Working CapitalCurrent Assets - Current Liabilities.

Gross Working CapitalGross Working CapitalThe firm’s investment in current assets.

Working Capital ManagementWorking Capital ManagementThe administration of the firm’s current assets and

the financing needed to support current assets.

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Significance of Working Significance of Working Capital ManagementCapital Management

In a typical manufacturing firm, current assets exceed one-half of total assets.

Excessive levels can result in a substandard Return on Investment (ROI).

Current liabilities are the principal source of external financing for small firms.

Requires continuous, day-to-day managerial supervision.

Working capital management affects the company’s risk, return, and share price.

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Working Capital IssuesWorking Capital Issues

Assumptions 50,000 maximum

units of production Continuous

production Three different

policies for current asset levels are possible

Optimal Amount (Level) of Current Assets

0 25,000 50,000OUTPUT (units)

ASS

ET L

EVEL

($)

Current Assets

Policy CPolicy C

Policy APolicy A

Policy BPolicy B

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Impact on LiquidityImpact on Liquidity

Liquidity AnalysisPolicyPolicy LiquidityLiquidity AA HighHigh BB AverageAverage CC LowLowGreater current asset levels generate more

liquidity; all other factors held constant.


0 25,000 50,000OUTPUT (units)

ASS

ET L

EVEL

($)

Current Assets

Policy CPolicy C

Policy APolicy A

Policy BPolicy B

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Impact on Impact on Expected ProfitabilityExpected Profitability

Return on Investment Return on Investment =

Net ProfitNet ProfitTotal AssetsTotal Assets

Let Current Assets Current Assets = (Cash + Rec. + Inv.)

Return on Investment Return on Investment = Net ProfitNet Profit

Current Current + Fixed AssetsFixed Assets


0 25,000 50,000OUTPUT (units)

ASS

ET L

EVEL

($)

Current Assets

Policy CPolicy C

Policy APolicy A

Policy BPolicy B

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Impact on Impact on Expected ProfitabilityExpected Profitability

Profitability AnalysisPolicyPolicy ProfitabilityProfitability AA LowLow BB AverageAverage CC HighHighAs current asset levels decline, total assets will decline and the ROI will

rise.


0 25,000 50,000OUTPUT (units)

ASS

ET L

EVEL

($)

Current Assets

Policy CPolicy C

Policy APolicy A

Policy BPolicy B

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Impact on RiskImpact on Risk

Decreasing cash reduces the firm’s ability to meet its financial obligations. More risk!More risk!

Stricter credit policies reduce receivables and possibly lose sales and customers. More risk!More risk!

Lower inventory levels increase stockouts and lost sales. More risk!More risk!


0 25,000 50,000OUTPUT (units)

ASS

ET L

EVEL

($)

Current Assets

Policy CPolicy C

Policy APolicy A

Policy BPolicy B

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Impact on RiskImpact on Risk

Risk AnalysisPolicyPolicy RiskRisk AA LowLow BB AverageAverage CC HighHigh

Risk increases as the level of current assets

are reduced.


0 25,000 50,000OUTPUT (units)

ASS

ET L

EVEL

($)

Current Assets

Policy CPolicy C

Policy APolicy A

Policy BPolicy B

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Summary of the Optimal Summary of the Optimal Amount of Current AssetsAmount of Current Assets

SSUMMARYUMMARY O OFF O OPTIMALPTIMAL C CURRENTURRENT A ASSETSSET A ANALYSISNALYSIS

PolicyPolicy LiquidityLiquidity ProfitabilityProfitability RiskRisk AA High High Low Low Low Low BB AverageAverage Average Average Average Average CC Low Low High High High High

1. Profitability varies inversely with liquidity.

2. Profitability moves together with risk.(risk and return go hand in hand!)

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Classifications of Classifications of Working CapitalWorking Capital

TimeTime Permanent Temporary

ComponentsComponents Cash, marketable securities,

receivables, and inventory

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Permanent Permanent Working CapitalWorking CapitalThe amount of current assets required to The amount of current assets required to meet a firm’s long-term minimum needs.meet a firm’s long-term minimum needs.

Permanent current assetsPermanent current assets

TIME

DO

LLA

R A

MO

UN

T

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Temporary Temporary Working CapitalWorking CapitalThe amount of current assets that varies The amount of current assets that varies

with seasonal requirements.with seasonal requirements.

Permanent current assetsPermanent current assets

TIME

DO

LLA

R A

MO

UN

T Temporary current assetsTemporary current assets

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Financing Current Assets: Financing Current Assets: Short-Term and Long-Term MixShort-Term and Long-Term Mix

Spontaneous FinancingSpontaneous Financing:: Trade credit, and other payables and accruals, that arise spontaneously in the firm’s day-to-day operations.

Based on policies regarding payment for purchases, labor, taxes, and other expenses.

We are concerned with managing non-spontaneous financing of assets.

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Hedging (or Maturity Hedging (or Maturity Matching) ApproachMatching) Approach

A method of financing where each asset would be offset with a A method of financing where each asset would be offset with a financing instrument of the same approximate maturity.financing instrument of the same approximate maturity.

TIME

DO

LLA

R A

MO

UN

T

Long-term financingFixed assetsFixed assets

Current assets*Current assets*

Short-term financing**

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Hedging (or Maturity Hedging (or Maturity Matching) ApproachMatching) Approach

** Less amount financed spontaneously by payables and accruals.**** In addition to spontaneous financing (payables and accruals).

TIME

DO

LLA

R A

MO

UN

T


Current assets*Current assets*

Short-term financing**

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Financing Needs and Financing Needs and the Hedging Approachthe Hedging Approach

Fixed assets and the non-seasonal portion of current assets are financed with long-term debt and equity (long-term profitability of assets to cover the long-term financing costs of the firm).

Seasonal needs are financed with short-term loans (under normal operations sufficient cash flow is expected to cover the short-term financing cost).

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Self-Liquidating Nature Self-Liquidating Nature of Short-Term Loansof Short-Term Loans

Seasonal orders require the purchase of inventory beyond current levels.

Increased inventory is used to meet the increased demand for the final product.

Sales become receivables. Receivables are collected and become cash. The resulting cash funds can be used to pay

off the seasonal short-term loan and cover associated long-term financing costs.

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Risks vs. Costs Trade-Off Risks vs. Costs Trade-Off (Conservative Approach)(Conservative Approach)

Long-Term Financing BenefitsLong-Term Financing Benefits Less worry in refinancing short-term obligations Less uncertainty regarding future interest costs

Long-Term Financing RisksLong-Term Financing Risks Borrowing more than what is necessary Borrowing at a higher overall cost (usually)

ResultResult Manager accepts less expected profits in exchange

for taking less risk.

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Risks vs. Costs Trade-Off Risks vs. Costs Trade-Off (Conservative Approach)(Conservative Approach)

Firm can reduce risks associated with short-term borrowing by Firm can reduce risks associated with short-term borrowing by using a larger proportion of long-term financing.using a larger proportion of long-term financing.

TIME

DO

LLA

R A

MO

UN

T


Current assetsCurrent assets

Short-term financingShort-term financing

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Comparison with an Comparison with an Aggressive ApproachAggressive Approach

Short-Term Financing BenefitsShort-Term Financing Benefits Financing long-term needs with a lower interest

cost than short-term debt Borrowing only what is necessary

Short-Term Financing RisksShort-Term Financing Risks Refinancing short-term obligations in the future Uncertain future interest costs

ResultResult Manager accepts greater expected profits in

exchange for taking greater risk.

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Firm increases risks associated with short-term borrowing by Firm increases risks associated with short-term borrowing by using a larger proportion of short-term financing.using a larger proportion of short-term financing.

TIME

DO

LLA

R A

MO

UN

T


Current assetsCurrent assets

Short-term financing

Risks vs. Costs Trade-Off Risks vs. Costs Trade-Off (Aggressive Approach)(Aggressive Approach)

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Summary of Short- vs. Summary of Short- vs. Long-Term FinancingLong-Term Financing

Financing Maturity

AssetMaturity

SHORT-TERM LONG-TERM

LowRisk-Profitability

ModerateRisk-Profitability

ModerateRisk-Profitability

HighRisk-Profitability

SHORT-TERM(TemporaryTemporary)

LONG-TERM(PermanentPermanent)

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Combining Liability Structure Combining Liability Structure and Current Asset Decisionsand Current Asset Decisions

The level of current assets level of current assets and the method method of financing those assets of financing those assets are interdependentinterdependent.

A conservative policy conservative policy of “high” levels of current assets allows a more aggressiveaggressive method of financing current assets.

A conservativeconservative method of financing(all-equity) allows an aggressive policy aggressive policy of “low” levels of current assets.

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