ACCA FM Syllabus C. Working Capital Management - Cash Operating Cycle - Past Papers ^{1 / 2}

It is the middle of December 20X6 and Pangli Co is looking at working capital management for January 20X7.

Forecast financial information at the start of January 20X7 is as follows:

Pangli Co has a gross profit margin of 40%. Although Pangli Co offers 30 days credit, only 60% of customers pay in the month following purchase, while the remaining customers take an additional month of credit.

Inventory is expected to increase by $52,250 during January 20X7.

Pangli Co plans to pay 70% of trade payables in January 20X7 and defer paying the remaining 30% until the end of February 20X7. All suppliers of the company require payment within 30 days. Credit purchases from suppliers during  January 20X7 are expected to be $250,000.

Interest of $70,000 is due to be paid in January 20X7 on fixed rate bank debt. Operating cash outflows are expected to be $146,500 in January 20X7. Pangli Co has no cash and relies on its overdraft to finance daily operations. Thecompany has no plans to raise long-term finance during January 20X7.

Assume that each year has 360 days.

Required:
(a) (i) Calculate the cash operating cycle of Pangli Co at the start of January 20X7. (2 marks)

It is the middle of December 20X6 and Pangli Co is looking at working capital management for January 20X7.

Forecast financial information at the start of January 20X7 is as follows:

Pangli Co has a gross profit margin of 40%. Although Pangli Co offers 30 days credit, only 60% of customers pay in the month following purchase, while the remaining customers take an additional month of credit.

Inventory is expected to increase by $52,250 during January 20X7.

Pangli Co plans to pay 70% of trade payables in January 20X7 and defer paying the remaining 30% until the end of February 20X7. All suppliers of the company require payment within 30 days. Credit purchases from suppliers during  January 20X7 are expected to be $250,000.

Interest of $70,000 is due to be paid in January 20X7 on fixed rate bank debt. Operating cash outflows are expected to be $146,500 in January 20X7. Pangli Co has no cash and relies on its overdraft to finance daily operations. Thecompany has no plans to raise long-term finance during January 20X7.

Assume that each year has 360 days.

Required:
(a) (ii) Calculate the overdraft expected at the end of January 20X7. (4 marks)

What is the length of the working capital cycle?

A. 103 days
B. 131 days
C. 235 days
D. 31 days

What is the length of the working capital cycle?

A. 103 days
B. 131 days
C. 235 days
D. 31 days

The current assets and current liabilities of CSZ Co at the end of March 2014 are as follows:

For the year to end of March 2014, CSZ Co had domestic and foreign sales of $40 million, all on credit, while cost of sales was $26 million. Trade payables related to both domestic and foreign suppliers.

For the year to end of March 2015, CSZ Co has forecast that credit sales will remain at $40 million while cost of sales will fall to 60% of sales. The company expects current assets to consist of inventory and trade receivables, and current liabilities to consist of trade payables and the company’s overdraft.

CSZ Co also plans to achieve the following target working capital ratio values for the year to the end of March 2015:

Required:
(a) Calculate the working capital cycle (cash collection cycle) of CSZ Co at the end of March 2014 and discuss whether a working capitka cycle should be positive or negative. (6 marks)

TGA Co, a multinational company, has annual credit sales of $5·4 million and related cost 
of sales are $2·16 million. Approximately half of all credit sales are exports to a European country, which are invoiced in euros. Financial information relating to TGA Co is as follows:

TGA Co plans to change working capital policy in order to improve its profitability. This 
policy change will not affect the current levels of credit sales, cost of sales or net working capital. As a result of the policy change, the following working capital ratio values are expected:

Required:

For the change in working capital policy, calculate the change in the operating cycle, the effect on the current ratio and the finance cost saving. Comment on your findings.

(8 marks)

Calculate the dollar income from a forward market hedge and a money market hedge, and indicate which hedge would be financially preferred by TGA Co.

(4 marks)

Explain the meaning of the term ‘cash operating cycle’ and discuss the relationship between the cash operating cycle and the level of investment in working capital. Your answer should include a discussion of relevant working capital policy and the nature of business operations.

Extracts from the recent financial statements of 
Bold Co are given below.

A factor has offered to manage the trade receivables of Bold Co in a servicing and factor-financing agreement. The factor expects to reduce the average trade receivables period of Bold Co from its current level to 35 days; to reduce bad debts from 0·9% of turnover to 0·6% of turnover; and to save Bold Co $40,000 per year in administration costs.

The factor would also make an advance to Bold Co of 80% of the revised book value of trade receivables. The interest rate on the advance would be 2% higher than the 7% that Bold Co currently pays on its overdraft.

The factor would charge a fee of 0·75% of turnover on a with-recourse basis, or a fee of 1·25% of turnover on a non-recourse basis. Assume that there are 365 working days in each year and that all sales and supplies are on credit.

Required:

Calculate the cash operating cycle of Bold Co. (Ignore the factor’s offer in this part of the question).