UNIT V

LESSON 35:
CHAPTER 14:
WORKING CAPITAL MANAGEMENT
WORKING CAPITAL MANAGEMENT

Learning Objectives 4. Fixed deposits with banks (maturing within one year)
INTRODUCTION TO CORPORATE FINANCE

• To understand about various concepts of working capital 5. Receivables arising out of sales other than deferred
and its components, its significance, cash conversion cycle receivables (including bills purchased and discounted by
• To learn about working capital financing strategies and bankers)
integrated working capital policy 6. Inventories:
• To learn about major sources of working capital a. Raw materials
Introduction b. Work-in-process
Capital required for a business can be classified under two main c. Stores and spares
heads: d. Finished goods
i. Fixed Capital 7. Advance payment for tax
ii. Working Capital 8. Pre-paid expenses
Fixed capital / Long term funds is required to meet long term 9. Advances for purchase of raw materials, components and
obligations namely purchase of fixed assets such as plant & consumable stores
machinery, land, building, furniture etc. Any business requires
10.Deposits kept with public bodies for normal business
funds to meet short-term purposes such as purchase of raw
operation maturing within the normal operating cycle
materials, payment of wages and other day-to-day expenses.
These funds are called Working capital. In short, Working 11.Money receivable from contracted sale of fixed asset during
Capital is the funds required to meet day-to-day operations of a the next 12 months
business firm. And hence study of Working capital is consid- Constituents of Current Liabilities
ered to be very significant. An inefficient management of
1. Short term borrowings (including bills purchased and
working capital leads to not only loss of profits but also to the
discounted from banks and others)
closure of the business firm.
2. Unsecured loans maturing within one year
There are two concepts of Working capital namely,
3. Public deposits maturing within one year
1. Gross Working Capital (GWC)
4. Sundry creditors (trade) for raw materials and consumable
2. Net Working Capital
stores and spares
Generally working capital refers to the gross working capital and
5. Interest and other charges due for payment
represents funds invested in total current assets of the firm.
6. Advance/Progress payments from customers
GWC=CA
7. Deposits from dealers, selling agents etc.
where CA = Current Assets
8. Instalments on term loans, deferred payments credits,
Net Working Capital is often referred to as circulating capital and
debentures and long term deposits payable within one year
represents the excess of current assets over current liabilities.
Current liabilities are short-term obligations which are to be 9. Statutory liabilities:
paid in the ordinary course of the business within a short a. Provident fund dues
period of one accounting year. b. Provision for taxation
NWC=CA-CL c. Sales tax, excise
where Current Assets-Current Liabilities d. Statutory obligations towards workers
Net working capital is positive when current assets exceed 10.Miscellaneous current liabilities:
current liabilities. It is negative when current liabilities exceed a. Dividends
current assets.
b. Liabilities for expenses
Components of Working Capital c. Gratuity payable within one year
Constituents of Current Assets in the order of decreasing
liquidity d. Any other payment due within 12 months

1. Cash and bank balance Significance of Working Capital

Gradual increase in profit results in capital growth of the firm.
2. Investments (marketable securities)
Increasing sales volume results in increasing profits. Sales is
3. Government and other Trustee securities (other than for done on either cash or credit basis. Sale of goods will not be
long term purpose e.g. Sinking Fund, Gratuity Fund etc.) converted into cash immediately when sales is done on credit

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basis. Therefore additional capital is required to have uninter- The optimum level of current assets is denoted by the total

INTRODUCTION TO CORPORATE FINANCE

rupted business operations as the sales amount gets locked up costs (= carrying costs + shortage costs) minimized at that level.
in current assets like accounts receivable, inventory etc. The firm
needs extra funds for carrying out regular operation on day-to-
day basis till accounts receivables are converted into cash and
hence the need for working capital.
The Cash Conversion Cycle
The most liquid asset is cash in hand and cash at bank. The
time required to complete the following cycle of events in case
of a manufacturing firm is called the cash conversion cycle or the
operating cycle.
1 .Conversion of cash into raw materials Working capital financing strategies
2. Conversion of raw materials into work in process After determining the level of current assets, the firm must
3. Conversion of work in process into finished goods determine how these should be financed.
4. Conversion of finished goods into debtors and bills Investment in current assets can be broken into two parts
receivables through sales 1. Permanent current assets
5. Conversion of debtors and bills receivables into cash 2. Temporary current assets
Operating cycle in case of a trading firm consists of following A firm requires a certain amount of current assets to meet even
events the minimum level of sales where as temporary current assets
1. Cash into inventories reflects a variable component that moves in line with seasonal
2. Inventories into accounts receivable fluctuations.
3. Accounts receivable into cash Several strategies are available for financing capital requirements.
Service and financial firms has the operating cycle consisting of
1. Conversion of cash into debtors
2. Conversion of debtors into cash Capital Requirements A

Level of Current Assets B

The level of investment in current assets determines the C

working capital policy. A business firm can adapt any of the

following working capital policies:
Fixed asset requirement
1. Conservative working capital policy
2. Aggressive working capital policy
3. Moderate working capital policy
Under Conservative approach, the firm carries high investment Capital requirements and their financing
in current assets such as cash, marketable securities and carries The fixed proportion of working capital should be generally
large amount of inventories and grants generous terms of financed from the fixed capital sources while the temporary or
credit to customers resulting in a high level of debtors. The variable working capital requirements of a firm may be met
consequences of conservative working capital policy are quick from the short term sources of capital. Based on this idea, we
deliveries to customers and more sales due to generous credit have 3 strategies possible.
terms.
Strategy A
Under Aggressive working capital policy, investment in current Long term financing is used to meet fixed asset requirement as
assets is very low. The firm keeps less amount of cash and well as peak working capital requirement. When the working
marketable securities, manages with less inventories and tight capital requirement is less than its peak level, the surplus is
credit terms resulting in low level of debtors. The consequences invested in liquid assets(cash & marketable securities)
of aggressive working capital policy are frequent production
stoppages, delayed deliveries to customers and loss of sales. Strategy B
Long term financing is used to meet fixed asset requirements,
A trade off between two costs namely carrying cost and
permanent working capital requirement, and a portion of
shortage cost determines the optimal level of current assets.
fluctuating working capital requirement.
Costs that rise with current assets i.e. that cost of financing a
higher level of current assets form carrying costs. Shortage costs During seasonal upswings, short term financing is used.
are in the form of disruption in production schedule, loss of During seasonal downswings, surplus is invested in liquid
sales and loss of goodwill. assets.

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 Strategy C
INTRODUCTION TO CORPORATE FINANCE

Long term financing is used to meet fixed asset requirement

and permanent working capital requirement. Short term Conservative Moderate Conservative
financing is used to meet fluctuating working capital require- Working Capital Working Capital
ment. Current Asset Policy Policy
Financing policy
Integrated Working Capital Policy
Working capital requirement of a firm is determined by Aggressive Moderate
considering two questions in mind. Aggressive Working Capital Working Capital
Policy Policy
1. What should be the level of current assets in relation to
sales? Aggressive Conservative
2. What should be the ratio of long term and short term Current Asset Policy
financing?
Current Asset Policy Thus we arrive at the following :
Question 1 tell us what should be the level of current assets to Aggressive Working capital is a mix of Aggressive Current
be maintained by the firm and hence it gives rise to three types Asset policy and Aggressive Current Asset Financing Policy.
of current asset policy namely Firms with short operating cycle can adopt this policy generally.
a. Conservative approach : is carrying more amount of current Conservative Working capital is a mix of Conservative Current
assets in relation to sales which results in more carrying costs, Asset policy and Conservative Current Asset Financing Policy.
relaxed credit terms and period and hence less turnover. Firms having long operating cycle namely manufacturing
b. Moderate approach : is always maintaining required amount companies can adopt this policy to decouple production and
of current assets depending upon sales. distribution.
c. Aggressive Approach :is managing with less current assets in Moderate Working capital is a mix of Aggressive Current Asset
relation to sales and hence may result in more turnover, policy and Conservative
stringent credit terms and may lead to loss of customer Current Asset Financing Policy or a mix of Conservative
goodwill and low liquidity. Current Asset policy and Aggressive Current Asset Financing
Policy.
Sources for Financing Working Capital
Current Conservative Approach
Assets
Moderate Approach Sources of Working Capital

Aggressive Approach
(i) Permanent or Fixed (ii) Temporary or variable

1.Shares 1.Commercial banks

2.Debentures 2.Indigeneous bankers
Sales 3.Public deposits 3.Trade Creditors
4.Ploughing back of profits 4.Instalment Credit
Current Assets Policy graph 5.Loans from Financial Institutions 5.Advances
6.Accounts Receivable-
Credit/Factoring
Current financing policy
7.Accrued Expenses
Question 2 is about how the currents should be financed, 8.Commercial Paper
either long term or short term financing. Current assets being
financed using long term funds namely Equity shares, Deben- Sources of Permanent or Fixed or Long
tures results in more costs of capital and relatively less profits Term Working Capital
whereas short term financing namely short term loans from
banks and financial institutions, overdrafts, trade credit, 1. Shares and Debentures
commercial paper etc. results in more profits and relatively less A firm can issue various types of shares such as equity shares,
costs preference shares and deferred shares. According to Companies
Act 1956, a public company cannot issue deferred shares. Equity
A judicious mix of Current Asset policy and Current Asset
shares do not have any fixed commitment charge. Dividend to
Financing Policy gives rise to an integrate Working Capital policy.
equity shareholders is paid after fixed rate of interest to
debentures holders and dividend at fixed rate to preference
shareholders are met. Repayment of capital at the time of
winding up of the company is done in the same priority and
hence equity shareholders are eligible to residual income.

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2. Debentures 3.Instalment credit

INTRODUCTION TO CORPORATE FINANCE

A debenture is an instrument issued by the company acknowl- In this method, the assets are purchased and the possession of
edging its debt to its holder. It is a long term borrowing and goods is taken immediately but the payment is made in
the debenture holders are the creditors of the company. Interest instalments over a pre determined period of time. Normally,
on debentures is a charge against profit and loss account. interest is charged on the unpaid price or it may be adjusted in
Debentures may be of different kinds such as secured, unse- the price.
cured, redeemable, irredeemable, convertible and non
4.Advances
convertible. Interest on debentures is a tax deductible expense.
Generally firms manufacturing industrial products having long
3.Public Deposits production cycle prefer to take advances from their customers
Public deposits are the fixed deposits accepted by a business against their orders. It is the cheapest short term source of
enterprise directly from the public. Non-banking concerns finance , thus enables firms to minimize their investment in
cannot borrow by way of public deposits more than 25% of its working capital .
paid up capital and free reserves. 5.Factoring or Accounts Receivable Credit
4.Ploughing Back of Profits A commercial bank may provide finance by discounting the bills
It refers to the reinvestments by concern of its surplus earnings or invoices of its customers. Thus a firm gets immediate
in its business. And is an internal source of finance. It is the payment for sales made on credit.
cost free source of finance, gains confidence of the public and A factor is a financial institution which offers services relating to
there is no dilution of control. management and financing of debts arising out of credit sales.
But excessive resort to ploughing back of profits may lead to Factor render various services including maintenance of sales
monopolies, misuse of funds, over capitalization and specula- ledger, collection of accounts receivables, credit control and
tion etc. protection from bad debts, provision of finance and rendering
of advisory services to their clients. Factoring may be on a
5.Loans from Financial Institutions
recourse basis, where the risk of bad debts is borne by the client
Financial institutions such as Commercial banks, Life Insurance
or on a non-recourse basis, where the risk of credit is borne by
Corporation, Industrial Finance Corporation of India, State
the factor.
Financial Corporation(LIC), State Industrial Development
Corporation(SIDC), Industrial Development Bank of India Major disadvantages of factoring are:
(IDBI)etc. provide short term medium term and long term i. The high cost of factoring as compared to other sources of
loans. This source of finance is more suitable t meet the short term finance
medium term demands of working capital. Interest is charged ii. The perception of financial weakness about the firm availing
on such loans at a fixed rate and the amount of the loan is to factoring services
be repaid by way of instalments in a number of years.
iii. Adverse impact of tough stance taken by factor, against a
Sources of Short term Working Capital defaulting buyer, upon the borrower resulting into reduces
(Temporary or Variable) future sales
1.Indigenous Bankers 6.Accrued Expenses
Private money lenders were the major source of finance prior to
Accrued expenses are the expenses which have been incurred but
the establishment of commercial banks. They used to charge
not yet due and hence not yet paid also. It represents a liability
very high rates of interest. Even today some business houses
that a firm has to pay for the services already received by it. It
depend upon indigenous bankers for their working capital
includes wages and salaries, interest and taxes. It is a cost free
requirement.
source of financing.
2.Trade Credit Wages and salaries are usually paid on monthly, fortnightly or
Trade credit refers to the credit extended by the suppliers of weekly basis for the services already rendered by employees.
goods in the normal course of business. The credit worthiness
Income tax is paid periodically much after the profits have been
of a firm and the confidence of its suppliers are the main basis
earned. Interest is paid periodically while the funds are used
of securing trade credit.
continuously by the firm.
The main advantages of trade credit as a source of short term
The amount of accruals varies with the change in the level of
finance are
activity of a firm. When the activity level expands, accruals also
i. It is an easy and convenient method of finance increase and hence they provide a spontaneous source of
ii. It is flexible as the credit increases with the growth of the financing.
firm 7.Deferred Incomes
iii. It is informal and spontaneous source of finance Deferred incomes are incomes received in advance before
Major disadvantage of this method is charging of higher prices supplying goods or services. These funds increase the liquidity
by the suppliers and loss of cash discount. of a firm .Firms having good demand for its products and
services can demand deferred incomes.

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 8.Commercial Paper
INTRODUCTION TO CORPORATE FINANCE

Commercial Paper represents unsecured promissory notes

issued firms to raise short term funds. Only large companies
enjoying high credit rating and sound financial health can issue
commercial paper to raise short term funds.
RBI has laid a number of conditions to determine eligibility of
a company for the issue of a commercial paper. Only a company
which is listed on the stock exchange has a net worth of at least
Rs.10 crores and a maximum permissible bank finance of Rs.25
crores can issue commercial paper not exceeding 30 percent of
its working capital limit.
It is sold at a discount from its face value and redeemed at face
value on its maturity. Hence the cost of raising funds in this
way, is a function of the amount of discount and the period of
maturity and no interest rate is provided by the RBI for this
purpose.
Commercial papers are normally bought by investors including
banks, insurance companies, unit trusts and firms to invest
surplus funds for a short period.
A credit rating agency called CRISIL has been set up in India by
ICICI and UTI to rate commercial papers.
Commercial paper is a cheaper source of raising short term
finance as compared to bank credit. However, it can be used as a
source of finance only by large companies enjoying high credit
rating and sound financial health.
Main disadvantage is that it cannot be redeemed before the
maturity date even if the issuing firm has surplus funds to pay
back.
Points to Ponder
• A deposit made by one company with another,normally for a
period upto six months, is referred to as an inter- corporate
deposit. Three types of deposits are call deposits, 3-months
and 6-months deposits.
• The cost of trade credit depends on the terms of credit
offered by the supplier.
Review Questions
1. Define the concept of working capital. What are the
components of working capital?
2. What is the significance of working capital. Explain the cash
conversion cycle.
3. Explain working capital financing strategies.
4. What are the sources of financing working capital? Explain.

Note

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