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CASH - FLOW ANALYSIS MODEL

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Batrancea Ioan Moscviciov Andrei

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 CASH - FLOW ANALYSIS MODEL
Bătrâncea Ioan
“BabesBolyai” University, Cluj-Napoca, telephone no. 0744630140, email: [email protected]
Moscviciov Andrei
“Babes-Bolyai” University, telephone no: 0264418653, email: [email protected]
Ardelean Victor
“Babes-Bolyai” University, Cluj-Napoca, telephone no.0722286762, email: [email protected]
Borlea Sorin
“Babes-Bolyai” University, telephone no:0723303357, email :[email protected]

Abstract. In the paper the authors show a new method of computing and a system of indicators in order to
analyze the cash-flow statement of a company.
Key words: cash-flow, current assets, debts, current liabilities

1. Introduction
The cash flow statement is made by analyzing the effects of each transaction on cash. Because of the large
number of transactions made by a company and registered in accounting, even for a short period of time,
this procedure is seldom used. However, the statement of cash-flow is usually made by comparing the
values from the balance sheet for the beginning of the year and end of the year and analyzing the changes
in monetary assets account that occurred during that period.

2. Method and Results

The aim of the cash flow statement is of showing the nature of the cash changes occurring throughout the
year. A change in cash equals the net change in all the balance sheet accounts, others then cash. This can be
shown by transforming the basic accounting equation, as below:
Assets Liabilitie Net
Basic equation:
(N + AC + AI) – (DTS + DTL) = SN
From which the transformation: N = SN + DTS + DTL – AC – AI
So:
Cash flow statement will be:
N =
SN +
DTS +
DTL –
AC –
AI
where:
N = cash
AC = current assets other then cash
AI = non current assets
DTS = short term debts
DTL = long term debts
SN = net statement
The last equation demonstrates that a change in cash (the left part of the equation) equals the net change in
all the balance sheet accounts, others then cash (the left part of the equation). It can be noticed that, besides
the changes in current assets, others then cash and the changes in non current asstes, each component from
the right side of the equation is preceded by plus „+”. The sign minus „–„ associated to the changes in
assets, others then cash, show the fact that these changes are opposed as direction to the changes in cash.
(for example, an increase of investments in real estate notes generates a cash decrease). On the other hand,
the changes of all the other components from the right side of the equation (shareholders’ equity and debts)
have the same direction as cash changes.
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 2002 2003 2004 2005
Indicator Sume Sume Dif. Sume Dif. Sume Dif.
Cash and cash
6 582 479 3 600 671 -2 981 808 6 138 998 2 538 327 5 310 029 - 828 969
equivalents

Shareholders’
86 545 935 123 204 887 36 658 952 150 607 746 27 402 859 146 207 167 -4 400 579
equity

Short term debts 67 486 896 61 361 149 -6 125 747 105 624 076 44 262 927 129 975 666 24 351 590

Long term debts 29 730 177 28 603 328 -1 126 849 33 712 286 5 108 958 29 594 985 -4 117 301

Circulating assets
+ advance 46 989 157 62 864 017 15 874 860 103 130 449 40 266 432 120 732 335 17 601 886
payments

Non current
130 191 372 146 704 676 16 513 304 180 674 661 33 969 985 179 735 454 - 939 207
assets

Flows x x -2 981 808 x 2 538 327 x - 828 969

Table 1 - The Evolution of Cash –Flow at SC FELEAC SA

From the data presented in table 1, there results that negative cash flows in 2003 were due to certain
decreases in both short term and long term credits, while the increase of share capital was not able to
finance all the increases in non current assets and current assets, other then cash. As a result, between 2002
and 2003 there were recorded negative cash flows of 2,981,808 RON.
During 2003-2004, the financing sources of asset increase recorded a higher level then theirs, a fact that led
to the obtaining of positive cash flows of 2,538,327 RON.
During 2004-2005, the decrease of shareholders’ equity and long term financing was not able to
compensate for the increase of current assets, thus generating negative cash flows of 829,939 RON.
Besides the indicators presented above, in the analysis of cash flows there can also be used other
indicators:
1. Cash flows per share;
2. Cash flows from operational activities as percent from the total cash flows;
3. Cash flows from operational activities as percent from long term debts;
4. Cash flows from operational activities as percent from investment expenditures.
RON
No. Indicator 2003 2004 2005
Cash flow - 2 981 808 2 538 327 - 828 969
Number of shares 9 246 102 000 9 246 102 000 9 246 102 000
1 Cash flow per share -0.0003 0.0003 -0.0001
Operational cash flow 10 994 557 4 601 201 16 557 837
Total cash flow - 2 981 808 2 538 327 - 828 969
2 % Operational cash flow/total -368.72 181.27 -1997.40
Operational cash flow 10 994 557 4 601 201 16 557 837
Long term debts 29 730 177 28 603 328 33 712 286
3 % Operational cash flow /DTL 36.98 16.09 49.12
Operational cash flow 10 994 557 4 601 201 16 557 837
Investment expenditures 9 084 494 35 307 180 16 482 427
% Operational cash flow / Investment
4 expenditures 121.03 13.03 100.46
Table 2 - The Evolution of Indicators at SC FELEAC SA

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Cash flow per share
Since 1973, the Commission for Securities and Exchange from USA has forbidden companies the reporting
to the number of shares of cash flows. The committee believes that the investors accustomed to the data
supplied according to earning per share, could be mislead to considering the cash blows based on shares as
a measure of the companies welfare. Today, the position of FASB is the following: the reporting of cash
flows per shares will incorrectly indicate the fact that cash flows, or one of its components, equals or is
even higher then earnings as indicator of the performance or alternative of earnings per share.32
Limits of indicator "cash flow per share". The high concern of market analysts and investors with the
cash flow per share does not imply the fact that this replaces profit in measuring the performance of a
company. Both of them are important for financial analysis and their importance depend on certain
circumstances. As previously noticed, the cash flow generated by operational activities excludes, in the
case of the direct method, amortization and the transactions made but not cashed or paid. As a result, the
harmonization of expenditures and incomes made according to the traditional method (which uses as
starting point in earnings forecast) can not be found in the calculation of cash flows. Many companies
obtain, during certain time intervals, negative cash flows that are not necessarily important in the future.
High tech companies such as IBM or XEROX usually have, during the first years of activity, negative cash
flows (caused by the intensive research and development expenses) that are not relevant for the future cash
flows generated by operations.
In the case of SC FELEAC S.A., there can be noticed negative values of the indicator in 2003 and 2005
and positive values in 2004.

Cash flows from operational activities as percent from the total cash flows
When a significant part of the cash flow derives from other sources then operational activities (share
issuing, long term debts or non current assets sale), the liquidity of the company is doubtful. Thus, a low
percent of the cash flow resulting from operational activities usually signals a serious financial crisis. In
fact, in 2003 and 2004, SC FELEAC SA the recorded negative levels of the indicator were close to
triggering company’s bankruptcy.

Cash flows from operational activities as percent from long term debts
The cash flows from operational activities as percent from long term debts is usually called covering debts.
It is a key indicator of liquidity used in appreciating shares and long term bank loans and shows the
necessary time interval in which current cash from operational activities should cover long term debts. The
balance sheet of SC FELEAC SA shows on the 31st of December 2003 long term debts of 29.7 million
Ron, while the cash generated from operational activities was of 10.9 million RON. As a result, the
required period of time for covering the debt was 2 years and 7 months. In 2004, the required period of
time for covering the debts was 6 years and 2 months, and in 2005 the period of time for covering the debts
was 2 years.

Cash flows from operational activities as percent from investment expenditures

On long term, a company has to generate sufficient funds from operational activities in order to finance the
development and renewing activity and to satisfy shareholders. Even on short term, when development
expenses are beyond the funds generated by operational activities, the liquidity problem can be solved.
From the analysis made at SC FELEAC SA, we noticed that the development expenses of the company
were, in 2003 and 2005, 60.7 million RON, while the funds resulting from operational activities were 32
million RON (52.7% from capital). This means that the company had enough funds from financing
investments.

3. Conclusions
Cash flow statement is a report in order to help foreseeing the company’s capacity to sustain (or to
increase) the cash from current operations. For this purpose, the statement provides several objective
information ob:

32
The plan of exposing the statements proposed by FASB, „Cash Flow Statement”
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 − the capacity of a company to generate cash flows from the operational activities;
− tendencies in the components of cash flows and the investment and financing decisions
consequences over cash;
− Management’s decisions regarding the critical areas as well as the financial policy, dividend
policy and investments for obtaining the economic growth of the company.
Both cash flow statement and profit and loss account alone contain enough information in the process of
decision making. The data from the profit and loss account and from the balance sheet have to be combined
with cash flows in order to create a profound analysis of the company’s capacity of investing in assets
basing on reported profits and of paying the debts resulting from the engaged expenses and, thus, to help
the analyst in introducing other relevant evaluation measures.
The data contained in cash flow statement may be used for:
− Over viewing the individual elements of cash flows for the analytical significance of cash
movements;
− Examining the tendency of different cash flow components in time and their relation to
elements corresponding to the profit and loss account;
− Considering in time the relation between cash flow components;
Generally speaking, cash flows from operational activities should be positive and to increase over time,
since they provide resources for covering debts, for investing in assets and for remunerating shareholders.
Even if the profit and loss account and the balance sheet are imposed as parts of financial statements, cash
flow statement is not required in many countries.
Cash flow analysis represents, in our opinion, an important instrument for international comparisons, due
to the significant accounting differenced among countries. Cash flows are less susceptible then profit to
variations resulting from the differences in accounting methods. Nevertheless, the differences in
accounting methods influence the classification of cash flows. Thus, comparison on international scale
requires the adjustment of reported cash flows.

Bibliography
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Publishing, Cluj-Napoca, 2006
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4. Gheorghiu Al. - Financial Analysis, Economica Publishing, Bucharest, 2004
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Business One Irwin, 1992
6. Hackel, Kenneth S. and Joshua Livnat - Cash flow and Security Analysis, Burr Ridge III:
Business One Irwin, 2002
7. Helfert - Techniques of Financial Analysis: A Modern Approach, Ninth Edition, 2003
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Management Accounting. Boston: Harvard Business School Press, 1987

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