Project Report On Working Capital Management in HCL
Project Report On Working Capital Management in HCL
Project Report On Working Capital Management in HCL
ON
BY
1
ACKOWLEDGEMENT
Achievement is finding out what you would be then doing, what you have to do.
The higher the summit, the harder is the climb. The goal was fixed and we
began with a determined resolved and put in ceaseless sustained hard work.
Greater challenge, greater was our effort to overcome it.
This project work, which is my first step in the field of professionalization, has
been successfully accomplished only because of my timely support of well-
wishers. I would like to pay my sincere regards and thanks to those, who
directed me at every step in my project work.
I would also like to thank the faculty members and the staff members of HCL
Infosystems Ltd. for their kind support and help during the project.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Acknowledgement
Abstract
1. Introduction
The problems
Purpose of study
Research methodology
Scope of the study
Data sources
Limitations
2. Hindustan Computers Limited
3. HCL Infosystems – An Overview
Company’s history
HCL at a glance
Alliances and partnerships
Management team
Corporate information
4. Conceptual Framework
Introduction to Working Capital Management
Significance of working capital management
Liquidity vs Profitability: Risk – Return trade off
Classification of working capital
Types of working capital needs
Financing of working capital
Factors determining working capital requirements
Working capital cycle
Sources of working capital
3
HCL financials
Working capital position
Inventory management
Cash management
Receivables management
Managing payables (Creditors)
Financing current assets
Working capital & short-term financing
5. Analysis
Industry analysis
Financial graphs
Concluding analysis
Suggestions and recommendations
Bibliography
6. Appendices
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ABSTRACT
This project tries to evaluate how the management of working capital is done in
HCL Infosystems through inventory ratios, working capital ratios, trends,
computation of cash, inventory and working capital, and short term financing.
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INTRODUCTION
6
INTRODUCTION:
Working capital refers to the cash a business requires for day-to-day operations
or, more specifically, for financing the conversion of raw materials into finished
goods, which the company sells for payment. Among the most important items
of working capital are levels of inventory, accounts receivable, and accounts
payable. Analysts look at these items for signs of a company's efficiency and
financial strength.
The working capital is an important yardstick to measure the company’s
operational and financial efficiency. Any company should have a right amount
of cash and lines of credit for its business needs at all times.
This project describes how the management of working capital takes place at
HCL Infosystems.
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THE PROBLEMS
In the management of working capital, the firm is faced with two keyproblems:
1. First, given the level of sales and the relevant cost considerations, what are the
optimal amounts of cash, accounts receivable and inventories that a firm should
choose to maintain?
2. Second, given these optimal amounts, what is the most economical way to
finance these working capital investments? To produce the best possible
results, firms should keep no unproductive assets and should finance with the
cheapest available sources of funds. Why? In general, it is quite advantageous
for the firm to invest in short term assets and to finance short-term liabilities.
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PURPOSE OF STUDY
The objectives of this project were mainly to study the inventory, cash and
receivable at HCL Infosystems Ltd., but there are some more and they are -
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RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Then comes the financing of working capital requirement, i.e. how the
working capital is financed, what are the various sources through which it
is done.
And, in the end, suggestions and recommendations on ways for better
management and control of working capital are provided.
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SCOPE OF THE STUDY
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DATA SOURCES:
The following sources have been sought for the prep of this report:
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LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY:
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HINDUSTAN COMPUTERS LIMITED:
Type Public
(BSE: 500179,BSE: 532281)
Founded 11th August 1976
Headquarters Noida, India
(Delhi metropolitan area), India
Key People Shiv Nadar, Founder, Chairman & CEO
Sanjay Kumar Choudhary , Vineet Nayar
Industry Information Technology Services
Website www.hcl.in
HCL was founded in 1976 by Shiv Nadar, Ajai Chowdhry and four of their
colleagues. HCL was focused on addressing the IT hardware market in India for
the first two decades of its existence with some sporadic activity in the global
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company was known as HCL HP for the five years of the joint venture. On
termination of the joint venture in 1996, HCL became an enterprise which
comprises HCL Technologies (to address the global IT services market) and
HCL Infosystems (to address the Indian and APAC IT hardware market). HCL
has since then operated as a holding company.
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Company’s history
HCL at a glance
Management team
Corporate information
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HCL Infosystems is no flash in the Information Technology pan. Founded in
1976, the firm has climbed into pantheon of India's corporate giants on the
strength of its IT products and services. HCL Infosystems specializes in IT
hardware (PC's and servers, as well as networking, imaging and
communications products), and system integration services serving the domestic
Indian market. In addition to its consumer products, the company provides
commercial IT products, facilities management, network services, and IT
security services for clients in such industries as government, financial services,
and education. HCL Corporation owns significant stakes in HCL Infosystems
(about 44%) and sister company HCL Technologies.
HISTORY
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HCL Infosystems Ltd is one of the pioneers in the Indian IT
market, with its origins in 1976. For over quarter of a century,
we have developed and implemented solutions for multiple
market segments, across a range of technologies in India. We
have been in the forefront in introducing new technologies and
solutions. The highlights of the HCL saga are summarized
below:
Y E AR H I G H L I G H T S
- Foundation of the Company laid
1976 - Introduces microcomputer-based programmable calculators with wide
acceptance in the scientific / education community
- Launch of the first microcomputer-based commercial computer with a ROM -
based Basic interpreter
1977 - Unavailability of programming skills with customers results in HCL
developing bespoke applications for their customers
- Formation of Far East Computers Ltd., a pioneer in the Singapore IT market,
1980 for SI (System Integration) solutions
- HCL launches an aggressive advertisement campaign with the theme ' even a
typist can operate' to make the usage of computers popular in the SME (Small &
Medium Enterprises) segment. This proposition involved menu-based
1983 applications for the first time, to increase ease of operations. The response to the
advertisement was phenomenal.
-HCL develops special program generators to speed up the development of
applications
- Zonal offices of banks and general insurance companies adopt
computerization
- Purchase specifications demand the availability of RDBMS products on the
1986 supplied solution (Unify, Oracle). HCL arranges for such products to be ported
to its platform.
- HCL assists customers to migrate from flat-file based systems to RDBMS
- HCL enters into a joint venture with Hewlett Packard
1991 - HP assists HCL to introduce new services: Systems Integration, IT consulting,
packaged support services ( basic line, team line )
- HCL acquires and executes the first offshore project from IBM Thailand
1994
- HCL sets up core group to define software development methodologies
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- Starts execution of Information System Planning projects
1995 - Execution projects for Germany and Australia
- Begins Help desk services
- Sets up the STP ( Software Technology Park ) at Chennai to execute software
1996 projects for international customers
- Becomes national integration partner for SAP
- Kolkata and Noida STPs set up
1997
- HCL buys back HP stake in HCL Hewlett Packard
1998 - Chennai and Coimbatore development facilities get ISO 9001 certification
- Acquires and sets up fully owned subsidiaries in USA and UK
1999 - Sets up fully owned subsidiary in Australia
- HCL ties up with Broadvision as an integration partner
- Sets up fully owned subsidiary in Australia
- Chennai and Coimbatore development facilities get SEI Level 4 certification
- Bags Award for Top PC Vendor In India
2000 - Becomes the 1st IT Company to be recommended for latest version of ISO
9001 : 2000
- Bags MAIT's Award for Business Excellence
- Rated as No. 1 IT Group in India
-Launched Pentium IV PCs at below Rs 40,000
2001
-IDC rated HCL Infosystems as No. 1 Desktop PC Company of 2001
-Declared as Top PC Vendor by Dataquest
-HCL Infosystems & Sun Microsystems enters into a Enterprise Distribution
2002 Agreement
- Realigns businesses, increasing focus on domestic IT, Communications &
Imaging products, solutions & related services
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- Crosses the landmark of $ 1 billion in revenue in just nine months
- Launch of HCL PC for India, a fully functional PC priced at Rs.9,990/-
- Rated as the No.1 Desktop PC company by IDC India -Dataquest
- 'Best Employer 2005' with five star ratings by IDC India -Dataquest.
- 'The Most Customer Responsive Company 2005'
-IT Hardware Category by The Economic Times -Avaya Global Connect.
-Top 50 fastest growing Technology Companies in India' & 'Top 500 fastest
Growing Technology Companies in Asia Pacific' by 'Deloitte & Touche'. by
'Deloitte & Touche'
2005 -'7th IETE -Corporate Award 2005' for performance excellence in the field of
Computers & Telecommunication Systems by IETE.
-India 's 'No.1 vendor' for sales of A3 size Toshiba Multi Functional Devices for
the year '04 -'05 by IDC.
-Toshiba 'Super Award 2005 towards business excellence in distribution of
Toshiba Multifunctional products,
-Strategic Partners in Excellence' Award by In focus Corporation for projectors.
-'Most valued Business Partner' Award for projectors by In focus Corporation in
2005
- 75, 000+ machines produced in a single month
- HCL Infosystems in partnership with Toshiba expands its retail presence in
India by unveiling 'shop Toshiba'
- HCL Infosystems & Nokia announce a long term distribution strategy
- HCL the leader in Desktops PCs unveils India's first segment specific range of
notebooks brand - 'HCL Laptops'
2006 - IDBI selects HCL as SI partner for 100 branches ICT infrastructure rollout
- HCL Infosystems showcases Computer Solutions for the Rural Markets in
(till India
June) - HCL Support wins the DQ Channels-2006 GOLD Award for Best After Sales
Service on a nationwide customer satisfaction survey conducted by IDC
- HCL Infosystems First in India to Launch the New Generation of High
Performance Server Platforms Powered by Intel Dual - Core Xeon 5000
Processor
- HCL Forms a Strategic Partnership with APPLE to provide Sales & Service
Support for iPods in India
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VISION STATEMENT:
MISSION STATEMENT:
CORE VALUES:
QUALITY POLICY:
"We shall deliver defect-free products, services and solutions to meet the
requirements of our external and internal customers, the first time, every time."
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OBJECTIVES:
MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVES –
To fuel initiative and foster activity by allowing individuals, freedom
of action and innovation in attaining defined objectives.
PEOPLE OBJECTIVES –
To help people in HCL Infosystems Ltd., share company’s
success, which they make possible; to provide job security
based on their performance; to
recognize their individual achievements; and help them gain a sense of
satisfaction and accomplishment from their work.
HCL Infosystems has alliances with global technology leaders like Intel, AMD,
Microsoft, Bull, Toshiba, Nokia, Sun Microsystems, Ericsson, nVIDIA,
SAP, Scansoft, SCO, EMC, Veritas, Citrix, CISCO, Oracle, Computer
Associates, RedHat, Infocus, Duplo, Samsung and Novell.
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These alliances on one hand give us access to best technology & products as
well as enhancing our understanding of the latest in technology. On the other
hand they enhance our product portfolio, and enable us to be one stop shop for
our customers.
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MANAGEMENT TEAM:
Ajai Chowdhry
Co-Founder HCL, Chairman and CEO - HCL Infosystems.
An engineer by training, Ajai Chowdhry is one of the six
co- founder members of HCL, India 's premier IT
conglomerate.
J V Ramamurthy
Chief Operating Officer HCL Infosystems Ltd.
J V Ramamurthy has an engineering degree in Electronics &
Communications, from Guindy Engineering College, and a
Masters' degree in Applied Electronics from the Madras Institute
of Technology, both in Chennai.
Rajendra Kumar
Executive Vice President - Frontline Division HCL Infosystems
Ltd. Mr. Rajendra Kumar has been with HCL for over 30 years and
has seen HCL grow from a startup company to a gigantic
conglomerate that it is today.
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CORPORATE INFORMATION:
Whole-time Director
J.V. Ramamurthy
Directors
S. Bhattacharya
D.S. Puri
R.P. Khosla
E.A. Kshirsagar
Anita Ramachandran
T.S. Purushothaman
Narasimhan Jegadeesh
V.N. Koura
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Sedarapet, Puducherry - 605 111.
♦ R.S. Nos: 107/5, 6 & 7, Main Road,
Sedarapet, Puducherry - 605 111.
♦ Plot No 78, South Phase,
Ambattur Industrial
Estate,Chennai - 600 058.
♦ Plot No SPL. A2, Thattanchavadi, Industrial
Area, Puducherry - 605 009.
♦ Plot Nos. 1, 2, 27 & 28, Sector 5, 11E,
Rudrapur, Distt. - Udham Singh Nagar,
Uttarakhand - 263 145.
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WORKING CAPITAL MANAGEMENT
CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK
ction
ance of working capital management Liquidity Vs profitability: Risk – Return trade off Classification o
f working capital needs Financing of working capital
determining working capital requirements Working capital cycle
s of working capital HCL financials
g capital position Inventory management Cash management Receivables management
ng payables (Creditors) Financing current assets
g capital & short-term financing
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INTRODUCTION TO WORKING CAPITAL
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Gross working capital:
It refers to firm's investment in current assets. Current assets are the assets,
which can be converted into cash with in a financial year. The gross working
capital points to the need of arranging funds to finance current assets.
It refers to the difference between current assets and current liabilities. Net
working capital can be positive or negative. A positive net working capital
will arise when current assets exceed current liabilities. And vice-versa for
negative net working capital. Net working capital is a qualitative concept. It
indicates the liquidity position of the firm and suggests the extent to which
working capital needs may be financed by permanent sources of funds. Net
working capital also covers the question of judicious mix of long-term and
short-term funds for financing current assets.
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Significance Of Working Capital
Management
For one thing, the current assets of a typical manufacturing firm account for
half of its total assets. For a distribution company, they account for even
more.
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LIQUIDITY VS PROFITABILITY: RISK - RETURN
TRADE OFF
Sound working capital involves two fundamental decisions for the firm.
They are the determination of:
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Maintaining a policy of short term financing for short term or temporary
assets needs (Box 1) and long- term financing for long term or
permanent assets needs (Box 3) would comprise a set of moderate risk –
profitability strategies. But what one gains by following alternative
strategies (like by box 2 or box 4) needs to weighed against what you
give up.
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CLASSIFICATION OF WORKING CAPITAL
33
Another important aspect of working capital management is to analyze
the total working capital needs of the firm in order to find out the
permanent and temporary working capital. Working capital is required
because of existence of operating cycle. The lengthier the operating
cycle, greater would be the need for working capital. The operating
cycle is a continuous process and therefore, the working capital is
needed constantly and regularly. However, the magnitude and quantum
of working capital required will not be same all the times, rather it will
fluctuate.
The need for current assets tends to shift over time. Some of these
changes reflect permanent changes in the firm as is the case when the
inventory and receivables increases as the firm grows and the sales
become higher and higher. Other changes are seasonal, as is the case
with increased inventory required for a particular festival season. Still
others are random reflecting the uncertainty associated with growth in
sales due to firm's specific or general economic factors.
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There is always a minimum level of working capital, which is
continuously required by a firm in order to maintain its activities. Every
firm must have a minimum of cash, stock and other current assets, this
minimum level of current assets, which must be maintained by any firm
all the times, is known as permanent working capital for that firm. This
amount of working capital is constantly and regularly required in the
same way as fixed assets are required. So, it may also be called fixed
working capital.
Any amount over and above the permanent level of working capital is
temporary, fluctuating or variable working capital. The position of the
required working capital is needed to meet fluctuations in demand
consequent upon changes in production and sales as a result of seasonal
changes.
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The permanent level is constant while the temporary working capital is
fluctuating increasing and decreasing in accordance with seasonal
demands as shown in the figure.
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FINANCING OF WORKING CAPITAL
37
FACTORS DETERMINING WORKING CAPITAL
REQUIREMENTS
38
Rate of Growth of Business.
The rate of growth of sales indicates a need for increase in the
working capital requirements of the firm. As the firm is projected
to increase their sales by 69% from what it was in 2009, it is
required to guard them against the increasing requirements of the
net current asset by way of efficient working capital management.
The sales and projected sales level determine the investment in
inventories and receivables.
The upper portion of the diagram above shows in a simplified form the
chain of events in a manufacturing firm. Each of the boxes in the
upper part of the diagram can be seen as a tank through which funds
flow.
These tanks, which are concerned with day-to-day activities, have funds
constantly flowing into and out of them.
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The chain starts with the firm buying raw materials on credit.
In due course this stock will be used in production, work will be
carried out on the stock, and it will become part of the firm’s
work- in-progress.
Work will continue on the WIP until it eventually emerges as the
finished product.
As production progresses, labor costs and overheads need have to
be met.
Of course at some stage trade creditors will need to be paid.
When the finished goods are sold on credit, debtors are
increased.
They will eventually pay, so that cash will be injected into the firm.
Each of the areas- Stock (raw materials, WIP, and finished goods), trade
debtors, cash (positive or negative) and trade creditors – can be viewed as
tanks into and from which funds flow.
Working capital is clearly not the only aspect of a business that affects
the amount of cash.
HCL Infosystems has the following sources available for the fulfillment
of its working capital requirements in order to carry on its operations
smoothly:
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Banks:
These include the following banks –
State Bank of India
Canara Bank
HDFC Bank Ltd.
ICICI Bank Ltd.
Societe Generale
Standard Chartered Bank
State Bank of Patiala
State Bank of Saurashtra
Commercial Papers:
Commercial Papers have become an important tool for
financing working capital requirements of a company.
Commercial Paper is an unsecured promissory note issued
by the company to raise short-term funds. The buyers of the
commercial paper include banks, insurance companies, unit
trusts, and companies with surplus funds to invest for a short
period with minimum risk.
HCL issues Commercial Papers and had 4000 commercial
papers in the year 2006.
HCL FINANCIALS:
42
WORKING CAPITAL POSITION :
43
CURRENT 100970 81533 54091 45042 55985
ASSETS
NET BLOCK 7970 5329 4925 4954 5552
TOTAL ASSETS 122479 99139 87076 71285 75205
CA/TA 82.44 82.24 62.12 63.18 74.43
The current asset percentage on total asset is the highest over the years.
This increasing percentage of current assets to the total assets at first
might indicate a preference for liquidity in place of profitability, but a
look into the nature of the business carried on by HCL Infosystems
reveal the reason behind it. How far their preference to current assets
has affected the sales is shown below.
The sales has increased and the profits risen despite the 16.12% increase
in working capital. But what is noteworthy here is that the firm has
managed to maintain the trend of an increase in net current assets.
Whether the change has worked for the company has to be analysed in
the context of the growth in sales as compared to the previous year.
There has been a 19.14% rise in the sales or revenue generated. This
would automatically suggest towards a very efficient working capital
44
management where the assets of the firm which are short-term in nature
have been utilized optimally in connection to their fixed assets. The firm
has gone towards such a dramatic shift in their working capital position
might be because of the tremendous growth witnessed in the domestic
IT market
The ratio of the net current asset to the fixed ones is an indicator as to the
liquidity position of the firm. This ratio has declined for the firm
compared to the previous year. There could be an argument as to whether
the increased ratio of working capital to net block is a conservative policy
and whether it would be detrimental to the interest of the company. Or,
whether it would have been proper if the company invested more into the
capital expenditure in the form of plant and machinery or invested in any
other form that would have got them an internal rate of return. What has
to be kept in mind before coming to a conclusion as to the policy of the
company, is the fact that the firm being primarily into assembling, its
investment in the fixed asset segment need not be high. A look into the
capacity utilization of the plant would reaffirm this point. It would be
ideal for the firm to continue in the same line and not have excessive
investment in the fixed asset as they can easily add onto this part.
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DATA GRAPHIC/DISPLAY MONITOR/TERMINALS/HUBS
That the fixed assets of the firm are being put to efficient use and the firm
is trying for optimum capacity utilization is something that can be easily
deduced. Whether the current assets or the working capital of the firm has
anything to do with it is for us to see. An increased production in normal
circumstances means better raw material to finished goods conversion
rate, i.e. the firm is taking less of time in the production process and this
happens when the current asset employed in relation with the fixed ones
are at optimum. The other notable feature here is that though the firm has
added on to its installed capacity in all three years, they were still able to
increase the capacity utilization. That they have been able to do it shows
that the more current assets, especially inventory used in relation to the
fixed assets, i.e., plant and machinery and their management has only
helped in increasing their utilization to the maximum.
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The 16.12% increase in Net Current assets despite of the fact that there
has been an increase in the Current Assets by 23.84% and increase in
Current Liability has been by 29.57% over that of the previous year has to
be attributed to the fact that in 2005, the company showed such a high
increase in CA, that it is still being offset. This is an indication as to the
expanding operations of the firm. HCL has increased its current assets in
order to meet the increasing sales. The firm’s level of liquidity being
high, we need a check on whether it affects the return on assets.
INVENTORY MANAGEMENT
Inventories
Inventories constitute the most important part of the current assets of
large majority of companies. On an average the inventories are
approximately 60% of the current assets in public limited companies in
India. Because of the large size of inventories maintained by the firms, a
considerable amount of funds is committed to them. It is therefore,
47
imperative to manage the inventories efficiently and effectively in order
to avoid unnecessary investment.
Nature of Inventories
48
Inventory Management Techniques
49
Carrying Costs: Costs are incurred for maintaining a given
level of inventory are called carrying costs. These include
the following activities:
Warehousing Cost
Handling
Administrative cost
Insurance
Deterioration and obsolescence
They are more into retail than earlier and at present more than 650
retail outlets branded with HCL sign ages and more are in the
pipeline
51
JIT: The relevance of JIT in HCL Info system can be questioned.
This is because they procure materials on the basis of projections
made at least two or three months before. Even at the time of
procurement they ensure that they procure much more than what
actually is required by the firm that is they hold significant amount
of inventory as safety stock. This is done to counter the threat
involved in default and accidental breakdowns. The levels of
safety stock usually vary according to the usage.
Work-in-progress
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Work in progress inventory 689.5 827.52 679.455
WIP Holding days 1.31 1.89 2.19
Finished Goods
The time taken for the firm to realize its finished goods as sales has
increased as compared to last year. This growth in sales could be traced
back to the growing domestic IT market for the commercial as consumer
segment in India. HCL has around 15% of the market in desktop and it is
the market leader in this segment. So it is only natural that they are able
to better their conversion rate of finished goods to sales.
Operating Cycle
53
Average collection period 70 63 66
Gross operating cycle 108 105 111
Average payment period 22 23 17
Operating cycle 86 82 94
The operating cycle of the firm reveals the days within which the
inventory procured gets converted to sales or revenue for the firm. This
time period is of importance to the firm as a lag here could significantly
affect the profitability, liquidity, credit terms, and the policies of the firm.
All the firms would like to reduce it to such extend that their cash inflows
are timely enough to meet their obligations and support the operations.
That the firm has been able to reduce the ratio is in itself an achievement
as they were having huge stocks of inventory. But the reduction in the
cycle could also be attributed to the boom in the market and the growth it
is expected to reach. This boom automatically ensures the demand for the
finished goods and thus helping in it to garner sales for the firm.
Raw Material
Consumption
A major chunk of the imports come from Korea and Taiwan and is
purchased in US$. The value of imported and indigenous raw material
consumed give a clear picture that if there is a change in the EXIM policy
of the government it is bound to affect the company adversely as more
than 70% of their consumption is from imports. But this is the scenario
witnessed in the industry as a whole and though HCL is into expanding
its operation to Uttaranchal it in the present state is would be affected by
a change in the import duty structure.
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A major chunk of their current assets are in the form of inventory and the
change in technology will invariably be a threat faced by the firm. The
question of technology applying here like says a certain device going say
out of fashion or outdated. For e.g. TFT monitors being in demand more
than CRT.
CASH MANAGEMENT
SOURCES OF CASH:
If you have insufficient working capital and try to increase sales, you
can easily over-stretch the financial resources of the business. This is
called overtrading.
In cash management the collect float taken for the cheques to be realized
into cash is irrelevant and non-interfering because banks such as Standard
Chartered, HDFC and CitiBank who give credit on the basis of these
cheques after charging a very small amount. These credits are given to
immediately and the maximum time taken might be just a day. The
amount they charge is very low and this might cover the threat of the
cheque sent in by two or three customers bouncing. Even otherwise the
time taken for the cheques to be processed is instantaneous. Their Cash
Management System is quite efficient.
56
Cash-Current Liability
The absolute liquid ratio is the best for three years and the cash balances
as to the current liability has improved for the firm. Firm has large
resources in cash and bank balances. While large resources in cash and
bank balances may seem to affect the revenue the firm could have earned
by investing it elsewhere as maintenance of current assets as cash and in
near cash assets and marketable securities may increase the liquidity
position but not the revenue or profit earning capacity of the firm.
Dividend Policy-Cash
57
58
The other notable feature in HCL statements has been the growing
dividend policy of the firm. The payment of dividend means a cash
outflow. Thus cash position is an important criterion at the time of paying
dividends. There is a theory that greater the cash position and ability to
pay dividends. The firm has adopted a policy of disbursing the revenue
earned as profits to the shareholders as dividends as could be seen from
the increasing % of dividends declared.
This could mean two things for the firm the amount of cash retained in
the business for capital expenditure purposes are minimal or nil. But
rather than investing more in plant and machine which they can at any
point in time by adding on a additional line if need they would like to
optimize their utilization in fixed assets at present. This also means that
the percentage of cash in hand maintained by the firm as a source of
liquidity could be reduced, i.e. the amount of idle cash in the business
could be made to a level which the firm feels optimum.
59
The firm feels that they should retain cash and it would be in the interest
of the firm as well as the shareholders. This would automatically mean as
decrease in Earning/share (EPS)(Basic EPS declined from 8 in 2005 to
6.74 in 2006). It would prompt more of investors being interested in the
shares of the company, which would boost the purchase of the securities
and increase the market price/share thus being beneficial for the firm.
Cash Flows
The firm has disposed of investments worth around 655 Crores to meet its
growing needs. The other notable feature is decline is the firm’s inflows
from operations primarily due to the reason that the cash generated from
the operations is the lowest in three years. And the firm’s growing
dividend policy has contributed to the outflows in financing activities.
The cash from the operation has been subject to considerable change due
to the changes that could be adjusted towards trade receivables and trade
payables. The outflows in inventory have become as low as 37% of what
it was last year despite an increase in the inventory consumption by
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16.64%. The resulting reduction in the cash outflows might be because of
the inventories being procured more on credit. That the cash from
operations has declined has affected the current liability index of the firm.
The investments have reduced from the last year due to the redemption of
investments taken place to meet various needs such as increasing demand
in stock or inventory and to ensure better credit and receivables policy.
We can see that the firm has in these three years increased their cash
inflow from the investing activities by way of disposal of investments
when in need. That is the firm has redeemed to realize cash as to meet its
expanding operations, fund the inventory procurement and meet the
obligations.
The investments in mutual funds are beneficial to the firm in the context
that they contain interest bearing securities which add up as a source of
revenue for the firm unlike cash which remains idle and unproductive
when not in use. This reduction of dividend could be attributed to
disposal of investments in mutual funds and subsidiary. This disposal
creates a fund, which can be used by the company as and when the need
arises.
61
because while a firm gets revenue in the form of interests by investments,
it actually has to pays certain amount money to the banks for maintaining
current accounts and fixed deposits usually have a longer maturity period.
That is, the problem with high investments is that the opportunity to earn
is lost, thus a firm has to maintain an optimal cash balance. But the
investment in mutual funds or other marketable securities might create a
problem of investment, as they might not be readily realizable as say
liquid cash or the amount deposited in the current account. The
investments in say fixed assets say may earn a fixed rate of interest but
they have a maturity period attached to them.
Instruments Used
Thus working capital is the lifeline for every business. The main
advantages of sufficient working capital are:
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RECEIVABLES MANAGEMENT
1.Have the right mental attitude to the control of credit and make sure
that it gets the priority it deserves.
2.Establish clear credit practices as a matter of company policy.
3.Make sure that these practices are clearly understood by staff,
suppliers and customers.
4.Be professional when accepting new accounts, and especially
largerones.
5.Check out each customer thoroughly before you offer credit. Use
credit agencies, bank references, industry sources etc.
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6.Establish credit limits for each customer and stick to them.
7.Continuously review these limits when you suspect tough times are
coming or if operating in a volatile sector.
8.Keep very close to your larger customers.
9.Invoice promptly and clearly.
12.Monitor your debtor balances and aging schedules, and don't let any
debts get too old.
Recognize that the longer someone owes you, the greater the chance you
will never get paid. If the average age of your debtors is getting longer,
or is already very long, you may need to look for the following possible
defects.
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Debtors due over 90 days (unless within agreed credit terms) should generally
demand immediate attention. Look for the warning signs of a future bad debt.
For example…..
1. Longer credit terms taken with approval, particularly for smaller orders.
2. Use of post-dated checks by debtors who normally settle within agreed
terms.
3. Evidence of customers switching to additional suppliers for the same
goods.
4. New customers who are reluctant to give credit references.
5. Receiving part payments from debtors.
The act of collecting money is one, which most people dislike for many
reasons and therefore put on the long finger because they convince themselves
that there is something more urgent or important that demand their attention
now. There is nothing more important than getting paid for your product or
service. A customer who does not pay is not a customer.
Make that call now. And keep asking until you get some satisfaction.
In difficult circumstances, take what you can now and agree terms for the
remainder, it lessens the problem.
When asking for your money, be hard on the issue – but soft on the person.
Don’t give the debtor any excuses for not paying.
Make that your objective is to get the money, not to score points or get
even.
A better turnover ratio implies for the firm, more efficiency in converting the
accounts receivable to cash. A firm with very high turnover ratio can take the
freedom of holding very little balances in cash, as their debtors are easily
realizable. In case of HCL, the collection period for the firm is 70 days.
COLLECTION POLICIES:
It refers to the collection procedures such as letters, phone calls and other follow
up mechanism to recover the amount due from the customers. It is obvious that
costs are incurred towards the collection efforts, but bad debts as well as average
collection period would decrease. Further, a strict collection policy of the firm is
expensive for the firm because of the high cost is required to be incurred by the
firm and it may also result in loss of goodwill. But at the same time it minimizes
the loss on account of bad debts. Therefore, a firm has to strike a balance
between the cost and benefits associated with collection policies.
Real Time Gross Settlement as such is a concept new in nature and though the
firm uses the system with all the members of the consortium, it is still in its
primal stage and will take time before all of the clients of the firm are willing to
accept it. The firm has made a proposal to the consortium of the banks during
appraisal for faster implementation of internet based banking facility by all the
banks and adoption of RTGS payment system through net.
The debtor’s turnover ratio is completely dependent upon the credit policy
followed by the firm. The credit policy followed by the firm should be such that
the threat of bad debts and the default rate involved should be terminated.
That the creditors turnover ratio has declined and payment period has increased
indicate that the company has got a leeway in making the payment to the
creditors by way of increased time.
There is an old adage in business that "if you can buy well then you can sell
well". Management of your creditors and suppliers is just as important as the
management of your debtors. It is important to look after your creditors- slow
payment by you may create ill feeling and can signal that your company is
inefficient (or in trouble!).
Remember that a good supplier is someone who will work with you to enhance the future viability
The firm has to decide about the sources of funds, which can be availed to
make investment in current assets.
Spontaneous financing:
Depending on the mix of short and long term financing, the company can
follow any of the following approaches.
Matching Approach
In this, the firm follows a financial plan, which matches the expected life of
assets with the expected life of source of funds raised to finance assets. When
the firm
follows this approach, long term financing will be used to finance fixed assets
and permanent current assets and short term financing to finance temporary or
variable current assets.
Conservative Approach
In this, the firm finances its permanent assets and also a part of temporary
current assets with long term financing. In the periods when the firm has no
need for temporary current assets, the long-term funds can be invested in
tradable securities to conserve liquidity. In this the firm has less risk of facing
the problem of shortage of funds.
Aggressive Approach
In this, the firm uses more short term financing than warranted by the
matching plan. Under an aggressive plan, the firm finances a part of its current
assets with short term financing.
Relatively more use of short term financing makes the firm more risky.
The financial manager should determine the optimum level of current assets so
that the wealth of shareholders is maximized. A firm needs fixed and current
assets to support a particular level of output
The level of current assets can be measured by relating current assets. Dividing
current assets by fixed assets gives CA/FA ratio. Assuming a constant level of
fixed assets, a higher CA/FA ratio indicates a conservative current assets policy and a lower CA/FA
ratio means an
aggressive current assets policy assuming other factors to be constant. A conservative policy i.e.
higher CA/FA ratio implies greater liquidity and lower risk; while an aggressive policy i.e. lower CA/FA
ratio indicates
higher risk and poor liquidity. The current assets policy of the most firms may fall
between these two extreme policies. The alternative current assets policies
may be shown with the help of the following figure.
31.30 in funds and 34.02 in non-fund limits. The ratio of both limits for the
year 2006 is 0.23:0.77
It is on the basis of the accounts receivable that the banks come to an agreement
with regards to the limits imposed. Though it is the fund based limits that
finance the working capital requirements, the non-fund based limits are
important for the management of the working capital as there might be clients
who are not willing to sell on open credit and might be demanding letters of
credit before any advances.
RENEWAL OF LIMITS
All banks sanction the limits for a period of one year. Thereafter it is to be
renewed every year. SBI appraises the limit on the basis of consortium. The
individual banks appraise for their own individual limit. The non fund based
limits of the firm in consortium financing has been subjected to change for the
past two years as per the requirements of the firm and the consent of the lead
bank to its proposal. It was around 385 Crores in 2005 and had been risen to
around 485 Crores in 2006.
A proposal has been made by the firm to further appraise the limits by 100
Crores to 585 Crores in view of the growing operations of the firm with full
interchangeability between letter of credit and bank guarantee limits for
operational flexibility. Allocation of the fund based and non based limits among
the banks based on operational convenience rather than allocating the fund
based and non fund based on the same ratio is also among the proposals made
by the firm.
The company needs to provide the following information to bank for appraisals:
All the members of the consortium are required to meet to discuss various
issues relating to the working facilities. As per RBI guidelines, the lead bank,
i.e., SBI should ensure that one consortium meeting is held every quarter snd
this meeting has to be arranged by HCL.
There are various documents that need to be signed at the time of renewal or
inducting any bank to the consortium. The various documents are as follows:
Loan agreement
Hypothecation agreement for movable machinery
Hypothecation agreement for movables and book debts
Counter Indemnity
The above are the standard agreements asked for by the banks. The common
seal has to be witnessed by the company secretary and one of the directors of
the company.
SBI appraises the limit on behalf of the consortium. It in consultation with the
company decided the allocation of the limit to various member banks. The
allocation of any member bank cannot be higher than the limit sanctioned by it.
The drawing power for it fund based limits out of the consortium are
determined on the basis of the stock statement submitted by the company. HCL
is required to submit the stock statement to all member banks in consortium for
every month.
Every quarterly and half quarterly intervals, the firm submits Financial Follow
Up Reports I and II. FFR I is an extract of the balance sheet. In this report, the
company is required to submit the details of sales, current assets and current
liabilities for the quarter and the estimates for the current year. FFR II – the
company is required to prepare P&L, B/S and Cash Flow in a different format.
The information is to be provided for the last year (actual), current year half
yearly results (actual) and the estimates for the next year.
Other than the investment in current assets, the firm also has to be concerned
with short-term to long-term debt as this plays a very important role in
determining the amount of risk undertaken by the firm. That is , the firm not
only has to be concerned about current assets but also the sources through
which they are financed. A firm before financing in either of the two, has to
take into consideration various aspects. While short term might seem the ideal
way to finance your assets than the long term due to shorter maturity period
and also less of costs are involved, there is an inherent risk in short term
financing
due to fluctuating interest rates and due to the reason that the firm might be
unable to reay the amount in a shorter span of time.
Under secured loan cash credit, along with non fund based facilities, foreign
currency term loan from banks are secured by way of hypothecation of stock-in-
trade, book debts as first charge and by way of second chanrge on all the
immovable and movable assets of the parent company. Term loan in Indian
rupees from a bank is subject to a prior charge in favour of company’s bankers
on book debts and stock in trade for working capital facilities.
Here HCL has a major portion of their financing done through short term
financing than long term financing. The preference of short term financing to
long term as such is not the part of any policy employed by the firm but it was
due to the reason that the interest rates in short term were more investor friendly
and the cost involved in them were also low. At present, we can see that the
firm is moving more towards long term financing as the interest terms in the
long term has reduced compared to the short term.
ANALYSIS
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Industry analysis
Financial graphs
Concluding analysis
Bibliography
INDUSTRY ANALYSIS
INDUSTRY STRUCTURE AND
DEVELOPMENTS
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FINANCIAL GRAPHS
During the year, the Company allotted 4.2 lakh shares under Employee
Stock Option Scheme realizing Rs. 4.4 crores.
CONCLUDING ANAYSIS
The working capital position of the company is sound and the various
sources through which it is funded are optimal.
The company has used its dividend policy, purchasing, financing and
investment decisions to good effect can be seen from the inferences made
earlier in the project.
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The debts doubtful have been doubled over the years but their percentage
on the debts has almost become half. This implies a sales and collection
policy that get along with the receivables management of the firm.
The returns have been affected by a marked growth in working capital
and though a 29.75% in 2006 return on investment is good, but it got
reduced as compared to 39.01% return in 2005.
The various ratios calculated are an indicator as to the fact that the
profitability of the firm and sales are on a rise and also the deletion of the
inefficiencies in the working capital management.
The firm has not compromised on profitability despite the high liquidity
is commendable.
HCL Infosystems has reached a position where the default costs are as
low as negligible and where they can readily factor their accounts
receivables for availing finance is noteworthy.
HCL Infosystems is managing its working capital in a good manner, but still
there is some scope for improvement in its management. This can help the
company in raising its profit level by making less investment in accounts
receivables and stocks etc. This will ultimately improve the efficiency of its
operations. Following are few recommendations given to the company in
achieving its desired objectives:
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Following sources have been sought for the preparation of this report:
Corporate Intranet
Financial Statements (Annual Reports)
Direct interaction with the employees of the
company Internet ----www.hclinfosystems.in
Textbooks on financial management -
I.M.Pandey
Khan and Jain
Prasanna Chandra
APPENDICES
Assets
TOTAL CASH AND SHORT TERM INVESTMENTS 1,567.1 4,086.3 5,286.9 4,916.4
Year over year, HCL Infosystems Ltd. has seen revenues remain relatively flat
(113.7B to 116.9B), though the company was able to grow net income from
2.8B to 3.2B. A reduction in the percentage of sales devoted to cost of goods
sold from 93.21% to 92.53% was a key component in the bottom line growth in
the face of flat revenues.
Selling General & Admin Expenses, Total 2,268.8 3,305.9 3,764.3 4,527.1
223.8