Cash is the most liquid asset of all and is vital for existence of any business firm. Its efficient
management is crucial to the solvency of the business because as we all know cash is the focal
point of the funds flows in a business.
It can be understood in two senses, one is actual cash held by firm and deposits withdraw able on
demand, and in another sense it includes marketable securities, which can be convertible into cash
immediately. The goal of cash management is to reduce the amount of cash that is being used
within the firm so as to increase profitability, but without reducing business activities or exposing
the firm to undue risk in its financial obligations.
Cash flows in connection with credit serve to introduce the concept of FLOAT which is the time
lag or delay between the moment of disbursement of funds on the part of the customer and the
moment of receipt of funds on the part of the seller (i.e., mail time, processing time, and clearing
time with the banking system).
What factors must be considered when deciding on the appropriate amount of cash to hold?
Cash in checking accounts must be held so that bills are paid on time (transactions balance), for
emergencies such as strikes, weather disruptions, etc. (Precautionary balance), bank requirements
for loans or other services provided (Compensating balance), and for taking advantage of
bargains (speculative balance).
Motives for holding cash
1. The transaction motive: Firms are in existence to create products or provide services. The
providing of services and creating of products results in the need for cash inflows and outflows.
Firms hold cash in order to satisfy the cash inflow and cash outflow needs that they have.
2. The precautionary motive: Holding cash as a precaution serves as an emergency fund for a
firm. If expected cash inflows are not received as expected cash held on a precautionary basis
could be used to satisfy short-term obligations that the cash inflow may have been bench marked
for.
3. Compensating motive: Banks provide a variety of services to business firms, such as
clearance of cheque, supply of credit…etc., for which a minimum balance is required to be kept
with the bank, this balance is to compensate banks for services rendered.
4. The speculative motive: Economist Keynes described this reason for holding cash as
creating the ability for a firm to take advantage of special opportunities that if acted upon quickly
will favor the firm. An example of this would be purchasing extra inventory at a discount that is
greater than the carrying costs of holding the inventory.
Cash management is concerned with the managing of:
1. Cash flows into & out of the firm,
2. Cash flows within the firm
3. Cash balances held by the firm at a point of time by financing deficit or investing surplus
cash.
Factors that affect the cash needs:-
Cash Cycle:
Cash Outflow Cash Inflow
Cost of Cash Balance
Other Considerations
FORMS OF LIQUIDITY AND CHOICE OF LIQUIDITY MIX:
While a company's demand for cash has already been discussed above, it does not always keep
the entire amount in the form of cash balance in the current account for the simple reason that the
opportunity cost of idle cash is considerably high. That is why, companies try to maintain, besides
cash, other liquid assets which provide some return but at the with relatively low risk. Let us first
consider the forms of liquidity and then the choice of liquidity mix.
Forms of Liquidity
Cash Balance in the Current Account: This is the highest form of liquid asset a company can
conceive of, but the return provided by it is nil. However, companies maintain approximately four
to five per cent of their total assets, on the average, in this form despite no returns for reasons
already explained.
Keeping Reserve Drawing Power Under Cash Credit/ Overdraft Arrangement: This form of
liquidity appears to be quite attractive as it can have access to bank borrowing. However,
constraints imposed by to be. Close scrutiny of the quarterly budgets of the company by banks
and imposition of penal interest of two per cent over and above the normal rate of interest on
under- or over – utilization make this form more tedious and time consuming. However, a built-in
cushion may possibly be included while preparing the quarterly budgets and during some periods
the full amount may be drawn. The tax benefit on the interest makes effective after – tax – rate to
be much less costly, even if part of it is held in the form of idle cash. This not only helps as a
liquid source but also helps in obtaining equal or higher limits during the forthcoming year.
Marketable Securities: These are short – term securities of government such as treasury bills
and other gilt edged securities whose default risk is nil and, for that very reason, the return is low.
It is preferable to ensure the maturity structure of these short-term securities with the likely
periods of excessive cash drain on the part of the company. Then, the transaction costs can be
considerably minimized as early liquidation prior to maturity may result in low return from these
assets.
Investment in Inter-Corporate Deposits: A company can invest money with other companies
in the form of short – term deposits ranging from two or three months to five or six months at
remunerative rates. However, these deposits being unsecured in nature, are subject to
considerable risk, unless the companies accepting such deposits have excellent antecedents as to
their paying habits.
From among the different forms of liquidity available to a company a deliberate choice has to be
made in selecting an appropriate mix that suits the liquidity requirements of the company and
disposition of its management towards risk.
CHOICE OF LIQUIDITY MIX
The choice of selecting the portfolio of cash and near cash assets also known as the choice of
liquidity mix is governed by a variety of factors which are briefly explained below:
Uncertainty Surrounding Cash Flow Projections: It is generally said that the only certain
factor in the corporate environment is its uncertainty. Even if cash flow projections have been
made with the utmost care the general uncertainty can at times make the projections go awry.
However the degree of uncertainty is more in certain types of industries than in others. For
example general engineering industry is more recession prone than others. Consequently, the
onset of recession which was not anticipated may call for a thorough revision of cash flows and
policy changes in respect of products plans, dividend payments etc. Similarly tea plantations can
get adversely affected with an untimely hailstorm. Even within the same company which is stable
and growing certain types of cash flows, especially collections and payables tend to be more
uncertain than others. When the degree of uncertainty is high as evidenced by the sensitivity of
cash forecasts to adverse changes in some of the underlying assumptions, the company will do
well to have the liquidity mix tilted largely towards cash balance and in so far as possible reserve
drawing powe3r under the cash credit / overdraft arrangement and to a less extent gilt – edged
securities. On the other hand certain types of industries such as synthetic fabrics, electrical
appliances enjoy stable and growing demand. Once a company has established its image the
degree of uncertainty surrounding cash flow projections will be comparatively less. Consequently
the liquidity mix of such companies will be tilted more towards marketable securities and intercorporate
deposits.
Attitude of the Management towards Risk: When the management of the company attaches
greater importance to a given percentage increase in return than to the same percentage increase
in liquidity, the portfolio of liquidity mix chosen tends to have a higher proportion of cash
balance and marketable securities and cash balances.
When the attitude of the management towards risk is quite conservative the liquidity mix chosen
tends to have a higher proportion of cash balance and marketable securities and a lower
proportion of intercorporate deposits.
Ability to Raise Non – bank funds and / or Control its Cash Flows: When a company is
favourably placed in a position have ready access to non – bank funds it can afford to have less
proportion of cash and more of intercorporate deposits and marketable securities. This ind of a
situation arises mostly in the case of group companies. For example, when a manufacturing
company promoted by a group faces cash shortage, a
Finance and Investment Company promoted by the same group can come to its rescue by
providing funds. Such a company need not maintain a large portion of its liquid assets in the form
of cash. Similarly, companies, which can control its cash flows effectively, need not hold a large
proportion of idle cash in their liquidity mix. This kind of situation can arise in the cash of
companies that have horizontal or vertical integration. For example a manufacturing company,
which has got substantial interest and / or has promoted another company for the supply of raw
materials the company can exercise greater control on payables. On the other hand, companies
which do not enjoy ready access to non – bank sources of funds and / or not in a position to
control cash flows may have to have greater proportion of cash and reserve drawing power in
their liquidity mix.
Cash Planning
Cash planning is a technique to plan and control the use of cash. Cash Forecasting and Budgeting
– Cash budget is the most significant device to plan for and control cash receipts
and payments.
– Cash forecasts are needed to prepare cash budgets.
Short-term Cash Forecasts The important functions of short-term cash forecasts
To determine operating cash requirements
To anticipate short-term financing
To manage investment of surplus cash.
Short-term Forecasting Methods
» The receipt and disbursements method
» The adjusted net income method.
Receipt and Disbursements Method
The virtues of the receipt and payment methods are:
It gives a complete picture of all the items of expected cash flows.
It is a sound tool of managing daily cash operations.
This method, however, suffers from the following limitations:
Its reliability is reduced because of the uncertainty of cash forecasts. For
example, collections may be delayed, or unanticipated demands may cause large disbursements.
It fails to highlight the significant movements in the working capital
items.
Adjusted Net Income Method
The benefits of the adjusted net income method are:
It highlights the movements in the working capital items, and thus helps
to keep a control on a firm's working capital.
It helps in anticipating a firm's financial requirements.
The major limitation of this method is:
It fails to trace cash flows, and therefore, its utility in controlling daily
cash operations is limited.
Long-term Cash Forecasting
The major uses of the long-term cash forecasts are:
It indicates as company's future financial needs, especially for its
working capital requirements.
It helps to evaluate proposed capital projects. It pinpoints the cash
required to finance these projects as well as the cash to be generated by the company to support
them.
It helps to improve corporate planning. Long-term cash forecasts compel
each division to plan for future and to formulate projects carefully.
Managing Cash Collections and Disbursements
Accelerating Cash Collections
– Decentralised Collections
Controlling Disbursements
– Lock-box System
– Disbursement or Payment Float
Features of Instruments of Collection in India
How to accelerate cash collections?
Decentralized collections
Lock-box system
Prompt payment by Customers
Early conversion of payment into cash
Objective of Cash Management
i) Meeting the cash outflows
ii) Minimizing the Cash Balance
Instrument Pros Cons
1.Cheques No charge
Payable through clearing
Can be discounted after receipt
Low discounting charge
Requires customer limits which are interchangeable
with overdraft limits
Can bounce
Collection times can be long
Collection charge
2.Drafts Payable in local clearing
Chances of bouncing are less
Cost of collection
Buyers account debited on day one
3.Documentary bills Low discounting charge
Theoretically, goods are not released till
payments are made or the bill is accepted
Not payable through clearing.
High collection cost
Long delays
.
4.Trade bills No charge except stamp duty
Can be discounted.
Discipline of payment on due date.
Procedure is relatively cumbersome
Buyers are reluctant to accept the due date
discipline.
5.Letters of credit Good credit control as goods are released
on payment or acceptance of bill.
Seller forced to meet delivery schedule
because of expiry date.
Opening charges
Transit period interest
Negotiation charges
Need bank lines to open LC.
Stamp duty on usance bills
Ways to Improve Collection of Cash
A. Changing customer paying habits
1.Letters, telephone calls, or personal visits
2.Economic incentive for paying bills faster; offer discounts
B. Improve the Delivery system (reduce the negative float)
1.Regional banking (customers pay bills to banks since they can transfer funds more quickly than
mail order delivery).
2.Lockbox collection system (firm rents a post office box in a particular city and the bank
monitors the lockbox periodically).
3.Electronic communications (i.e., data-phone wire systems).
C. Bypass the problem (Factoring of receivables).
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