The primary objective of any corporation should be shareholder wealth maximisation. A firm's working capital policies have an effect on the firm's expected future returns and the risk associated with the returns, which ultimately have an impact on shareholder wealth. Efficient working capital management is a fundamental portion of the overall corporate strategy to create shareholder value. In this study the relationship of corporate profitability and working capital management was investigated. This relationship is examined using regression analysis. A sample of 118 firms listed on the Johannesburg Securities Exchange (JSE) for the period 2003 to 2007 was used. The purpose of this study is to establish whether a relationship exists between working capital management efficiency and profitability, considering the cash conversion cycle and operating profitability of the firm. The results of the regression analysis indicated that a statistical significance exists for three of the five years (2003 - 2005) analysed between profitability, measured with the gross operating profit, and the cash conversion cycle. It is observed (2003-2005 regression results) that a lower gross operating profit is associated with an increase in number of days accounts payable. The negative relationship between accounts receivable and firms' profitability (for 2003-2005) suggests that less profitable firms will pursue a decrease of accounts receivables in the attempt to reduce cash gap in the respective cash conversion cycles. The negative relationship between the number of days inventory and corporate profitability (for 2003-2005) suggests that a sudden decrease in sales accompanied by mismanagement of inventory, will lead to tying up excess capital at the expense of profitable operations. Managers or owners of firms can improve profits for firms by handling correctly the cash conversion cycle and keeping each individual component (accounts receivable, accounts payable and inventory) to an optimum level. These results (for 2003-2005) suggest that managers can create value for shareholders by reducing the cash conversion cycle and its individual components. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

Sammanfattning Inom de flesta företag finns möjligheter att påverka rörelsekapitalet genom Working Capital Management. Detta kan även förkortas WCM, vilket enligt Deloof (2003) kan definieras som arbetet med att styra företagets rörelsekapital. De flesta företag har dessutom avsevärda summor uppbundna i rörelsekapitalet, vilket medför att WCM har en betydande roll på företagets lönsamhet. I strävan efter att nå ett optimalt rörelsekapital finns det dock risk att företagen drabbas av negativa effekter. Syfte: Denna studie syftar till att undersöka effekterna av WCM och hur dessa effekter påverkas utifrån hanteringen av WCM. Metod: Studien består av en kvantitativ enkätundersökning riktad till svenska tillverkande företag. Analys: Att frigöra kapital beskrivs som det främsta motivet för att genomföra WCM. Det framgår också att initiativ till beslut om en minskning av rörelsekapitalet är centraliserade och det är sällsynt att initiativ startar i den operativa verksamheten. Det sker däremot en nära samverkan i processen av en minskning av rörelsekapitalet mellan de som initierar WCM och den operativa verksamheten. Studien visar att de flesta företag inte upplever några negativa effekter av WCM. De negativa effekter som uppmärksammas inträffar främst i produktionen och gentemot kunder. Slutsats: Svenska tillverkande företag anser att WCM är en högt prioriterad fråga. De beslut som fattas inom WCM medför att ju längre bort från verksamheten besluten tas desto fler negativa effekter medför detta. I arbetet med WCM förekommer en hög grad av samverkan. Det har även framkommit att ökad samverkan mellan ledning och den operativa verksamheten minskar negativa effekter i samband med WCM. Nyckelord: WCM, Working Capital Management, rörelsekapital, rörelsekapitalbindning, samverkan, beslut, negativa effekter / Abstract Most companies are able to influence the working capital through use of Working Capital Management (WCM). According to Deloof (2003), WCM can be defined as the process of controlling a company’s working capital. Since many companies have substantial sums tied up in the working capital, WCM can have a significant role in the company’s profitability. In the pursuit of finding an optimal working capital, there is a risk that companies will experience negative effects.  Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of WCM and how these effects are influenced by how the WCM is managed within the company. Methodology: The study consists of a quantitative survey directed to Swedish manufacturing companies. Analysis: Releasing capital is put forward as the main motive for WCM. It also appears that the initiative for decisions regarding reduction of working capital tend to be centralized, since these initiatives rarely start in the business operations. There is however a close interaction in the process of a reduction in working capital between those who initiate WCM and the operations. The majority of companies within this study do not experience any negative effects of WCM, but when it occurs it is mainly within the production processes or in customer relations. Conclusion: Swedish manufacturing companies believe that WCM is of high priority. This study indicates that negative effects will occur increasingly if decision-making is centralized. Working with WCM requires a high degree of collaboration as the results of this study also points out that through increased interaction between management and operations, negative effects associated with WCM can be reduced. Keywords: WCM, Working Capital Management, working capital, collaboration, decisions and negative effects

Managing cash flow and cash conversion cycle is a crucial component of the overall financial management within businesses, particularly small businesses. A business is required to maintain a balance between its liquidity and profitability while conducting its day-to-day operations. Monitoring of cash as an indicator of financial health is important in the view of its crucial role within businesses. This requires a business to run an effective working capital management efficiently and profitably. Hence, efficient working capital management includes decisions on how much to invest in customers, inventory and accounts receivable, and the extent of credit to accept from suppliers. The purpose of the study was to examine the effect of working capital management on the profitability of small retail business with the Emfuleni Local Municipality. Three variables were used as a measure of working capital management, namely the number of days inventory on hand, number of days accounts payable, number of days account receivable. The return on assets was used to measure profitability. The study adopted the quantitative research approach using a structured questionnaire. A non-probability purposive sampling method was followed, where a total of 222 questionnaires were analysed. Spearman’s correlation analysis was conducted to examine the linear relationship between working capital management and the rate of return on assets. The results indicated that the period it takes the business to collect money from its customers impacts on the period it takes to pay the suppliers. A weak correlation was also reported between the number of days accounts are payable and the cash conversion cycle. Strong correlations also exist between day’s accounts receivable and the cash conversion cycle and days inventory on hand with the cash conversion cycle. Regression analysis results show that days account receivables have made the largest impact on return on assets. Small businesses may have to decrease the cash conversion cycle in order to help maintain value within the business. The number of days for accounts receivable should be reduced to a reasonable period (shorter than the creditor’s payment period). Small businesses may consider shortening the number of days inventory is held within the business, as this also will decrease the cost of obsolete stock.

Denna kvalitativa studie syftar till att få en djupare förståelse för hur små- till medelstora företag inom fordonsindustrin arbetar med Working Capital Management och hur användbara teorier kopplade till rörelsekapital är inom praktiken. Working Capital Management, som på svenska innebär styrning av rörelsekapitalet, syftar till att hitta en effektiv balans mellan rörelsekapitalets olika delar. Datainsamling till studien har skett via primära och sekundära källor, där de primära källorna är intervjuer och de sekundära tidigare empiriska studier samt tryckta källor. Fyra bolag som uppfyllt studiens krav har valts ut där två utav respondenterna var VD för respektive bolag och de andra två ekonomichefer. Intervjufrågorna baserades på den teoretiska referensramen där den empiriska datan sedan sammanställdes. Utifrån den teoretiska referensramen och den empiriska datan analyserades huruvida teorierna stämde överens med samtliga bolag. Slutsatsen av den här studien är att bolagen påverkas mycket av de större aktörerna inom fordonsindustrin vilket styr deras arbete med Working Capital Management. Däremot påverkas de olika mycket beroende på vilka kredittider bolagen har. Bolagen styrs också mycket av andra externa faktorer, där ett dotterbolag är mer styrt från övriga koncernen än vad ett moderbolag är. Slutligen kan arbetet med Working Capital Management ses som en påverkande faktor i bolagens val av finansiering, där bolagens tankesätt ligger mest i enlighet med POT.

<p>This study examines the impact of working capital management on cash holdings of small and medium-sized manufacturing enterprises in Sweden. The aim of this work is to theoretically derive significant factors related to working capital management which have an influence on the cash level of SMEs and test these in a large sample of Swedish manufacturing SMEs. The theoretical framework for this study consists of a treatise of motives for holding cash, working capital management and cash level. From these theoretical findings, two hypotheses are deduced:</p><p>• H1: Cash holdings are negatively related to the presence of cash substitutes</p><p>• H2: Cash holdings are positively related to working capital management efficiency</p><p>The quantitative investigation consists of the statistical analysis – namely comparison of means and correlation analysis – of key figures which are calculated from the financial statements of a large sample of firms. The dataset contains 13,287 Swedish manufacturing SMEs of the legal form ‘Aktiebolag’. Both hypotheses are confirmed by the results. Empirical evidence is presented which substantiates the supposition that the presence of cash substitutes – namely inventory and accounts receivable – entails lower cash holdings. Furthermore, it is confirmed that working capital management efficiency – measured by the cash conversion cycle – is positively related to cash level. The discussion of the empirical findings pays regard to the different subordinate components of both cash substitutes and working capital management efficiency. Implications of the detected findings are highlighted with respect to their potential utility for the achievement and maintenance of a firm’s target cash level.</p>

This study examines the impact of working capital management on cash holdings of small and medium-sized manufacturing enterprises in Sweden. The aim of this work is to theoretically derive significant factors related to working capital management which have an influence on the cash level of SMEs and test these in a large sample of Swedish manufacturing SMEs. The theoretical framework for this study consists of a treatise of motives for holding cash, working capital management and cash level. From these theoretical findings, two hypotheses are deduced: • H1: Cash holdings are negatively related to the presence of cash substitutes • H2: Cash holdings are positively related to working capital management efficiency The quantitative investigation consists of the statistical analysis – namely comparison of means and correlation analysis – of key figures which are calculated from the financial statements of a large sample of firms. The dataset contains 13,287 Swedish manufacturing SMEs of the legal form ‘Aktiebolag’. Both hypotheses are confirmed by the results. Empirical evidence is presented which substantiates the supposition that the presence of cash substitutes – namely inventory and accounts receivable – entails lower cash holdings. Furthermore, it is confirmed that working capital management efficiency – measured by the cash conversion cycle – is positively related to cash level. The discussion of the empirical findings pays regard to the different subordinate components of both cash substitutes and working capital management efficiency. Implications of the detected findings are highlighted with respect to their potential utility for the achievement and maintenance of a firm’s target cash level.

Two cases from public health care levels were compared on practises used to manage working capital with two cases from the same levels of health care in private health sector. The objective was to establish whether the practises in public health sector comply with the efficient management of working capital principles and whether it was practically feasible to apply the methods in health care provision. Primary and secondary data was collected. Staffs at an operational and administrative level were interviewed at both the primary and the Secondary health care. It was found that principles of working capital practiced in private sector are mostly consistent with working capital theories and could actually be implemented effectively in public health sector without risking patient health. Inefficiencies were identified in the public sector at both an operational and administrative level especially at a secondary health care level. Finally the study makes recommendations on how to address such inefficiencies. / Thesis(MBA)-University of Natal, Durban, 2003.

M.Com. (Financial Management) / Working capital management (WCM) is considered critical for the success of all business and especially for small businesses. A recession (such as the one that took place in 2009) complicates the working capital management of small businesses. Working capital management of a sample of small and medium enterprises in South Africa were investigated to determine how they manage their working capital during challenging economic conditions. The impact of the 2009 economic recession on WCM was specifically investigated by following a quantitative descriptive research approach. The study sample consisted of 44 companies listed on the JSE Ltd AltX Index. A trend analysis was applied on WCM variables to determine significant changes overthe study period. Because variables were not normally distributed, the Mann Whitney U test was conducted to determine the statistical significance of the WCM mean ranks pre-, during and post-recession phases. The trend analysis of working capital management over the six-year study period exhibited a significant improvement in the working capital management level during the economic recession. This was largely attributed to delaying payment to creditors. The analysis of the WCM variables pre-, during and post-recession phases indicated that there were no significant changes in WCM that can be attributed to the 2009 economic recession. It was concluded that although there were changes in working capital management over the study period, the changes could not only be attributed to the 2009 recession.

Orientador: Timóteo Ramos Queiroz / Resumo: Este trabalho teve por finalidade analisar a dinâmica do capital de giro das empresas do agronegócio pertencentes aos segmentos de Agricultura, Açúcar e Álcool, e Carnes e Derivados, listadas na Brasil, Bolsa e Balcão (B3) frente a crise econômica brasileira de 2015. Para o cumprimento do objetivo a que este projeto se propôs, foi realizada uma análise das demonstrações financeiras referentes ao período de 2011/2018 das 14 empresas pertencentes aos segmentos citados. Tal análise teve como base a utilização do Modelo Fleuriet, ou ainda denominado como Modelo Dinâmico de Análise Financeira. A metodologia utilizada contou com uma abordagem quantitativa de caráter descritivo. Para cumprir com a finalidade proposta neste trabalho, foi realizada uma Análise de Conglomerados por meio do Método Hierárquico Aglomerativo de Ward, em seguida foram efetuados Testes de Hipóteses para Média das Diferenças a partir da técnica estatística Teste de Wilcoxon. Os resultados apontaram para uma mudança não universal na forma de associação das empresas. Desse modo, foi possível inferir, ceteris paribus, que a crise econômica brasileira influenciou na forma de associação das empresas analisadas, devido às variações positivas e negativas no saldo de tesouraria. Enquanto as organizações Biosev, Excelsior e SLC Agrícola passaram a integrar o primeiro cluster durante o período que compreendia a crise financeira, por conta da evolução nos seus respectivos saldos de tesouraria; as empresas Pomifrutas e T... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The purpose of this paper was to analyze the working capital dynamics of agribusiness companies belonging to the Agriculture, Sugar and Alcohol, and Meat and Derivatives segments, listed in Brazil, Bolsa e Balcão (B3) in the face of the 2015 Brazilian economic crisis. In order to achieve the objective of this project, an analysis was made of the financial statements for the 2011/2018 period of the 14 companies belonging to the mentioned segments. Such analysis was based on the use of the Fleuriet Model, or even referred to as the Dynamic Financial Analysis Model. The methodology used had a quantitative approach of descriptive character. To fulfill the purpose proposed in this work, a Cluster Analysis was performed using Ward's Agglomerative Hierarchical Method, then Hypothesis Tests for Differences Mean were performed using the Wilcoxon Test statistical technique. The results pointed to a non-universal change in the way companies associate. Thus, it was possible to infer, ceteris paribus, that the Brazilian economic crisis influenced the form of association of the companies analyzed, due to positive and negative variations in the cash balance. While the organizations Biosev, Excelsior and SLC Agrícola joined the first cluster during the financial crisis period, due to the evolution in their respective cash balances; Pomifrutas and Terra Santa companies showed a worsening in the average of the amounts related to this variable. / Mestre

This master thesis is focused on operating working capital and its implication towards corporate performance in the retail industry in a relevant business framework that takes into account structural changes in the industry. Our results suggest that there is a negative relationship between cash conversion cycle and corporate performance. Therefore, the management of retail companies should focus on shortening the cash conversion cycle to create value. However, in the apparel retail industry, companies with exceptionally long cash conversion cycles are better off keeping working capital investments high as those companies generate on the WC higher profitability than are the opportunity costs for this allocated capital. Finally, we have not found enough evidence to conclude that investment strategies based on the cash conversion cycle are able to generate alpha. However, there seems to be a sign of persistence for value-weighted portfolios. JEL Classification G31, G32 Keywords Working capital, Working capital management, Cash Conversion Cycle, Retail Author's e-mail michael.dibon@gmail.com Supervisor's e-mail ales.cornanic@gmail.com