Ratio analysis is useful, but analysts should be aware of these problems and make adjustments as necessary. Ratios analysis conducted in a mechanical, unthinking manner is dangerous, but if used intelligently and with good judgement, it can provide useful insights into the firm’s operations. Limitations of Ratio Analysis 1. Accounting Information Different Accounting Policies The choices of accounting policies may distort inter company comparisons. Example IAS 16 allows valuation of assets to be based on either revalued amount or at depreciated historical cost. The business may opt not to revalue its asset because by doing so the depreciation charge is going to be high and will result in lower profit. Creative accounting The businesses apply creative accounting in trying to show the better financial performance or position which can be misleading to the users of financial accounting. Like the IAS 16 mentioned above, requires that if an asset is Continue reading
Financial Management Concepts
Value Added Statements – Definition, Advantages and Disadvantages
Meaning and Definition of Value Added Statements The main thrust of financial accounting development in the recent decades has been in the area of `how’ we measure income rather than `whose’ income we measure. The common belief of the traditional accountants that profit is a reward of the proprietors has been considered as a very narrow definition of income. This was so because previously the assets were assumed to be owned by the proprietor and liabilities were thought as proprietor’s obligations. This notion of proprietorship was accepted and practiced so as long as the nature of business did not experience revolutionary changes. However, with the emergence of corporate entities and the legal recognition of the existence of business entities separate from the personal affairs and interest of the owners led to the rejection of proprietary theory. Value added is now reported in the financial statements of companies in the form Continue reading
Optimal Capital Structure
The capital structure of a company refers to the mix of the long-term finances used by the firm. It is the financing plan of the company. Financing the firm’s assets is a very crucial problem in every business and as a general rule there should be a proper mix of debt and equity capital along with equity shares is called financial leverage or trading on equity. The long term fixed interest bearing debts is employed by a firm to earn more from the use of these sources than their cost so as to increase the return on owner’s equity. It is true that capital structure cannot affect the total earnings a firm but is can affect the share of earnings available for equity shareholders. The capital structure decision can influence the value of the firm through the cost of capital and trading on equity or leverage. The optimal capital structure Continue reading
Double Entry Bookkeeping System
Bookkeeping is an act of keeping permanent records of the financial transactions of a business in a systematic and orderly manner. The financial transactions of the business are identified, recorded and classified in different books. In modern entities, records of financial transactions are maintained under a double entry system. The double entry system has been recognized as a systematic and complete system for recording financial transactions. Double entry system recognizes that every financial transactions has two aspects. It then records two aspects of a transaction simultaneously in two separate accounts with equal amounts. It provides the aspects of a transaction with their names of debit and credit. Thereafter, with the help of ledger accounts, profit and loss account and the balance sheet are prepared to ascertain the profit and loss and the financial position of the business. Thus, the double entry system is the most systematic and complete system of Continue reading
Merchant Banking Services: Credit Syndication
Credit syndication also known as credit procurement and project finance services. The main task involved in credit syndication is to raise to rupee and foreign currency loans with the banks and financial institutions both in India and abroad. It also arranges the bridge finance and the resources for cost escalations or cost Overruns. Broadly, the credit syndications include the following acts; Estimating the total costs. Drawing a financing plan for the total project cost-conforming to the requirements of the promoters and their collaborators. Financial institutions and banks, government agencies and underwriters. Preparing loan application for financial assistance from term lenders/financial institutions/banks and monitoring their progress including the pre-sanction negotiations. Selecting the institutions and banks for participation in financing. Follow-up of the term loan application with the financial institutions and banks and obtaining the satisfaction for their respective share of participation. Arranging bridge finance. Assisting in completion of formalities for drawl Continue reading
Cash Conversion Cycle (CCC)
Cash Conversion Cycle (CCC) measures ongoing liquidity from the firm’s operation is defined as a more comprehensive measure of working capital and as a supplement to current ratio and quick ratio. CCC shows the time lag between expenditure for the purchases of raw materials and the collection of sales of finished goods. CCC is a measure of the efficiency of Working Capital Management as it indicates how quickly the current assets are converting into cash. CCC comprises three components of days inventory outstanding (DIO), days sales outstanding (DSO), and days payables outstanding (DPO); Cash Conversion Cycle (CCC) = Days Inventory Outstanding (DIO) + [Days Sales Outstanding (DSO) -Days Payables Outstanding (DPO)] Days Inventory Outstanding (DIO) is a key figure that measures the average amount of time that a firm holds its inventory. It is calculated by inventory/cost of sales x 365 days. A decrease in the DIO represents an improvement, Continue reading