Corporate Finance, 4e, Global Edition (Berk / DeMarzo)
Chapter 27 Short-Term Financial Planning
27.1 Forecasting Short-Term Financing Needs
1) Occasionally, a company will encounter circumstances in which cash flows are temporarily negative
for an unexpected reason. We refer to such a situation as:
A) a liquidity shock.
B) a negative cash flow shock.
C) a negative liquidity shock.
D) a cash crunch.
2) When a company analyzes its short-term financing needs, it typically examines cash flows at:
A) monthly intervals.
B) yearly intervals.
C) quarterly intervals.
D) weekly intervals.
3) Which of the following firms is likely to have the highest short-term financing needs?
A) A pharmaceutical manufacturer
B) A grocery store
C) An electric utility
D) A toy store
4) Which of the following statements is FALSE?
A) If a company anticipates an ongoing surplus of cash, it may choose to increase its dividend payout.
B) Seasonal sales can create large short-term cash flow deficits and surpluses.
C) The first step in short-term financial planning is to forecast the company’s future net working capital.
D) Deficits resulting from investments in long-term projects are often financed using long-term sources
of capital, such as equity or long-term bonds.
5) Which of the following statements is FALSE?
A) Firms with seasonal cash flows may find themselves with a surplus of cash during some months that
is sufficient to compensate for a shortfall during other months. However, because of timing differences,
such firms often have short-term financing needs.
B) A company forecasts its cash flows to determine whether it will have surplus cash or a cash deficit
for each period.
C) Like seasonalities, positive cash flow shocks can create short-term financing needs.
D) When sales are concentrated during a few months, sources and uses of cash are also likely to be
seasonal.
Use the table for the question(s) below.
The quarterly working capital levels for Hasbeen Toys are presented in the following table (in $
millions):
Quarter
1
2
3
4
Cash
605
625
175
1000
Accounts Receivable
585
745
1260
760
Inventory
410
540
725
375
Accounts Payable
835
910
1055
1145
6) In which quarter are Hasbeen’s seasonal working capital needs the greatest?
A) 4
B) 2
C) 3
D) 1
Quarter
1
2
3
4
Cash
605
625
175
1000
Accounts Receivable
585
745
1260
760
Inventory
410
540
725
375
Accounts Payable
835
910
1055
1145
Working capital
765
1000
1105
990
27.2 The Matching Principle
1) Which of the following is NOT a specific financing option for temporary working capital?
A) Secured financing
B) Commercial paper
C) Bank loans
D) Treasury bills
2) Which of the following statements is FALSE?
A) The matching principle indicates that the firm should finance permanent working capital with short–
term sources of funds.
B) Following the matching principle should, in the long run, help minimize a firm’s transaction costs.
C) In a perfect capital market, the choice of financing is irrelevant; thus how the firm chooses to finance
its short-term cash needs cannot affect value.
D) A portion of a firm’s investment in its accounts receivable and inventory is temporary and results
from seasonal fluctuations in the firm‘s business or unanticipated shocks.
3) Which of the following statements is FALSE?
A) Because investment in permanent working capital is required so long as the firm remains in
business, it constitutes a long-term investment.
B) Because temporary working capital represents a short-term need, the firm should finance this portion
of its investment with short-term financing.
C) Temporary working capital is the difference between the lowest level of investment in short-term
assets and the permanent working capital investment.
D) The matching principle states that short-term needs should be financed with short-term debt and
long-term needs should be financed with long-term sources of funds.
4) Which of the following statements is FALSE?
A) With a discount loan, the borrower is required to pay the interest at the end of the loan period.
B) Bridge loans are often quoted as discount loans with fixed interest rates.
C) A bridge loan is another type of short-term bank loan that is often used to “bridge the gap” until a
firm can arrange for long-term financing.
D) After a natural disaster, lenders may provide businesses with short-term loans to serve as bridges
until they receive insurance payments or long-term disaster relief.
5) Which of the following statements is FALSE?
A) Financing part or all of the permanent working capital with short–term debt is known as an
aggressive financing policy.
B) When the yield curve is downward sloping, the interest rate on short–term debt is lower than the rate
on long-term debt. In that case, short–term debt may appear cheaper than long-term debt.
C) The value of short-term debt is less sensitive to the firm’s credit quality than long-term debt;
therefore, its value will be less affected by management’s actions or information.
D) Permanent working capital is the amount that a firm must keep invested in its short-term assets to
support its continuing operations.
6) Which of the following statements is FALSE?
A) On the other hand, by relying on short-term debt the firm exposes itself to funding risk, which is the
risk of incurring financial distress costs should the firm not be able to refinance its debt in a timely
manner or at a reasonable rate.
B) An ultra-conservative policy would involve financing even some of the plant, property, and
equipment with short-term sources of funds.
C) With a conservative financing policy, the firm would use short-term debt very sparingly to meet its
peak seasonal needs.
D) Short-term debt can have lower agency and lemons costs than long-term debt, and an aggressive
financing policy can benefit shareholders.
7) Which of the following statements is FALSE?
A) When following a conservative financing policy, a firm would use long-term sources of funds to
finance its fixed assets, permanent working capital, and some of its seasonal needs.
B) An aggressive financing policy also increases the possibility that managers of the firm will use excess
cash nonproductively—for example, on perquisites for themselves.
C) A firm could finance its short-term needs with long-term debt, a practice known as a conservative
financing policy.
D) To implement a conservative financing policy effectively, there will necessarily be periods when
excess cash is available—those periods when the firm requires little or no investment in temporary
working capital.
Use the table for the question(s) below.
The quarterly working capital levels for Hasbeen Toys are presented in the following table (in $
millions):
Quarter
1
2
3
4
Cash
605
625
175
1000
Accounts Receivable
585
745
1260
760
Inventory
410
540
725
375
Accounts Payable
835
910
1055
1145
8) The permanent working capital needs for Hasbeen Toys is closest to:
A) $1100 million
B) $2435 million
C) $1275 million
D) $770 million
Quarter
1
2
3
4
Cash
605
625
175
1000
Accounts Receivable
585
745
1260
760
Inventory
410
540
725
375
Accounts Payable
835
910
1055
1145
Working capital
765
1000
1105
990
9) The temporary working capital needs for Hasbeen Toys in quarter 1 is closest to:
A) $0 million
B) $340 million
C) $770 million
D) $845 million
10) The temporary working capital needs for Hasbeen Toys in quarter 3 is closest to:
A) $845 million
B) $0 million
C) $770 million
D) $340 million
11) Calculate the temporary working capital needs for each of the four quarters for Hasbeen Toys.
27.3 Short-Term Financing with Bank Loans
Use the following information to answer the question(s) below.
Taggart Transcontinental needs a $100,000 loan for the next 30 days. Taggart has three alternatives
available:
Alternative #1: Forgo the discount on its trade credit agreement that offers terms of 2/5 net 35.
Alternative #2: Borrow the money from Bank A, which has offered to lead the firm $100,000 for one
month at
an APR of 9%. The bank will require a (no-interest) compensating balance of 10% of the face-value of
the loan and will charge a $200 loan origination fee, which means that Taggart must borrow even more
than the $100,000 they need.
Alternative #3: Borrow the money from Bank B, which has offered to lend the firm $100,000 for one
month at an APR of 12%. The loan has a 1% origination fee.
1) The effective annual rate for Taggart if they choose alternative #1 is closest to:
A) 13.9%
B) 18.8%
C) 27.0%
D) 27.9%
2) The effective annual rate for Taggart if they choose alternative #2 is closest to:
A) 13.0%
B) 13.9%
C) 18.8%
D) 27.0%
3) The effective annual rate for Taggart if they choose alternative #3 is closest to:
A) 13.9%
B) 18.8%
C) 27.0%
D) 27.9%
4) Which alternative should Taggart choose?
A) Alternative #1 since it has the lowest EAR
B) Alternative #2 since it has the lowest EAR
C) Alternative #3 since it has the lowest EAR
D) Alternative #2 since it has the highest actual rate
5) A loan agreement that requires the firm to pay interest on the loan and pay back the principal in one
lump sum at the end of the loan is called:
A) a short-term mortgage loan.
B) a single, end-of-period-payment loan.
C) a bridge loan.
D) a line of credit.
6) A short-term bank loan that is often used until a firm can arrange for long-term financing is called:
A) a committed line of credit.
B) a short-term mortgage loan.
C) a bridge loan.
D) a single, end-of-period-payment loan.
7) A written, legally binding agreement that obligates the bank to lend a firm any amount up to a stated
maximum, regardless of the financial condition of the firm (unless the firm is bankrupt) as long as the
firm satisfies any restrictions in the agreement is called:
A) a bridge loan.
B) a single, end-of-period-payment loan.
C) a short-term mortgage loan.
D) a committed line of credit.
8) Which of the following statements is FALSE?
A) Bank loans are typically initiated with a promissory note, which is a written statement that indicates
the amount of the loan, the date payment is due, and the interest rate.
B) The most straightforward type of bank loan is a single, end–of-period-payment loan.
C) With a fixed interest rate, the specific rate that the bank will charge is stipulated at the time the loan
is made.
D) One of the primary sources of short-term financing, especially for small businesses, is the investment
bank.
9) Which of the following statements is FALSE?
A) The prime rate is the rate banks charge other banks.
B) With a variable interest rate, the terms of the loan may indicate that the rate will vary with some
spread relative to a benchmark rate, such as the yield on one-year Treasury securities or the prime rate.
C) With a discount loan, the borrower is required to pay the interest at the beginning of the loan period.
D) A common benchmark rate is the London Inter-Bank Offered Rate, or LIBOR, which is the rate of
interest at which banks borrow funds from each other in the London inter bank market.
10) Which of the following statements regarding lines of credit is FALSE?
A) The line of credit agreement may also stipulate that at some point in time the outstanding balance
must be zero. This policy ensures that the firm does not use the short-term financing to finance its long–
term obligations.
B) A revolving line of credit is an uncommitted line of credit that involves an informal agreement from
the bank for a longer period of time, typically two to three years.
C) The line of credit may be uncommitted, meaning it is an informal agreement that does not legally
bind the bank to provide the funds.
D) A revolving line of credit with no fixed maturity is called evergreen credit.
11) Which of the following statements is FALSE?
A) Regardless of the loan structure, the bank may include a compensating balance requirement in the
loan agreement that reduces the usable loan proceeds.
B) Another common type of fee is a loan origination fee, which a bank charges to cover credit checks
and legal fees.
C) Firms frequently use lines of credit to finance seasonal needs.
D) The commitment fee associated with a committed line of credit is designed to decrease the effective
cost of the loan to the firm.
12) Luther Industries is offered a $1 million dollar loan for four months at an APR of 9%. If this loan has
an origination fee of 1%, then the effective annual rate (EAR) for this loan is closest to:
A) 12.0%
B) 12.6%
C) 4.1%
D) 13.8%
13) Luther Industries is offered a $1 million dollar loan for four months at an APR of 9%. If Luther’s
bank requires that the firm maintain a compensating balance equal to 10% of the loan amount in a non-
interest bearing account, then the effective annual rate EAR for this loan is closest to:
A) 50.0%
B) 12.6%
C) 14.4%
D) 71.5%
14) Luther Industries is offered a $1 million dollar loan for four months at an APR of 9%. Luther‘s bank
requires that the firm maintain a compensating balance equal to 5% of the loan amount in a non-interest
bearing account and the bank charges a 1% origination fee. Calculate the the effective annual rate EAR
for this loan.
27.4 Short-Term Financing with Commercial Paper
1) Rearden Metal wants to raise $5 million using six-month commercial paper. The net proceeds to
Rearden will be $4,865,000. The effect annual rate for this financing is closest to:
A) 5.6%
B) 6.6%
C) 7.2%
D) 8.4%
2) Wyatt Oil has an issue of commercial paper with a face value of $10,000,000 and a maturity of three
months. Wyatt received $9,800,000 when it sold the paper. The effect annual rate for this financing is
closest to:
A) 5.6%
B) 6.6%
C) 7.2%
D) 8.4%
3) Galt Industries has issued four-month commercial paper with a $8 million face value. The firm netted
$7,831,000 on the sale. The effect annual rate for this financing is closest to:
A) 5.6%
B) 6.6%
C) 7.2%
D) 8.4%
4) Which of the following statements is FALSE?
A) Unlike long-term debt, because of its short maturity, commercial paper is not rated by credit rating
agencies.
B) The interest on commercial paper is typically paid by selling it at an initial discount.
C) Commercial paper is short-term, unsecured debt used by large corporations that is usually a cheaper
source of funds than a short-term bank loan.
D) Extending the maturity of commercial paper beyond 270 days triggers a registration requirement
with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which increases issue costs and creates a time
delay in the sale of the issue.
5) Which of the following statements regarding commercial paper is FALSE?
A) With dealer paper, dealers sell the commercial paper to investors in exchange for a spread (or fee) for
their services.
B) With dealer paper, the spread increases the proceeds that the issuing firm receives, thereby
decreasing the effective cost of the paper.
C) The minimum face value is $25,000, and most commercial paper has a face value of at least $100,000.
D) With direct paper, the firm sells the security directly to investors.
6) A firm issued three-month commercial paper with a $2,000,000 face value and received $1,964,000.
The effective annual rate that this firm is paying is closest to:
A) 8.0%
B) 7.5%
C) 1.8%
D) 7.3%
7) Kinston Industries issued $4,000,000 in commercial paper which matures in six months and received
$3,876,000. Calculate the effective annual rate that Kinston is paying.
27.5 Short-Term Financing with Secured Financing
1) Rearden Metal has borrowed $4 million for three months at a stated annual rate of 8%, using
inventory stored in a field warehouse as collateral. The warehouse charges a $10,000 fee, payable at the
end of the month. The effect annual rate on this loan is closest to:
A) 9.3%
B) 11.3%
C) 15.2%
D) 17.1%
2) Hammond Motors is considering using a public warehouse loan as part of its short–term financing.
The firm will require a loan of $2 million for three months. Interest on the loan will be 12% (APR,
compounded quarterly) to be paid at the end of the quarter. The warehouse charges 1% of the face
value of the loan, payable at the beginning of the quarter. The effect annual rate on this loan is closest to:
A) 9.3%
B) 11.3%
C) 15.2%
D) 17.1%
3) d’Anconia Copper has borrowed $5 million for six months at a stated annual rate of 10%, using
inventory stored in a field warehouse as collateral. The warehouse charges a $25,000 fee, payable at the
end of the six months. The effect annual rate on this loan is closest to:
A) 9.3%
B) 11.3%
C) 15.2%
D) 17.1%
4) Inventory can be used as collateral for a loan in all of the following ways EXCEPT:
A) a floating lien.
B) a warehouse arrangement.
C) a factoring arrangement.
D) a trust receipt.
5) Which of the following statements is FALSE?
A) If a factoring arrangement is with recourse, the factor will pay the firm the amount due regardless of
whether the factor receives payment from the firm’s customers.
B) In a factoring of accounts receivable arrangement, the firm sells receivables to the lender (i.e., the
factor), and the lender agrees to pay the firm the amount due from its customers at the end of the firm’s
payment period.
C) Businesses can also obtain short-term financing by using secured loans, which are loans
collateralized with short-term assets—most typically the firm’s accounts receivables or inventory.
D) Both the interest rate and the factor’s fee vary depending on such issues as the size of the borrowing
firm and the dollar volume of its receivables.
6) Which of the following statements is FALSE?
A) Commercial banks, finance companies, and factors, which are firms that purchase the receivables of
other companies, are the most common sources for secured short-term loans.
B) The factoring arrangement may be without recourse, in which case the lender bears the risk of bad–
debt losses.
C) In a floating lien, general lien, or blanket lien arrangement, specific inventory is used to secure the
loan.
D) If a firm sells its goods on terms of net 30, then the factor will pay the firm the face value of its
receivables, less a factor’s fee, at the end of 30 days.
7) Which of the following statements is FALSE?
A) In a pledging of accounts receivable agreement, the lender reviews the invoices that represent the
credit sales of the borrowing firm and decides which credit accounts it will accept as collateral for the
loan, based on its own credit standards.
B) With a trust receipts loan or floor planning, all inventory items are held in a trust as security for the
loan.
C) If the factoring agreement is without recourse, the borrowing firm must receive credit approval for a
customer from the factor prior to shipping the goods. If the factor gives its approval, the firm ships the
goods and the customer is directed to make payment directly to the lender.
D) In a warehouse arrangement, the inventory that serves as collateral for the loan is stored in a
warehouse.
8) Which of the following statements is FALSE?
A) A public warehouse is a business that exists for the sole purpose of storing and tracking the inflow
and outflow of the inventory.
B) A warehouse arrangement is the riskiest collateral arrangement from the standpoint of the lender.
C) Because the warehouser is a professional at inventory control, there is likely to be little loss due to
damaged goods or theft, which in turn lowers insurance costs.
D) A field warehouse is operated by a third party, but is set up on the borrower’s premises in a separate
area so that the inventory collateralizing the loan is kept apart from the borrower’s main plant.
9) Luther Industries wants to borrow $1 million for two months. Using its inventory as collateral, it can
obtain a 10% (APR) loan (compounded monthly). The lender requires that a warehouse arrangement be
used. The warehouse fee is $10,000, payable at the end of the two months. Calculate the effective annual
rate of this loan for Row Cannery.