Chapter 18: The Management of Accounts Receivable and Inventories
51. Willoughby Industries, Inc. is considering whether to discontinue offering credit to customers who are more than 10
days overdue on repaying the credit extended to them. Current annual credit sales are $10 million on credit terms of “net
30.” Such a change in policy is expected to reduce sales by 10%, cut the firm’s bad-debt losses from 5% to 3%, and reduce
its average collection period from 72 days to 45 days. The firm’s variable cost ratio is 0.70 (profit contribution ratio is
0.30), and its required pretax return (i.e., opportunity cost) on receivables investments is 25%. Determine the net effect of
this credit tightening policy on the pretax profits of Willoughby. When converting from annual to daily data or vice versa,
assume that there are 365 days per year.
52. Bluegrass Distilleries, Inc. refuses to extend credit to any wholesale distributors who have a history of being
delinquent in repaying credit extended to them. This policy results in lost sales of $10 million annually. Based on
experience with these types of customers, the firm estimates that the average collection period would be 90 days and that
the bad-debt loss ratio would be 6%. The firm’s variable cost ratio is 0.80, making its profit contribution ratio 0.20.
Bluegrass Distilleries’ required pretax return (i.e., opportunity cost) on receivables investments is 20%. When converting
from annual to daily data or vice versa, assume there are 365 days per year. Assuming Bluegrass extends full credit to
these (previously delinquent) customers, determine the total increase in credit-related costs.
53. Bluegrass Distilleries, Inc. refuses to extend credit to any wholesale distributors who have a history of being
delinquent in repaying credit extended to them. This policy results in lost sales of $10 million annually. Based on
experience with these types of customers, the firm estimates that the average collection period would be 90 days and that
the bad-debt loss ratio would be 6%. The firm’s variable cost ratio is 0.80, making its profit contribution ratio 0.20.
Bluegrass Distilleries’ required pretax return (i.e., opportunity cost) on receivables investments is 20%. When converting
from annual to daily data or vice versa, assume there are 365 days per year. Determine the net effect on Bluegrass
Distilleries’ pretax profits of extending credit to these (previously delinquent) customers
54. The United Shoe Company (USC) does not extend credit to any retail shoe store with a “Fair” or “Limited” Dun and
Bradstreet credit rating. Because of this policy, the company loses $36,500,000 in sales each year. Based on prior
experience with these types of customers, USC estimates that the average collection period would be 120 days and the
bad-debt loss ratio would be 10%. The firm’s variable cost ratio is 0.75. USC’s required pretax return on receivables
investments is 18%. Determine the net change in pretax profits of extending credit to these retail shoe stores. (Assume 365
days per year in any calculations.)