D076 Finance Skills for Managers review

A company is trying to decide which of four projects to invest in. - "W&H Company wants to create a cash budget to better manage its cash flows. The financial manager knows that the firm's labor costs and materials costs are too high for the level of sales each month. The firm also needs to keep better track of its cash flows to assess its need for additional financing through short-term loans. - A company called Bobby's Books is considering purchasing a new bookbinding machine. The company calculates the hurdle rate of the project to be 9% and the IRR to be 11%. Should the company purchase the bookbinding machine? - Yes, because the IRR exceeds the cost of capital. A company currently has a ratio of 1.5 but hopes to improve the ratio to 2 to align more with the industry benchmark. To achieve this goal, costs were cut in production through an investment in efficient equipment, and the company achieved a higher profit margin. If this continues, you are certain that the firm will achieve its goal in two years. What is this an example of? - Progress measurement A company is considering five projects that are not mutually exclusive. However, the company does not have enough money to do all of them. In order to prioritize projects that fit within the company's budget, which capital budgeting method should be used? - Profitability index (PI) A company is trying to finance a project with a mortgage loan from a bank. The company's assessment of the project indicates that the company may experience several years of loss until the project becomes profitable. This means that the company might lose its ability to pay back the loan and the interest on the mortgage. What action might the bank take to protect its interest? - Set a strict covenant that the company cannot easily achieve. A company that produces soap, shampoo, lotion, and other personal care products has recently taken a hit due to a competitor's new product line. The company decides to reduce wages for its labor force to save money while the company focuses on building up its reputation again, but the company's labor force goes on strike to protest the pay cuts. What type of risk does the strike represent? - Idiosyncratic risk