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Bankers' Acceptances vs. Commercial Paper

The document compares bankers' acceptances and commercial paper as short-term financing tools, highlighting their differences in issuer, risk, use case, market liquidity, and maturity. It also discusses the impact of lenient versus stringent credit policies on sales and profits, outlining the advantages and disadvantages of each approach. Additionally, it emphasizes the importance of accurate profit measurement in financial statements to ensure consistency and better decision-making.

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
15 views4 pages

Bankers' Acceptances vs. Commercial Paper

The document compares bankers' acceptances and commercial paper as short-term financing tools, highlighting their differences in issuer, risk, use case, market liquidity, and maturity. It also discusses the impact of lenient versus stringent credit policies on sales and profits, outlining the advantages and disadvantages of each approach. Additionally, it emphasizes the importance of accurate profit measurement in financial statements to ensure consistency and better decision-making.

Uploaded by

Md Manik Mia
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

2018/5

/C

2018/5/B

Bankers' acceptances and commercial paper are both short-term financing tools used by companies, but they
differ in several key ways:

1. Issuer:

 Bankers' Acceptance (BA): Issued by a company but guaranteed (accepted) by a bank. It’s commonly
used in international trade.
 Commercial Paper (CP): Issued directly by a corporation with a high credit rating, without bank backing.

2. Risk and Guarantee:

 BA: Lower risk due to the bank’s guarantee. The creditworthiness of the bank matters more than the
issuer.
 CP: Higher risk since it relies solely on the issuing company's credit.

3. Use Case:

 BA: Often used in international trade to finance imports and exports.


 CP: Used to finance short-term operational needs like payroll or inventory.

4. Market and Liquidity:

 BA: Traded in the secondary market and considered very liquid.


 CP: Also traded, but liquidity depends on the issuer’s credit and market demand.
5. Maturity:

 BA: Typically 30 to 180 days.


 CP: Usually ranges from 1 to 270 days.

In summary:

 BA = bank-backed, trade-related, lower risk


 CP = company-issued, operating funds, higher risk without bank guarantee

2022/6/C

- **Firm needs usable funds** = **$10,000**

Let **\( X \)** = Amount to borrow

Since 20% must be kept as compensating balance, the **usable funds** are:

Usable\ Funds = X - 0.20X = 0.80X

We need \( Usable\ Funds = 10,000 \):

0.80X = 10,000

X = \frac{10,000}{0.80} = **12,500**

**Answer:** The firm must borrow **$12,500** to get **$10,000** in usable funds.

### **(ii) Should the firm accept the bank's alternative offer of 12% interest with no compensating balance?**

**Option 1:** Original terms (10% interest + 20% compensating balance)

- **Borrow $12,500** → **Usable funds = $10,000**

- **Interest cost** = \( 12,500 \times 10\% = 1,250 \)

- **Effective interest rate** = \( \frac{1,250}{10,000} = 12.5\% \)

**Option 2:** New terms (12% interest, no compensating balance)

- **Borrow $10,000** → **Usable funds = $10,000**

- **Interest cost** = \( 10,000 \times 12\% = 1,200 \)

- **Effective interest rate** = **12%**

**Comparison:**

| Option | Effective Interest Rate |

| Original (10% + 20% CB) | **12.5%** |

| New (12%, no CB) | **12%** |

**Decision:**

- The **new offer (12%)** is cheaper (**12% vs 12.5%**).

- The firm also **doesn’t need to borrow extra** to meet compensating balance.

**Conclusion:** The firm **should accept** the new offer.

2020/4/B
company's credit policy determines how it extends credit to customers. It can be either lenient or stringent,
depending on how flexible or strict the company is with granting credit.

1. Lenient Credit Policy

Definition:

A lenient credit policy allows more customers to buy on credit with easier terms (e.g., longer payment periods,
lower credit standards).

Advantages:

Increased Sales: Easier credit attracts more customers.

Customer Loyalty: Builds stronger relationships with buyers.

Competitive Edge: Helps compete in markets with rivals offering credit.

Disadvantages:

Higher Risk of Bad Debts: More chances of customers defaulting.

Delayed Cash Inflows: Longer credit periods slow down cash flow.

Higher Collection Costs: More effort and cost to collect payments

2. Stringent Credit Policy

Definition:

A stringent credit policy sets strict terms, offering credit only to highly creditworthy customers with shorter
repayment periods.

Advantages:

Lower Bad Debts: Less risk of non-payment.

Better Cash Flow: Faster collection improves liquidity.

Reduced Collection Efforts: Fewer risky customers means less follow-up.

Disadvantages:

Reduced Sales: Limits the number of customers who can buy on credit.

Loss of Market Share: Competitors with easier credit may attract customers.

Weaker Customer Relations: Strict terms may frustrate some buyers.

2029/6/E

Explanation:

This principle ensures that financial statements (especially the income statement) reflect the true profitability of a
business during a specific period.

For example:

If a company sells goods in January, the cost of those goods (like materials or labor) should also be recorded in
January—even if the company pays for them later.

Why It Matters:

Accurate Profit Measurement: Matches related revenues and expenses to avoid overstating or understating
profits.
Consistency: Ensures financial reports follow a standardized timing.

Better Decision Making: Investors and managers get a clearer picture of performance.

2018/4/B

Probable effects on sales and profits of different credit policies:

(i) A high percentage of bad-debt loss but normal receivable turnover and credit rejection rate:This indicates a
lenient credit policy, likely resulting in increased sales as more customers are granted credit. However, the high
bad-debt loss will negatively impact profits. The overall effect on profit will depend on whether the increase in
sales revenue outweighs the bad debt expenses.
(ii) A high percentage of past-due accounts and a low credit rejection rate:Similar to the first scenario, this
suggests a lenient credit policy, possibly leading to higher sales. However, the high percentage of past-due
accounts could create cash flow problems and increase the risk of bad debts, thus affecting profitability.
(iii) A low percentage of past-due accounts but high credit rejection rate and receivable turnover:This represents
a strict credit policy, where credit is granted to few customers. While bad debts are minimized and receivable
turnover is high, sales may be limited due to the stringent credit terms, potentially impacting profits.
(iv) A low percentage of past-due accounts and a low credit rejection rate but a high receivable turnover rate:This
scenario indicates an efficient credit policy. The low past-due accounts and rejection rates suggest effective
credit assessment, while the high receivable turnover implies efficient collection. This policy likely maximizes
both sales and profits.

Common questions

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The firm should compare the effective interest rates of both options. If one option offers a lower effective interest rate and does not require borrowing extra for a compensating balance, it would generally be more cost-effective to choose this option, as illustrated by the scenario where a 12% interest rate without compensating balance was cheaper than a 10% interest rate with a 20% compensating balance .

A lenient credit policy could result in slower cash inflows due to extended repayment periods and increased bad debts, challenging a company's cash flow and liquidity. On the other hand, a stringent credit policy enhances liquidity through faster collections and minimized bad debts, ensuring a more robust cash flow. However, it might limit revenue growth due to a reduced customer base .

Bankers' Acceptances (BAs) are typically very liquid since they're backed by banks and traded in the secondary market, making them attractive for companies needing swift access to cash flow in trade financing. In contrast, the liquidity of Commercial Paper (CP) depends heavily on the issuer’s credit and market demand, introducing more variability and potential liquidity risk .

Adopting a lenient credit policy can stimulate sales growth and enhance customer loyalty due to more accessible credit terms, but it increases financial risks such as bad debts and delayed cash inflows. Stringent policies reduce these risks by enforcing stricter credit scrutiny and faster collections, yet may hinder sales growth by limiting customer access to credit. The optimal policy balances sales growth objectives with acceptable financial risk levels .

A lenient credit policy, which offers easier credit terms, typically leads to higher sales and stronger customer loyalty but also increases the risk of bad debts and cash inflow delays. In contrast, a stringent credit policy minimizes bad debts and improves cash flow but can restrict sales and weaken customer relationships due to its strict terms .

A lenient credit policy might increase sales due to more customers being granted credit, but can also raise the risk of bad debts, affecting profits negatively. Conversely, a stringent policy reduces bad debts and improves cash flow but may limit sales due to fewer customers qualifying for credit, thus impacting profits. Various credit scenarios, such as a high percentage of bad-debt loss or past-due accounts, highlight the balance between sales volume and debt risk management .

A company's credit policy is integral to its competitive positioning. A lenient policy can attract more customers and potentially increase market share, providing a competitive edge in industries where rivals also offer credit. However, it carries the risk of higher bad debts. A stringent policy reduces this risk but might result in losing customers to competitors with easier credit terms, impacting market position .

Compensating balances require a firm to maintain a minimum balance with the lending institution, effectively reducing the usable funds from a loan. This necessitates borrowing a larger principal amount to meet actual financial needs, as illustrated by needing to borrow $12,500 to achieve $10,000 in usable funds due to a 20% compensating balance requirement .

Bankers' Acceptances (BAs) are issued by companies but carry a bank guarantee, making them lower risk because the bank's creditworthiness backs them. Conversely, Commercial Paper (CP) is issued directly by corporations without bank backing, relying solely on the issuing company's credit, hence they carry a higher risk profile .

Matching related revenues and expenses in the same period ensures the financial statements accurately reflect the company's profitability. This consistency aids in better decision-making by providing a clearer performance picture to investors and managers, and helps avoid overstating or understating profits .

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