Reference no: EM13339433

The Genesis operations management team is now preparing to implement the operating expansion plan. Previously, the firm's cash position did not pose a challenge. However, the planned foreign expansion requires Genesis to have a reliable source of funds for both short-term and long-term needs.

One of Genesis's potential lenders tells the team that in order to be considered as a viable customer, Genesis must prepare and submit a monthly cash budget for the current year and a quarterly budget for the subsequent year. The lender will review the cash budget and determine whether or not Genesis can meet the loan repayment terms. Genesis's ability to repay the loan depends not only on sales and expenses but also on how quickly the company can collect payment from customers and how well it manages its supplier terms and other operating expenses. The Genesis team members agreed that being fully prepared with factual data would allow them to maximize their position as well as negotiate favorable financing terms.

The Genesis management team held a brainstorming session to chart a plan of action, which is detailed here.

• Evaluate historical data and prepare assumptions that will drive the planning process.
• Produce a detailed cash budget that summarizes cash inflow, outflow, and financing needs.
• Identify and compare interest rates, both short-term and long-term, using debt and equity.
• Analyze the financing mix (short/long) and the cost associated with the recommendation.

Since this expansion is critical to Genesis Corporation expanding into new overseas markets, the operations management team has been asked to prepare an executive summary with supporting details for Genesis's senior executives.

Working over a weekend, the management team developed realistic assumptions to construct a working capital budget.

1. Sales: The marketing expert and the newly created customer service personnel developed sales projections based on historical data and forecast research
2. Other cash receipt: Rental income $15,000 per month
3. Production material: The production manager forecasted material cost based on cost quotes from reliable vendors, the average of which is 50 percent of sales
4. Other production cost: Based on historical cost data, this cost on an average is 30 percent of the material cost and occurs in the month after material purchase
5. Selling and marketing expense: Five percent of sales
6. General and administrative expense: Twenty percent of sales
7. Interest payments: $75, 000-Payable in December
8. Tax payments: $15,000-Quarterly due on 15th of April, July, October, and January
9. Minimum cash balance desired: $ 25,000 per month
10. Cash balance start of month (December): $15,000
11. Available short-term annual interest rate is 8 percent, long-term debt rate is 9 percent, and long-term equity is 10 percent. All funds would be available the first month when the firm encounters a deficit
12. Dividend payment: None

Based on this information, do the following:

1. Using the Cash Budget spreadsheet, calculate detailed company cash budgets for the forthcoming and subsequent years. Summarize the sources and uses of cash, and identify the external financing needs for both the forthcoming and subsequent years.
   Download this Excel spreadsheet to view the company's cash budget. You will calculate the company's monthly cash budget for the forthcoming year and quarterly budget for the subsequent year using this information.

1. In an executive-level report, summarize the company's financing needs for the forecast period and provide your recommendations for financing the planned activities. Be sure to comment on the following:
   1. Your recommended financing solution and cost to the firm: If Genesis needs operating cash, how should it fund this need? Are there internal policy changes with regard to collections or payables management you would recommend? What types of external financing are available?
   2. Your concerns associated with the firm's cash budget. Is this a sign of weak sales performance or poor cost control? Why or why not?

Write a 7-page paper in Word format. Apply APA standards to citation of sources.

Genesis Corporation

The Genesis Corporation develops highly technical software and hardware applications for high-end commercial and military use. Genesis is considering expanding its production operations to lower cost locations outside the United States. The company currently has facilities in Canada but realizes the need for further expansion in order to respond timely to global customers.

Background

Two technology students founded the Genesis Corporation in 2000 as a small technology lab in North Carolina. The company grew rapidly, and by 2004, revenue growth exceeded all expectations as an expanding client base prompted an operating expansion. Genesis opened its first non-US operating facility in Canada during the last quarter of 2004, followed by another facility in Canada in early 2005.

Financing for this expansion came from two sources: family seed monies and an equity investment by a small group of venture capitalists. Rapid revenue growth, the operating expansion, new international clients, and the involvement of more professional ownership necessitated an expansion of the management team. The expanded management team, which now oversees domestic and international operating facilities, consists of a general operations manager, an accountant, a software application expert, a marketing manager, a production manager, and a customer service manager. All of these individuals with the exception of the production manager were outside hires.

Opportunity and Dilemma

An intensive strategy planning session with the founders and new owners resulted in a five-year strategic plan that calls for aggressive expansion. The group feels that Genesis has unique technology that will be very attractive to governments and large manufacturers in the developed world and selected emerging economies, but the company must move quickly to take advantage of these opportunities.

The newly developed operations management team is charged with optimizing all operations and expanding the company's sales to emerging markets in Europe and Asia. This expansion of sales and operations will require significant amounts of capital to invest in new production facilities and resources, sales staff, and marketing activities. Genesis hopes to avoid having to find more equity investment to fund this expansion, but it is not clear if sufficient funds can be generated internally from sales and profits, and obtaining a bank loan can be very challenging for small, young companies.