2.
MEANING OF FUND: The term fund is generally used to mean the difference between
current assets and current liabilities. In other words, the term fund stands for net
working capital or net current assets.
Current assets include assets which are acquired with the intention of converting them
into cash during the normal business operations of the company. They are:
Cash in hand
Cash at Bank
Temporary or marketable investments Trade Debtors
Bills receivables
Short term loans
Stock of Raw Material, Semi-finished goods, Finished goods, W-I-P etc.
Prepaid expenses
Accrued Incomes.
3. Current liabilities: The term current liabilities are used to describe such obligations
which are paid within one year and which are paid out of current assets or by creating
current liabilities. They are:
Trade Creditors
Bills payable
Bank OD
Outstanding expenses
Dividend payable
Provision against current assets
Taxation provision
Income received in advance
4. MEANING OF FLOW OF FUNDS
The term flow means change and therefore the term flow of funds means change in
Funds or change in working capital. In other words, any increase / decrease in working
capital means flow of funds. In business several transactions take place. Some of these
increase the funds while others decrease the funds. Some may not make any change in
the funds position. The movement of funds may be inflow or outflow. It is said there is:
Inflow of fund -When the business transaction results in increase in working capital.
Outflow of fund When the business transaction results in decrease in working capital.
No flow fund -When the business transaction results in neither increase nor decrease in
working capital.
It can be said that only the following transactions may cause the flow of fund.
Transaction between
One current asset & another noncurrent asset.
One non-current liability & another current liability.
One current liability & another noncurrent asset.
One current asset & another noncurrent liability.
5. FUND FLOW STATEMENT
A funds flow statement is a statement depicting change in working capital. According to
Smith and Brown “A funds flow statement is prepared in summary form to indicate
the changes occurring in terms of financial condition between two different balance
sheet dates”.
In the words of Robert Anthony “The funds flow statements describe the sources from
which additional funds were derived and the uses to which these funds were put”.
Hence funds flow statement is the most useful statement prepared to indicate the
changes in the financial position of a business concern between the opening and closing
balance sheet dates. It is the financial operational statement which reveals the methods
by which a company has been financed. In other words it is a financial report on the
movement of funds (working capital) stating sources from which funds generate and to
which these funds are put into.
6.
USES OF FUND FLOW STATEMENT
Emerging as a supplemental financial statement, the funds flow statement has become an
integral part of final accounts. It is a tool of decision-making, of analysis and of forecasting.
Tools of Analysis: The funds flow statement analyses and explains the financial consequences
of trading operations. It shows how the funds were obtained in the past and used. The
financial manager can take corrective actions.
Tool of working capital management: This statement reveals the adequacy or otherwise of
working capital and the efficiency with which it is utilised. It enables management to take
steps to put surplus working capital to effective use and also to augment the same in case it is
insufficient.
Tools of Decision making: The statement keeps management with regard to such decisions as
dividends, capital expenditure and Budgetary control.
Tool of forecasting: Financial resources of an enterprise are relatively scarce in relation to
demand. A projected funds flow statement enables management not merely to utilize the
available funds to the optimum extent, but also to prevent funds being allowed to flow in
unprofitable channels.
Tools of measuring credit worthiness: It also keeps the creditors and financial institutions to
assess the risk factors involved in granting credit to a business concern. Shareholders and
prospective investors are also enables to make an assessment of funds available for payment
of dividend and the probable return on their future investment.
The statement compared with the budget concerned will show to what extent the resources
of the firm were used according to plan and what extent the utilisation was unplanned.
7. LIMITATIONS
It lacks originality because it is only rearrangement of data appearing in financial
statements.
It is prepared taking into consideration only fund items and non-fund items are ignored.
As such it is incomplete and unscientific.
It reveals some additional information about changes in working capital. As such, it must
be remembered that funds flow statement is not a substitute of the position Statement
or income statement.
The information used for the preparation of the fund flow statement is essentially
historical in nature. So it is not of much use.
It cannot reveal continuous changes.
SOURCES OF FUNDS
Issue of shares for Cash or for any other current asset.
Issue of Debentures for cash or for any current asset.
Long term / Medium Term Loans borrowed: Loans borrowed for purchase of fixed assets
or for repayment of existing loan do not form the source of funds.
8. Long term, Medium Term Deposits accepted.
Sale of Fixed Assets.
Sale of long-term Investments for cash.
Refund of Income Tax received.
Funds from operations (operating or trading profit)
Non-operating Incomes: Dividend received on Investments, Interest received on
Investments, rent received, gifts received, donations received etc. are included under
this head.
USES OR APPLICATION OF FUNDS
Funds lost in operation / Trading Loss: The loss suffered by a business in the normal &
regular business operations is called operating loss.
Redemption of preference shares in cash or in any other current assets.
Redemption Debentures in cash.
9. Repayment of long terms loans in cash. e. Purchase of long term Investments.
Purchase of fixed assets for cash.
Non-operating expenses- This includes dividend paid on shares, Income tax paid,
Donation given, fines paid etc.