2. PIEPKORN MANUFACTURING WORKING CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, PART 2 After completing the short-term financial plan for next year (above part 1), Gary Piepkorn approaches you and asks about the company's credit policy. In looking at the competition, most companies in the industry offer credit to customers, so Piepkorn Manufacturing appears to be one of the few companies that does not. Several customers have expressed the possibility of changing to a different supplier because of the lack of credit. Gary is interested in knowing how implementing a credit policy will affect the short-term financial plan for next year. Additionally, he would like you to inquire as to the possibility of getting improved credit terms for the company's purchases. To analyze the possible switch to the new credit terms, Gary has asked you to investigate industry standard credit terms and rework the short-term financial plan assuming Piepkorn Manufacturing offers credit to its customers. He would also like to investigate how better credit terms from the company's suppliers would affect the short-term financial plan. a. You have looked at the credit policy offered by your competitors and have determined that the industry standard credit policy is 1/10, net 45. The discount will begin to be offered on the first day of the year. You want to examine how this credit policy would affect the cash budget and short-term financial plan. If this credit policy is implemented, you believe that 60 percent of customers will take advantage of the credit offer and the accounts receivable period will be 24 days. Rework the cash budget and short-term financial plan under the new credit policy and a target cash balance of $80,000. What interest rate are you effectively offering customers? b. You have talked to the company's suppliers about the credit terms Piepkorn receives. Currently, the company receives terms of net 45. Your suppliers have stated that they would offer new credit terms of 2/25, net 40. The discount would begin to be offered on the first day of the year. What interest rate are the suppliers offering the company? Rework your cash budget and short-term financial plan from the previous question assuming you take advantage of the discount offered. 3. Suppose the rate of inflation in Russia will run about 3% higher than the U.S. inflation rate over the next several years. All other things being the same, what will happen to the ruble versus dollar exchange rate? What relationship are you relying on in answering? 4. This question has to do with the Cash Account. Indicate the impact of the following corporate actions on cash, using the terms Increase, Decrease, or no change. For each, explain your conclusion. - A dividend is paid with funds received from a sale of debt - Real estate is purchased and paid for with short-term debt - Inventory is bought on credit - A short-term bank loan is repaid - Next years taxes are prepaid.