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CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study

Working capital management refers to investment in current assets and current liabilities which are liquidated within one year or less and is therefore crucial for firm’s day to day operation (Eljelly 2008:67) working capital is the money needed to finance the daily revenue generating activities of the firm. According to Afza (2008:54) working capital management plays a significant role in determining success or failure of firm in business performance due to its effect on firm’s profitability as well on liquidity. Business success depends heavily on the ability of financial managers to effectively manage the components of working capital. A firm may adopt an aggressive or a conservative working capital management policy to achieve this goal. Working capital management efficiency is vital especially for manufacturing firm where a major part of assets is composed to current assets (Emekekwue, 2009:574). It directly affects the profitability and liquidity of firms. The profitability liquidity trade o is important because if working capital management is not given due consideration then the firms are liable to fail and face bankruptcy (filbeck and krwyen 2010:119) the significance of working capital management efficiency is irrefutable.
Working capital is known as life giving force for any economic unit and it’s management is considered among the most important function of corporate management. Every organization whether profit oriented or not, irrespective of size and nature of business, requires necessary amount of working capital. Maintaining liquidity, survival, solvency and profitability of business. Working capital management is one of the most important areas while making the liquidity and profitability comparisons among firms involving the decision of the amount and composition of current assets and the financing of these assets (Elyelly 2009:34). The greater the relative proportion of liquid assets the lesser the risk of running out of cash, all other things being equal. All individual components of working capital including cash, marketable securities, account receivables and inventory management play a vital role in the performance of any firm. Filbeck, G and T.M. Krueyer, (2010) argued that efficient working capital management is very important to create value for the share holders. They also airmed that profitability and liquidity are the silient goals of working capital management necessitating the essence of this study on impact of working capital management on financial performance of manufacturing firms.
1.2  Statement Of The Problem
The management of a firm’s liquidity is necessary for all businesses, small, medium or large. When a business does not manage its liquidity well, it will have cash shortages and as a result experience problems paying its obligations when they fall due. Indeed, working capital starvation has generally been credited as a major cause of not the main cause of failure of the manufacturing sector in Nigeria. This directly affects the return on equity which is the amount of net income returned as percentage of shareholders equity. Working capital management is therefore important because of its effect on the firm’s profitability and risk and consequently its value. Investments in current assets represent a very significant position of total assets. Working capital management is critical to all firms but particularly to the manufacturing sector base on the premise that irregularities in working capital management is known to have direct effect on such ratios as stock turnover ratio and current ratio as well as debt collection period. This is due to the fact that the liquidity of a manufacturing firm that experience is affected as well. 
1.3  Objectives Of The Study
The broad objective of this study is to appraise the impact of working capital management on financial performance of manufacturing firms focusing on Nigeria beer sector. The specific objectives include the following
1. To examine the relationship between stock turnover and return on equity.
2. To examine the relationship between current ratio and return on equity.
3. To ascertain the extent of association between debt collection period and return on equity.
1.4  Research Questions
The following research questions are stated for this study:
1. Does a significant relationship exist between stock turnover and return on equity?
2. Does a significant relationship exist between current ratio and return on equity?
3. What is the extent of association between debt collection period and return on equity?
1.5  Research Hypotheses
The following hypotheses are formulated for this study.
Hypothesis one
H0: A significant relationship does not exist between stock turnover and return on equity.
H1: A significant relationship exists between stock turnover and return on equity.
Hypothesis two
H0: A significant relationship does not exist between current ratio and return on equity.
H1: A significant relationship exist between current ratio and return on equity.
Hypothesis three
H0: The extent of association between debt collection period and return on equity is not significant.
H0: The extent of association between debt collection period and return on equity is significant.
1.6  Significance Of The Study
This study will be of immense significance to the Nigerian beer sector in that it will go to a great extent in enlightening them on the concepts of working capital management as well as how it affects financial performance of organizations. The recommendation will suggest for them on the strategies to adopt in effectively managing their capital for improved financial performance. Students and other researchers will as well widen their scope from the information contained in this study.
1.7   Scope And Limitations Of The Study
This study on the impact of working capital management is focused on Guinness and Nigerian Breweries. The researcher encountered diverse constraints in the process of carrying out this research study. Difficulty in gathering research material: there was difficulty in gathering the necessary information or materials necessary for their successful completion of this research study. This is due to the fact that most of the staff of Nigeria brewery Plc, 9th mile corner, Enugu were either not on sit or were uncooperative in providing the necessary information as regards to their reward management practices.

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