Corveta Motors Is Profitable and Cash Is Still Tight

Finance
medium40 min0 submissions
BCG
Scenario

Corveta Motors is a automotive business in Europe. Last year it turned over €457 M at a 27% gross margin and reported a profit — yet it drew on its overdraft in seven months out of twelve.

The treasurer has pulled the working capital numbers: receivables run at 71 days, inventory at 76 days, and the company pays its own suppliers in 35 days.

Sales insist the long payment terms are what win contracts in this market. Procurement say the inventory is a deliberate buffer after a supply disruption two years ago. The bank has asked for a plan before renewing the facility.

Supporting data

financials

cogs m
334
revenue m
457
gross margin pct
27

derived hints

revenue per day m
1.25
cash conversion cycle days
112
cash released per 12 dso days m
15

working capital days

days sales outstanding
71
days payables outstanding
35
days inventory outstanding
76
Your task

Advise the CFO. Your answer should provide:

  1. Analysis — compute the cash conversion cycle and how much cash is tied up. Convert days into money.
  2. Risks — what breaks commercially if you pull each lever.
  3. Recommendation — which lever first, how much cash it frees, and what it costs you.

State any assumptions you make.

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How you'll be graded

80 points, 60% to pass.

  • recommendation20
  • market analysis15
  • risk assessment20
  • financial analysis25
Hint
Reveal suggested structure

Cash conversion cycle = DSO + DIO - DPO. Translate days into currency at revenue or COGS per day, then rank levers by cash freed against commercial cost.