Question

Safeco’s current assets total to $20 million versus $10 million of current liabilities, while Risco’s current assets are $10 million versus $20 million of current liabilities. Both firms would like to "window dress" their end-of-year financial statements, and to do so they tentatively plan to borrow $10 million on a short-term basis and to then hold the borrowed funds in their cash accounts. Which of the statements below best describes the results of these transactions?a. The transactions would improve Safeco's financial strength as measured by its current ratio but lower Risco's current ratio. b. The transactions would lower Safeco's financial strength as measured by its current ratio but raise Risco's current ratio. c. The transactions would have no effect on the firm' financial strength as measured by their current ratios. d. The transactions would lower both firm' financial strength as measured by their current ratios. e. The transactions would improve both firms' financial strength as measured by their current ratios.

Answer 1

Answer:

b. The transactions would lower Safeco's financial strength as measured by its current ratio but raise Risco's current ratio

Explanation:

The formula to compute the current ratio is shown below:

Current ratio = Total Current assets ÷ total current liabilities  

So,

For Safeco, the current ratio would be

= $20 million ÷ $10 million

= 2 times

And for Risco, the current ratio would be

= $10 million ÷ $20 million

= 0.5 times

After borrowing, the current ratio would be

The current assets and the current liabilities would be increased by $10 million in each side.

For Safeco, the current ratio would be

= $30 million ÷ $20 million

= 1.5 times

And for Risco, the current ratio would be

= $20 million ÷ $30 million

= 0.67 times

By comparing the current ratio, we get to know that The Safeco current ratio would be decreased whereas, the Risco current ratio is increased

Hence, option b is correct