- 10 Marks
Question
Nimega Plc is a Nigeria-based multinational company that has subsidiaries in two foreign countries. Both subsidiaries trade with other group members and with four third-party companies.
You are required to present SIX arguments for and FOUR arguments against centralized treasury management in a multinational organization.
(10 Marks)
Answer
Arguments For Centralized Treasury Management (6):
- Avoiding Cash Surplus/Deficit Issues:
- Centralized management prevents cash surpluses in some accounts and overdrafts in others, enabling better bulk cash flow management.
- Better Investment Opportunities:
- Larger volumes of pooled funds allow for investment in higher-yielding short-term instruments, such as money markets or certificates of deposit.
- Cost Efficiency in Borrowing:
- Borrowing in bulk at lower interest rates is facilitated, reducing financial costs compared to smaller, localized borrowing.
- Improved Foreign Currency Risk Management:
- Foreign currency income from one subsidiary can offset expenses in another, reducing exposure to currency fluctuation risks.
- Access to Specialized Expertise:
- Centralized treasury employs financial experts adept at managing financial instruments like futures, options, swaps, and international market operations.
- Efficient Utilization of Precautionary Balances:
- Centralization minimizes the total cash reserves needed for emergencies, compared to decentralization.
Arguments Against Centralized Treasury Management (4):
- Reduced Local Responsiveness:
- Localized treasury departments may respond more quickly to specific subsidiary needs than a centralized one.
- Decreased Managerial Motivation:
- Subsidiary managers lose autonomy over cash management, potentially affecting their motivation and ability to make impactful decisions.
- Challenges in Monitoring Remote Operations:
- Centralized treasury may face difficulties monitoring and collecting accurate data from geographically dispersed subsidiaries.
- Slower Investment Decisions:
- Local subsidiaries may find it easier to quickly invest small cash surpluses in short-term opportunities compared to centralized management.
- Topic: Treasury management
- Series: NOV 2014
- Uploader: Dotse