Determinants of Firms’ Working Capital Panel Evidence from Listed East African Manufacturing Companies

Abstract

This study evaluates the determinants of working capital of manufacturing companies listed in East Africa Stock Exchanges. It uses Cash Conversion Cycle and Acid Test Ratios as the measures of working capital and Return on Assets (ROA), Firm Size, Firm Growth, Asset Utilization, Operating cash flows, Gearing and Real GDP Growth Rate as the determinants of working capital. This study employed the Fixed and Random Affect Multiple regression models using panel data in the period (2005-2014). The findings showed that ROA, Firm size and Firm Growth and Asset Utilization have a significant relationship with Cash Conversion Cycle using the Random Effect model. For Acid Test Ratio; Firm Size, Firm Growth, Gearing and Operating Cash Flows showed significant relationship with this ratio using the Fixed Effect model. So manufacturing companies are urged to maintain appropriate working capital levels by striking a balance between the factors that influence working capital as they have been established by this study