Interpreting Cash Flows The statement of cash flows for Rowe Furniture Corporation is shown below. Based in Salem, Virginia, the firm manufactures upholstered household furniture including sofas, sofa beds, and chairs.

Required Use the statement of cash flows to answer the following questions.

A. What were Rowe’s primary sources of cash in 2001? Were these different than in the prior two years?

B. What were Rowe’s primary uses of cash in 2001? Were these different than in the prior two years?

C. What were the primary reasons for the decrease in cash flow from operating activities between 2000 and 2001?

D. Evaluate Rowe’s cash flows over the period shown. Has the company been able to finance its growth, dividends, and acquisition of treasury stock out of cash flow from operations? Explain.

E. Over the past three years, what were the primary reasons that cash flows from operations differed so much from net income?

F. The portion of the statement titled “Reconciliation of net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities” is a required disclosure. Of what does this section and presentation remind you? Might this disclosure requirement help explain why so few companies use the direct method? Explain.

The Rowe Companies Annual Report 2001
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

Year Ended

12/2/01
(52 weeks)

12/3/00 (53 weeks)
(in thousands)

11/28/99
(52 weeks)

Increase (Decrease) In Cash

Cash flows from Operating Activities

Cash received from customers

$329,683

$379,400

$295,563

Cash paid to suppliers and employees

328,948

354,570

274,870

Income taxes paid, net of refunds

585

6,183

7,726

Interest paid

4,642

5,693

2,686

Interest received

480

288

159

Other receipts—net

1,109

1,156

1,684

Net cash and cash equivalents provided by (used in)

operating activities

1,733

14,398

12,124

Cash flows from Investing Activities

Proceeds from sale of property and equipment

1,056

21

19

Capital expenditures

3,317

9,155

8,830

Payments to acquire businesses

5,160

8,892

Net cash used in investing activities

2,261

14,294

17,703

Cash flows from Financing Activities

Net borrowings (payments) under line of credit

5,368

164

2,071

Proceeds from issuance of long term debt

6,865

13,020

25,132

Payments to reduce long term debt

3,821

11,922

14,522

Proceeds from loans against life insurance policies

3,014

Proceeds from issuance of common stock

27

51

460

Dividends paid

1,379

1,849

1,714

Purchase of treasury stock

16

951

3,224

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

10,058

1,815

8,203

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

6,064

1,711

2,624

Cash at beginning of year

3,393

5,104

2,480

Cash at end of year

$9,457

$3,393

$5,104

The Rowe Companies Annual Report 2001
Reconciliation of Net Earnings (Loss) to Net Cash
Provided by (Used In) Operating Activities:

Year Ended

12/2/01
(52 weeks)

12/3/00
(53 weeks)
(in thousands)

11/28/99
(52 weeks)

Net earnings (loss)

$6,189

$3,544

$13,901

Adjustments to reconcile net earnings (loss) to net

cash provided by (used in) operating activities, net

of acquisition and disposition of businesses

Loss on disposition of Wexford

5,455

Depreciation and amortization

8,569

8,581

6,165

Provision for deferred compensation

173

816

1,083

Payments made for deferred compensation

813

160

319

Deferred income taxes

1,001

2,099

472

Provision for losses on accounts receivable

4,421

1,485

413

Loss (gain) on disposition of assets

15

29

4

Change in operating assets and liabilities net of

effects of acquisition and disposition of businesses

Decrease (increase) in accounts receivable

4,649

5,564

9,379

Decrease (increase) in inventories

227

832

5,692

Decrease (increase) in prepaid expenses and other

1,679

887

795

Decrease (increase) in other assets

352

472

1,210

Increase (decrease) in accounts payable

10,277

4,750

3,830

Increase (decrease) in accrued expenses

4,433

1,715

2,170

Increase (decrease) in customer deposits

403

1,105

2,425

Total adjustments

4,456

10,854

1,777

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

($1,733)

$14,398

$12,124