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What is CAPEX management and how is it done in a large organisation?

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Question added by Nitin Gupta, ACA , FP&A , Rockwell Automation
Date Posted: 2013/11/06

A capital expenditure is an outlay of cash to acquire or upgrade a business asset. Common examples of a capital expenditure include the purchase of a new building, or the cost of significant upgrades to an existing facility. A capital expenditure is considered to be deductible, because it represents an improvement to the business, and it is deducted over the expected life of the item, rather than all at once as in the case of repair or maintenance expenditures. 

A capital expenditure is also sometimes referred to as capital spending or a capital expense, and many publicly traded companies list their capital expenditures for the year in annual reports, so that stockholders can see how the company is using their money in long term planning. Most companies engage in capital expenditures yearly, in an attempt to constantly upgrade and improve facilities, vehicles, and equipment. 

Sometimes it can be difficult to determine the difference between a capital expenditure and an opex. In general, if the expenditure improves the value of the asset, it is a capital expenditure, while if it simply keeps the asset in working condition, it is an opex. 

Engaging in capital expenditure is a routine way to improve and expand a business, whether done on small or large scale. Large corporations may acquire additional companies, as in the case of an automotive giant which purchases another car manufacturer, while smaller businesses may consider the purchase of a new office printer to  be a capital expenditure. In general, allowances are made in the budget of the company for capital expenditures, including unexpected ones involving the replacement of items which are no longer able to be repaired. 

A capital expenditure is amortized over the length of the life of the investment, which may range from an expectation of five to40 years, depending on the investment. This time period is known as a recovery period, and recovery periods for major assets are set out so that companies will know how to deduct capital expenditures. The amortization means that the company cannot deduct the cost of the capital expenditure all at once, and must instead spread it out over the life of the investment

wael mohamed
by wael mohamed , Internal Audit Manager , Egypt Bakery Stores & Egypt Modern Bakery

A capital expenditure (Capex) is money invested by a company to acquire or upgrade fixed, physical, non-consumable assets, such as buildings and equipment or a new business. 

There are two types of Capex – those that are invested in to maintain existing levels of operation within a company and those that are invested in something new  to foster future growth. Customarily, regardless of the manner of investment, Capex is money spent with the intent of initiating future cash flow and a substantial ROI.

Capex’s counterpart, operational expenditures (Opex), refers to the day-to-day costs of operation. A similar but not closely related term, forex, stands for foreign exchange.

nufall qanah
by nufall qanah , محاسب ضريبي - مستشار ضريبي , مؤسسة حسين خليفة للاسشارات الضريبية

(CAPEX or capex) are expenditures creating future benefits. A capital expenditure is incurred when a business spends money either to buy fixed assets or to add to the value of an existing fixed asset with a useful life extending beyond the taxable year.CAPEX are used by a company to acquire or upgrade physical assets such as equipment, property, or industrial buildings.[1] In the case when a capital expenditure constitutes a major financial decision for a company, the expenditure must be formalized at an annual shareholders meeting or a special meeting of the Board of Directors. In accounting, a capital expenditure is added to an asset account ("capitalized"), thus increasing the asset's basis (the cost or value of an asset adjusted for tax purposes). CAPEX is commonly found on the cash flow statement under "Investment in Plant, Property, and Equipment" or something similar in the Investing subsection.

Menerva Melad
by Menerva Melad , Account Executive, Key Accounts , Graphic Home Company

A capital expenditure (Capex) is money invested by a company to acquire or upgrade fixed, physical, non-consumable assets, such as buildings and equipment or a new business.

Khalid Noor
by Khalid Noor , Accounting Manager , FedEx

Capital expenditure (capex) refers to the money a business spends purchasing or upgrading fixed assets for future business benefit. Capital expenditure can include money spent for new property that will be resold, or which might be kept for one or more years.

 

The detail how a large orgainization manages its capital is a detail discussion but in simple and summarised words CAPEX in large orgainization can be managed in  the following ways:

 

 

 

  • Ensure centralized reporting (all business units/entities are monitored in one location).
  • Project work capacity (set high/low achievement projections by month/year).
  • Ensure all capital-intensive projects are captured in the forecast.
  • Re-forecast at least quarterly based on level of completion (percentage/dollar), schedule updates or cost adjustments.
  • Track authorization for expenditure (AFE) drawdown (gross/net) and any supplemental requirements/impacts.
  • Monitor AFE spend at least monthly and ensure AFEs are being closed in a timely manner to mitigate the risk of expense items being charged to capital accounts as a result of improper coding.
  • Ensure proper accruals are being made each month/quarter so that spend is captured accurately, thus enabling more accurate forecasting of remaining costs.

Deleted user
by Deleted user

http://www.afponline.org/pub/res/news/Keys_to_Effective_Capex_Management.html

Khaled Abdelrehim ACCA DipIFR CMA
by Khaled Abdelrehim ACCA DipIFR CMA , Financial Analysis Assistant General Manager , Khalda Petroleum Company

I think it is capital budgeting and decision analysis

Aziz ur Rehman ur Rehman
by Aziz ur Rehman ur Rehman , Assistant Manager Finance , Central Power Puchasing Agency (CPPA)

"Capex management" managing the capital expenditures to be incured create  +ve NPV  cashflows of the projects .

there are two types  

1) enhancing the operational capacity of the organization

2) change in the non current assets i.e. plant and machinary ,fixtures and fitting etc.  

 

after that  it is a

decsion for the availablity of funds

it could be a debt financing

it could be equity financing

it could be to use the retained earning

or hibred  of all above.

but Cheaper is is exceptable  

Please visit us at 

https://www.caprivisolutions.com/

To how large companies do their CapEx. We have seen many different process with every implementations.

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