Features of a Cash Flow Waterfall in Project Finance (2024)

Features of a Cash Flow Waterfall in Project Finance

By Leigh Tomlinson

Thursday 25th September 2008

Features of a Cash Flow Waterfall in Project Finance (1)

The cash flow waterfall ensures that each cash flow item occurs at the correct seniority to other items. This tutorial outlines key categories of cash flow items and how to present the cash flow waterfall in comparison to the cash flow statement in a project finance model.

In project finance, a project’s cash flow is summarised using a cash flow waterfall, which shows the priority of each cash inflow and outflow. The cash flow waterfall ensures that each cash flow item occurs at the correct seniority to other items. The cash flow waterfall becomes especially important when illustrating debt repayments of many debt tranches with reducing seniority.

The concept of cash flow waterfall is also covered in more details in the Corality Academy’s project finance modelling training course, and in further detail in the advanced debt modelling and project finance course. The theory course of project finance is also covered in the Concepts & Applications course.

Cash flow waterfall categories

A cash flow waterfall is simple in its approach, as all cash flow items are placed in the order in which they occur. The main categories of a cash flow waterfall, in order of occurrence are:

  • Revenues: Operating revenues and other income
  • Expenses: Operating expenses and capital expenses
  • Tax
  • Debt service: Principal repayments and interest paid
  • Distributions
  • Net movement in cash balance

Key summary lines of cash flow waterfall

The cash flow waterfall is used to calculate key cash flow lines, which are used in different parts of project finance modelling. Key lines of the cash flow waterfall are:

Screenshot 1 is a high level illustration of a typical cash flow waterfall. Each category will be separated into individual line items, such as individual operating costs.

It clearly shows that by going down the page, you are able to identify the timing and seniority of each cash flow and the highlighted key cash flow lines.

Features of a Cash Flow Waterfall in Project Finance (2)

Comparison of a cash flow statement and a cash flow waterfall

Grouping of cash flows

The cash flow statement presents information in three key categories: Cash flow from operations; cash flow from investing; and cash flow from financing, which are standalone from one another.

Seniority of cash flow items

The cash flow statement does not order cash flows in order of seniority, thereby making it less efficient when analysing a project’s debt repayment ability. The cash flow waterfall clearly shows the amount of cash flow at each level as described in the term sheet.

Investors or Financiers?

The cash flow statement provides information that can be readily analysed from an external investor’s perspective, whereas the cash flow waterfall provides information that can be easily analysed by the banks.

Screenshot 2 is an illustration of a cash flow statement. When compared with the structure of the cash flow waterfall in screenshot 1, the differences are easily identified.

Features of a Cash Flow Waterfall in Project Finance (3)

Points to consider in cash flow waterfall modelling

The term sheet specifies the seniority of certain categories, such as reserve accounts.

The addition of an annual cash flow waterfall significantly improves the usability of the model, as it facilitates analysis at a high level. This is efficiently coded using the SUMIF formula based on calendar year, financial year or operating year.

Ensure that debt is being repaid according to seniority of the tranches.

This is especially important in downside sensitivity or scenario analysis, where the operating cash flows are highly stressed.

The cash flow waterfall is used to calculate the net movement in the cash balance and also the cash closing balance.

Adding an integrity check to this line that indicates whether the closing cash balance (or balance carried forward – balance C/f) is negative is a critical component of a complete model. If this integrity check is not added, a project can appear to be funded by a negative cash balance which is not a realistic scenario.

More recommended financial modelling resources

There are numerous other financial modelling tutorials, blogs and webinars available for your reading.

Some of the more popular courses that relate to this topic include:

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Features of a Cash Flow Waterfall in Project Finance (2024)

FAQs

Features of a Cash Flow Waterfall in Project Finance? ›

The cash flow statement is divided into three main sections: cash flow from operations, cash flow from investing, and cash flow from financing, each showing different sources and uses of cash. The two accounting methods, accrual and cash accounting, determine how a cash flow statement is presented.

What are the features of a cash flow statement? ›

The cash flow statement is divided into three main sections: cash flow from operations, cash flow from investing, and cash flow from financing, each showing different sources and uses of cash. The two accounting methods, accrual and cash accounting, determine how a cash flow statement is presented.

What is the cash waterfall? ›

Cash Waterfall and cash flow modeling, one of the different types of financial models, is a mechanism that helps in determining the allocation of the monthly interest and the principal cash flows among the parties involved in a transaction. It's a method of payment in a collateralized debt obligation (CDO) structure.

What is the waterfall method in finance? ›

The Waterfall Model, a widely used financial framework, offers a structured and transparent approach to distribute cash flows in a cascading manner. This article explores the applications, advantages, and disadvantages of the Waterfall Model, along with its importance in strategic management level decisions.

What is the cash flow statement for a project finance? ›

The cash flow statement is a financial statement that summarizes the amount of cash inflows and outflows of a company/project. The cash-flow waterfall also known as cash-flow cascade sets out the order of priorities for the use of cash inflows (revenues) earned by an SPV.

Which are the 3 main activities of a cash flow statement? ›

The main components of the CFS are cash from three areas: Operating activities, investing activities, and financing activities.

What are the four major parts of a cash flow statement? ›

The statement of cash flows has four distinct sections:
  • Cash involving operating activities.
  • Cash involving investing activities.
  • Cash involving financing activities.
  • Supplemental information.

What is the waterfall mechanism in project finance? ›

It dictates the order in which a project's revenue is allocated to various expenses, debt services, reserves, and equity returns. By sequencing cash distributions, a Cash Flow Waterfall ensures that critical obligations are met first, safeguarding the financial integrity of the project as it moves along.

What is a waterfall in finance? ›

A distribution waterfall is a way to allocate investment returns or capital gains among participants of a group or pooled investment. Commonly associated with private equity funds, the distribution waterfall defines the pecking order in which distributions are allocated to limited and general partners.

What is the cash flow waterfall analysis? ›

The cash flow waterfall is used to calculate the net movement in the cash balance and also the cash closing balance. Adding an integrity check to this line that indicates whether the closing cash balance (or balance carried forward – balance C/f) is negative is a critical component of a complete model.

What is the waterfall method of a project? ›

The waterfall methodology is a project management approach that emphasizes a linear progression from beginning to end of a project. This methodology, often used by engineers, is front-loaded to rely on careful planning, detailed documentation, and consecutive execution.

What is waterfall formula? ›

A waterfall calculation serves as the financial blueprint for distributing profits from an investment. It's a multi-tiered model that outlines how profits—or 'distributions' in private equity parlance—will be allocated among the general partners (GPs) and limited partners (LPs).

What is the financial statement waterfall? ›

An income statement waterfall chart is a way to visualize income and expenditures over a given period of time. It's a basic chart that includes a starting value for net revenue and presents floating bars that represent the expense side of the P&L statement.

How to make a project cash flow statement? ›

There are several steps you can take to create a cash flow projection statement:
  1. Calculate the current cash amount. ...
  2. Estimate projected cash. ...
  3. Estimate potential expenses. ...
  4. Calculate predicted income minus predicted expenses. ...
  5. Add the projected cash flow figure to the current cash amount.

What is an example of a cash flow of a project? ›

Terminal cash flows are the cash flows incurred at the end of the project. For example, at the end of the new equipment's useful life, Mr. Tater could sell the equipment for $10,000. Since this is money coming into the Crunchy Spud Potato Chip Company, it represents a cash inflow.

Why is cash flow analysis important in project finance? ›

Cash flow in project management is the linchpin that keeps operations running smoothly. It enables project managers to forecast, plan, and mitigate potential risks. Managing cash flow ensures timely payments to suppliers, staff, and contractors, preventing delays that could jeopardize project timelines.

What is included in the statement of cash flows? ›

The three sections of the cash flow statement are: operating activities, investing activities and financing activities.

Which of the following is a characteristic of a cash flow statement? ›

Answer: C. It covers a period of time, usually one month or one year. The statement of cashflows shows the inflows and outflows of cash for a certain period. The statement of cashflows presents the cash used in or provided by the operating, investing and financing activities.

What is the feature of fund flow statement? ›

A fund flow statement is a document that covers the inflows and outflows of funds. The funding sources and the use of funds in a given period will be included. Therefore, the reasons behind the change in a company's finances can be analysed.

What are the features of cash transaction? ›

A cash transaction happens when someone immediately pays cash to purchase goods and services. Buying or selling stocks can be considered a cash transaction because it happens at the current price in the market. The money and the shares are exchanged as soon as the deal is made, even if it takes a few days to settle.

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