Can a reduction in net financial debt (prompted by a decrease in working capital) reduce WACC?
It is true that a reduction in working capital results in a reduction in net debt. It also results in an improvement in shareholder risk, as operating assets are financed by less debt and relatively more equity. On markets in equilibrium, a reduction in the share of debt in capital employed will be set off by a reduction in the cost of equity, leaving WACC unchanged (for more details see chapter 23 of the Vernimmen).
