Companies A, B, C and D:
• are based in a country that uses the K$ as its currency.
• have an objective to grow operating profit year on year.
• have the same total levels of revenue and cost.
• trade with companies or individuals in the eurozone. All import and export trade with companies or individuals in the eurozone is priced in EUR.
Typical import/export trade for each company in a year are as follows:
Which company's growth objective is most sensitive to a movement in the EUR/K$ exchange rate?
A company has accumulated a significant amount of excess cash which is not required for investment for the foreseeable future.
It is currently on deposit, earning negligible returns.
The Board of Directors is considering returning this excess cash to shareholders using a share repurchase programme.
The majority of shareholders are individuals with small shareholdings.
Which THREE of the following are advantages of the company undertaking a share repurchase programme?
An aerospace company is planning to diversify into car manufacturing.
Relevant data:
What is the the cost of equity to be used in the WACC for the project appraisal?
Give your answer in percentage, as a whole number.
Which THREE of the following are the most likely exit routes that apply to a venture capitalist?
A venture capitalist invests in a company by means of buying:
• 9 million shares for $2 a share and
• 8% bonds with a nominal value of $2 million, repayable at par in 3 years' time.
The venture capitalist expects a return on the equity portion of the investment of at least 20% a year on a compound basis over the first 3 years of the investment.
The company has 10 million shares in issue.
What is the minimum total equity value for the company in 3 years' time required to satisify the venture capitalist's expected return?
Give your answer to the nearest $ million.
$ million.
Company XXY operates in country X with the X$ as its currency. It is looking to acquire company ZZY which operates in country Z with the Z$ as its currency.
The assistant accountant at Company XXY has started to prepare an initial valuation of Company ZZY's equity for the first 3 years, however their valuation is incomplete. TBC' in the table below indicates that her calculations have yet to be completed.
The following information is relevant:
What is the correct figure (to the nearest million S) to include in year 3 as the present value in X$ million?
A venture capitalist invests in a company by means of buying:
• 9 million shares for $2 a share and
• 8% bonds with a nominal value of $2 million, repayable at par in 3 years' time.
The venture capitalist expects a return on the equity portion of the investment of at least 20% a year on a compound basis over the first 3 years of the investment.
The company has 10 million shares in issue.
What is the minimum total equity value for the company in 3 years' time required to satisify the venture capitalist's expected return?
Give your answer to the nearest $ million.
$ million.
A company's Board of Directors is considering raising a long-term bank loan incorporating a number of covenants.
The Board members are unsure what loan covenants involve.
Which THREE of the following statements regarding loan covenants are true?
An all equity financed company reported earnings for the year ending 31 December 20X1 of $8 million.
One of its financial objectives is to increase earnings by 5% each year.
In the year ending 31 December 20X2 it financed a project by issuing a bond with a $1 million nominal value and a coupon rate of 4%.
The company pays corporate income tax at 20%.
If the company is to achieve its earnings target for the year ending 31 December 20X2, what is the minimum operating profit (profit before interest and tax) that it must achieve?
A new company was set up two years ago using the personal financial resources of the founders.
These funds were used to acquire suitable premises.
The company has entered into a long-term lease on the premises which are not yet fully fitted out.
The founders are considering requesting loan finance from the company's bank to fund the purchase of custom-made advanced technology equipment.
No other companies are using this type of equipment.
The company expects to continue to be profitable for the forseeable future.
It re-invests some of its surplus cash in on-going essential research and development.
Which THREE of the following features are likely to be considered negatives by the bank when assessing the company's credit-worthiness?
Which THREE of the following are likely to be strategic reasons for a horizontal acquisition?
A company's current profit before interest and taxation is $1.1 million and it is expected to remain constant for the foreseeable future.
The company has 4 million shares in issue on which the earnings yield is currently 10%. It also has a $2 million bond in issue with a fixed interest rate of 5%.
The corporate income tax rate is 20% and is expected to remain unchanged.
Which of the following is the best estimate of the current share price?
Extracts from a company's profit forecast for the next financial year is as follows:
Since preparing the forecast, the company has decided to return surplus cash to shareholders by a share repurchase arrangement.
The share repurchase would result in the company purchasing 20% of the 2,000 million ordinary shares currently in issue and cancelling them.
Assuming the share repurchase went ahead, the impact on the company's forecast earnings per share will be an increase of:
Z wishes to borrow at a floating rate and has been told that it can use swaps to reduce the effective interest rate it pays. Z can borrow floating at Libor ' 1, and fixed at 10%.
Which of the following companies would be the most appropriate for Z to enter into a swap with?
NNN is a company financed by both equity and debt. The directors of NNN wish to calculate a valuation of the company's equity and at a recent board meeting discussed various methods of business valuation.
Which THREE of the following are appropriate methods for the directors of NNN to use in this instance?
On 1 January 20X1, a company had:
• Cost of equity of 10 0%.
• Cost of debt of 5.0%
• Debt of $100Mmilion
• 100 million $1 shares trading at $4.00 each.
On 1 February 20X1:
• The company's share police fell to $3.00.
• Debt and the cost of debt remained unchanged
The company does not pay tax.
Under Modigliani and Miller's theory without lax. what is the best estimate of the movement in the cost of equity as a result of the fall in ne share price?
Which THREE of the following statements about stock market listings are correct?
Company M is a listed company in a highly technical service industry.
The directors are considering making a cash offer for the shares in Company Q, an unquoted company in the same industry.
Relevant data about Company Q:
• The company has seen consistent growth in earnings each year since it was founded 10 years ago.
• It has relatively few non-current assets.
• Many of the employees are leading experts in their field. A recent exercise suggested that the value of the company's human capital exceeded the value of its tangible assets.
The directors and major shareholders of Company Q have indicated willingness to sell the company.
Before negotiations become too advanced, the directors of Company M are considering the benefits to their company that would follow the acquisition.
Which THREE of the following are the most likely benefits of the acquisition to Company M's shareholders?
Company X is based in Country A, whose currency is the A$.
It trades with customers in Country B, whose currency is the B$.
Company X aims to maintain its revenue from exports to Country B at 25% of total revenue.
Company A has the following forecast revenue:
The forecast revenue from Country B has assumed an exchange rate of A$1/B$2, that is A$1 = B$2.
If the B$ depreciates against the A$ by 10%, the ratio of revenue generated from Country B as a percentage of total revenue will:
SUP is a large supermarket chain. It produces many 'own brand' goods in Country S where the parent company is located. These goods are sold in SUP's supermarkets in Country S as well as being sold at a 'transfer price' to SUP companies located in foreign countries for sale in the SUP supermarkets located in that country.
Which of the following factors is the most important for SUP from a lax planning and compliance viewpoint when setting prices for the 'own brand' goods sold to other group companies'?
Company W has received an unwelcome takeover bid from Company B. The offer is a share exchange of 3 shares in Company B for 5 shares in Company W or a cash alternative of $5.70 for each Company W share.
Company B is approximately twice the size of Company W based on market capitalisation. Although the two companies have some common business interested the main aim of the bid is diversification for Company B.
Company W has substantial cash balances which the directors were planning to use to fund an acquisition. These plans have not been announced to the market.
The following share price information is relevant.
Which of the following would be the most appropriate action by Company W's directors following receipt of this hostile bid?
Company A is located in Country A, where the currency is the A$.
It is listed on the local stock market which was set up 10 years ago.
It plans a takeover of Company B, which is located in Country B where the currency is the B$, and where the stock market has been operating for over 100 years.
Company A is considering how to finance the acquisition, and how the shareholders of Company B might respond to a share exchange or cash (paid in B$).
Which of the following is likely to explain why the shareholders of Company B would prefer a share exchange as opposed to a cash offer?
Company YZZ has made a bid for the entire share capital of Company ZYY
Company YZZ is offering the shareholders in Company ZYY the option of either a share exchange or a cash alternative
Which THREE of the following would be considered disadvantages of accepting the cash consideration for the shareholders of Company ZYY?
A major energy company, GDE, generates and distributes electricity in country A. The government of country A is concerned about rising inflation and has imposed price controls on GDE, limiting the price it can charge per unit of electricity sold to both domestic and commercial customers. It is likely that price controls will continue for the foreseeable future.
The introduction of price controls is likely to reduce the profit for the current year from $3 billion to $1 billion.
The company has:
• Distributable reserves of $2 billion.
• Surplus cash at the start of the year of $1 billion.
• Plans to pay a total dividend of $1.5 billion in respect of the current year, representing a small annual increase as in previous years. However, no dividends have yet been announced.
Which THREE of the following responses would be MOST appropriate for GDE following the imposition of price controls?
A geared and profitable company is evaluating the best method of financing the purchase of new machinery. It is considering either buying the machinery outright, financed by a secured bank borrowing and selling the machinery at the end of a fixed period of time or obtain the machinery under a lease for the same period of time.
Which is the correct discount rate to use when discounting the incremental cash flows of the lease against those of the buy and borrow alternative?
A venture capitalist invests in a company by means of buying
* 6 million shares for $3 a share and
• 7% bonds with a nominal value of $2 million, repayable at par in 3 years' time
The venture capitalist expects a return on the equity portion of the investment of at least 20% a year on a compound basis over the first 3 years of the investment
The company has 8 million shares in issue
What is the minimum total equity value for the company in 3 years' time required to satisfy the venture capitalist's expected return?
Give your answer to the nearest $ million
Company Z has just completed the all-cash acquisition of Company A.
Both companies operate in the advertising industry.
The market considered the acquisition a positive strategic move by Company Z.
Which THREE of the following will the shareholders of Company Z expect the company's directors to prioritise following the acquisition?
Company A has just announced a takeover bid for Company B. The two companies are large companies in the same industry_ The bid is considered to be hostile.
Company B's Board of Directors intends to try to prevent the takeover as they do not consider it to be in the best interests of shareholders
Which THREE of the following are considered to be legitimate post-offer defences?
On 1 January:
• Company X has a value of $50 million
• Company Y has a value of $20 million
• Both companies are wholly equity financed
Company X plans to take over Company Y by means of a share exchange. Following the acquisition the post-tax cashflow of Company X for the foreseeable future is estimated to be $8 million each year. The post-acquisition cost of equity is expected to be 10%.
What is the best estimate of the value of the synergy that would arise from the acquisition?
Listed Company A has prepared a valuation of an unlisted company. Company B. to achieve vertical integration Company A is intending to acquire a controlling interest in the equity of Company B and therefore wants to value only the equity of Company B.
The assistant accountant of Company A has prepared the following valuation of Company B's equity using the dividend valuation model (DVM):
Where:
• S2 million is Company B's most recent dividend
• 5% is Company B's average dividend growth rate over the last 5 years
• 10% is a cost of equity calculated using the capital asset pricing model (CAPM), based on the industry average beta factor
Which THREE of the following are valid criticisms of the valuation of Company B's equity prepared by the assistant accountant?
The directors of the following four entities have been discussing dividend policy:
Which of these four entities is most likely to have a residual dividend policy?
The following information relates to Company ZZA's current capital structure:
Company ZZA is considering a change in the capital structure that will increase gearing to 35:65 (Debt Equity).
The risk-free rate is 4% and the return on the market portfolio is expected to be 12%.
The rate of corporate tax is 25%
Using the Capital Asset Pricing Model, calculate the cost of equity resulting from the proposed change to the capital structure.
A company generates and distributes electricity and gas to households and businesses.
Forecast results for the next financial year are as follows:
The Industry Regulator has announced a new price cap of $1.50 per Kilowatt.
The company expects this to cause consumption to rise by 10% but costs would remained unaltered.
The price cap is expected to cause the company's net profit to fall to:
An unlisted software development business is to be sold by its founders to a private equity house following the initial development of the software. The business has not yet made a profit but significant profits are expected for the next three years with only negligible profits thereafter. The business owns the freehold of the property from which it operates. However, it is the industry norm to lease property.
Which THREE of the following are limitations to the validity of using the Calculated Intangible Value (CIV) method for this business?
Company A has made an offer to take over all the shares in Company B on the following terms:
• For every 20 shares currently held, Company B's shareholders will receive $100 bond with a coupon rate of 3%
• The bond will be repaid in 10 years' time at its par value of $100.
• The current yield on 10 year bonds of similar risk is 6%.
What is the effective offer price per share being made to Company B's shareholders?
The Board of Directors of Company T is considering a rights issue to fund a new investment opportunity which has a zero NPV.
The Board of Directors wishes to explain to shareholders what the theoretical impact on their wealth will be as a result of different possible actions during the rights issue.
Which THREE of the following statements in respect of theoretical shareholder wealth are true?
Company T is a listed company in the retail sector.
Its current profit before interest and taxation is $5 million.
This level of profit is forecast to be maintainable in future.
Company T has a 10% corporate bond in issue with a nominal value of $10 million.
This currently trades at 90% of its nominal value.
Corporate tax is paid at 20%.
The following information is available:
Which of the following is a reasonable expectation of the equity value in the event of an attempted takeover?
A company proposes to value itself based on the net present value of estimated future cash flows.
Relevant data:
• The cash flow for the next three years is expected to be £100 million each year
• The cash flow after year 3 will grow at 2% to perpetuity
• The cost of capital is 12%
The value of the company to the nearest $ million is:
HHH Company has a fixed rate loan at 10.0%, but wishes to swap to variable. It can borrow at the risk-free rate +8%. The bank is currently quoting swap rates of 3.1% (bid) and 3.5% (ask). What net rate will HHH Company pay if it enters into the swap?
XCV can borrow at either 9.5% fixed or the risk-free rate plus 1.3%.
XCV wishes to borrow at a variable rate and thinks that a swap may enable it to do so cheaply
BNM can borrow the same principal sum as XCV It can borrow at 10 5% fixed or the risk-free rate plus 2 1 % BNM wishes to raise fixed rate debt
XCV and BNM have agreed to use an interest rate swap They will share any savings equally
Calculate the effective swap rate that will be paid by XCV.
Give your answer to one decimal place.
Company ABC's management has noticed that Company BCD has quickly built up a 20% stake by buying shares in Company ABC and are concerned that this is the start of a hostile bid.
This build-up of shares triggers the poison pill provision which automatically converts the rights to buy future preference shares previously issued to existing shareholders in Company ABC to full ordinary shares
What is the most likely impact of the triggering of a poison pill strategy at this stage in the bidding process?
A company's main objective is to achieve an average growth in dividends of 10% a year.
In the most recent financial year:
Sales are expected to grow at 8% a year over the next 5 years.
Costs are expected to grow at 5% a year over the next 5 years.
What is the minimum dividend payout ratio in 5 years' time that would allow the company to achieve its objective?
A company has a covenant on its 5% long term corporate bond.
• Covenant - The earnings must not fall below $7 million
The bond has a nominal value of $60 million.
It is currently trading at 80% of its nominal value.
The projected earnings before interest and taxation for next year are $11.5 million.
The company retains 80% of its earnings. It pays tax at 20%.
Advise the Board of Directors which of the following covenant conditions will apply next year?
A company has convertible bonds in issue.
The following debt is apply (31 December 20X0):
• Conversion ratio- 20 shares for each $130 bond.
• Current share price - $4 50
• Expected annual growth in share price - 5%
Advise the bond Holder at which date the convers on would be worthwhile?
ART manufactures traditional scooters. It has an equity beta of 1.4 and is financed entirely by equity. It plans to continue to be all-equity financed in future.
It is considering producing a range of electric scooters
GGG is a comparable quoted electric scooter manufacturer GGG has an equity beta of 2 4 reflecting its high level of gearing (the ratio of debt to equity is VI using market values).
The risk-free rate is 5%, and the market premium is 6%. The rate of corporation tax is 20%
What is the recommended discount rate that ART should use to assess the project to manufacture electric scooters?
G pic wishes to borrow $5 million in 6 months, for a period of 3 months. A bank has quoted the following Forward Rate Agreement (FRA) rales:
3 v 9 6.55%-6.70% 6v9 6.70%-6 90%.
G pic can borrow at 0 75% above base rate, and the base rate is currently 6.25% Concerned that base rates may rise, G pic decides that it will hedge using an FRA
At the settlement date for the FRA, the base rate has risen to 7.50%
What is the effective interest rate paid by G pic for its borrowing?
A company is currently all-equity financed.
The directors are planning to raise long term debt to finance a new project.
The debt:equity ratio after the bond issue would be 30:60 based on estimated market values.
According to Modigliani and Miller's Theory of Capital Structure without tax, the company's cost of equity would:
A consultancy company is dependent for profits and growth on the high value individuals it employs.
The company has relatively few tangible assets.
Select the most appropriate reason for the net asset valuation method being considered unsuitable for such a company.
A listed entertainment and media company produces and distributes films globally. The company invests heavily in intellectual property in order to create the scope for future film projects. The company has five separate distribution companies, each managed as a separate business unit The company is seeking to sell one of its business units in a management buy-out (MBO) to enable it to raise finance for proposed new investments
The business unit managers have been in discussions with a bank and venture capitalists regarding the financing for the MBO The venture capitalists are only prepared to invest a mixture of debt and equity and have suggested the following:
The venture capitalists have stated that they expect a minimum return on their equity investment of 3Q°/o a year on a compound basis over the first 5 years of the MBO No dividends will be paid during this period.
Advise the MBO team of the total amount due to the venture capitalist over the 5-year period to satisfy their total minimum return?
ZZZ wishes to borrow at a floating rate and has been told that it can use swaps to reduce the effective interest rate it pays. ZZZ can borrow floating at the risk-free rate + 1, and fixed at 10%.
Which of the following companies would be the most appropriate for ZZZ to enter into a swap with?
Company Z wishes to borrow $50 million for 10 years at a fixed rate of interest.
Two alternative approaches are being considered:
A. Issue a 10 year bond at a fixed rate of 6%, or
B. Borrow from the bank at Libor +2.5% for a 10 year period and simultaneously enter into a 10 year interest rate swap.
Current 10 year swap rates against Libor are 4.0% - 4.2%.
What is the difference in the net interest cost between the two alternative approaches?
Company A is identical in all operating and risk characteristics to Company B, but their capital structures differ.
Company B is all-equity financed. Its cost of equity is 17%.
Company A has a gearing ratio (debt:equity) of 1:2. Its pre-tax cost of debt is 7%.
Company A and Company B both pay corporate income tax at 30%.
What is the cost of equity for Company A?
Company P is a large unlisted food-processing company.
Its current profit before interest and taxation is $4 million, which it expects to be maintainable in the future.
It has a $10 million long-term loan on which it pays interest of 10%.
Corporate tax is paid at the rate of 20%.
The following information on P/E multiples is available:
Which of the following is the best indication of the equity value of Company P?
MAN is a manufacturing company that is based in country M and sells almost exclusively to customers in country M, priced in the local currency, M$.
MAN wishes to expand the business by acquiring a company that manufactures similar products but has a more global customer base. It is particularly interested in selling to customers in country P, which uses currency P$ but recognises that the P$ is generally quite volatile against the M$.
Country P uses the same language as country M, has free entry of labour from country M, no exchange controls or withholding tax and a favourable double tax treaty.
Which of the following companies would be most suitable takeover candidates for MAN to investigate further?
In the context of the Integrated Reporting
A company plans to cut its dividend but is concerned that the share price will fall. This demonstrates the _____________ effect
Company A is based in country A with the AS as its functional currency. It expects to receive BS20 million from Company B in settlement of an export invoice.
The current exchange rate is A$1 =B$2 and the daily standard deviation of this exchange rate = 0 5%
What is the one-day 95% VaR in AS?
PPA owns $500,000 of shares in Company ABB. Company ABB has a daily volatility of 2% of its share price
Calculate the 12-day value at risk that shows the most PPA can expect to lose during a 12-day period (PPA wishes to be 90% certain that the actual loss in any month will be less than your predicted figure)
Give your answer to the nearest thousand dollars.
A company plans to raise S15 million to finance an expansion project using a rights issue Relevant data
• Shares will be offered at a 20% discount to the present market price of S12 50 per share
• There are currently 3 million shares in issue
• The project is forecast to yield a positive NPV of $9 million
What is the yield-adjusted Theoretical Ex-Rights Price following the announcement of the rights issue?
At the last financial year end, 31 December 20X1, a company reported:
The corporate income tax rate is 30% and the bank borrowings are subject to an interest cover covenant of 4 times.
The results are presently comfortably within the interest cover covenant as they show interest cover of 8.3 times. The company plans to invest in a new product line which is not expected to affect profit in the first year but will require additional borrowings of $20 million at an annual interest rate of 10%.
What is the likely impact on the existing interest cover covenant?
Company U has made a bid for the entire share capital of Company B.
Company U is offering the shareholders in Company B the option of either a share exchange or a cash alternative.
Advise the shareholders in Company B which THREE of the following would be considered disadvantages of accepting the cash consideration?
A company is considering taking out $10.000,000 of floating rate bank borrowings to finance a new project. The current rate available to the company on floating rate barrowings is 8%. The borrowings contain a covenant based on an interested cover of 5 times.
The project is expected to generate the following results:
At what interest rate on the floating rate borrowings is the bank covenant first breached?
Which THREE of the following methods of business valuation would give a valuation of the equity of an entity, rather than the value of the whole entity?
A national rail operating company has made an offer to acquire a smaller competitor.
Which of the following pieces of information would be of most concern to the competition authorities?
A profit-seeking company intends to acquire another company for a variety of reasons, primarily to enhance shareholder wealth.
Which THREE of the following offer the greatest potential for enhancing shareholder wealth?
Company A has made an offer to acquire Company Z.
Both companies are quoted and their current market share prices are:
• Company A - $4
• Company Z - $5
Shareholders in company Z have been given three alternative offers:
• Cash of $5.50 per share
• Share for share exchange on the basis of 3 for 2
• 10.5% long dated bond for every 20 shares
The bond is has a nominal value of $100 and the expected yield on bonds of similar risk is 10%.
You are advising a Company Z shareholder on the three offers.
She requires a 15% premium if she is to accept the offer.
In providing your advice, which of the following statements is correct?
CAPM:
E(R)=Rf+β(Rm−Rf)E(R) = R_f + \beta (R_m - R_f)E(R)=Rf+β(Rm−Rf)
Given:
E(R)=11%,Rf=2%,Rm=8%E(R) = 11\% , R_f = 2\%, R_m = 8\%E(R)=11%,Rf=2%,Rm=8%
0.11=0.02+β(0.08−0.02)⇒0.11−0.02=0.06β⇒0.09=0.06β⇒β=1.50.11 = 0.02 + \beta(0.08 - 0.02) \Rightarrow 0.11 - 0.02 = 0.06\beta \Rightarrow 0.09 = 0.06\beta \Rightarrow \beta = 1.50.11=0.02+β(0.08−0.02)⇒0.11−0.02=0.06β⇒0.09=0.06β⇒β=1.5
Beta > 1 ⇒ higher risk than the market.
A company's annual dividend has grown steadily at an annual rate of 3% for many years. It has a cost of equity of 11%. The share price is presently $64.38.
The company is about to announce its latest dividend, which is expected to be $5.00 per share.
The Board of Directors is considering an attractive investment opportunity that would have to be funded by reducing the dividend to $4.50 per share. The board expects the project to enable future dividends to grow by 5% every year and the cost of equity to remain unchanged.
Calculate the change in share price, assuming that the directors announce their intention to proceed with this investment opportunity.
Give your answer to 2 decimal places.
$ ?
Which THREE of the following remain unchanged over the life of a 10 year fixed rate bond?
A company raised fixed rate bank finance together with an interest rate swap for the same term and same principal value to pay floating receive fixed rate interest on an annual basis.
Which THREE of the following statements are correct?
A listed company follows a policy of paying a constant dividend. The following information is available:
• Issued share capital (nominal value $0.50) $60 million
• Current market capitalisation $480 million
The shareholders are requesting an increased dividend this year as earnings have been growing. However, the directors wish to retain as much cash as possible to fund new investments. They therefore plan to announce a 1-for-10 scrip dividend to replace the usual cash dividend.
Assuming no other influence on share price, what is the expected share price following the scrip dividend?
Give your answer to 2 decimal places.
$ ?
H Company has a fixed rate load at 10.0%, but wishes to swap to variable. It can borrow at LIBOR 8%.
The bank is currently quoting swap rates of 3.1% (bid) and 3.5% (ask).
What net rate will HHH Company pay if it enters into the swap?
Which of the following statements about companies seeking a stock market listing is correct?
A company currently has a 6.25% fixed rate loan but it wishes to change the interest style of the loan to variable by using an interest rate swap directly with the bank.
The bank has quoted the following swap rate:
• 5.50% - 5.55% in exchange for LIBOR
LIBOR is currently 5%.
If the company enters into the swap and LIBOR remains at 5%, what will the company's interest cost be?
The table below shows the forecast for a company's next financial year:
The forecast incorporates the following assumptions:
• 25% of operating costs are variable
• Debt finance comprises a $400 million fixed rate loan at 5%
• Corporate income tax is paid at 25%
The company plans to do the following next year from the forecast earnings on the assumption that earnings will be equivalent to free cash flow:
• Pay a total dividend of $20 million
• Invest $40 million in new projects
What is the maximum % reduction in operating activity that could occur next year before the company's dividend and investment plans are affected?
Give your answer to the nearest 0.1%.
Company E is a listed company. Its directors are valuing a smaller listed company, Company F, as a possible acquisition.
The two companies operate in the same markets and have the same business risk.
Relevant data on the two companies is as follows:
Both companies are wholly equity financed and both pay corporate tax at 30%.
The directors of Company E believe they can "bootstrap" Company F's earnings to improve performance.
Calculate the maximum price that Company E should offer to Company F's shareholders to acquire the company.
Give your answer to the nearest $million.
A company in country T is considering either exporting its product directly to customers in country P or establishing a manufacturing subsidiary in country P.
The corporate tax rate in country T is 20% and 25% tax depreciation allowances are available
Which TIIRCC of the following would be considered advantages of establishing a subsidiary in country T?
Company WWW is identical in all operating and risk characteristics to Company ZZZ. but their capital structures differ. Company WWW and Company ZZZ both pay corporate income tax at 20%
Company WWW has a gearing ratio (debt: equity) of 1:3 Its pre-tax cost of debt is 6%.
Company ZZZ Is all-equity financed. Its cost of equity is 15%
What is the cost of equity tor Company WWW?
A company is preparing an integrated report according to the International
Which THREE of the following should be included in the report?
Delta and Kappa both wish to borrow $50m.
Delta can borrow at a fixed rate of 12% or at a floating rate of the risk-free rate +3%
Kappa can borrow at 15% fixed or the risk-free rate +4%.
Delta wishes a variable rate loan and Kappa a fixed rate loan The bank for the two companies suggests a swap arrangement The two companies agree to a swap arrangement, sharing savings equally
What is the effective swap rate for each company?
A company is currently all-equity financed.
The directors are planning to raise long term debt to finance a new project.
The debt:equity ratio after the bond issue would be 40:60 based on estimated market values.
According to Modigliani and Miller's Theory of Capital Structure without tax, the company's cost of equity would:
A company is reporting under IFRS 7 Financial Instruments: Disclosures for the first time and the directors are concerned about whether this will lead to the disclosure of information that could affect the company's share price.
The company is based in a country that uses the A$ but 40% of revenue relates to export sales to the USA and priced in US$.
When the company reports under IFRS 7 for the first time, the share price is most likely to:
Using the CAPM, the expected return for a company is 11%. The market return is 8% and the risk free rate is 2%.
What does the beta factor used in this calculation indicate about the risk of the company?
Company Z has identified four potential acquisition targets: companies A, B. C and D.
Company Z has a current equity market value of S590 million.
The price it would have to pay for the equity of each company is as follows:
Only one of the target companies can be acquired and the consideration will be paid in cash.
The following estimations of the new combined value of Company Z have been prepared for each acquisition before deduction of the cash consideration:
Ignoring any premium paid on acquisition, which acquisition should the directors pursue?
The financial assistant of a geared company has prepared the following calculation of the company's equity value:
Useful information;
• Tax rate - 20%
• Cost of equity = 12%
• Weighted average cost of capital (WACC)« 10%
" Debt finance of the company comprises a $6 million 7% undated bond trading at par Valuation workings.
Which of the following errors has been made by the financial assistant?
Listed company R is in the process of making a cash offer for the equity of unlisted company S.
Company R has a market capitalisation of $200 million and a price/earnings ratio of 10.
Company S has a market capitalisation of $50 million and earnings of $7 million.
Company R intends to offer $60 million and expects to be able to realise synergistic benefits of $20 million by combining the two businesses. This estimate excludes the estimated $8 million cost of integrating the two businesses.
Which of the following figures need to be used when calculating the value of the combined entity in $ millions?
BBA is a wholly owned subsidiary of AAB BBA operates in country B where the currency is the B$.
The following is an extract from BBA's financial statements at 31 December 20X1:
The following Information is relevant:
" The bonds were trading at $110 per $100 on 31 December 20X1. "Operating profit of BBA for the year ended 31 December 20X1 was S15 million
• The P/E ratio is 8
* Corporate income tax rate is 20%.
The tax authorities m country B Implemented thin capitalisation rules based on the level of gearing of the subsidiary, calculated as book value o( debt lo book value of equity The cut-off point for gearing used by the tax authorities for a company to be thinly capitalised is 75%.
Which of the following statements is correct as at 31 December 20X1?
A company plans to raise $12 million to finance an expansion project using a rights issue.
Relevant data:
• Shares will be offered at a 20% discount to the present market price of $15.00 per share.
• There are currently 2 million shares in issue.
• The project is forecast to yield a positive NPV of $6 million.
What is the yield-adjusted Theoretical Ex-Rights Price following the announcement of the rights issue?
Which of the following statements about the tax impact on debt finance is correct?
D has US$10 million to invest over 12 months in either USS or GBP Its options are to invest in USS at the present USS interest rate of 10 18%. or to convert the USS to GBP at the spot rate GBP1 =US$1 61 and invest in GBP at an interest rate of 6.4%.
According to the interest rate parity theory, what will the one year forward rate be?
Give your answer to three decimal places.
Company A has agreed to buy all the share capital of Company B.
The Board of Directors of Company A believes that the post-acquisition value of the expanded business can be computed using the "boot-strapping" concept.
Which of the following most accurately describes "boot-strapping" in this context?
A company has two divisions.
A is the manufacturing division and supplies only to B, the retail division.
The Board of Directors has been approached by another company to acquire Division B as part of their retail expansion programme.
Division A will continue to supply to Division B as a retail customer as well as source and supply to other retail customers.
Which is the main risk faced by the company based on the above proposal?
Company A, a listed company, plans to acquire Company T, which is also listed.
Additional information is:
• Company A has 100 million shares in issue, with market price currently at $8.00 per share.
• Company T has 90 million shares in issue, with market price currently at $5.00 each share.
• Synergies valued at $60 million are expected to arise from the acquisition.
• The terms of the offer will be 2 shares in A for 3 shares in B.
Assuming the offer is accepted and the synergies are realised, what should the post-acquisition price of each of Company A's shares be?
Give your answer to two decimal places.
$ ? .
It is now 1 January 20X0.
Company V, a private equity company, is considering the acquisition of 40% of the equity of Company A for a total amount of $15 million.
Company A has been established to develop a new type of engine which will be launched at the end of 20X1. Company A is forecasting that the new engine will result in free cash flows to equity of $2m in its first year of operation and that this will rise by 8% per year for the foreseeable future.
The new engine is the only commercial activity that Company A is involved in.
Company V intends to sell its stake in Company A when the new engine is launched.
Company A has a cost of equity of 12%.
Assuming that Company V receives an amount that reflects the present value of their shares in company A. what is the estimated annual rate of return to Company V from this investment? (To the nearest %)
WW is a quoted manufacturing company. The Finance Director has addressed the shareholders during WW's annual general meeting-She has told the shareholders that WW raised equity during the year and used the funds to repay a large loan that was maturing, thereby reducing WW's gearing ratio
At the conclusion of the Finance Director's speech one of the shareholders complained that it had been foolish for WW to have used equity to repay debt The shareholder argued that the Modigliani and Miller model (with tax) offers proof that debt is cheaper than equity when companies pay tax on their profits.
Which THREE arguments could the Finance Director have used in response to the shareholder?
Company H is considering the valuation of an unlisted company which it hopes to acquire.
It has obtained the target company's financial statements.
Company H has been advised that the book value of net assets as shown in the financial statements of the target company does not provide a reliable indicator of their true value.
Advise the Board of Directors which of the following THREE statements are disadvantages of the net asset basis of valuation?
On 1 January 20X1 a company entered into a S200 million interest rate swap with a bank at a fixed rate of 4% against the 6-month risk-free rate to hedge the interest rale risk on a floating rate borrowing.
6-month risk-free rate was as follows:
What is the net settlement due under the swap contract on 1 July 20X1?
Company J plans to acquire Company K, an unlisted company whose equity is to be valued using a P/E ratio approach.
A listed company has been identified which is very similar to Company K and which can be used as a proxy.
However, the growth prospects of Company K are higher than those of the proxy.
The Directors of Company J are aware that certain adjustments will be necessary to the proxy company's P/E ratio in order to obtain a more reliable valuation.
The following adjustments have been agreed:
• 20% due to Company K being unlisted.
• 15% to allow for the growth rate difference.
The total adjustment to the proxy p/e ratio is:
Which THREE of the following long term changes are most likely to increase the credit rating of a company?
An unlisted company is attempting to value its equity using the dividend valuation model.
Relevant information is as follows:
• A dividend of $500,000 has just been paid.
• Dividend growth of 8% is expected for the foreseeable future.
• Earnings growth of 6% is expected for the foreseeable future.
• The cost of equity of a proxy listed company is 15%.
• The risk premium required due to the company being unlisted is 3%.
The calculation that has been performed is as follows:
Equity value = $540,000 / (0.18 - 0.08) = $5,400,000
What is the fault with the calculation that has been performed?
Company C is a listed company. It is currently considering the acquisition of Company D. The original founder of Company C currently owns 52% of the shares.
Alternative forms of consideration for Company D being considered are as follows:
• Cash payment, financed by new borrowing
• issue of new shares in Company C
Which of the following is an advantage of a cash offer over a share-for exchange from the viewpoint of the original founder of Company C?
Company M's current profit before interest and taxation is $5.0 million.
It has a long-term 10% corporate bond in issue with a nominal value of $10 million.
The rate of corporate tax is 25%.
It plans to continue to pay out 50% of its earnings in dividends and earnings are expected to grow by 3% each year in perpetuity.
Its cost of equity is 10%.
Using the dividend growth model, advise the Board of Directors of Company M which of the following provide a reasonable valuation of Company M's equity?
A company based in the USA has a substantial fixed rate borrowing at an interest rate of 3.5% and wishes to swap a part of this to a floating rate to take advantage of reducing interest rates Its bank has quoted swap rates of 3 4%-3 5% against 12-month USD risk-free rate.
What is the overall interest rate achieved by the company under this borrowing plus swap combination?
A company generates operating profit of $17.2 million, and incurs finance costs of $5.7 million.
It plans to increase interest cover to a multiple of 5-to-1 by raising funds from shareholders to repay some existing debt. The pre-tax cost of debt is fixed at 5%, and the refinancing will not affect this.
Assuming no change in operating profit, what amount must be raised from shareholders?
Give your answer in $ millions to the nearest one decimal place.
$ ?
A company's latest accounts show profit after tax of $20.0 million, after deducting interest of $5.0 million. The company expects earnings to grow at 5% per annum indefinitely.
The company has estimated its cost of equity at 12%, which is included in the company WACC of 10%.
Assuming that profit after tax is equivalent to cash flows, what is the value of the equity capital?
Give your answer to the nearest $ million.
$ ? million
A company has a cash surplus which it wishes to distribute to shareholders by a share repurchase rather than paying a special dividend.
Which THREE of the following statements are correct?
Company Z has identified four potential acquisition targets: companies A, B, C and D.
Company Z has a current equity market value of $590 million.
The price it would have to pay for the equity of each company is as follows:
Only one of the target companies can be acquired and the consideration will be paid in cash.
The following estimations of the new combined value of Company Z have been prepared for each acquisition before deduction of the cash consideration:
Ignoring any premium paid on acquisition, which acquisition should the directors pursue?
Company Y plans to diversify into an activity where Company X has an equity beta of 1.6, a debt beta of zero and gearing of 50% (debt/debt plus equity).
The risk-free rate of return is 5% and the market portfolio is expected to return 10%.
The rate of corporate income tax is 30%.
What would be the risk-adjusted cost of equity if Company Y has 60% equity and 40% debt?
TESTED 02 Jan 2026
