Company R is a major food retailer.  It wishes to acquire Company S, a food manufacturer.

Company S currently supplies many stores owned by Company R with food products that it manufactures.

Company S is of similar size to Company R but has a lower credit rating.

Which of the following is most likely to be a synergistic benefit to R on purchasing S?

A company wishes to raise new finance using a rights issue. The following data applies:

   • There are 10 million shares in issue with a market value of $4 each

   • The terms of the rights will be 1 new share for 4 existing shares held

   • After the rights issue, the theoretical ex-rights price (TERP) will be $3.80

Assuming all shareholders take up their rights, how much new finance will be raised ?

Give your answer to one decimal place.

$  ?   million

A government is currently considering the privatisation of the national airline. The shares are to be offered to the public via a fixed price Initial Public Offering (IPO).

Which THREE of the following statements are correct?

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?

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 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?

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 H Company pay if it enters into the swap?

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?

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?

An unlisted company wishes to obtain an estimated value for its shares in anticipation of a private sale of a large parcel of shares.

Relevant data for the unlisted company:

   • It has a residual dividend policy. 

   • It has earnings that are highly sensitive to underlying economic conditions.

   • It is a small business in a large industry where there are listed companies but there are none with a similar capital structure. 

The company intends to base valuations on the cost of equity of a proxy company after adjusting for any differences in capital structure where appropriate.

Which of the following methods is likely to give the most accurate equity value for this unlisted company?

F Co. is a large private company, the founder holds 60% of the company's share capital and her 2 children each hold 20% of the share capital.

The company requires a large amount of long-term finance to pursue expansion opportunities, the finance is required within the next 3 months. The family has agreed that an Initial Public Offering (IPO) should not be pursued at this time, because it would take up to 12 months to arrange.

The existing shareholders are currently considering raising the required finance from an established Venture Capitalist in the form of debt and equity. The Venture Capitalist has agreed to provide the required finance provided it can earn a return on investment of 25% per year. In addition, the Venture Capitalist requires 60% of the equity capital, a directorship in the company and a veto on all expenditure of a capital or revenue nature above a specified limit.

From the perspective of the family, which of the following are advantages of raising the required finance from the Venture Capitalist?

Select all that apply.

A listed company is planning a share repurchase. 

The following data applies:

   • There are 10 million shares in issue

   • The  share repurchase will involve buying back 20% of the shares at a price of $0.75

   • The company is holding $2 million cash

   • Earnings for the current year ended are $2 million

The Directors are concerned about the impact that this repurchase programme will have on the company's cash balance and current year earnings per share (EPS) ratio.

Advise the directors which of the following statements is correct?

A is a listed company. Its shares trade on a stock market exhibiting semi-strong form efficiency.

Which of the following is most likely to increase the wealth of A's shareholders?

Company A, a listed company, plans to acquire Company T, which is also listed.

 Additional information is:

   • Company A has 150 million shares in issue, with market price currently at $7.00 per share.

   • Company T has 120 million shares in issue,. with market price currently at $6.00 each share.

   • Synergies valued at $50 million are expected to arise from the acquisition.

   • The terms of the offer will be 2 shares in A for 3 shares in T.

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.

Company AB was established 6 years ago by two individuals who each own 50% of the shares.

Each individual heads a separate division within the company, which now has annual turnover of GBP10 million and employs 40 people.

Some of the employees are very highly paid as they are important contributors to the company's profitability.

The owners of the company wish to realise the full value of their investment within the next 12 months.

Which TWO of the following options are most likely to be acceptable exit strategies to the two owners of the company?

A wholly equity financed company has the following objectives:

1. Increase in profit before interest and tax by at least 10% per year.

2. Maintain a dividend payout ratio of 40% of earnings per year.

Relevant data:

   • There are 2 million shares in issue.

   • Profit before interest and tax in the last financial year was $5 million.

   • The corporate income tax rate is 30%.

At the beginning of the current financial year, the company raised long term debt of $2 million at 10% interest each year. 

Calculate the dividend per share that will be announced this year assuming the company achieves its objective of increasing profit before interest and tax by 10%.

A listed company plans to raise new capital which will be required for future investment projects. The company has a gearing ratio of 50%, which is just below the company's target ratio.

The directors are comparing the benefits and drawbacks of each of the following two alternative sources of finance;

• Unsecured bank borrowings.

• Convertible bonds.

Which of the following statements is correct?

The following information relates to Company A's current capital structure:

Company A is considering a change in the capital structure that will increase gearing to 30:70 (Debt:Equity). 

The risk -free rate is 3% and the return on the market portfolio is expected to be 10%.

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 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:

A company's Board of Directors is assessing the likely impact of financing future new projects using either equity or debt.

The directors are uncertain of the effects on key variables.

Which THREE of the following statements are true?

A company is deciding whether to offer a scrip dividend or a cash dividend to its shareholders. 

Although the company has excellent long-term growth prospects, it is experiencing short-term profit and cash flow problems.

Which of the following statements is most likely to be a reason for choosing the scrip dividend?

On 31 October 20X3:

   • A company expected to agree a foreign currency transaction in January 20X4 for settlement on 31 March 20X4.  

   • The company hedged the currency risk using a forward contract at nil cost for settlement on 31 March 20X4.

   • The transaction was correctly treated as a cash flow hedge in accordance with IAS 39 Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement.

On 31 December 20X3, the financial year end, the fair value of the forward contract was $10,000 (asset).

How should the increase in the fair value of the forward contract be treated within the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 20X3?

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?

Company A plans to diversify by a cash acquisition of Company B an unlisted company in another country (Country B) which operates in a different industrial sector

Company A already manufactures its product in Country B and has a loan denominated in Country B's currency

Company A regularly suffers foreign exchange losses due to volatility in the exchange rate between the two countries' currencies in recent years.

Which THREE of the following appear to be be valid justifications of this diversification decision?

A listed company plans to raise $350 million to finance a major expansion programme.

The cash flow projections for the programme are subject to considerable variability.

Brief details of the programme have been public knowledge for a few weeks.

The directors are considering two financing options, either a rights issue at a 20% discount to current share price or a long term bond.

The following data is relevant:

The company's share price has fallen by 5% over the past 3 months compared with a fall in the market of 3% over the same period.

The directors favour the bond option.

However, the Chief Accountant has provided arguments for a rights issue.

Which TWO of the following arguments in favour of a right issue are correct?

Company A needs to raise AS500 mi lion to invest in a new project and is considering using a pub ic issue of bonds to finance the investment.

Which THREE of the following statements-relating to this bond issue are true?

Which THREE of the following statements are true of a money market hedge?

Which TIIRCC of the following are most likely to reduce the long term credit rating co a company?

A company gas a large cash balance but its directors have been unable to identify any positive NPV projects to invest in. Which THREE of the following are advantages of a share repurchase, compared with a one-off large dividend?

A company is considering the issue of a convertible bond compared to a straight bond issue (non-convertible bond).

Director A is concerned that issuing a convertible bond will upset the shareholders for the following reasons:

   • it will dilute their control

   • the interest payments will be higher therefore reducing liquidity

   • it will increase the gearing ratio therefore increasing financial risk

Director B disagrees, and is preparing a board paper to promote the issue of the convertible bond rather than a non-convertible.

Advise the Director B which THREE of the following statements should be included in his board paper to promote the issue of the convertible bond?

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 company is valuing its equity prior to an initial public offering (IPO). 

Relevant data:

   • Earnings per share $1.00

   • WACC is 8% and the cost of equity is 12%

   • Dividend payout ratio 40%

   • Dividend growth rate 2% in perpetuity

The current share price using the Dividend Valuation Model is closest to:

TTT pic is a listed company. The following information is relevant:

TTT pic's board is considering issuing new 6% irredeemable debt to re-purchase equity. This is expected to change TTT pic's debt to equity mix to 40: 60 by market value. The corporate tax rate is 20%.

What will be TTT pic's WACC following this change in capital structure?

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?

Which THREE of the following are the most likely exit routes that apply to a venture capitalist?

A large, listed company in the food and household goods industry needs to raise $50 million for a period of up to 6 months.

It has an excellent credit rating and there is almost no risk of the company defaulting on the borrowings. The company already has a commercial paper programme in place and has a good relationship with its bank.

Which of the following is likely to be the most cost effective method of borrowing the money?

A company's gearing (measured as debt/(debt + equity)) is currently 60% and it is investigating whether an optimal gearing structure exists within the industry.

It has analysed the capital structure of similar companies in the industry and it would appear that there is evidence supporting the traditional theory of capital structure.

Companies with the lowest WACC in the industry have gearing of around 45% to 50%.

Which of the following actions would result in the company achieving a more optimal capital structure?

Company HJK is planning to bid for listed company BNM

Financial data for BNM for the financial year ended 31 December 20X1:

HJK is not forecasting any growth in these figures for the foreseeable future

Profit and cost data above should be assumed to be equivalent to cash flow data when answenng this question

Which THREE of the following approaches would be most appropriate for HJK to use to value the equity of BNM?

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?

A company's Board of Directors is assessing the likely impact of financing new projects by using either debt or equity finance.

The impact of using debt or equity finance on some key variables is uncertain.

Which THREE of the following statements are true?

AA is considering changing its capital structure. The following information is currently relevant to AA:

The gearing rating raising the new debt finance will be 50%.

Which THREE of the following statement about the impact of AA’s change in capital structure are true under Modigliani and Miler’s capital structure theory with tax.

Company A is subject to a takeover bid from Company B, both companies operate in the same industry and each of them demand a significant market share Company B h3S made an of an of $5 per share to the shareholders of Company A.

The directors of Company A do not believe the takeover would be in the best interests of the stakeholders and other stakeholders of Company A due to the following reruns

1. Company B has recently taken ever several ether companies resulting in them breaking up the company and se ling on the assets.

2 The directors of Company A believe the offer of $5 per snare undervalues tie company

The directors of Company A are therefore keen to prevent the bid from going ahead

Which THREE of the following defence strategies could be used by the directors of Company Air this situation?

A financial services company reported the following results in its most recent accounting period:

The company has an objective to achieve 5% earnings growth each year. The directors are discussing how this objective might be achieved next year.

Revenues have been flat over the last couple of years as the company has faced difficult trading conditions. Revenue is expected to stay constant in the coming year and so the directors are focussing efforts on reducing costs in an attempt to achieve earnings growth next year.

Interest costs will not change because the company's borrowings are subject to a fixed rate of interest.

What operating profit margin will the company have to achieve next year in order to just achieve its 5% earnings growth objective'?

Company A operates in country A with the AS as its functional currency. Company A expects to receive BS500.000 in 6 months' time from a customer in Country B which uses the B$.

Company A intends to hedge the currency risk using a money market hedge

The following information is relevant:

What is the AS value of the BS expected receipt in 6 months' time under a money market hedge?

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.

An entity prepares financial statements to 30 June.

During the year ended 30 June 20X2 the following events occurred:

1 July 20X1

   • The entitiy borrowed $100 million at a variable rate of interest.

   • In order to protect itself against the variability of its interest cashflows, the entity entered into a pay-fixed-receive-variable interest swap with annual settlements.  The fair value of the swap on this date was zero.

30 June 20X2

   • The entity received a net settlement of $2 million under the swap. After this net settlement, the fair value of the swap was $5 million - a financial asset.

The entity decides to use hedge accounting for this arrangement and has designated it as a cash flow hedge.  The swap is a perfect hedge of the variability of the cash interest payments.

Which of the following describes the treatment of the settlement and the change in the fair value of the swap in the statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income for the year ended 30 June 20X2?

A company plans to raise finance for a new project.

It is considering either the issue of a redeemable cumulative preference share or a Eurobond. 

Advise the directors which of the following statements would justify the issue of preference shares over a bond?

A company is financed as follows:

   • 400 million $1 shares quoted at $3.00 each.

   • $800 million 5% bonds quoted at par.

The company plans to raise $200 million long term debt to finance a project with a net present value of $100 million.

The bank that is providing the debt is insisting on a maximum gearing level covenant.  

Gearing will be based on market values and calculated as debt/(debt + equity).

What is the lowest figure for the gearing covenant that the bank could impose without the company breaching the agreement?

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 listed company is planning to raise $21.6 million to finance a new project with a positive net present value of $5 million.  The finance is to be raised via a rights issue at a 10% discount to the current share price.  There are currently 100 million shares in issue, trading at $2.00 each.

Taking the new project into account,  what would the theoretical ex-rights price be?

Give your answer to two decimal places.

$ ?  

Company X plans to acquire Company Y.

Pre-acquisition information:

Post-acquisition information:

Total combined earnings are expected to increase by 10%

Total combined P/E multiple will remain at 10 times

Which of the following share-for-share exchanges will result in an increase of 10% in Company X's share price post-acquisition?

Which of the following statements about IFRS 7 Financial Instruments: Disclosures is true?

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?

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?

A listed company in the retail sector has accumulated excess cash.

In recent years, it has experienced uncertainly with forecasting the required level of cash for capital expenditure due to unpredictable economic cycles.

Its excess cash is on deposit earning negligible returns.

The Board of Directors is considering the company's dividend policy, and the need to retain cash in the company.

Which THREE of the following are advantages of retaining excess cash in the company? 

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 

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?

Hospital X provides free healthcare to all members of the community, funded by the central Government.

Hospital Y provides healthcare which has to be paid for by the individual patients. It is a listed company, owned by a large number of shareholders.

 In comparing the above two organisations and their objectives, which THREE of the following statements are correct?