QUESTION 133
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?

QUESTION 134
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%.

QUESTION 135
CI IJ has decided to move its production plant to overseas country X.
This would make the product cheaper to produce.
The technology used to make the product is very advanced and some of the skilled staff would have to move to country X.
The Production Director has identified that there are some political risks in moving to county X.
For each of the political risks of moving to country X shown below, select the correct method for reducing the risk.

QUESTION 136
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?

QUESTION 137
Under traditional theory, an increase in a company’s WACC would cause the value of the company to:

QUESTION 138
The Board of Directors of a listed company have decided that it needs to increase its equity capital to ensure it is in a more stable financial position.
The shareholder profile is a mix of institutional and individual small shareholders.
The board is considering either:
* A scrip dividend
* A zero dividend
Which THREE of the following would be considered disadvantages of a scrip dividend compared to a zero dividend?

QUESTION 139
A company is wholly equity funded. It has the following relevant data:
* Dividend just paid $4 million
* Dividend growth rate is constant at 5%
* The risk free rate is 4%
* The market premium is 7%
* The company’s equity beta factor is 1.2
Calculate the value of the company using the Dividend Growth Model.
Give your answer in $ million to 2 decimal places.
$ ? million

QUESTION 140
RR has agreed to sell goods to XX for S20.000 XX will pay when the goods are delivered in 6 months time. RR’s home currency is the £- The current exchange rate is 4.3 £/S. The projected inflation rate for the S is 2.8%, and for the E 4 6%.
When RR receives payment for its goods, what will the value be to the nearest pound?

QUESTION 141
Company C has received an unwelcome takeover bid from Company P.
Company P is approximately twice the size of Company C based on market capitalisation.
Although the two companies have some common business interests, the main aim of the bid is diversification for Company P.
The offer from Company P is a share exchange of 2 shares in Company P for 3 shares in Company C.
There is a cash alternative of $5.50 for each Company C share.
Company C 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. All prices are in $.

Which of the following would be the most appropriate action by Company C’s directors following receipt of this hostile bid?

QUESTION 142
The ex div share price of a company’s shares is $2.20.
An investor in the company currently holds 1,000 shares.
The company plans to issue a scrip dividend of 1 new share for every 10 shares currently held.
After the scrip dividend, what will be the total wealth of the shareholder?
Give your answer to the nearest whole $.
$ ? .

QUESTION 143
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?

QUESTION 144
A company is considering hedging the interest rate risk on a 3-year floating rate borrowing linked to the 12-month risk-free rate.
If the 12-month risk-free rate for the next three years is 2%, 3% and 4%, which of the following alternatives would result in the lowest average finance cost for the company over the three years?

QUESTION 145
A company is wholly equity funded. It has the following relevant data:
* Dividend just paid $4 million
* Dividend growth rate is constant at 5%
* The risk free rate is 4%
* The market premium is 7%
* The company’s equity beta factor is 1.2
Calculate the value of the company using the Dividend Growth Model.
Give your answer in $ million to 2 decimal places.
$ ? million

QUESTION 146
Company Z has identified four potential acquisition targets: companies A, B, C and D.
Company Z has a current equity market value of $580 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?

QUESTION 147
Which THREE of the following non-financial objectives would be most appropriate for a listed company in the food retailing industry?

QUESTION 148
A company plans a four-year project which will be financed by either an operating lease or a bank loan.
Lease details:
* Four year lease contract.
* Annual lease rentals of $45,000, paid in advance on the 1st day of the year.
Other information:
* The interest rate payable on the bank borrowing is 10%.
* The capital cost of the project is $200,000 which would have to be paid at the beginning of the first year.
* A salvage or residual value of $100,000 is estimated at the end of the project’s life.
* Purchased assets attract straight line tax depreciation allowances.
* Corporate income tax is 20% and is payable at the end of the year following the year to which it relates.
A lease-or-buy appraisal is shown below:
Which THREE of the following items are errors within the appraisal?

QUESTION 149
CI IJ has decided to move its production plant to overseas country X. This would make the product cheaper to produce. The technology used to make the product is very advanced and some of the skilled staff would have to move to country X.
The Production Director has identified that there are some political risks in moving to county X.
For each of the political risks of moving to country X shown below, select the correct method for reducing the risk.

QUESTION 150
The Treasurer of Z intends to use interest rate options to set an interest rate cap on Z’s borrowings.
Which of the following statement is correct?

QUESTION 151
Which of the following statements are true with regard to interest rate swaps?
Select ALL that apply.

QUESTION 152
A company’s current earnings before interest and taxation are $5 million.
These are expected to remain constant for the forseeable future.
The company has 10 million shares in issue which currently trade at $3.60.
It also has a $10 million long term floating rate loan.
The current interest rate on this loan is 5%.
The company pays tax at 20%.
The company expects interest rates to increase next year to 6% and it’s Price/Earnings (P/E) ratio to move to 9.5 times by the end of next year.
What percentage reduction in the share price will occur by the end of next year if the interest rate increase and the P/E movement both occur?

QUESTION 153
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?