Financial Decision Making

Transcription

1 Subject no. C16J Chartered Secretaries Qualifying Scheme Level Two Financial Decision Making November 2011 Tuesday afternoon 22 November 2011 Time allowed: 3 hours and 15 minutes (including reading time) Do not open this examination paper until the presiding officer or an invigilator tells you to. You must not take this paper out of the examination room. The examination paper contains six questions. Each question carries 25 marks. You must attempt four questions only. An Annuity Table and a Present Value Table are included at the end of the paper. ICSA, 2011 Page 1 of 11

2 Questions Answer four questions from this paper. 1. Bowers plc ( Bowers ) is a large bio-technology company that has recently developed a heart monitoring device which can be used at home by those suffering from heart conditions. The company has invested 640,000 in developing the device to date and has recently commissioned marketing consultants to investigate the likely demand for the device. The cost of this market research is 80,000 and is payable in two months time. In a report to the directors of Bowers, the marketing consultants stated that the device should be produced for only three years as it was likely that new technology would soon supersede that contained within the device. They also stated that an appropriate price for the device would be 120 in the first two years and 80 in the final year of production. Forecast demand for the new device, based on the selling prices mentioned, is as follows: Forecast demand Probability of occurrence Year 1 60, , , Year 2 70, , , Year 3 50, , , Production of the new device can start immediately. To commence operations, equipment already held that originally cost 1,800,000, and which has a written down value of 1,200,000, will be used. This equipment, which has a current market value of 900,000, will be sold immediately if the new device is not produced. Otherwise, the equipment will be sold at the end of the three-year production period for an estimated 240,000. Working capital of 175,000 will be required immediately and will be released at the end of the production period. It is estimated that the variable costs of production will be 55 per device and that annual fixed overheads will be 3,850,000. These overheads include 150,000, which represents a fair share of the general overheads of the business, and a depreciation charge for the equipment, which will be depreciated over its remaining useful life using the straight-line basis. It is estimated that the cost of capital of Bowers is 14%. (continued) ICSA, 2011 Page 2 of 11

3 Required (a) Calculate the expected net present value (ENPV) of the new device. (10 marks) (b) (c) (d) Calculate the worst possible outcome from producing the new device and its probability of occurrence. (5 marks) Briefly evaluate the findings set out in your answers to parts (a) and (b), above, and state whether Bowers should commence production of the new device. (5 marks) Briefly assess the ENPV method for making investment decisions. (5 marks) (Total: 25 marks) 2. Bargainista plc ( Bargainista ) was formed in 2005 and operates a chain of fashion retail outlets selling well-known brand names at greatly discounted prices. The difficult economic climate has proved to be a help, rather than a hindrance, to growth and the company is now seeking to expand its operations further. To finance this expansion, the board of directors is currently considering whether the company should obtain a listing on the London Stock Exchange. The amount of finance required is not very large and a placing has been suggested as the most suitable form of share issue. To help the board in its deliberations, the company secretary has been asked to prepare a briefing paper for board members setting out the key issues to be addressed. Required Assume the role of company secretary and prepare a briefing paper concerning the prospective listing of Bargainista that sets out: (a) The role and nature of the London Stock Exchange. (5 marks) (b) (c) What a placing of shares involves and the advantages and disadvantages of using this method of share issue. (5 marks) The advantages and disadvantages of obtaining a listing on the London Stock Exchange. (15 marks) (Total: 25 marks) ICSA, 2011 Page 3 of 11

4 3. The directors of Medina plc ( Medina ), a large electrical engineering business, have recently decided to demerge one of its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Tempest Technologies Ltd ( Tempest ). Although it is intended to float the demerged company on the London Stock Exchange, this will not take place for another two years. The most recent financial statements of Tempest are set out below. Income Statement for the year ended 30 November 2011 m Sales revenue Profit before interest and tax 24.5 Interest charges 5.9 Profit before tax 18.6 Tax 3.6 Profit for the year 15.0 Statement of Financial Position as at 30 November 2011 m ASSETS Non-current assets Premises 42.5 Plant and equipment 26.8 Motor vehicles Current assets Inventories 24.7 Trade receivables 19.6 Bank Total assets EQUITY AND LIABILITIES Equity 0.50 ordinary shares 25.0 Retained earnings Non-current liabilities Loan notes 70.0 Current liabilities Trade payables 10.1 Tax due Total equity and liabilities The following additional information is also available: (i) (ii) A similar business to Tempest is listed on the London Stock Exchange and its shares have a price-earnings ratio of 9 times. For the year to 30 November 2012, profit for the year is expected to increase by 20%. The dividend cover ratio is expected to be 2.5 times and dividends in the years following 2012 are expected to increase by 5%. (continued) ICSA, 2011 Page 4 of 11

5 (iii) Assets held by Tempest have been recently valued at their current selling prices as follows: m Premises 78.2 Plant and equipment 22.6 Motor vehicles 1.9 Inventories 21.1 Trade receivables are considered to reflect their current value. (iv) The estimated cost of equity for Tempest is 12%. Required (a) (b) (c) Provide four possible reasons why Medina may wish to demerge one of its subsidiaries. (7 marks) Using the information provided above, calculate the value of a share in Tempest using four different methods of share valuation and briefly comment on the results obtained. (9 marks) Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of each of the share valuation methods used in answering part (b), above, stating which method you consider the most appropriate and why. (9 marks) (Total: 25 marks) ICSA, 2011 Page 5 of 11

6 4. Bazin plc ( Bazin ) is a large business that is listed on the London Stock Exchange. Over the past five years it has produced disappointing returns for shareholders and the share price has suffered as a result. To regain the confidence of shareholders, the board of directors has recently changed the management team. Furthermore, it is now considering making the maximisation of shareholder value the key objective of the business. A board meeting is due to take place soon to discuss whether this objective should be adopted and, if so, how progress towards the objective should be measured. The chairman is fully committed to the proposed new objective and has suggested that economic value added (EVA ) should be adopted as the appropriate measure. The company secretary has been asked to prepare a briefing paper to help the board in its deliberations. Required Assume the role of company secretary for Bazin and prepare a briefing paper that sets out: (a) (b) What a commitment to maximising shareholder value involves and why the board of directors may wish to pursue this objective. (6 marks) Why conventional financial measures for measuring shareholder return may be inappropriate in measuring progress towards this objective. (8 marks) (c) An explanation of EVA and its benefits and limitations. (11 marks) (Total: 25 marks) ICSA, 2011 Page 6 of 11

7 5. Two years ago, Lider Electronics Ltd ( Lider ) acquired the exclusive UK rights to distribute a new product designed to improve fuel efficiency in motor car engines. The device is easily fitted and is available to the public through retail outlets. Since its launch, the product has enjoyed great success and the company has grown rapidly as a result. However, this rapid growth has led to financial problems for the company that have been difficult to control. Recently, a new finance director was appointed to try to stabilise the company s financial position. Soon after joining the company, the finance director announced to the board of directors that the company s problems were as a direct result of overtrading. Financial statements for the past two years are set out below: Income Statement for the years ended 30 November m m Sales revenue Cost of sales Gross profit Selling and distribution expenses (19.4) (13.2) Administration expenses (17.2) (13.7) Operating profit Interest charges (5.1) (4.9) Profit before tax Tax (2.5) (1.3) Profit for the year Statement of Financial Position as at 30 November m m ASSETS Non-current assets Premises Fixtures, fittings and equipment Motor vehicles Current assets Inventories Trade receivables Bank Total assets EQUITY AND LIABILITIES Equity 0.50 ordinary shares Retained earnings Non-current liabilities Loan notes Current liabilities Trade payables Tax due Bank overdraft Total equity and liabilities Note: All purchases and sales are on credit. (continued) ICSA, 2011 Page 7 of 11

8 A meeting of the board has been arranged to discuss the overtrading problem and how it should be tackled. To ensure that all directors are able to make a meaningful contribution to the board s deliberations, the chief executive has asked the company secretary to provide a suitable briefing paper. Required Assume the role of company secretary and provide a briefing paper for the board of directors that sets out: (a) (b) (c) An explanation of overtrading and the ways in which overtrading may arise. (5 marks) The problems that may result from overtrading and the ways in which overtrading may be overcome. (6 marks) An analysis of the financial statements of Lider, for both 2010 and 2011, based on five financial ratios that may help to detect the existence of overtrading along with a brief discussion of the results. (14 marks) (Total: 25 marks) ICSA, 2011 Page 8 of 11

9 6. For much of the past 20 years, Exford United Football Club has enjoyed considerable success in competitions in both the UK and Europe. However, in the past few years success has proved elusive. This has led the current club manager to write formally to the chairman of the board of directors to ask for funds to replace several members of the first-team squad. In the current inflated market for top-class players, the club manager estimates that up to 100 million (net of sales of existing players) will be required for this purpose. The club is owned by a billionaire businessman and his family, who are set against injecting more of their funds into the club. As a result, the club s financial advisers have recommended three possible options for raising the necessary funds. These are: (i) (ii) (iii) A sale-and-leaseback agreement involving the club s stadium and training facilities. A securitisation issue involving the receipts from future games. An issue of convertible loan notes using the stadium and training facilities as security. The board of directors will soon meet to decide between these options and so the chairman has asked the company secretary to distribute a briefing paper prior to the board meeting to help board members in their deliberations. Required Assume the role of company secretary and prepare a briefing paper that sets out: (a) (b) The main features of each financing method and the key issues to be considered when deciding on the suitability of each. (21 marks) Which of the three financing options you consider most suitable and why. (4 marks) (Total: 25 marks) The scenarios included here are entirely fictional. Any resemblance of the information in the scenarios to real persons or organisations, actual or perceived, is purely coincidental. ICSA, 2011 Page 9 of 11

10 Annuity Table Present value (in ) of a series of n equal annual payments of 1 a year, starting one year from now, discounted at a rate of r% per annum Years (n) Discount rate ( r ) 1% 2% 3% 4% 5% 6% 7% 8% 9% 10% % 12% 13% 14% 15% 16% 17% 18% 19% 20% ICSA, 2011 Page 10 of 11

11 Present Value Table Present value (in ) of a single payment of 1, n years from now, discounted at a rate of r% per annum Years (n) Discount rate ( r ) 1% 2% 3% 4% 5% 6% 7% 8% 9% 10% % 12% 13% 14% 15% 16% 17% 18% 19% 20% ICSA, 2011 Page 11 of 11

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