PL E June 2015 Edition REVISION QUESTION BANK ACCA SA M Paper F9 | FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT Becker Professional Education has more than 20 years of experience providing lectures and learning tools for ACCA Professional Qualifications. We offer ACCA candidates high-quality study materials to maximise their chances of success. Becker Professional Education, a global leader in professional education, has been developing study materials for ACCA for more than 20 years, and thousands of candidates studying for the ACCA Qualification have succeeded in their professional examinations through its Platinum and Gold ALP training centers in Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia.* Becker Professional Education has also been awarded ACCA Approved Content Provider Status for materials for the Diploma in International Financial Reporting (DipIFR). Nearly half a million professionals have advanced their careers through Becker Professional Education's courses. 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REVISION QUESTION BANK – FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT (F9) CONTENTS Question Page Answer Marks 1001 1001 1002 1003 1004 1005 1007 1008 1010 1010 1011 1012 1012 1013 1014 22 20 12 20 10 12 34 22 16 18 14 12 14 30 30 Date worked MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS (Section A Questions) 1 3 4 6 8 10 12 15 17 19 21 22 23 25 28 E The Financial Management Function The Financial Management Environment Investment Decisions Discounted Cash Flow Techniques Applications of Discounted Cash Flow Techniques Project Appraisal under Risk Equity Finance and Debt Finance Cost of Capital Capital Asset Pricing Model Working Capital Management Inventory Management Cash Management Management of Accounts Receivable and Payable Risk Management Business Valuation and Ratio Analysis PL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Section B of the Examination will not include questions with less than 10 marks. Those included below provide additional question practice on topics that could be examined within longer questions. THE FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT FUNCTION Company objectives The financial management function Financial management decisions (ACCA J10) Value for money (ACCA J03) Non-For-Profit (ACCA D11) QSX Co (ACCA J10) Agency problem (ACCA D08) Listed company objectives (ACCA J13) Goal congruence (ACCA D13) SA M 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 32 32 32 32 32 32 33 33 33 1016 1018 1018 1019 1019 1020 1022 1022 1023 10 10 10 6 10 10 10 6 6 33 34 34 1024 1024 1025 6 10 5 34 35 1025 1026 10 10 35 36 36 37 38 39 1027 1030 1031 1034 1036 1038 15 10 15 15 15 15 THE FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT ENVIRONMENT 10 11 12 Money markets Tagna (ACCA J03) Financial intermediaries (ACCA D09) INVESTMENT DECISIONS 13 14 Payback and ROCE (ACCA D04) Directors’ views (ACCA D10) DISCOUNTED CASH FLOW TECHNIQUES 15 16 17 18 19 20 OKM Co (ACCA J10) Limitations of NPV Ridag Co (ACCA J12) BQK Co (ACCA D12) HDW (ACCA J13) Darn Co (ACCA D13) ©2015 DeVry/Becker Educational Development Corp. All rights reserved. (iii) FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT (F9) – REVISION QUESTION BANK Question Page Answer Marks 1040 1042 1044 1045 1047 1048 15 15 15 15 10 15 Date worked APPLICATIONS OF DISCOUNTED CASH FLOW TECHNIQUES 21 22 23 24 25 26 Replacement cycles (ACCA J10) Basril Co (ACCA D03) Cavic Co (ACCA D06) ASOP Co (ACCA D09) Equivalent annual benefit (ACCA D09) Spot Co (ACCA D13) 39 40 41 41 42 42 27 28 29 E PROJECT APPRAISAL UNDER RISK Risk and uncertainty (ACCA D07) Warden Co (ACCA D11) Incorporating risk (ACCA J12) 42 43 43 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 10 15 10 PL EQUITY FINANCE AND DEBT FINANCE 1049 1049 1051 Islamic finance Short-term finance SME finance (ACCA D01) Nugfer Co (ACCA D10) Bar Co (ACCA D11) Dividend policy (ACCA D10) Zigto Co (ACCA J12) Bonds, placing and venture capital (ACCA J13) Riba (ACCA D13) 43 43 44 44 45 46 46 46 47 1052 1054 1055 1056 1059 1060 1061 1063 1064 10 10 10 15 15 10 15 10 10 47 48 48 49 49 1065 1067 1068 1069 1071 15 10 15 15 10 Project-specific discount rate (ACCA D08) 50 CJ Co (ACCA D10) 50 Business, financial and systematic risk (ACCA J12) 51 CAPM and risk (ACCA J13) 51 Card Co (ACCA D13) 51 1071 1072 1074 1075 1075 10 15 10 10 15 1077 1079 1080 1082 1083 1085 15 10 15 10 15 10 SA M COST OF CAPITAL AND GEARING 39 40 41 42 43 KFP Co (ACCA J09) DD Co (ACCA D09) BKB Co (ACCA D12) AMH Co (ACCA J13) Capital structure and company value (ACCA D13) CAPITAL ASSET PRICING MODEL 44 45 46 47 48 WORKING CAPITAL MANAGEMENT 49 50 51 52 53 54 (iv) Blin (ACCA J04) Bold Co (ACCA D11) AXP Co (ACCA D09) Working capital policy (ACCA J12) TGA Co (ACCA J13) Objectives, role and policy (ACCA D13) 52 52 53 54 54 55 ©2015 DeVry/Becker Educational Development Corp. All rights reserved. REVISION QUESTION BANK – FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT (F9) Question Page Answer Marks 55 56 56 1086 1088 1088 15 15 10 57 57 58 59 1089 1090 1093 1095 10 15 15 10 59 60 61 62 62 1096 1098 1099 1100 1102 15 15 15 10 15 63 64 65 65 66 66 67 1103 1104 1105 1106 1107 1108 1109 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 67 68 68 69 69 70 71 72 73 1110 1111 1111 1113 1113 1114 1115 1117 1118 10 10 10 6 10 15 15 10 15 74 80 80 81 82 83 1120 1121 1122 1123 1124 1126 40 10 10 10 15 15 Date worked INVENTORY MANAGEMENT 55 56 57 EOQ and JIT FLG Co (ACCA J08) Product KN5 (ACCA D10) CASH MANAGEMENT Baumol model (ACCA D05) HRG Co (ACCA J09) Wobnig (ACCA J12) Cash and receivables management (ACCA D12) E 58 59 60 61 MANAGEMENT OF ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE AND PAYABLE PKA (ACCA D07) WQZ Co (ACCA D10) Bolder Co (ACCA D11) KXP (ACCA D12) Plot Co (ACCA D13) RISK MANAGEMENT GN Co (ACCA D09) Gorwa Co (ACCA D08) Boluje Co (ACCA D08) Zigzag (ACCA J12) Interest rate risk (ACCA D12) BNB Co (ACCA D12) Types of currency risk (ACCA J13) SA M 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 PL 62 63 64 65 66 BUSINESS VALUATION 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 NSX (ACCA J10) XB Co Closer (ACCA D11) Phobia Co (ACCA D07) Efficient Markets Hypothesis (ACCA D07) NN Co (ACCA D10) Corhig Co (ACCA J12) WWW Co (ACCA D12) GXG Co (ACCA J13) ACCA SPECIMEN EXAMINATION PAPER 1 2 3 4 5 MCQ Cat Co GWW Co ZPS Co PV Co DD Co ©2015 DeVry/Becker Educational Development Corp. All rights reserved. (v) FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT (F9) – REVISION QUESTION BANK Formula Sheet Economic order quantity = 2Co D Ch Miller – Orr Model Return point = Lower limit + (1/3 × spread) 1 E 3 3 4 transaction cost variance of cash flows Spread = 3 interest rate PL The Capital Asset Pricing Model E(ri) = Rf + βi(E(rm)–Rf) The asset beta formula V V 1 T d e βa = βe + βd V V V 1 T d e Vd 1 T e The Growth Model D O 1 g re g SA M PO = Gordon’s growth approximation g = bre The weighted average cost of capital Vd Ve WACC = K d 1 T Ke + Ve Vd Ve Vd The Fisher formula (1 + i) = (1 + r) (1 + h) Purchasing power parity and interest rate parity S1 = S0 × (vi) 1 h c 1 h b F0 = S0 × 1 i c 1 i b ©2015 DeVry/Becker Educational Development Corp. All rights reserved. REVISION QUESTION BANK – FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT (F9) Present Value Table Present value of 1 i.e. (1 + r)–n where r = discount rate n = number of periods until payment Discount rate (r) Periods (n) 1% 2% 3% 4% 5% 6% 7% 8% 9% 10% 0.935 0.873 0.816 0.763 0.713 0.926 0.857 0.794 0.735 0.681 0.917 0.842 0.772 0.708 0.650 0.909 0.826 0.751 0.683 0.621 1 2 3 4 5 0.666 0.623 0.582 0.544 0.508 0.630 0.583 0.540 0.500 0.463 0.596 0.547 0.502 0.460 0.422 0.564 0.513 0.467 0.424 0.386 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 0.990 0.980 0.971 0.961 0.951 0.980 0.961 0.942 0.924 0.906 0.971 0.943 0.915 0.888 0.863 0.962 0.925 0.889 0.855 0.822 0.952 0.907 0.864 0.823 0.784 0.943 0.890 0.840 0.792 0.747 6 7 8 9 10 0.942 0.933 0.923 0.914 0.905 0.888 0.871 0.853 0.837 0.820 0.837 0.813 0.789 0.766 0.744 0.790 0.760 0.731 0.703 0.676 0.746 0.711 0.677 0.645 0.614 0.705 0.665 0.627 0.592 0.558 11 12 13 14 15 0.896 0.887 0.879 0.870 0.861 0.804 0.788 0.773 0.758 0.743 0.722 0.701 0.681 0.661 0.642 0.650 0.625 0.601 0.577 0.555 0.585 0.557 0.530 0.505 0.481 0.527 0.497 0.469 0.442 0.417 0.475 0.444 0.415 0.388 0.362 0.429 0.397 0.368 0.340 0.315 0.388 0.356 0.326 0.299 0.275 0.350 0.319 0.290 0.263 0.239 (n) 11% 12% 13% 14% 15% 16% 17% 18% 19% 20% 1 2 3 4 5 0.901 0.812 0.731 0.659 0.593 0.893 0.797 0.712 0.636 0.567 0.885 0.783 0.693 0.613 0.543 0.877 0.769 0.675 0.592 0.519 0.870 0.756 0.658 0.572 0.497 0.862 0.743 0.641 0.552 0.476 0.855 0.731 0.624 0.534 0.456 0.847 0.718 0.609 0.516 0.437 0.840 0.706 0.593 0.499 0.419 0.833 0.694 0.579 0.482 0.402 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 0.535 0.482 0.434 0.391 0.352 0.507 0.452 0.404 0.361 0.322 0.480 0.425 0.376 0.333 0.295 0.456 0.400 0.351 0.308 0.270 0.432 0.376 0.327 0.284 0.247 0.410 0.354 0.305 0.263 0.227 0.390 0.333 0.285 0.243 0.208 0.370 0.314 0.266 0.225 0.191 0.352 0.296 0.249 0.209 0.176 0.335 0.279 0.233 0.194 0.162 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 0.317 0.286 0.258 0.232 0.209 0.287 0.257 0.229 0.205 0.183 0.261 0.231 0.204 0.181 0.160 0.237 0.208 0.182 0.160 0.140 0.215 0.187 0.163 0.141 0.123 0.195 0.168 0.145 0.125 0.108 0.178 0.152 0.130 0.111 0.095 0.162 0.137 0.116 0.099 0.084 0.148 0.124 0.104 0.088 0.074 0.135 0.112 0.093 0.078 0.065 11 12 13 14 15 SA M PL E 1 2 3 4 5 ©2015 DeVry/Becker Educational Development Corp. All rights reserved. (vii) FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT (F9) – REVISION QUESTION BANK Annuity Table Present value of an annuity of 1 i.e. where 1 (1 r ) n r r = discount rate n = number of periods Discount rate (r) 2% 3% 4% 5% 6% 0.962 1.886 2.775 3.630 4.452 0.952 1.859 2.723 3.546 4.329 0.943 1.833 2.673 3.465 4.212 7% 8% 9% 10% 0.935 1.808 2.624 3.387 4.100 0.926 1.783 2.577 3.312 3.993 0.917 1.759 2.531 3.240 3.890 0.909 1.736 2.487 3.170 3.791 E Periods (n) 1% 0.990 1.970 2.941 3.902 4.853 0.980 1.942 2.884 3.808 4.713 0.971 1.913 2.829 3.717 4.580 6 7 8 9 10 5.795 6.728 7.652 8.566 9.471 5.601 6.472 7.325 8.162 8.983 5.417 6.230 7.020 7.786 8.530 5.242 6.002 6.733 7.435 8.111 5.076 5.786 6.463 7.108 7.722 4.917 5.582 6.210 6.802 7.360 4.767 5.389 5.971 6.515 7.024 4.623 5.206 5.747 6.247 6.710 4.486 5.033 5.535 5.995 6.418 4.355 4.868 5.335 5.759 6.145 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 10.37 11.26 12.13 13.00 13.87 9.787 10.58 11.35 12.11 12.85 9.253 9.954 10.63 11.30 11.94 8.760 9.385 9.986 10.56 11.12 8.306 8.863 9.394 9.899 10.38 7.887 8.384 8.853 9.295 9.712 7.499 7.943 8.358 8.745 9.108 7.139 7.536 7.904 8.244 8.559 6.805 7.161 7.487 7.786 8.061 6.495 6.814 7.103 7.367 7.606 11 12 13 14 15 (n) 11% 12% 13% 14% 15% 16% 17% 18% 19% 20% 1 2 3 4 5 0.901 1.713 2.444 3.102 3.696 0.893 1.690 2.402 3.037 3.605 0.885 1.668 2.361 2.974 3.517 0.877 1.647 2.322 2.914 3.433 0.870 1.626 2.283 2.855 3.352 0.862 1.605 2.246 2.798 3.274 0.855 1.585 2.210 2.743 3.199 0.847 1.566 2.174 2.690 3.127 0.840 1.547 2.140 2.639 3.058 0.833 1.528 2.106 2.589 2.991 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 4.231 4.712 5.146 5.537 5.889 4.111 4.564 4.968 5.328 5.650 3.998 4.423 4.799 5.132 5.426 3.889 4.288 4.639 4.946 5.216 3.784 4.160 4.487 4.772 5.019 3.685 4.039 4.344 4.607 4.833 3.589 3.922 4.207 4.451 4.659 3.498 3.812 4.078 4.303 4.494 3.410 3.706 3.954 4.163 4.339 3.326 3.605 3.837 4.031 4.192 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 6.207 6.492 6.750 6.982 7.191 5.938 6.194 6.424 6.628 6.811 5.687 5.918 6.122 6.302 6.462 5.453 5.660 5.842 6.002 6.142 5.234 5.421 5.583 5.724 5.847 5.029 5.197 5.342 5.468 5.575 4.836 4.988 5.118 5.229 5.324 4.656 4.793 4.910 5.008 5.092 4.586 4.611 4.715 4.802 4.876 4.327 4.439 4.533 4.611 4.675 11 12 13 14 15 SA M PL 1 2 3 4 5 (viii) 1 2 3 4 5 ©2015 DeVry/Becker Educational Development Corp. All rights reserved. REVISION MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION BANK – FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT (F9) MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS 1 The Financial Management Function 1.1 Which of the following is one of the 3Es “value for money” concept? A B C D A B C D 1.3 Which of the following statements is correct? A B C D 1.4 Profit maximisation Market share growth Minimising the firm’s cost of capital Maximising earnings per share E Which of the following is most consistent with maximising shareholder wealth? PL 1.2 Earnings Equity Evaluation Effectiveness Profit maximisation results in shareholder wealth maximisation Divorce of ownership and control can lead to agency costs Maximising earnings per share results in shareholder wealth maximisation Increasing market share will lead to increased shareholder wealth Which of the following is the best indicator of shareholder wealth? Profit before interest and tax Sales revenues Market price of the share Price/earnings ratio SA M A B C D 1.5 Which of the following is not a consequence or symptom of the agency problem? A B C D 1.6 Managers diverting funds into their own pet projects Managers selecting quick payback projects Managers engaging in empire building Managers increasing the firm’s level of financial gearing Hathaway Co has just paid a dividend of 21 cents per share and its share price is $3·50 per share. One year ago its share price was $3·60 per share. Working to one decimal place, what is the total shareholder return over the period? A B C D 1.7 8·9% 8·6% 3·1% 0·9% Which of the following actions is MOST likely to increase shareholder wealth? A B C D The average cost of capital is increased by a recent financing decision The firm’s cash operating cycle becomes longer The board of directors decides to invest in a project with a quick payback period The annual report declares full compliance with the corporate governance code ©2015 DeVry/Becker Educational Development Corp. All rights reserved. 1 FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT (F9) – REVISION MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION BANK 1.9 Which of the following statements concerning not-for-profit organisations is correct? A Not-for-profit organisations often have multiple stakeholders with conflicting objectives B The provision of value for money embodies economy, equality and effectiveness C Not-for-profit organisations usually have one dominant stakeholder D The key objective of not-for-profit organisations is to make profits The following are extracts from the statement of profit or loss of IQ Co: Sales income Cost of sales Profit before tax Tax Profit after tax PL Profit before interest and tax Interest $000 60,000 50,000 –––––– 10,000 4,000 –––––– 6,000 4,500 –––––– 1,500 –––––– E 1.8 80% of the cost of sales is variable costs. What is the operational gearing of IQ Co? 2·0 times 2·5 times 0·5 times 3·0 times SA M A B C D 1.10 1.11 Which of the following statements concerning financial management are correct? (1) (2) (3) It is concerned with investment decisions, financing decisions and dividend decisions It may use information from management accounting It must hedge all of the firm’s currency risks A B C D 1 and 2 only 1 and 3 only 2 and 3 only 1, 2 and 3 Which ONE of the following statements concerning a company with low operating gearing is true? A B C D A change in sales will have a relatively small impact on profits The company has a relatively low proportion of debt finance The company will have higher risk and increased potential return The company will have low interest cover (22 marks) 2 ©2015 DeVry/Becker Educational Development Corp. All rights reserved. REVISION MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION BANK – FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT (F9) 2 The Financial Management Environment 2.1 Which of the following is least likely to act as a financial intermediary? A B C D Which of the following lists of securities is ranked in order of increasing risk to the investor? 2.3 Which of the following best describes commercial paper? A B C D 2.4 Ordinary share; Unsecured loan; Preference share Unsecured loan; Preference share; Ordinary share Preference share; Unsecured loan; Ordinary share Ordinary share; Preference share; Unsecured loan E A B C D PL 2.2 Insurance company Pension fund Credit rating agency Islamic bank Secured long-term loan notes issued by companies Secured short-term loan notes issued by companies Unsecured long-term loan notes issued by companies Unsecured short-term loan notes issued by companies Which of the following would be LEAST likely to be a function of a treasury department? Managing relationships with banks Liquidity management including investment of surplus funds Currency management Investment appraisal SA M A B C D 2.5 Which of the following is likely to have the LOWEST expected rate of return? A B C D 2.6 Unsecured bank loan Preference shares Secured bonds Ordinary shares Which of the following statements are features of money market instruments? (1) (2) (3) Interest-bearing instruments usually trade at less than face value The yield on commercial paper is usually higher than that on treasury bills Negotiable instruments can be sold before their maturity date A B C D 2 only 1 and 3 only 2 and 3 only 1, 2 and 3 ©2015 DeVry/Becker Educational Development Corp. All rights reserved. 3 FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT (F9) – REVISION MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION BANK 2.7 Governments have a number of economic targets as part of their fiscal policy. Which of the following targets relate predominantly to fiscal policy? A B C D 1 only 1 and 3 2 and 4 only 2, 3 and 4 Freely fluctuating exchange rates perform which of the following functions? A B C D 2.9 They tend to correct a trade surplus or deficit They make imports cheaper and exports more expensive They eliminate the opportunity for currency speculation They eliminate business’ exposure to currency risk Supply side economic policy is designed for what purpose? A B C D To raise the level of demand in the economy To increase the provision of state services To improve the ability of the economy to produce goods and services To reduce interest rates by increasing the money supply Which ONE of the following government policies would NOT tend to raise national income over time? SA M 2.10 E Increasing tax revenue Controlling the growth in the size of the money supply Reducing public expenditure Keeping interest rates low PL 2.8 (1) (2) (3) (4) A B C D Increased expenditure on infrastructure Tax cuts to encourage higher spending by consumers Supply side policies to increase labour flexibility Incentives to encourage personal saving (20 marks) 3 Investment Decisions 3.1 Harvey Co is evaluating a capital investment proposal with the following information: Initial cost Life Annual operating cash inflow Scrap value $500,000 10 years $200,000 $100,000 The investment will be depreciated using the straight-line method. What is the payback period for this investment? A B C D 4 3.25 years 2.67 years 2.5 years 2 years ©2015 DeVry/Becker Educational Development Corp. All rights reserved. REVISION MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION BANK – FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT (F9) 3.2 A project requires an initial outlay of $1,000. The forecast cash inflows are: Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 $200 $200 $400 $400 What is the investment’s payback period? 3.4 Which of the following statements about investment decision making methods is true? A The discounted payback method takes into account cash flows for all periods B The payback method ignores all cash flows after the end of the payback period C The net present value rule is to accept investment opportunities when their rates of return exceed the company’s weighted avergae cost of capital D The internal rate of return rule is to accept the investment if the weighted average cost of capital is greater than the internal rate of return PL 3.3 4.0 years 3.5 years 3.4 years 3.0 years E A B C D Which of the following statements is correct regarding investment decision making? Opportunity costs are not relevant The accounting rate of return considers the time value of money A strength of the payback method is that it is based on profitability Capital budgeting is based on predictions of an uncertain future SA M A B C D 3.5 A company with an 8% cost of capital purchases a machine for $43,000. The forecast operating cash flows generated by the machine are as follows: Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 $10,000 $15,000 $20,000 $27,000 What is the discounted payback period in years? A B C D 3.6 3.10 3.25 2.90 3.14 Kuchman Kookies will invest $100,000 in new equipment. The firm’s discount rate is 8% and the operating cash flows from the investment are expected to be as follows: Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5 $35,000 $38,000 $25,000 $20,000 $10,000 ©2015 DeVry/Becker Educational Development Corp. All rights reserved. 5 FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT (F9) – REVISION MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION BANK What is the investment’s payback period in years? A B C D 2.3 3.1 4.0 4.7 (12 marks) Discounted Cash Flow Techniques 4.1 Gunning Industries is considering investment in a new machine. The following information is provided: E 4 The new machine will cost $190,000 and has a five year life with zero scrap value. The investment in the new machine will also require an increase in working capital of $35,000. Tax-allowable depreciation is available on a straight-line basis. Gunning is subject to a 40% tax rate and has a 10% cost of capital. PL What is the present value of the tax saving on the first year’s tax-allowable depreciation? $13,817 $15,200 $16,762 $20,725 SA M A B C D 4.2 Wendy’s Sandwich Shop acquires an asset for $100,000 that has no residual value and a 10year life. Wendy’s tax rate is 40%. Tax-allowable depreciation is available on a straight-line basis. What is Wendy’s annual tax saving from the asset? A B C D 4.3 Which of the following events would decrease the internal rate of return of a potential investment? A B C D 4.4 Decreased tax-allowable depreciation available on the investment Decreased working capital requirements Decreased cost of capital Using reducing balance, instead of straight-line depreciation Which of the following changes would result in the highest present value for a series of cash flows? A B C D 6 $10,000 $6,000 $4,000 $2,000 A $100 decrease in taxes each year for four years A $100 decrease in the cash outflow each year for three years A $100 increase in disposal value at the end of four years A $100 increase in cash inflow each year for three years ©2015 DeVry/Becker Educational Development Corp. All rights reserved. REVISION MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION BANK – FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT (F9) 4.5 Which of the following is an advantage of the net present value method? A B C D 4.6 It is measured in time, not dollars It uses accrual basis, not cash basis accounting for a project It uses the accounting rate of return It accounts for compounding of returns ABC Co plans to buy a new machine. The cost of the machine is $100,000 and it has a fiveyear life with no disposal value. The machine will be depreciated on a straight line basis which matches the policy for tax-allowable depreciation. The machine will increase annual operating cash flows by $50,000. ABC’s profit tax rate is 35%. 4.7 $19,500 $30,000 $32,500 $39,500 PL A B C D E What is the annual after-tax cash flow generated by the machine? A company has identified two mutually-exclusive projects which have an equivalent effect on the risk profile of the company: Project I Project II Discounted payback period 2.8 years 3.2 years Net present value $17,200 $15,700 Internal rate of return 18% 22% Accounting rate of return 19% 21% The company’s cost of capital is 15%. SA M Assuming that the directors wish to maximise shareholder wealth and no shortage of capital is expected, which project should the company choose? A B C D 4.8 Project I because it has the shorter payback period Project I because it has the higher net present value Project II because it has the higher internal rate of return Project II because it has the higher accounting rate of return A project has an initial cash outflow followed by several years of cash inflows. What would be the effects on the internal rate of return (IRR) of the project and its discounted payback period (DPP) of a decrease in the company’s cost of capital? A B C D IRR Decrease Decrease No change No change DPP Decrease Increase Decrease Increase ©2015 DeVry/Becker Educational Development Corp. All rights reserved. 7 FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT (F9) – REVISION MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION BANK 4.9 A company has a “money” cost of capital of 21% per year. The general inflation rate is 9% per year. What is the “real” cost of capital? A B C D 4.10 9% 11% 12% 21% The following data is relevant to the evaluation of a particular project: 10% per year 5% per year E Cost of capital in real terms General inflation rate Specific inflation rate of the project’s annual cash inflow 6% per year Specific inflation rate of the project’s annual cash outflow 4% per year A B C D PL Which of the following sets of adjustments will lead to the correct calculation of net present value? Cash inflow 5% annual increase 6% annual increase 6% annual increase Unadjusted Cash outflow 5% annual increase 4% annual increase 4% annual increase Unadjusted Discount rate 15.5% 15.0% 15.5% 10.0% (20 marks) Applications of Discounted Cash Flow Techniques SA M 5 5.1 Which of the following is a limitation of the profitability index? A B C D 5.2 It uses accounting profits rather than cash flows It ignores the time value of money It is inconsistent with the goal of shareholder wealth maximisation It cannot deal with multi-period capital rationing ABC Co is trying to decide between keeping an existing machine and replacing it with a new machine. The old machine was purchased just two years ago for $50,000 and had an expected life of 10 years. It now costs $1,000 a month for maintenance and repairs due to a mechanical problem. A new machine is being considered to replace it at a cost of $60,000. The new machine is more efficient and it will only cost $200 a month for maintenance and repairs. The new machine has an expected life of 10 years. In deciding to replace the old machine, which of the following factors should ABC not consider? A B C D 8 Any estimated scrap value on the old machine The original cost of the old machine The estimated useful life of the new machine The lower maintenance cost on the new machine ©2015 DeVry/Becker Educational Development Corp. All rights reserved. REVISION MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION BANK – FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT (F9) 5.3 A company is considering whether to buy or lease two assets: Asset 1 has a 10-year economic life with a zero residual value. It can be purchased for $80,000 payable immediately. Alternatively, it can be leased with 10 lease rentals of $12,000 per year payable annually in advance. Asset 2 has a five-year economic life. It can be purchased for $81,000 payable immediately and will have a residual value of $40,000 after five years. Alternatively, it can be leased with five lease rentals of $14,000 per year payable annually in arrears. How should the company finance each asset? 5.4 Asset 1 Lease Lease Buy Buy Asset 2 Lease Buy Lease Buy PL A B C D E The appropriate discount rate is 10% per year. The cost of purchasing a machine is $100,000 payable immediately. Its disposal value is expected to be $10,000 in five years’ time. The same asset can be leased for a period of five years with rentals of $25,000 payable annually in advance. SA M What is the net present value (to the nearest $10) to the lessor if it purchases the machine then leases it to the user on the above terms if it applies an annual discount rate of 10%? A B C D 5.5 $990 positive $10,460 positive $1,960 negative $11,440 negative A machine costing $150,000 has a useful life of eight years, after which time its estimated resale value will be $25,000. Annual running costs will be $5,000 for the first three years of use and then $8,000 for each of the next five years. All running costs are payable on the last day of the year to which they relate. Using a discount rate of 20%, what is the equivalent annual cost of the machine (to the nearest $100)? A B C D $46,600 $43,900 $43,300 $21,100 ©2015 DeVry/Becker Educational Development Corp. All rights reserved. (10 marks) 9 FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT (F9) – REVISION MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION BANK Project Appraisal under Risk 6.1 During a typical year, Deet Co experiences the following power cuts: Number of power cuts per month 0 1 2 3 Number of months 3 2 4 3 ––– 12 ––– E 6 Each power cut results in additional costs of $400. For $500 per month, Deet can lease a generator to provide electricity during power cuts. A B C D 6.2 PL If Deet leases the generator what is the estimated annual savings/ (additional cost)? ($3,600) ($1,200) $1,600 $1,900 Excalibur Co has developed a model to predict sales levels for its beachwear based on longrange weather forecasts. The probability of various temperatures and related sales units are as follows: SA M Unit sales 10,000 30,000 50,000 40,000 25,000 Temperature Probability below 20° 5% 20-24 25% 24-28 50% 28-32 15% over 32 5% What sales volume, in units, would Excalibur Co anticipate using the expected value approach? A B C D 6.3 31,000 40,250 50,000 155,000 A shopkeeper has determined the following probability distribution of weekly demand for one of his most popular products. Demand 300 400 500 600 700 Probability 0.2 0.3 0.3 0.1 0.1 The shopkeeper must order each week’s sales in advance and any items left in inventory at the end of the week are scrapped. The items cost the shopkeeper $2.50 and he sells them for $3 each. 10 ©2015 DeVry/Becker Educational Development Corp. All rights reserved. REVISION MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION BANK – FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT (F9) What is the optimal quantity to be ordered each week? A B C D A company has constructed a model for predicting profits. Net profit or loss depends on two variables: gross profit and overheads. The following are independent probability distributions of the two variables. Gross profit $ 12,000 6,000 4,000 3,000 Probability 0.1 0.4 0.4 0.1 Overheads $ 6,000 4,000 3,000 2,000 Probability E 6.4 300 400 450 500 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.1 A B C D Adrian is contemplating purchasing for $60,000 a machine which he will use to produce 10,000 disks per year for five years. These disks will be sold for $9 each and unit variable costs are expected to be $5. Incremental fixed costs will be $14,000 per year for production costs and $5,000 per year for selling and administration costs. Adrian has a discount rate of 10% per year. SA M 6.5 0.27 0.55 0.73 0.82 PL What is the probability that the company will make a positive net profit? By how many units must the estimate of production and sales volume fall for the project to be regarded as not worthwhile? A B C D 6.6 575 1,293 1,623 2,463 The following financial information relates to an investment project: Present value of sales revenue Present value of variable costs Present value of contribution Present value of fixed costs Present value of operating income Initial investment ©2015 DeVry/Becker Educational Development Corp. All rights reserved. $000 50,025 25,475 –––––– 24,550 18,250 –––––– 6,300 5,000 11 FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT (F9) – REVISION MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION BANK What is the sensitivity of the net present value of the investment project to a change in fixed costs? A B C D 7·1% 5·3% 5·1% 2·6% (12 marks) Equity Finance and Debt Finance 7.1 What is a major advantage of issuing long-term debt? A B C D When issuing new bonds what would be the primary reason for a debt covenant limiting the firm’s future level of debt? A B C D To cause the firm’s share price to rise To lower the company’s credit rating To reduce issue costs To reduce the coupon rate Bander Co is determining how to finance some long-term projects. Bander has decided that it prefers the flexibility of no fixed servicing cost, no fixed maturity date and an increase in the credit rating of the company. SA M 7.3 Increased financial flexibility The reduction in profit before tax Decreased financial risk The reduction of shareholders’ control over the company PL 7.2 E 7 Which of the following would best meet Bander’s financing requirements? A B C D 7.4 7.5 Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding corporate debt and equity securities? (1) (2) Both debt and equity holders have an ownership interest in the company. Both debt and equity securities have an obligation to pay income. A B C D 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Which of the following types of bonds is most likely to maintain a constant market value? A B C D 12 Irredeemable bonds Ordinary shares Long-term bank loans Preference shares Zero-coupon Floating-rate Irredeemable Convertible ©2015 DeVry/Becker Educational Development Corp. All rights reserved. REVISION MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION BANK – FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT (F9) 7.6 A company currently has 1,000 ordinary shares in issue and no debt. It has the choice of raising an additional $100,000 by issuing 9% long-term debt, or issuing 500 ordinary shares. The company has a 40% tax rate. What level of earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) would result in the same earnings per share (EPS) for the two financing options? A B C D A company currently has 10 million $1 shares in issue with a market value of $3 per share. The company wishes to raise new funds using a 1 for 4 rights issue. The resulting theoretical ex-rights price per share has been calculated as $2·80. How much new finance was raised? 7.8 $2,500,000 $4,000,000 $5,000,000 $7,000,000 PL A B C D E 7.7 $27,000 $21,000 $18,000 $10,800 Which of the following may be regarded as an advantage to existing shareholders of listing the firm on a major stock market? Reduced disclosure requirements Larger dividends can be paid Shares become more marketable Reduced risk of takeover SA M A B C D 7.9 Which of the following defines dividend cover? A B C D 7.10 Dividend per share divided by earnings per share. Earnings per share divided by dividend per share. Share price divided by dividend per share. Retained profit per share divided by dividend per share The Stock Exchange may provide a quotation for a company’s existing shares without that company making any new shares available to the market. What is this method of obtaining a quotation called? A B C D An offer for sale An introduction A placing A scrip issue ©2015 DeVry/Becker Educational Development Corp. All rights reserved. 13 FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT (F9) – REVISION MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION BANK 7.13 (1) (2) (3) The use of debt The financing of immoral activities The use of derivatives A B C D 2 only 1 and 3 1, 2 and 3 2 and 3 Which of the following statements concerning a rights issue are correct? (1) (2) (3) (4) The new shares are normally issued at a discount to the existing price There will be no change in shareholder wealth The main purpose of a rights issue is to raise finance The new shareas must be issued to the existing shareholders A B C D 1, 2 and 3 only 2, 3 and 4 only 1, 3 and 4 only 1, 2 and 4 only Which of the following statements concerning a bonus (scrip) issue is correct? A B C D The new shares are issued at par value Earnings per share would be expected to rise The main purpose of a bonus issue is to raise finance The bonus shares do not carry voting rights Which of the following is the correct definition of a warrant? SA M 7.14 E 7.12 Which of the following is prohibited under Islamic financing principles? PL 7.11 A B C D 7.15 Which of the following is an example of supply chain finance? A B C D 7.16 Finance raised to invest in supply chain infrastructure Taking loans from suppliers Selling a sales invoice to a customer’s bank for immedidate payment Issuing shares to a supplier Which of the following is NOT true of peer-to-peer (P2P) lending? A B C D 14 Security or collateral provided for debt Shares issued in lieu of a cash dividend Restritive covenants written into debt contracts Share options attached to a debt issue It can also be referred to as “debt-based crowdfunding” It involves individuals lending money to other individuals or to small businesses It requires a financial institution to act as an intermediary It is an example of “microfinance” ©2015 DeVry/Becker Educational Development Corp. All rights reserved. REVISION MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION BANK – FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT (F9) 7.17 Which of the following statements concerning crowdfunding is correct? A B C D It involves either issuing shares or loans to large group of investors It is only available to unlisted companies “Reward-based” crowdfunding does not raise any cash for the business It is particularly appropriate for early stage “seed” finance (34 marks) Cost of Capital 8.1 Which of the following usually determines the optimal capital structure for an organisation? 8.2 Which of the following rates is most commonly compared to a project’s internal rate of return to evaluate whether to make an investment? A B C D 8.3 Maximum degree of financial gearing Maximum degree of operating gearing Lowest weighted average cost of capital Capital structure used by competitors PL A B C D E 8 Risk-free rate Accounting Rate of Return Weighted average cost of capital Cost of equity A company with a tax rate of 30% has the following capital structure: Instrument Bonds Ordinary shares Preference shares Pre-tax cost of capital 6% 12% 8% SA M Weight 40% 50% 10% What is the company’s weighted average cost of capital? A B C D 8.4 9.2% 7.7% 8.2% 8.5% A company has in issue 9% $20 nominal value preference shares. Their current market price is $40 and the company’s tax rate is 30%. What is the company’s cost of preference shares? A B C D 4.5% 3.15% 9.0% 6.3% ©2015 DeVry/Becker Educational Development Corp. All rights reserved. 15 FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT (F9) – REVISION MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION BANK 8.6 Which three elements are needed to estimate the cost of equity using the dividend growth model? A Current dividends per share, expected growth rate in earnings per share and current market price per share B Current earnings per share, expected growth rate in dividends per share and current market price per share C Current earnings per share, expected growth rate in earnings per share and current book value per share D Current dividends per share, expected growth rate in dividends per share and current market price per share A firm has a share price of $30, a forecast dividend per share after one year of $3 and thereafter an expected growth rate of 10%. A B C D 21.1% 12.2% 11.0% 20.0% PL What is the firm’s cost of equity? 8.7 E 8.5 A firm has a bank loan with a 10% interest rate. The firm also has in issue 8% preference shares trading at par and has estimated that its cost of ordinary shares is 18%. The firm has a 30% tax rate. SA M What is the weighted average cost of capital if the firm uses a capital structure comprising 50% debt and an even split between preference and ordinary shares? A B C D 8.8 11.50% 10.00% 9.40% 8.05% A firm’s weighted average cost of capital is minimised when its debt to equity ratio is 4:1. Which of the following statements is most accurate? A B C D 16 The value of the firm is maximised when it uses more equity than debt A higher ratio than 4:1 means debt holders will require a lower return A higher ratio than 4:1 means equity holders will require a higher return The value of the firm will be maximised if it is 75% debt financed ©2015 DeVry/Becker Educational Development Corp. All rights reserved. REVISION MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION BANK – FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT (F9) 8.9 Recent statistics relating to the ordinary shares of Calc Co, a quoted company, are as follows: Dividend (just paid) Average annual growth rate of dividends Dividend cover Price/earnings ratio 5 cents 10% 2.4 8 A B C D 8.10 13.8% 15.2% 15.7% 23.8% A firm has achieved an average growth in dividends over the last five years of 10.5% per year. It is now widely believed that the long-run average annual dividend growth rate will be 9.16% per year. The firm’s current dividend yield is 4.8%. A B C D 13.96% 14.40% 15.30% 15.80% PL What is the firm’s cost of equity? Which of the following statements concerning capital structure theory is correct? A In the traditional view, there is a linear relationship between the cost of equity and financial risk B Modigliani and Miller said that, in the absence of tax, the cost of equity would remain constant C Pecking order theory does not suggest an optimal debt to equity ratio D Modigliani and Miller said that, in the presence of tax, the weighted average cost of capital would remain constant SA M 8.11 E What is Calc Co’s cost of equity? (22 marks) 9 Capital Asset Pricing Model 9.1 Colt Co has an equity beta factor of 1.15 and an asset beta factor of 0.85. The risk-free rate of return is 8.5% and the market return is estimated at 12.4%. The corporate tax rate is 25%. What is Colt’s cost of equity geared? A B C D 11.82% 12.99% 9.74% 14.26% ©2015 DeVry/Becker Educational Development Corp. All rights reserved. 17 FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT (F9) – REVISION MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION BANK 9.2 The risk-free rate of return is 3% and the market premium is 6.5%. A firm’s equity beta is 1.15 and asset beta 0.85. What will the firm’s cost of equity be if it redeems all outstanding debt? A B C D A firm’s equity beta is 1.10 and its asset beta is 0.85. The market premium is 4.50% and the risk-free rate 3% E 9.3 7.0% 10.5% 8.5% 6.0% A B C D 9.4 What type of risk cannot be eliminated through diversification? A B C D Business risk Unsystematic risk Financial risk Systematic risk The risk-free rate of return is 6% and the required return on a security with a beta factor of 1·2 is 15·6%. SA M 9.5 7.95% 4.65% 6.83% 4.28% PL What is the firm’s cost of equity geared? What is the required annual rate of return on the market portfolio? A B C D 9.6 11·52% 13·00% 14·00% 17·52% The beta of company X’s shares is 1·6, the risk free rate is 5% and the required return on company X’s shares is 16·2%. Company Y is quoted in the same stock market, but its shares have a beta of 1·4. What is the required rate of return on company Y’s shares? A B C D 9.7 Which of the following measures business risk? A B C D 18 12·0% 13·0% 13·2% 14·8% Equity beta Debt beta Volatility of net income Asset beta ©2015 DeVry/Becker Educational Development Corp. All rights reserved. REVISION MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION BANK – FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT (F9) 9.8 Which of the following are assumptions of the capital asset pricing model? (1) (2) (3) Linear relationship between risk and required return Constant dividend growth rate Perfect capital markets A B C D 2 only 1 and 3 1, 2 and 3 2 and 3 (16 marks) Working Capital Management 10.1 Which of the following would increase the net working capital of a firm? 10.2 Cash collection of accounts receivable Refinancing of accounts payable with a two-year bank loan Payment to suppliers Payment of a dividend PL A B C D E 10 During the year, Mason Co’s current assets increased by $120,000 and current liabilities decreased by $50,000. What was the effect on net working capital? Increased by $70,000 Decreased by $170,000 Increased by $170,000 Decreased by $70,000 SA M A B C D 10.3 Which of the following indicates that a company is becoming more conservative in its working capital funding policy? A B C D 10.4 Which of the following may indicate overtrading? A B C D 10.5 Increase in the ratio of current liabilities to non-current liabilities Decrease in the operating cycle Decrease in the current ratio Increase in the ratio of long-term finance to current liabilities Significant new issues of long-term finance Rising profits but falling margins Rising receivables turnover Falling revenues Which working capital financing policy exposes the firm to the greatest risk of being unable to meet its obligations as they fall due? A B C D Financing fluctuating current assets with long-term debt Financing permanent current assets with long-term debt Financing permanent current assets with short-term debt Financing fluctuating current assets with short-term debt ©2015 DeVry/Becker Educational Development Corp. All rights reserved. 19 FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT (F9) – REVISION MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION BANK 10.6 A company has a current ratio of 2·3 and a quick ratio of 0·8. It increases its overdraft in order to buy more inventory as a cash purchase. What will happen to the company’s ratios as a result of this transaction? A B C D Increased short-term borrowing Increased cash balances Increased revenue Reduced working capital E Which of the following is LEAST likely to characterise overtrading? A B C D 10.8 Quick ratio Increase Decrease Increase Decrease PL 10.7 Current ratio Increase Increase Decrease Decrease The following information has been calculated for AAA Co: Trade receivables collection period Raw material holding period Length of the production cycle Credit taken from suppliers Finished goods holding period 25 days 24 days 30 days 56 days 34 days What is the length of the working capital cycle? 3 days 27 days 57 days 169 days SA M A B C D 10.9 20 Which of the following statements concerning working capital management are correct? (1) (2) (3) The twin objectives of working capital management are profitability and liquidity An aggressive approach to working capital financing can increase profitability Poor working capital management is a signal of overtrading A B C D 1 and 2 only 1 and 3 only 2 and 3 only 1, 2 and 3 (18 marks) ©2015 DeVry/Becker Educational Development Corp. All rights reserved. REVISION MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION BANK – FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT (F9) Inventory Management 11.1 Which of the following would affect the optimal level of inventory? Holding cost per unit of inventory Current level of inventory Cost of placing an order for inventory Demand A B C D 1, 2 and 3 only 2, 3 and 4 only 1, 3 and 4 only 1, 2 and 4 only In inventory management, which of the following will tend to increase the level of safety stock? A B C D 11.3 Holding cost increases Cost of running out of inventory decreases Variability of lead-time increases Reliability of demand forecasting increases PL 11.2 (1) (2) (3) (4) Which of the following assumptions is associated with the economic order quantity model? The holding cost per unit will vary with quantity ordered The cost of placing an order will vary with quantity ordered Holding costs depend on the average level of inventory The purchase cost per unit will vary based on quantity discounts SA M A B C D 11.4 E 11 To measure inventory management performance, a company monitors its inventory turnover ratio. Selected data from the company’s accounting records show the following: Annual sales Gross profit Current year 2,525,000 40% Prior year 2,125,000 35% Opening finished goods inventory for the current year was 15% of the prior year’s annual sales volume at cost and closing finished goods inventory was 22% of the current-year’s annual sales volume at cost. What was the company’s inventory turnover for the current year? A B C D 11.5 4.55 times 5.61 times 6.51 times 6.81 times Which of the following statements about the economic order quantity (EOQ) and the reorder level (ROL) are true? A B C D The EQO determines the ROL The ROL determines the EOQ Both are influnced by demand Both are influnced by lead time ©2015 DeVry/Becker Educational Development Corp. All rights reserved. 21 FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT (F9) – REVISION MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION BANK Which of the following is LEAST relevant to the economic order quantity model for inventory? A B C D Which of the following is/are usually seen as benefits of the just-in-time approach to inventory management? (1) (2) (3) Reduced risk of stock outs Reduced holding holds Reduced dependence on suppliers A B C D 2 only 1 and 3 only 2 and 3 only 1, 2 and 3 E 11.7 Safety stock Annual demand Holding costs Order costs PL 11.6 (14 marks) 12 Cash Management 12.1 The CFO of Lang Co wants to earn a higher return on the company’s cash holdings. Which of the following comparable maturity investments will earn Lang the highest expected return? Certficates of deposit Treasury bills Commercial paper Bank deposits SA M A B C D 12.2 Which of the following securities has the least amount of default risk? A B C D 12.3 Which of the following best describes the risk associated with the ability to sell a shortterm investment quickly without significant impact on the price? A B C D 22 Corporate bonds Treasury bills Commercial paper Bills of exchange Interest rate risk Purchasing power risk Financial risk Liquidity risk ©2015 DeVry/Becker Educational Development Corp. All rights reserved. REVISION MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION BANK – FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT (F9) (1) The greater the variability in cash flows, the greater is the spread between the upper and lower cash balance limits. (2) When short-term investments are liquidated the firm’s cash balance should return to the lower limit. A B C D 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 E 12.5 Which of the following statements about the Miller-Orr cash management model is/are true? A company uses the Baumol cash management model. Cash disbursements are constant at $20,000 each month. Short-term investments yield 5% a year, while cash held in the company’s bank account earns zero interest. Switching costs (that is, for each purchase or sale of short-term investments) are $30 for each transaction. PL 12.4 What is the optimal amount (to the nearest $100) to be transferred in each transaction? A B C D 12.6 $500 $1,700 $4,900 $17,000 Which is the following is an assumption of the Baumol model but not of the Miller-Orr model? Constant usage of cash Holding cash incurrs an opportunity cost Fixed commission for switching between cash and cash equivalents Variability of cash flows SA M A B C D (12 marks) 13 Management of Accounts Receivable and Payable 13.1 A supplier offers a 3% discount for payment within 10 days or full payment within 45 days. Assuming a 360-day year what is the annualised cost of not taking the discount? A B C D 13.2 37.11% 36.00% 24.74% 31.81% A company has daily sales of $150,000. A debt factor has guaranteed to reduce the company’s receivables collection time by four days for a monthly fee of $2,500. Cash surpluses can be invested in money market deposits yielding 4% per annum. What is the additional annual income/(loss) from using the cash management service? A B C D $6,000 $(6,000) $12,000 $(12,000) ©2015 DeVry/Becker Educational Development Corp. All rights reserved. 23 FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT (F9) – REVISION MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION BANK 13.3 Amicable Wireless Co offers customers credit terms of 2% discount for payment within 10 days or full payment within 25 days. 60% of Amicable’s customers take the 2% discount and pay on day 10. The remainder of Amicable’s customers pay on day 30. What is Amicable’s receivables days? A B C D The CFO of a company is concerned about the company’s accounts receivable turnover ratio. The company currently offers customers terms of 3% discount for settlement within 10 days or full payment within 30 days. E 13.4 16 12 18 20 Which of the following strategies would most likely improve the company’s accounts receivable turnover ratio? 13.5 Using invoice discouting Changing customer terms to a 1% discount for settelement within 10 days Entering into a factoring agreement with a finance company Changing customer terms to a 3% discount for settlment within 20 days PL A B C D Scrimpy Co buys materials from Frugal Enterprises. Frugal offers discount terms of 2% discount for payment within 10 days or full payment within 30 days. SA M Assuming a 360-day year, what is the annual percentage cost associated with Scrimpy’s failure to take advantage of the discount offered by Frugal? A B C D 13.6 Which of the following statements about debt factoring and invoice discounting is correct? A B C D 13.7 2.0% 33.3% 36.0% 36.7% Factoring is with recourse whereas discounting is without recourse Invoice discounting is usually performed on the entire receivables ledger Both are relatively cheap sources of finance Only factoring involves outsourcing the administration of the receivables ledger. The management of XYZ Co has annual credit sales of $20 million and accounts receivable of $4 million. Working capital is financed by an overdraft at 12% interest per year. Assume 365 days in a year. What is the annual finance cost saving if the management reduces the collection period by 60 days? A B C D $85,479 $394,521 $78,904 $68,384 (14 marks) 24 ©2015 DeVry/Becker Educational Development Corp. All rights reserved. REVISION MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION BANK – FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT (F9) 14 Risk Management 14.1 Hedgehog International is a UK-based firm which must pay $500,000 to its foreign supplier in 90 days. The current spot rate is $1.60 per £1. Hedgehog purchases an option to buy the dollar in 90 days at $1.64 per £1, paying a premium of $0.07 per $1. The spot rate after 90 days is $1.58 per £1. What will Hedgehog do on the payables’ settlement date? Hedgehog International is a UK-based firm which will receive $500,000 to its overseas customer in 90 days. The current spot rate is $1.60 per £1. Hedgehog purchases an option to sell the dollar in 90 days at $1.61 per £1, paying a premium of $0.03 per $1. The spot rate after 90 days is $1.58 per £1. PL 14.2 Hedgehog will exercise the option Hedgehog will not exercise the option Hedgehog will be indifferent as to whether it exercises the option or not Hedgehog will allow the option to lapse E A B C D What will Hedgehog do after 90 days? A B C D 14.3 Hedgehog will exercise its option Hedgehog will lapse the option Hedgehog will be indifferent as to whether it exercises the option or not Hedgehog will receive a refund of the premium A US importer expects to pay a European supplier €500,000 in three months. SA M Which of the following hedges could be appropriate for the US importer? A B C D 14.4 Buying call options on the euro Buying put options on the euro Selling put options on the euro Selling call options on the euro Platinum Co is US-based and has a receivable due in 30 days for 30,000 euros. The treasurer is concerned that the value of the euro relative to the dollar will drop before the payment is received. What should Platinum do to reduce this risk? A B C D Deposit 30,000 euros today Enter into an interest rate swap contract for 30 days Enter into a forward contract to sell 30,000 euros in 30 days Platinum cannot effectively reduce this risk ©2015 DeVry/Becker Educational Development Corp. All rights reserved. 25 FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT (F9) – REVISION MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION BANK 14.6 In evaluating the impact of relative inflation rates on the demand for a foreign currency, which of the following is true? A Inflation is irrelevant to currency demand. B As inflation associated with a foreign economy increases in relation to a domestic economy, demand for the foreign currency falls. C As inflation associated with a foreign economy increases in relation to a domestic economy, demand for the foreign currency increases. D As inflation associated with a foreign economy decreases in relation to a domestic economy, demand for the foreign currency falls. E 14.5 A company has several long-term floating rate bonds outstanding and is considering hedging interest rate risk. Which of the following derivative instruments is recommended for this purpose? Which of the following statements about the term structure of interest rates is/are true? (1) An “inverted” yield curve is where long-term interest rates are higher than shortterm interest rates. (2) A rising yield curve is caused when investors prefer to buy for long-dated bonds A B C D 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 SA M 14.7 Money market hedge Forward currency contract Fixed rate bank loans Interest rate swap PL A B C D 14.8 26 In relation to hedging currency risk, which of the following statements is correct? A The flexible nature of currency futures means that they can always be matched with a specific currency exposure B Currency options carry an obligation to the holder to exercise the option at maturity C Forward contracts require the payment of a premium D A money market hedge should give approximately the same result as a forward contract ©2015 DeVry/Becker Educational Development Corp. All rights reserved. REVISION MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION BANK – FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT (F9) 14.9 The home currency of GB Co is sterling (£) and it trades with a company in a foreign country whose home currency is the rupee. The following information is available: Home country 80·00 rupees per £ 2% per year 1% per year Spot rate Interest rate Inflation rate Foreign country 9% per year 5% per year A B C D 14.11 What is the impact of an appreciation in the value of a country’s currency? (1) (2) Exports will be given a stimulus The rate of domestic inflation will rise A B C D 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 PL 14.10 91·36 rupees per £ 86·46 rupees per £ 70·05 rupees per £ 76·96 rupees per £ E What is the two-year forward exchange rate? “There is a risk that the value of our export earnings will fall over the next few years due to an appreciating domestic currency.” To which risk does the above statement refer? Translation risk Economic risk Transaction risk Financial risk SA M A B C D 14.12 In relation to the term structure of interest rates what is a “normal” yield curve? A B C D 14.13 Upward sloping Downward sloping U-shaped Horizontal Burger Queen Co conducts business in a number of different countries and is trying to evaluate its economic exposure to long-term exchange rate trends. Which of the following statements is correct? A Burger Queen will suffer an economic loss if it has to make payments in a foreign currency and its domestic currency appreciates B Burger Queen will enjoy an economic gain if it has to make payments in a foreign currency and the foreign currency appreciates C Burger Queen will suffer an economic loss if it has net receipts of a foreign currency and its domestic currency depreciates D Burger Queen will suffer an economic loss if it has net receipts of a foreign currency and the foreign currency depreciates ©2015 DeVry/Becker Educational Development Corp. All rights reserved. 27 FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT (F9) – REVISION MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION BANK 14.14 Universal Exports Co limits its operations to exporting overseas. Which ONE of the following statements concerning Universal’s exposures to exchange rate risk is correct? B Universal is subject to transaction and economic exposure C Universal is only subject to transaction exposure D Universal is not subject to exchange rate risk as currency fluctuations would balance out over time E Universal is subject to transaction, economic and translation exposure What is the effect on a UK-based company when a foreign competitor’s currency becomes weaker compared to sterling? A B C D The foreign company will have an advantage in the UK market The foreign company will be disadvantaged in the UK market No effect It is advantageous for the UK company when sterling strengthens PL 14.15 A (30 marks) 15 Business Valuation and Ratio Analysis 15.1 Assuming an increase in price levels over time, which of the following asset valuations will produce the highest return on assets? Net book value Gross book value Replacement cost Depreciated replacement cost SA M A B C D 15.2 Kent Co had sales growth of 10% over the past year. EBIT grew by 15% and earnings per share (EPS) grew by 25% over the same period. Which of the following statements regarding Kent Co’s gearing is correct? A B C D 15.3 Total gearing is equal to 0.9 Total gearing is equal to 2.1 Financial gearing is equal to 0.6 Operating gearing is equal to 1.5 Jack Co owns a $1,000 face value bond purchased at par with an annual coupon of 5%. What would happen to the market value of the bond if market interest rates later decreased to 4% and why? A B C D 28 Increase because the bond pays a higher coupon than the current market rate Stay the same since the bond pays a fixed coupon Stay the same since the firm’s credit rating has not changed Decrease since market interest rates have declined ©2015 DeVry/Becker Educational Development Corp. All rights reserved. REVISION MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION BANK – FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT (F9) 15.4 Fernwell wants to buy shares of Gurst Co in two years. Fernwell uses the dividend valuation model with an assumed dividend growth rate of 5%. If Fernwell’s discount rate is 10% and Gurst’s current year dividend is $20, what is the approximate price Fernwell will pay? A B C D Harken Co’s price earnings ratio is 10, its earnings in the current year is $5 per share but the earnings forecast for the next year is $8 per share. A B C D 15.6 Whichof the following is a basic premise of behavioural corporate finance? A B C D Cost behaviour determines valuation Behavioural characteristics of financial managers can distort judgment Corporate behaviour will impact financial decisions Corporate finance is inherently quantitative and objective A financial manager believes that his actions will cause earnings to increase and the firm’s share price to rise in direct proportion to earnings. SA M 15.7 $0.50 $0.80 $50 $80 PL What is the current share price of Harken Co? E 15.5 $400 $420 $441 $463 What does the manager’s behaviour illustrate? A B C D 15.8 Overconfidence Excessive optimism Illusion of control Confirmation bias A loan note has a fixed annual coupon of 7% and it will be repaid at its face value of $100 in one year’s time. Similar loan notes have a gross redemption yield (i.e. yield to maturity) of 8%. What is the current market value of the loan note? A B C D $99·07 $100·00 $100·93 $106·07 ©2015 DeVry/Becker Educational Development Corp. All rights reserved. 29 FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT (F9) – REVISION MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION BANK 15.10 Which of the following statements about the efficient market hypothesis is/are true? (1) In a strongly efficient market, the price/earnings ratios of all companies would be the same. (2) In a semi-strong efficient market, the share price for a particular company should not change when its financial statements are made public. A B C D 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 E 15.9 A firm maintains a 30% pay-out ratio. Future projects are expected to generate an annual post-tax return on investment of 15% and a pre-tax return of 20%. A B C D 15.11 4·5% 6·0% 10·5% 14·0% PL What is the firm’s expected annual rate of growth? Warren analyses publically available information about firms and uses this to try and predict their share price movements. To what extent does Warren believe capital markets to be efficient? Not efficient at all Weak form efficient Semi-strong form efficient Strong form efficient SA M A B C D 15.12 Korma Co has paid the following dividends per share in recent years: Year Dividend (cents per share) 2014 35·0 2013 33·8 2012 32·8 2011 31·1 The dividend for 2014 has just been paid and Korma Co has a cost of equity of 12%. What is the market price of Korma Co shares to the nearest cent? A B C D 30 $4·01 $4·66 $4·07 $4·55 ©2015 DeVry/Becker Educational Development Corp. All rights reserved. REVISION MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION BANK – FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT (F9) 15.13 Donald Co has 8% convertible loan notes in issue which are redeemable in five years’ time at their nominal value of $100 per loan note. Alternatively, each loan note could be converted after five years into 60 equity shares with a nominal value of $1 each. The equity shares of Donald Co are currently trading at $1·25 per share and this share price is expected to grow by 4% per year. The yield to maturity (gross redemption yield) of the loan notes is 10% What is the current market value of each loan note to the nearest dollar? 15.14 $91 $92 $100 $103 E A B C D Stern Bear is using the dividend valuation model with a constant growth rate to estimate the value of an ordinary share. A B C D 15.15 PL Which of the following assumptions is Stern Bear making? The cost of equity will grow at a constant rate Earnings will grow at a constant rate The share price will grow at the same rate as the dividend The share price will grow at the same amount as the dividend What does a low price/earnings (P/E) ratio indicate to investors? Earnings have limited growth potential Earnings are expected to rise quickly There are prolems with the company’s management The company is overvalued SA M A B C D ©2015 DeVry/Becker Educational Development Corp. All rights reserved. (30 marks) 31 FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT (F9) – REVISION QUESTION BANK Question 1 COMPANY OBJECTIVES Justify and criticise the usual assumption made in financial management literature that the objective of a company is to maximise the wealth of the shareholders. (Do not consider how this wealth is to be measured). Outline other goals that companies claim to follow, and explain why these might be adopted in preference to the maximisation of shareholder wealth. (10 marks) Question 2 THE FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT FUNCTION Discuss the main decisions within the scope of financial management. (5 marks) (b) Explain how management accounting information may assist the financial manager. (5 marks) E (a) PL (10 marks) Question 3 FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT DECISIONS Discuss the relationship between investment decisions, dividend decisions and financing decisions in the context of financial management, illustrating your discussion with examples where appropriate. (10 marks) Question 4 VALUE FOR MONEY SA M Explain and compare the public sector objective of “value for money” and the private sector objective of “maximisation of shareholder wealth”. (6 marks) Question 5 NON-FOR-PROFIT Compare and contrast the financial objectives of a stock exchange listed company and the financial objectives of a not-for-profit organisation such as a large charity. (10 marks) Question 6 QSX CO A shareholder of QSX Co is concerned about the recent performance of the company and has collected the following financial information. Year to 31 May Revenue Earnings per share Dividend per share Closing ex-dividend share price Return on equity predicted by CAPM 2015 $6·8m 58·9c 40·0c $6·48 8% 2014 $6·8m 64·2c 38·5c $8·35 12% 2013 $6·6m 61·7c 37·0c $7·40 The current cost of equity of QSX Co is 10% per year. Assume that dividends are paid at the end of each year. 32 ©2015 DeVry/Becker Educational Development Corp. All rights reserved. REVISION QUESTION BANK – FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT (F9) Required: Calculate the dividend yield, capital gain and total shareholder return for 2014 and 2015, and briefly discuss your findings with respect to: (i) (ii) the returns predicted by the capital asset pricing model (CAPM); the other financial information provided. (10 marks) Question 7 AGENCY PROBLEM PL Required: E At a recent board meeting of Dartig Co, a non-executive director suggested that the company’s remuneration committee should consider scrapping the company’s current share option scheme, since executive directors could be rewarded by the scheme even when they did not perform well. A second non-executive director disagreed, saying the problem was that even when directors acted in ways which decreased the agency problem, they might not be rewarded by the share option scheme if the stock market were in decline. Explain the nature of the agency problem and discuss the use of share option schemes and performance-related pay as methods of reducing the agency problem in a stock-market listed company such as Dartig Co. (10 marks) Question 8 LISTED COMPANY OBJECTIVES SA M Identify TWO financial objectives of a listed company and discuss how each of these financial objectives may be supported by investment in new projects. (6 marks) Question 9 GOAL CONGRUENCE Explain ways in which the directors of a listed company can be encouraged to achieve the objective of maximisation of shareholder wealth. (6 marks) Question 10 MONEY MARKETS Explain the role of the money markets and give four examples of money market instruments. ©2015 DeVry/Becker Educational Development Corp. All rights reserved. (6 marks) 33 FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT (F9) – REVISION QUESTION BANK Question 11 TAGNA Tagna is a medium-sized company that manufactures luxury goods for several well-known chain stores. In real terms, the company has experienced only a small growth in revenue in recent years, but it has managed to maintain a constant, if low, level of reported profits by careful control of costs. It has paid a constant nominal (money terms) dividend for several years and its managing director has publicly stated that the primary objective of the company is to increase the wealth of shareholders. Tagna is financed as follows: $m 1·0 2·0 4·5 ––– 7·5 ––– E Overdraft 10 year fixed interest bank loan Share capital and reserves Required: PL The financial press has reported that it expects the Central Bank to make a substantial increase in interest rate in the near future in response to rapidly increasing consumer demand and a sharp rise in inflation. The financial press has also reported that the rapid increase in consumer demand has been associated with an increase in consumer credit to record levels. On the assumption that the Central Bank makes a substantial interest rate increase, discuss the possible consequences for Tagna in the following areas: sales; operating costs; and earnings (profit after tax). SA M (i) (ii) (iii) (10 marks) Question 12 FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES Discuss the role of financial intermediaries in providing short-term finance for use by business organisations. (5 marks) Question 13 PAYBACK AND ROCE Backpay Co is considering investing $50,000 in a new machine. The machine will have scrap value of $10,000 at the end its five year life. It is expected that 20,000 units will be sold each year at a selling price of $3·00 per unit. Variable production costs are expected to be $1·65 per unit, while incremental fixed costs, mainly the wages of a maintenance engineer, are expected to be $10,000 per year. The directors expect investment projects to recover their initial investment within two years and achieve a return on capital employed (accounting rate of return) of 25% based on average investment. Required: (a) Calculate and comment on the project’s payback period. (5 marks) (b) Calculate and comment on the project’s return on capital employed based on average investment. (5 marks) (10 marks) 34 ©2015 DeVry/Becker Educational Development Corp. All rights reserved. REVISION QUESTION BANK – FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT (F9) Question 14 DIRECTORS’ VIEWS The directors of a company require that all investment projects should be evaluated using either payback period or return on capital employed (accounting rate of return). The target payback period of the company is two years and the target return on capital employed is 20%, which is the firm’s current return on capital employed. A project is accepted if it satisfies either of these investment criteria. In addition the directors also require all investment projects to be evaluated using net present value calculated over a four-year planning period, ignoring inflation, any scrap value or working capital recovery, with a balancing allowance being claimed at the end of the fourth year of operation. E Required: Critically discuss the directors’ views on investment appraisal. (10 marks) Question 15 OKM CO PL The following draft appraisal of a proposed investment project has been prepared for the finance director of OKM Co by a trainee accountant. The project is consistent with the current business operations of OKM Co. 2 400,000 3 500,000 4 250,000 $000 Contribution 1,330 Fixed costs (530) Depreciation (438) Interest payments (200) –––––– Taxable profit 162 Taxation –––––– Profit after tax 162 Scrap value –––––– After-tax cash flows 162 Discount at 10% 0·909 –––––– Present values 147 –––––– $000 2,128 (562) (438) (200) –––––– 928 (49) –––––– 879 $000 2,660 (596) (437) (200) –––––– 1,427 (278) –––––– 1,149 –––––– 879 0·826 –––––– 726 –––––– –––––– 1,149 0·751 –––––– 863 –––––– $000 1,330 (631) (437) (200) –––––– 62 (428) –––––– (366) 250 –––––– (116) 0·683 –––––– (79) –––––– SA M Year 1 Annual sales (units) 250,000 5 $000 (19) –––––– (19) (19) 0·621 –––––– (12) –––––– Net present value = 1,645,000 – 2,000,000 = ($355,000) so reject the project. The following information was included with the draft investment appraisal: 1. The initial investment is $2 million, payable at the start of the first year 2. Selling price: $12/unit (current price terms), selling price inflation is 5% per year 3. Variable cost: $7/unit (current price terms), variable cost inflation is 4% per year 4. Fixed overhead costs: $500,000/year (current price terms), fixed cost inflation is 6% per year ©2015 DeVry/Becker Educational Development Corp. All rights reserved. 35 FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT (F9) – REVISION QUESTION BANK $200,000/year of the fixed costs are development costs that have already been incurred and are being recovered by an annual charge to the project 6. Investment financing is by a $2 million loan at a fixed interest rate of 10% per year 7. OKM Co can claim 25% tax-allowable depreciation on a reducing balance basis on this investment and pays taxation one year in arrears at a rate of 30% per year 8. The scrap value of machinery at the end of the four-year project is $250,000 9. The real weighted average cost of capital of OKM Co is 7% per year 10. The general rate of inflation is expected to be 4·7% per year E 5. Required: Identify and comment on any errors in the investment appraisal prepared by the trainee accountant. (5 marks) (b) Prepare a revised calculation of the net present value of the proposed investment project and comment on the project’s acceptability. (10 marks) PL (a) (15 marks) Question 16 LIMITATIONS OF NPV Identify the limitations of Net Present Value techniques when applied generally to investment appraisal. (10 marks) SA M Question 17 RIDAG CO Ridag Co is evaluating two investment projects, as follows. Project 1 This is an investment in new machinery to produce a recently-developed product. The cost of the machinery, which is payable immediately, is $1·5 million, and the scrap value of the machinery at the end of four years is expected to be $100,000. Tax-allowable depreciation can be claimed on this investment on a 25% reducing balance basis. Information on future returns from the investment has been forecast to be as follows: Year Sales volume (units/year) Selling price ($/unit) Variable cost ($/unit) Fixed costs ($/year) 1 50,000 25·00 10·00 105,000 2 95,000 24·00 11·00 115,000 3 140,000 23·00 12·00 125,000 4 75,000 23·00 12·50 125,000 This information must be adjusted to allow for selling price inflation of 4% per year and variable cost inflation of 2·5% per year. Fixed costs, which are wholly attributable to the project, have already been adjusted for inflation. Ridag Co pays profit tax of 30% per year one year in arrears. 36 ©2015 DeVry/Becker Educational Development Corp. All rights reserved. REVISION QUESTION BANK – FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT (F9) Project 2 Ridag Co plans to replace an existing machine and must choose between two machines. Machine 1 has an initial cost of $200,000 and will have a scrap value of $25,000 after four years. Machine 2 has an initial cost of $225,000 and will have a scrap value of $50,000 after three years. Annual maintenance costs of the two machines are as follows: Year Machine 1 ($/year) Machine 2 ($/year) 1 25,000 15,000 2 29,000 20,000 3 32,000 25,000 4 35,000 E Where relevant, all information relating to Project 2 has already been adjusted to include expected future inflation. Taxation and tax-allowable depreciation must be ignored in relation to Machine 1 and Machine 2. Other information Required: PL Ridag Co has a nominal before-tax weighted average cost of capital of 12% and a nominal after-tax weighted average cost of capital of 7%. (a) Calculate the net present value of Project 1 and comment on whether this project is financially acceptable to Ridag Co. (10 marks) (b) Calculate the equivalent annual costs of Machine 1 and Machine 2, and discuss which machine should be purchased. (5 marks) SA M (15 marks) Question 18 BQK CO BQK Co, a house-building company, plans to build 100 houses on a development site over the next four years. The purchase cost of the development site is $4,000,000, payable at the start of the first year of construction. Two types of house will be built, with annual sales of each house expected to be as follows: Year Number of small houses sold: Number of large houses sold: 1 15 7 2 20 8 3 15 15 4 5 15 Houses are built in the year of sale. Financial information relating to each type of house is as follows: Selling price: Variable cost of construction: Small house $200,000 $100,000 Large house $350,000 $200,000 Selling prices and variable cost of construction are in current price terms, before allowing for selling price inflation of 3% per year and variable cost of construction inflation of 4·5% per year. Fixed infrastructure costs of $1,500,000 per year in current price terms would be incurred. These would not relate to any specific house, but would be for the provision of new roads, gardens, drainage and utilities. Infrastructure cost inflation is expected to be 2% per year. ©2015 DeVry/Becker Educational Development Corp. All rights reserved. 37 FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT (F9) – REVISION QUESTION BANK BQK Co pays profit tax one year in arrears at an annual rate of 30%. The company can claim taxallowable depreciation on the purchase cost of the development site on a straight-line basis over the four years of construction. BQK Co has a real after-tax cost of capital of 9% per year and a nominal after-tax cost of capital of 12% per year. New investments are required by the company to have a before-tax return on capital employed (accounting rate of return) on an average investment basis of 20% per year. Required: Calculate the net present value of the proposed investment and comment on its financial acceptability. Work to the nearest $1,000. (11 marks) (b) Calculate the before-tax return on capital employed (accounting rate of return) of the proposed investment on an average investment basis and discuss briefly its financial acceptability. (4 marks) PL E (a) (15 marks) Question 19 HDW CO HDW Co is a listed company which plans to meet increased demand for its products by buying new machinery costing $5 million. The machinery would last for four years, at the end of which it would be replaced. The scrap value of the machinery is expected to be 5% of the initial cost. Tax-allowable depreciation would be available on the cost of the machinery on a 25% reducing balance basis, with a balancing allowance or charge claimed in the final year of operation. SA M This investment will increase production capacity by 9,000 units per year and all of these units are expected to be sold as they are produced. Relevant financial information in current price terms is as follows: Selling price Variable cost Incremental fixed costs $650 per unit $250 per unit $250,000 per year Forecast inflation 4·0% per year 5·5% per year 5·0% per year In addition to the initial cost of the new machinery, initial investment in working capital of $500,000 will be required. Investment in working capital will be subject to the general rate of inflation, which is expected to be 4·7% per year. HDW Co pays tax on profits at the rate of 20% per year, one year in arrears. The company has a nominal (money terms) after-tax cost of capital of 12% per year. Required: (a) Calculate the net present value of the planned purchase of the new machinery using a nominal (money terms) approach and comment on its financial acceptability. (11 marks) (b) Discuss the difference between a nominal (money terms) approach and a real terms approach to calculating net present value. (4 marks) (15 marks) 38 ©2015 DeVry/Becker Educational Development Corp. All rights reserved. REVISION QUESTION BANK – FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT (F9) Question 20 DARN CO Darn Co has undertaken market research at a cost of $200,000 in order to forecast the future cash flows of an investment project with an expected life of four years, as follows: Year Sales revenue ($000) Costs ($000) 1 1,250 500 2 2,570 1,000 3 6,890 2,500 4 4,530 1,750 E These forecast cash flows are before taking account of general inflation of 4·7% per year. The capital cost of the investment project, payable at the start of the first year, will be $2,000,000. The investment project will have zero scrap value at the end of the fourth year. The level of working capital investment at the start of each year is expected to be 10% of the sales revenue in that year. Required: PL Tax-allowable depreciation would be available on the capital cost of the investment project on a 25% reducing balance basis. Darn Co pays tax on profits at an annual rate of 30% per year, with tax being paid one year in arrears. Darn Co has a nominal (money terms) after-tax cost of capital of 12% per year. (a) Calculate the net present value of the investment project in nominal terms and comment on its financial acceptability. (10 marks) (b) Calculate the net present value of the investment project in real terms and comment on its financial acceptability. (5 marks) (15 marks) SA M Question 21 REPLACEMENT CYCLES (a) (b) Discuss the problems faced when undertaking investment appraisal in the following areas and comment on how these problems can be overcome: (i) assets with replacement cycles of different lengths; (ii) an investment project has several internal rates of return; (iii) the business risk of an investment project is significantly different from the business risk of current operations. (8 marks) A company with a cost of capital of 14% is trying to determine the optimal replacement cycle for the notebook computers used by its sales team. The following information is relevant to the decision: The cost of each notebook is $2,400. Maintenance costs are payable at the end of each full year of ownership, but not in the year of replacement (e.g. if the notebook is owned for three years, then the maintenance cost is payable at the end of year 1 and at the end of year 2). Interval between Replacement (years) 1 2 3 ©2015 DeVry/Becker Educational Development Corp. All rights reserved. Trade-in Value ($) Maintenance cost ($) 1200 800 300 Zero 75 (payable at end of Year 1) 150 (payable at end of Year 2) 39 FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT (F9) – REVISION QUESTION BANK Answer 1 COMPANY OBJECTIVES Financial management is concerned with making decisions about the provision and use of a firm’s finances. A rational approach to decision-making requires a clear idea of the objectives of the decision maker or, more importantly, the objectives of those on behalf of whom the decisions are being made. E There is little agreement in the literature as to what objectives of firms are or even what they ought to be. However, most financial management textbooks make the assumption that the objective of a limited company is to maximise the wealth of its shareholders. This assumption is normally justified in terms of classical economic theory. In a market economy firms that achieve the highest returns for their investors will be the firms that are providing customers with what they require. In turn these companies, because they provide high returns to investors, will also find it easiest to raise new finance. Hence the so called “invisible hand” theory will ensure optimal resource allocation and this should automatically maximise the overall economic welfare of the nation. PL This argument can be criticised on several grounds. Firstly it ignores market imperfections. For example it might not be in the public interest to allow monopolies to maximise profits. Secondly it ignores social needs like health, police, defence etc. From a more practical point of view directors have a legal duty to run the company on behalf of their shareholders. This however begs the question as to what do shareholders actually require from firms. Another justification from the individual firm’s point of view is to argue that it is in competition with other firms for further capital and it therefore needs to provide returns at least as good as the competition. If it does not it will lose the support of existing shareholders and will find it difficult to raise funds in the future, as well as being vulnerable to potential take-over bids. SA M Against the traditional and “legal” view that the firm is run in order to maximise the wealth of ordinary shareholders, there is an alternative view that the firm is a coalition of different groups: equity shareholders, preference shareholders and lenders, employees, customers and suppliers. Each of these groups must be paid a minimum “return” to encourage them to participate in the firm. Any excess wealth created by the firm should be and is the subject of bargaining between these groups. At first sight this seems an easy way out of the “objectives” problem. The directors of a company could say “Let’s just make the profits first, then we’ll argue about who gets them at a later stage”. In other words, maximising profits leads to the largest pool of benefits to be distributed among the participants in the bargaining process. However, it does imply that all such participants must value profits in the same way and that they are all willing to take the same risks. In fact the real risk position and the attitude to risk of ordinary shareholders, loan payables and employees are likely to be very different. For instance, a shareholder who has a diversified portfolio is likely not to be as worried by the bankruptcy of one of his companies as will an employee of that company, or a supplier whose main customer is that company. The problem of risk is one major reason why there cannot be a single simple objective which is common to all companies. Separate from the problem of which goal a company ought to pursue are the questions of which goals companies claim to pursue and which goals they actually pursue. Many objectives are quoted by large companies and sometimes are included in their annual accounts. 1016 ©2015 DeVry/Becker Educational Development Corp. All rights reserved. REVISION QUESTION BANK – FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT (F9) Examples are: (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g) (h) to produce an adequate return for shareholders; to grow and survive autonomously; to improve productivity; to give the highest quality service to customers; to maintain a contented workforce; to be technical leaders in their field; to be market leaders; to acknowledge their social responsibilities. Pure profitability goals (e.g. adequate return for shareholders). “Surrogate” goals of profitability (e.g. improving productivity, happy workforce). Constraints on profitability (e.g. acknowledging social responsibilities, no pollution, etc.). “Dysfunctional” goals. PL (a) (b) (c) (d) E Some of these stated objectives are probably a form of public relations exercise. At any rate, it is possible to classify most of them into four categories which are related to profitability: The last category are goals which should not be followed because they do not create benefit in the long run. Examples here include the pursuit of market leadership at any cost, even profitability. This may arise because management assumes that high sales equal high profits which is not necessarily so. In practice the goals which a company actually pursues are affected to a large extent by the management. As a last resort, the directors may always be removed by the shareholders or the shareholders could vote for a take-over bid, but in large companies individual shareholders lack voting power and information. These companies can, therefore, be dominated by the management. SA M There are two levels of argument here. Firstly, if the management do attempt to maximise profits, then they are in a much more powerful position to decide how the profits are “carved up” than are the shareholders. Secondly, the management may actually be seeking “prestige” goals rather than profit maximisation: Such goals might include growth for its own sake, including empire building or maximising revenue for its own sake, or becoming leaders in the technical field for no reason other than general prestige. Such goals are usually dysfunctional. The dominance of management depends on individual shareholders having no real voting power, and in this respect institutions have usually preferred to sell their shares rather than interfere with the management of companies. There is some evidence, however, that they are now taking a more active role in major company decisions. From all that has been said above, it appears that each company should have its own unique decision model. For example, it is possible to construct models where the objective is to maximise profit subject to first fulfilling the target levels of other goals. However, it is not possible to develop the general theory of financial management very far without making an initial simplifying assumption about objectives. The objective of maximising the wealth of equity shareholders seems the least objectionable. ©2015 DeVry/Becker Educational Development Corp. All rights reserved. 1017 FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT (F9) – REVISION QUESTION BANK Answer 2 THE FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT FUNCTION (b) Decisions that are within the scope of financial management include: How should the business be financed? The main choices here are internal finance (reinvestment of surplus cash from operations) or external finance (issuing equity or debt). On which proposed investments should the funds be spent? This requires evaluation of potential projects to establish which would have the greatest impact on shareholder wealth. How much dividend should be paid to the shareholders? The dividend decision is closely linked to financing and investing decisions as a rise in dividend reduces the amount of internal finance available for reinvestment. How much working capital should the organisation have and how should it be financed? In this context working capital refers to net operating current assets (i.e. inventory plus receivables less payables). Should risk be managed and, if so, how? Key risks may include foreign exchange risk (e.g. the risk that an appreciating home currency damages the value of export earnings) and interest rate risk (e.g. the risk that interest rates will rise and increase the firm’s cost of debt finance). E PL (a) How management accounting information can assist the financial manager The budgeting process may identify potential cash deficits/surpluses which the financial manager must plan to finance/invest. Advance warning is particularly important in the case of potential deficits, giving the financial manager time to arrange bridging loans, for example. SA M Analysis of costs into fixed and variable elements may assist financial management decisions. Some costs may be semi-variable in nature and splitting them into fixed and variable elements (e.g. using linear regression) will be critical for decision such as business expansion, Variance analysis may help to control the costs of new projects. At the planning stage the project committee should set budgets for both capital expenditure and project operating costs and the management accountant should check for overspends during the implementation stage. Answer 3 FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT DECISIONS Investment decisions, dividend decisions and financing decisions have often been called the decision triangle of financial management. The study of financial management is often divided up in accordance with these three decision areas. However, they are not independent decisions, but closely connected. For example, a decision to increase dividends might lead to a reduction in retained earnings and hence a greater need for external finance in order to meet the requirements of proposed capital investment projects. Similarly, a decision to increase capital investment spending will increase the need for financing, which could be met in part by reducing dividends. 1018 ©2015 DeVry/Becker Educational Development Corp. All rights reserved. REVISION QUESTION BANK – FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT (F9) The question of the relationship between the three decision areas was investigated by Miller and Modigliani. They showed that, if a perfect capital market was assumed, the market value of a company and its weighted average cost of capital (WACC) were independent of its capital structure. The market value therefore depended on the business risk of the company and not on its financial risk. The investment decision, which determined the operating income of a company, was therefore shown to be important in determining its market value, while the financing decision, given their assumptions, was shown to be not relevant in this context. In practice, it is recognised that capital structure can affect WACC and hence the market value of the company. PL E Miller and Modigliani also investigated the relationship between dividend policy and the share price of a company (i.e. the market value of a company). They showed that, if a perfect capital market was assumed, the share price of a company did not depend on its dividend policy (i.e. the dividend decision was irrelevant to value of the share). The market value of the company and therefore the wealth of shareholders were shown to be maximised when the company implemented its optimum investment policy, which was to invest in all projects with a positive NPV. The investment decision was therefore shown to be theoretically important with respect to the market value of the company, while the dividend decision was not relevant. In practice, capital markets are not perfect and a number of other factors become important in discussing the relationship between the three decision areas. Pecking order theory, for example, suggests that managers do not in practice make financing decisions with the objective of obtaining an optimal capital structure, but on the basis of the convenience and relative cost of different sources of finance. Retained earnings are the preferred source of finance from this perspective, with a resulting pressure for annual dividends to be lower rather than higher. Answer 4 VALUE FOR MONEY SA M The objectives of public sector organisations are often difficult to define. Even though the cost of resources used can be measured, the benefits gained from the consumption of those resources can be difficult, if not impossible, to quantify. Because of this difficulty, public sector organisations often have financial targets imposed on them, such as a target rate of return on capital employed. Furthermore, they will tend to focus on maximising the return on resources consumed by producing the best possible combination of services for the lowest possible cost. This is the meaning of “value for money”, often referred to as the pursuit of economy, efficiency and effectiveness. Economy refers to seeking the lowest level of input costs for a given level of output. Efficiency refers to seeking the highest level of output for a given level of input resources. Effectiveness refers to the extent to which output produced meets the specified objectives (e.g. in terms of provision of a required range of services). In contrast, private sector organisations have to compete for funds in the capital markets and must offer an adequate return to investors. The objective of maximisation of shareholder wealth equates to the view that the primary financial objective of companies is to reward their owners. If this objective is not followed, the directors may be replaced or a company may find it difficult to obtain funds in the market, since investors will prefer companies that increase their wealth. However, shareholder wealth cannot be maximised if companies do not seek both economy and efficiency in their business operations. Answer 5 NON-FOR-PROFIT A key financial objective for a stock exchange listed company is to maximise the wealth of shareholders. This objective is usually replaced by the objective of maximising the company’s share price, since maximising the market value of the company represents the maximum capital gain over a given period. The need for dividends can be met by recognising that share prices can be seen as the sum of the present values of future dividends. ©2015 DeVry/Becker Educational Development Corp. All rights reserved. 1019 FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT (F9) – REVISION QUESTION BANK Maximising the company’s share price is the same as maximising the equity market value of the company, since equity market value (market capitalisation) is equal to number of issued shares multiplied by share price. Maximising equity market value can be achieved by maximising net corporate cash income and the expected growth in that income, while minimising the corporate cost of capital. Listed companies therefore have maximising net cash income as a key financial objective. Not-for-profit (NFP) organisations seek to provide services to the public and this requires cash income. Maximising net cash income is therefore a key financial objective for NFP organisations as well as listed companies. A large charity seeks to raise as much funds as possible in order to achieve its charitable objectives, which are non-financial in nature. E Both listed companies and NFP organisations need to control the use of cash within a given financial period, and both types of organisations therefore use budgets. Another key financial objective for both organisations is therefore to keep spending within budget. PL The objective of value for money (VFM) is often identified in connection with NFP organisations. This objective refers to a focus on economy, efficiency and effectiveness. These three terms can be linked to input (economy refers to securing resources as economically as possible), process (resources need to be employed efficiently within the organisation) and output (the effective use of resources in achieving the organisation’s objectives). Described in these terms, it is clear that a listed company also seeks to achieve value for money in its business operations. There is a difference in emphasis, however, which merits careful consideration. A listed company has a profit motive, and so VFM for a listed company can be related to performance measures linked to output (e.g. maximising the equity market value of the company). An NFP organisation has service-related outputs that are difficult to measure in quantitative terms and so it focuses on performance measures linked to input (e.g. minimising the input cost for a given level of output). SA M Both listed companies and NFP organisations can use a variety of accounting ratios in the context of financial objectives. For example, both types of organisation may use a target return on capital employed, or a target level of income per employee, or a target current ratio. Comparing and contrasting the financial objectives of a stock exchange listed company and a not-forprofit organisation, therefore, shows that while significant differences can be found, there is a considerable amount of common ground in terms of financial objectives. Answer 6 QSX CO Dividend yield is calculated as the dividend divided by the share price at the start of the year. 2014: Dividend yield = 100 × 38·5/740 = 5·2% 2015: Dividend yield = 100 × 40·0/835 = 4·8% The capital gain is the difference between the opening and closing share prices, and may be expressed as a monetary amount or as a percentage of the opening share price. 2014: Capital gain = 835 – 740 = 95c or 12·8% (100 × 95/740) 2015: Capital gain = 648 – 835 = (187c) or (22·4%) (100 × –187/835) The total shareholder return is the sum of the percentage capital gain and the dividend yield, or the sum of the dividend paid and the monetary capital gain, expressed as a percentage of the opening share price. 2014: Total shareholder return = 100 × (95 + 38·5)/740 = 18·0% (5·2% + 12·8%) 2015: Total shareholder return = 100 × (–187 + 40)/835 = –17·6% (4·8% – 22·4%) 1020 ©2015 DeVry/Becker Educational Development Corp. All rights reserved. REVISION QUESTION BANK – FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT (F9) (i) The return on equity predicted by the CAPM The actual return for a shareholder of QSX Co, calculated as total shareholder return, is very different from the return on equity predicted by the CAPM. In 2014 the company provided a better return than predicted and in 2015 the company gave a negative return while the CAPM predicted a positive return. Year Total shareholder return Return on equity predicted by CAPM 2014 (17·6%) 8% 2014 18·0% 12% (ii) Other comments PL E Because the risk-free rate of return is positive and the equity risk premium is either zero or positive, and because negative equity betas are very rare, the return on equity predicted by the CAPM is invariably positive. This reflects the reality that shareholders will always want a return to compensate for taking on risk. In practice, companies sometimes give negative returns, as is the case here. The return in 2014 was greater than the cost of equity, but the figure of 10% quoted here is the current cost of equity; the cost of equity may have been different in 2014. QSX Co had revenue growth of 3% in 2014, but did not generate any growth in revenue in 2015. Earnings per share grew by 4·1% in 2014, but fell by 8·3% in 2015. Dividends per share also grew by 4·1% in 2014, but unlike earnings per share, dividend per share growth was maintained in 2015. It is common for dividends to be maintained when a company suffers a setback, often in an attempt to give reassurance to shareholders. SA M There are other negative signs apart from stagnant revenue and falling earnings per share. The shareholder will be concerned about experiencing a capital loss in 2015. He will also be concerned that the decline in the price/earnings ratio in 2015 might be a sign that the market is losing confidence in the future of QSX Co. If the shareholder was aware of the proposal by the finance director to suspend dividends, he would be even more concerned. It might be argued that, in a semi-strong form-efficient market, the information would remain private. If QSX Co desires to conserve cash because the company is experiencing liquidity problems, however, these problems are likely to become public knowledge fairly quickly, for example through the investigations of capital market analysts. Tutorial note: It would be useful to benchmark the firm’s performance to its peers and to compare its shareholders’ returns to those on the relevant stock market index. WORKINGS Year Closing share price Earnings per share Price/earnings ratio Year Earnings per share Dividend per share Dividend cover Earnings per share growth Dividend per share growth Revenue growth ©2015 DeVry/Becker Educational Development Corp. All rights reserved. 2015 $6·48 58·9c 11 times 2014 $8·35 64·2c 13 times 2015 58·9c 40·0c 1·5 times (8·3%) 3·9% nil 2014 64·2c 38·5c 1·7 times 4·1% 4·1% 3% 2013 61·7c 2013 61·7c 37·0c 1·7 times 1021 FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT (F9) – REVISION QUESTION BANK Answer 7 AGENCY PROBLEM Tutorial note: The agency problem refers to the fact that, in practice, actual total shareholder returns (TSR) are usually below the theoretically possible TSR. The resulting loss in shareholder wealth is known as “agency costs” and is caused by sub-optimal performance by management and the costs incurred in controlling the management. The primary financial management objective of a company is usually taken to be the maximisation of shareholder wealth. In practice, the managers of a company acting as agents for the principals (the shareholders) may act in ways which do not lead to shareholder wealth maximisation. The failure of managers to maximise shareholder wealth is referred to as the agency problem. E Shareholder wealth increases through payment of dividends and through appreciation of share prices. Since share prices reflect the value placed by buyers on the right to receive future dividends, analysis of changes in shareholder wealth focuses on changes in share prices. The objective of maximising share prices is commonly used as a substitute objective for that of maximising shareholder wealth. PL The agency problem arises because the objectives of managers differ from those of shareholders: because there is a divorce or separation of ownership from control in modern companies; and because there is an asymmetry of information between shareholders and managers which prevents shareholders being aware of most managerial decisions. SA M One way to encourage managers to act in ways that increase shareholder wealth is to offer them share options. These are rights to buy shares on a future date at a price which is fixed when the share options are issued. Share options will encourage managers to make decisions that are likely to lead to share price increases (such as investing in projects with positive net present values), since this will increase the rewards they receive from share options. The higher the share price in the market when the share options are exercised, the greater will be the capital gain that could be made by managers owning the options. Share options therefore go some way towards reducing the differences between the objectives of shareholders and managers. However, it is possible that managers may be rewarded for poor performance if share prices in general are increasing. It is also possible that managers may not be rewarded for good performance if share prices in general are falling. It is difficult to decide on a share option exercise price and a share option exercise date that will encourage managers to focus on increasing shareholder wealth while still remaining challenging, rather than being easily achievable. Due to the potential problems with share option schemes it may be advisable to consider performancerelated pay as an alternative method of managing the agency problem. Performance-related pay is a financial reward system for managers where some, or all, of their compensation is related to how their performance is assessed relative to stated criteria. The criteria may include profitability targets and whilst profit maximisation is not necessarily consistent with shareholder wealth maximisation at least management should feel a direct link between their performance and profits, whereas the firm’s share price may be influenced more by overall stock market conditions. Answer 8 LISTED COMPANY OBJECTIVES A listed company is likely to have a range of financial objectives. Maximisation of shareholder wealth is often suggested to be the primary financial objective, and this can be substituted by the objective of maximising the company’s share price. Other financial objectives could relate to earnings per share (for example, a target EPS value for a given period), operating profit (for example, a target level of profit before tax or PBIT), revenue (for example, a desired increase in revenue or sales) and so on. These examples of financial objectives can all be quantified, so that progress towards meeting them can be measured over time. 1022 ©2015 DeVry/Becker Educational Development Corp. All rights reserved. REVISION QUESTION BANK – FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT (F9) New investments should lead to increased revenue and operating profit (profit before interest and tax), so financial objectives relating to these accounting figures will be supported. Whether a financial objective relating to increasing earnings per share (EPS) will be supported will depend on how the investment is financed. For example, raising equity finance by issuing new shares will dilute (decrease) EPS, while raising debt finance will increase interest payments, which will also dilute EPS. Answer 9 GOAL CONGRUENCE E An investment with a positive net present value (NPV) should increase the market value of the company by the amount of the NPV. This increases the wealth of shareholders irrespective of how the investment is financed, since financing costs were accounted for by the discount rate (whether nominal or real). The investment would therefore support the objective of shareholder wealth maximisation. The company directors can be encouraged to achieve the objective of maximising shareholder wealth through managerial reward schemes and through regulatory requirements. PL Managerial reward schemes As agents of the company’s shareholders, directors may not always act in ways which increase the wealth of shareholders, a phenomenon called the agency problem. They can be encouraged to increase or maximise shareholder wealth by managerial reward schemes such as performance-related pay and share option schemes. Through these methods, the goals of shareholders and directors may increase in congruence. SA M Performance-related pay links part of the remuneration of directors to some aspect of corporate performance, such as levels of profit or earnings per share. One problem here is that it is difficult to choose an aspect of corporate performance which is not influenced by the actions of the directors, leading to the possibility of managers influencing corporate affairs for their own benefit rather than the benefit of shareholders, for example, focusing on short-term performance while neglecting the longer term. Share option schemes bring the goals of shareholders and directors closer together to the extent that directors become shareholders themselves. Share options allow directors to purchase shares at a specified price on a specified future date, encouraging them to make decisions which exert an upward pressure on share prices. Unfortunately, a general increase in share prices can lead to directors being rewarded for poor performance, while a general decrease in share prices can lead to managers not being rewarded for good performance. However, share option schemes can lead to a culture of performance improvement and so can bring continuing benefit to stakeholders. Regulatory requirements Regulatory requirements can be imposed through corporate governance codes of best practice and stock market listing regulations. Corporate governance codes of best practice, such as the UK Corporate Governance Code, seek to reduce corporate risk and increase corporate accountability. Responsibility is placed on directors to identify, assess and manage risk within an organisation. An independent perspective is brought to directors’ decisions by appointing non-executive directors to create a balanced board of directors, and by appointing non-executive directors to remuneration committees and audit committees. Stock exchange listing regulations can place obligations on directors to manage companies in ways which support the achievement of objectives such as the maximisation of shareholder wealth. For example, listing regulations may require companies to publish regular financial reports, to provide detailed information on directorial rewards and to publish detailed reports on corporate governance and corporate social responsibility. ©2015 DeVry/Becker Educational Development Corp. All rights reserved. 1023 FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT (F9) – REVISION QUESTION BANK Answer 10 MONEY MARKETS The principal roles of the money markets are to: transfer money from parties with surplus funds to parties with a deficit; allow governments and businesses to raise short-term funds; help governments to implement monetary policy; determine short-term interest rates. Common money market instruments include: Certificate of Deposit (CD) – a savings certificate issued by a commercial bank entitling the holder to receive interest. A CD bears a maturity date, a specified fixed interest rate and can be issued in any denomination. CDs are generally issued for terms from one month to five years. The holder can either keep the CD until its maturity date or resell it on the secondary market. Bills of exchange – a short-term financial instrument consisting of a written order addressed by the seller of goods to the buyer requiring the latter to pay a certain sum of money on demand or at a future time. Bills of exchange are often used in international transactions, and the holder of such a bill may convert it immediately into cash by selling it to a bank at a discount. Repurchase agreements – short-term loans-normally for less than two weeks and frequently for one day-arranged by selling securities to an investor with an agreement to repurchase them at a fixed price on a fixed date. Commercial paper – unsecured but high quality corporate debt with a fixed maturity of one to 270 days; usually sold at a discount to face value and carrying a zero coupon interest rate. SA M PL E Municipal notes – short-term notes issued by municipalities in anticipation of tax receipts or other revenues. Treasury bills – short-term debt obligations of a national government that are issued to mature in three to twelve months. Usually issued at a discount to face value and carry zero coupon. Tutorial note: Only four examples were required Answer 11 TAGNA Consequence of a substantial interest rate increase (i) Sales As a manufacturer and supplier of luxury goods, it is likely that Tagna will experience a sharp decrease in sales as a result of the increase in interest rates. One reason for this is that sales of luxury goods will be more sensitive to changes in disposable income than sales of basic necessities, and disposable income is likely to fall as a result of the interest rate increase. Another reason is the likely effect of the interest rate increase on consumer demand. If the increase in demand has been supported, even in part, by the increase in consumer credit, the substantial interest rate increase will have a negative effect on demand as the cost of consumer credit increases. It is also likely that many chain store customers will buy Tagna’s goods by using credit. 1024 ©2015 DeVry/Becker Educational Development Corp. All rights reserved. REVISION QUESTION BANK – FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT (F9) (ii) Operating costs (iii) E Tagna may experience an increase in operating costs as a result of the substantial interest rate increase, although this is likely to be a smaller effect and one that occurs more slowly than a decrease in sales. As the higher cost of borrowing moves through the various supply chains in the economy, producer prices may increase and material and other input costs for Tagna may rise by more than the current rate of inflation. Labour costs may also increase sharply if the recent sharp rise in inflation leads to high inflationary expectations being built into wage demands. Acting against this will be the deflationary effect on consumer demand of the interest rate increase. If the Central Bank has made an accurate assessment of the economic situation when determining the interest rate increase, both the growth in consumer demand and the rate of inflation may fall to more acceptable levels, leading to a lower increase in operating costs. Earnings PL The earnings (profit after tax) of Tagna are likely to fall as a result of the interest rate increase. In addition to the decrease in sales and the possible increase in operating costs discussed above, Tagna will experience an increase in interest costs arising from its overdraft. The combination of these effects is likely to result in a sharp fall in earnings. The level of reported profits has been low in recent years and so Tagna may be faced with insufficient profits to maintain its dividend, or even a reported loss. Answer 12 FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES SA M The role of financial intermediaries in providing short-term finance for use by business organisations is to provide a link between investors who have surplus cash and borrowers who have financing needs. The amounts of cash provided by individual investors may be small, whereas borrowers need large amounts of cash: one of the functions of financial intermediaries is therefore to aggregate invested funds in order to meet the needs of borrowers. In so doing, they provide a convenient and readily accessible route for business organisations to obtain necessary funds. Small investors are likely to be averse to losing any capital value, so financial intermediaries will assume the risk of loss on short-term funds borrowed by business organisations, either individually or by pooling risks between financial intermediaries. This aspect of the role of financial intermediaries is referred to as risk transformation. Financial intermediaries also offer maturity transformation, in that investors can deposit funds for a long period of time while borrowers may require funds on a short-term basis only, and vice versa. In this way the needs of both borrowers and lenders can be satisfied. Answer 13 PAYBACK AND ROCE (a) Payback Contribution per unit = 3·00 – 1·65 = $1·35 per unit Total annual contribution = 20,000 × 1·35 = $27,000 per year Annual cash flow after fixed costs = 27,000 – 10,000 = $17,000 per year Payback period = 50,000/17,000 = 2·9 years (assuming that cash flows occur evenly throughout the year) The payback period calculated is greater than the maximum payback period used by Umunat of two years and on this basis should be rejected. Use of payback period as an investment appraisal method cannot be recommended, however, because payback period does not consider all the cash flows arising from an investment project, as it ignores cash flows outside of the payback period. Furthermore, payback period ignores the time value of money. ©2015 DeVry/Becker Educational Development Corp. All rights reserved. 1025 FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT (F9) – REVISION QUESTION BANK The fact that the payback period is 2·9 years should not therefore be a reason for rejecting the project. The project should be assessed using the net present value method as this would indicate the potential dollar increase (or fall) in shareholder wealth due to the project. (b) ROCE Annual cash flow after fixed costs = $17,000 (from above) Annual depreciation = (50,000 – 10,000)/5 = $8,000 Annual operating profit = 17,000 - 8,000 = $9,000 Average investment = (50,000 + 10,000)/2 = $30,000 ROCE = 9,000/30,000 = 30% PL E Although the project’s ROCE of 30% exceeds the directors’ target of 25% it does not guarantee that the project would increase the wealth of shareholders. Although ROCE does consider the whole life of the project it ignores the time value of money. Furthermore the directors’ target return of 25% may be connected more with personal objectives (such as receiving a bonus) then with the required return of shareholders. The final decision as to whether to accept the project should be based upon a net present value appraisal. Answer 14 DIRECTORS’ VIEWS Evaluation using either payback or return on capital employed SA M Both payback period and return on capital employed (ROCE) are inferior to discounted cash flow (DCF) methods such as net present value (NPV) and internal rate of return (IRR). Payback ignores the time value of money and cash flows outside of the payback period. ROCE uses profit instead of cash flow. Both payback and ROCE have difficulty in justifying the target value used to determine acceptability. Why, for example, use a maximum payback period of two years? DCF methods use the weighted average cost of capital of an investing company as the basis of evaluation, or a projectspecific cost of capital, and both can be justified on academic grounds. The company should also clarify why either method can be used, since they assess different aspects of an investment project. Regarding the directors’ policies on net present value (NPV) calculations the following comments can be made: Evaluation over a four-year planning period Using a planning period or a specified investment appraisal time horizon is a way of reducing the uncertainty associated with investment appraisal, since this increases with project life. However, it is important to determine the expected life of an investment project if at all possible, since evaluation over the whole life of a project may help a company avoid sub-optimal investment decisions. Inflation is ignored If selling prices and costs have different inflation rates then the only way to accurately calculate NPV is to forecast each cash flow in nominal terms (incorporating the specific inflation rate affecting that cash flow) and discount the total nominal cash flow at the firm’s nominal cost of capital (incorporating the general inflation rate in the economy). The only situation where ignoring inflation will lead to the correct NPV figure is when revenues and costs all increase at the general inflation rate - in which case uninflated cash flows can be discounted at the firm’s real cost of capital. 1026 ©2015 DeVry/Becker Educational Development Corp. All rights reserved. REVISION QUESTION BANK – FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT (F9) Scrap value is ignored Scrap value, salvage value or terminal value must be included in the evaluation of a project since it is a cash inflow. Ignoring scrap value will reduce the NPV and may lead to rejection of an otherwise acceptable investment project. Working capital recovery is ignored If an investment project ends, then working capital can be recovered and it must be included in the evaluation of an investment project, since it is a cash inflow. E A balancing allowance is claimed at the end of the fourth year of operation Answer 15 OKM CO (a) PL Introducing a balancing allowance which can only be claimed when allowed by the taxation authorities will distort the taxation aspects of the investment appraisal. If it is anticipated that a project will continue beyond the fourth year, including a balancing allowance in the evaluation will overstate cash inflows and hence the NPV, potentially leading to incorrect investment decisions being made. Errors in the original investment appraisal Inflation was incorrectly applied to selling prices and variable costs in calculating contribution, since only one year’s inflation was allowed for in each year of operation. The fixed costs were correctly inflated, but included $200,000 per year of sunk costs which are not relevant for decision making. Depreciation is not a cash cost and therefore not relevant. SA M Straight-line accounting depreciation had been used in the tax calculation, but this depreciation method is not acceptable to the tax authorities. The approved method using 25% reducing balance tax-allowable depreciation should be used. Interest payments have been shown as a project cash flow whereas finance costs are already implied by the discounting process. The interest rate on the debt finance has been used as the discount rate whereas surplus cash from the project will accrue to the firm’s shareholders. The discount rate should therefore reflect both the cost of debt and the cost of equity (i.e. weighted average cost of capital). ©2015 DeVry/Becker Educational Development Corp. All rights reserved. 1027 FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT (F9) – REVISION QUESTION BANK (b) Revised NPV Tutorial note: As the cash flows will be forecast in nominal terms the WACC also needs to be restated as nominal. Rather than simply adding the general inflation rate to the real WACC the Fisher formula should be used. Nominal weighted average cost of capital = (1·07 × 1·047) - 1 = 0·12 (i.e. 12% per year). NPV calculation Contribution Fixed costs After-tax cash flow Scrap value After-tax cash flows Discount at 12% Present values 2 $000 2,264 (337) –––––– 1,927 (304) 3 $000 3,010 (357) –––––– 2,653 (578) 4 $000 1,600 (379) –––––– 1,221 (796) –––––– 1,012 150 –––––– 1,773 112 –––––– 2,187 –––––– 1,012 0·893 –––––– 904 –––––– –––––– 1,773 0·797 –––––– 1,413 –––––– –––––– 2,187 0·712 –––––– 1,557 –––––– 84 –––––– 509 250 –––––– 759 0·635 –––––– 482 –––––– 5 $000 (366) 178 –––––– (188) PL Taxable cash flow Taxation Allowable depreciation tax benefits 1 $000 1,330 (318) –––––– 1,012 E Year $000 4,249 2,000 –––––– 2,249 –––––– SA M Present value of future cash flows Initial investment –––––– (188) 0·567 –––––– (107) –––––– Net present value The net present value is positive and so the investment is financially acceptable. 1028 ©2015 DeVry/Becker Educational Development Corp. All rights reserved. REVISION QUESTION BANK – FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT (F9) Alternative NPV calculation using taxable profit calculation Contribution Fixed costs Taxable cash flow Tax-allowable depreciation Taxable profit Taxation Profit after tax Tax-allowable depreciation After-tax cash flows Discount at 12% Present values –––––– 512 500 –––––– 1,012 2 $000 2,264 (337) –––––– 1,927 (375) –––––– 1,552 (154) –––––– 1,398 375 –––––– 1,773 3 $000 3,010 (357) –––––– 2,653 (281) –––––– 2,372 (466) –––––– 1,906 281 –––––– 2,187 –––––– 1,012 0·893 –––––– 904 –––––– –––––– 1,773 0·797 –––––– 1,413 –––––– –––––– 2,187 0·712 –––––– 1,557 –––––– Present value of future cash flows Initial investment 5 $000 (188) –––––– (188) –––––– (188) –––––– (188) 0·567 –––––– (107) –––––– $000 4,249 2,000 –––––– 2,249 –––––– SA M Net present value 4 $000 1,600 (379) –––––– 1,221 (594) –––––– 627 (712) –––––– (85) 594 –––––– 509 250 –––––– 759 0·635 –––––– 482 –––––– PL After-tax cash flow Scrap value 1 $000 1,330 (318) –––––– 1,012 (500) –––––– 512 E Year WORKINGS Annual contribution Year Sales volume (units/year) Selling price ($/unit) Variable cost ($/unit) Contribution ($/unit) Contribution ($/year) 1 2 3 4 250,000 400,000 500,000 250,000 12·60 13·23 13·89 14·59 7·28 7·57 7·87 8·19 ––––––––– ––––––––– ––––––––– ––––––––– 5·32 5·66 6·02 6·40 ––––––––– ––––––––– ––––––––– ––––––––– 1,330,000 2,264,000 3,010,000 1,600,000 Tax-allowable depreciation tax benefits ©2015 DeVry/Becker Educational Development Corp. All rights reserved. 1029 FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT (F9) – REVISION QUESTION BANK Tutorial note: Assuming that the capital expenditure is made at the start of the first year the initial tax-allowable depreciation will be claimed at the end of year 1 and the related tax saving received at the end of year 2. 1 2 3 4 Tax depreciation $ 500,000 375,000 281,250 Balancing allowance 593,750 Scrap value 250,000 ––––––––– 2,000,000 ––––––––– Answer 16 LIMITATIONS OF NPV Tax benefit $ 150,000 112,500 84,375 178,125 E Year Difficulties with NPV PL NPV is a commonly used technique in investment appraisal but is subject to a number of restrictive assumptions and limitations which call into question its general relevance. Nonetheless, if the assumptions and limitations are understood then its application is less likely to be undertaken in error. NPV assumes that firms pursue an objective of maximising the wealth of their shareholders. This is questionable given the wider range of stakeholders who might have conflicting interests to those of the shareholders. NPV is largely redundant if organisations are not wealth maximising. For example, public sector organisations may wish to invest in capital assets but will use non-profit objectives as part of their assessment. SA M Estimating the correct discount rate to use. This is particularly so when questions arise as to the incorporation of risk premiums in the discount rate since an evaluation of the risk of the business, or of the project in particular, will have to be made and which may be difficult to discern. Alternative approaches to risk analysis, such as sensitivity and decision trees are subject to fairly severe limitations. NPV assumes that cash surpluses can be reinvested at the discount rate. This is subject to other projects being available which produce at least a zero NPV at the chosen discount rate. NPV can most easily cope with cash flows arising at period ends and is not a technique that is used easily when complicated, mid-period cash flows are present. NPV is not universally employed, especially in a small business environment. The available evidence suggests that businesses assess projects in a variety of ways (payback, IRR, accounting rate of return). The fact that such methods are used calls into question the practical benefits of NPV and therefore hints at certain practical limitations. If reported profits are important to businesses then it is possible that there may be a conflict between undertaking a positive NPV project and potentially adverse consequences on reported profits. This will particularly be the case for projects with long horizons, large initial investment and very delayed cash inflows. In such circumstances, businesses may prefer to use accounting measures of investment appraisal. 1030 ©2015 DeVry/Becker Educational Development Corp. All rights reserved. REVISION QUESTION BANK – FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT (F9) Managerial incentive schemes may not be consistent with NPV, particularly when long time horizons are involved. Thus managers may be rewarded on the basis of accounting profits in the short term and may be encouraged to act in accordance with these objectives and thus ignore positive NPV projects. NPV treats all time periods equally with the exception of discounting far cash flows more than near cash flows. In other words, NPV only accounts for the time value of money. To many businesses, distant horizons are less important than near horizons, if only because that is the environment in which they work. For example, in the long term, nearly all aspects of the business may change and hence a too-narrow focus on discounting means that NPV is of limited value and more so the further the time horizon considered. NPV does not take account of non-financial information which may even be relevant to shareholders who want their wealth maximised. For example, issues of strategic benefit may arise against which it is difficult to immediately quantify the benefits but for which there are immediate costs. NPV would treat such a situation as an additional cost since it could not incorporate the indiscernible benefit. (a) PL Answer 17 RIDAG CO E Calculation of net present value (NPV) As nominal after-tax cash flows are to be discounted, the nominal after-tax weighted average cost of capital of 7% must be used. Year 2 $000 2,466 (1,098) –––––– 1,368 (115) –––––– 1,253 (205) 113 –––––– 1,161 3 $000 3,622 (1,809) –––––– 1,813 (125) –––––– 1,688 (376) 84 –––––– 1,396 –––––– 1,161 0·873 –––––– 1,014 –––––– –––––– 1,396 0·816 –––––– 1,139 –––––– SA M Sales revenue Variable costs 1 $000 1,300 (513) –––––– 787 (105) –––––– 682 Contribution Fixed costs Taxable cash flow Tax liabilities Tax-allowable depreciation tax benefits –––––– After-tax cash flow 682 Scrap value –––––– Net cash flow 682 Discount at 7% 0·935 –––––– Present values 638 –––––– Present value of cash inflows Cost of machine NPV ©2015 DeVry/Becker Educational Development Corp. All rights reserved. 4 $000 2,018 (1,035) –––––– 983 (125) –––––– 858 (506) 63 –––––– 415 100 –––––– 515 0·763 –––––– 393 –––––– 5 $000 (257) 160 –––––– (97) –––––– (97) 0·713 –––––– (69) –––––– $000 3,115 (1,500) –––––– 1,615 –––––– 1031 FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT (F9) – REVISION QUESTION BANK Project 1 has a positive NPV of $1,615,000 and so it is financially acceptable to Ridag Co. However, the discount rate used here is the current weighted average after-tax cost of capital. As this is a recently-developed product, it may be appropriate to use a project-specific discount rate that reflects the risk of the new product launch. WORKINGS Sales revenue E Year 1 2 3 4 Selling price ($/unit) 25·00 24·00 23·00 23·00 Inflated selling price ($/unit) 26·00 25·96 25·87 26·91 Sales volume (units/year) 50,000 95,000 140,000 75,000 Sales revenue ($/year) 1,300,000 2,466,200 3,621,800 2,018,250 Variable cost PL Year 1 2 3 4 Variable cost ($/unit) 10·00 11·00 12·00 12·50 Inflated variable cost ($/unit) 10·25 11·56 12·92 13·80 Sales volume (units/year) 50,000 95,000 140,000 75,000 Variable costs ($/year) 512,500 1,098,200 1,808,800 1,035,000 Tax-allowable depreciation tax benefits Allowable depreciation 1,500,000 × 0·25 = $375,000 1,125,000 × 0·25 = $281,250 843,750 × 0·25 = $210,938 $532,812* 5 Tax benefit Year benefit received 375,000 × 0·3 = $112,500 2 281,250 × 0·3 = $84,375 3 210,938 × 0·3 = $63,281 4 32,812 × 0·3 = $159,844 5 SA M Year 1 2 3 4 *843,750 – 210,938 – 100,000 = $532,812 Alternative calculation of net cash flow Year Taxable cash flow Tax-allowable depreciation Taxable profit Taxation After-tax profit Add back allowances After-tax cash flow Scrap value Net cash flow Discount at 7% Present values 1 $000 682 (375) –––––– 307 –––––– 307 375 –––––– 682 2 $000 1,253 (281) –––––– 972 (92) –––––– 880 281 –––––– 1,161 3 $000 1,688 (211) –––––– 1,477 (292) –––––– 1,185 211 –––––– 1,396 –––––– 682 0·935 –––––– 638 –––––– –––––– 1,161 0·873 –––––– 1,014 –––––– –––––– 1,396 0·816 –––––– 1,139 –––––– 4 $000 858 (533) –––––– 325 (443) –––––– (118) 533 –––––– 415 100 –––––– 515 0·763 –––––– 393 –––––– 5 $000 –––––– (98) –––––– (98) –––––– (98) –––––– (98) 0·713 –––––– (70) –––––– There are slight differences due to rounding. 1032 ©2015 DeVry/Becker Educational Development Corp. All rights reserved. REVISION QUESTION BANK – FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT (F9) (b) Calculation of equivalent annual cost for machine 1 Since taxation and tax-allowable depreciation are to be ignored, and where relevant all information relating to project 2 has already been adjusted to include future inflation, the correct discount rate to use here is the nominal before-tax weighted average cost of capital of 12%. Year Maintenance costs ($) Investment and scrap ($) 0 1 (25,000) 2 (29,000) 3 (32,000) PL E (200,000) –––––––– –––––––– –––––––– –––––––– Net cash flow ($) (200,000) (25,000) (29,000) (32,000) Discount at 12% 1·000 0·893 0·797 0·712 –––––––– –––––––– –––––––– –––––––– Present values (200,000) (22,325) (23,113) (22,784) –––––––– –––––––– –––––––– –––––––– Present value of cash flows $274,582 Cumulative present value factor 3·037 Equivalent annual cost = 274,582/3·037 = $90,412 4 (35,000) 25,000 –––––––– (10,000) 0·636 –––––––– (6,360) –––––––– Calculation of equivalent annual cost for machine 2 Year Maintenance costs ($) Investment and scrap ($) 0 1 (15,000) 2 (20,000) SA M (225,000) –––––––– –––––––– –––––––– Net cash flow ($) (225,000) (15,000) (20,000) Discount at 12% 1·000 0·893 0·797 –––––––– –––––––– –––––––– Present values (225,000) (13,395) (15,940) –––––––– –––––––– –––––––– Present value of cash flows $236,535 Cumulative present value factor 2·402 Equivalent annual cost = 236,535/2·402 = $98,474 3 (25,000) 50,000 –––––––– 25,000 0·712 –––––––– 17,800 –––––––– The machine with the lowest equivalent annual cost should be purchased and calculation shows this to be Machine 1. If the present value of future cash flows had been considered alone, Machine 2 (cost of $236,535) would have been preferred to Machine 1 (cost of $274,582). However, the lives of the two machines are different and the equivalent annual cost method allows this to be taken into consideration. ©2015 DeVry/Becker Educational Development Corp. All rights reserved. 1033 FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT (F9) – REVISION QUESTION BANK Answer 18 BQK CO NPV calculation Year 1 $000 5,614 (3,031) –––––– 2,583 (1,530) –––––– 1,053 Sales revenue Variable costs Contribution Fixed costs 3 $000 9,015 (5,135) –––––– 3,880 (1,592) –––––– 2,288 (517) 300 –––––– 2,071 0·712 –––––– 1,475 –––––– 4 $000 7,034 (4,174) –––––– 2,860 (1,624) –––––– 1,236 (686) 300 –––––– 850 0·636 –––––– 541 –––––– 5 $000 (371) 300 –––––– (71) 0·567 –––––– (40) –––––– PL Before-tax cash flow Tax liability Tax-allowable depreciation tax benefits –––––– After-tax cash flow 1,053 Discount at 12% 0·893 –––––– Present values 940 –––––– 2 $000 7,214 (3,931) –––––– 3,283 (1,561) –––––– 1,722 (316) 300 –––––– 1,706 0·797 –––––– 1,360 –––––– E (a) $000 4,276 (4,000) –––––– 276 –––––– Comment: Since the proposed investment has a positive net present value of $276,000, it is financially acceptable. SA M PV of future cash flows Initial investment WORKINGS Sales revenue Year Sales of small houses (houses/year) Sales of large houses (houses/year) Small house selling price ($000/house) Large house selling price ($000/house) Sales revenue (small houses) ($000/year) Sales revenue (large houses) ($000/year) Total sales revenue ($/year) Inflated sales revenue ($/year) 1034 1 15 7 200 350 3,000 2,450 –––––– 5,450 –––––– 5,614 2 20 8 200 350 4,000 2,800 –––––– 6,800 –––––– 7,214 3 15 15 200 350 3,000 5,250 –––––– 8,250 –––––– 9,015 4 5 15 200 350 1,000 5,250 –––––– 6,250 –––––– 7,034 ©2015 DeVry/Becker Educational Development Corp. All rights reserved. REVISION QUESTION BANK – FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT (F9) Variable costs of construction Total variable cost ($/year) Inflated total variable cost ($/year) 1 15 7 100 200 1,500 1,400 –––––– 2,900 –––––– 3,031 2 20 8 100 200 2,000 1,600 –––––– 3,600 –––––– 3,931 3 15 15 100 200 1,500 3,000 –––––– 4,500 –––––– 5,135 4 5 15 100 200 500 3,000 –––––– 3,500 –––––– 4,174 1 1,500 1,530 2 1,500 1,561 3 1,500 1,592 4 1,500 1,624 2 $000 1,722 (1,000) –––––– 722 (16) –––––– 706 1,000 –––––– 1,706 0·797 –––––– 1,360 –––––– 3 $000 2,288 (1,000) –––––– 1,288 (217) –––––– 1,071 1,000 –––––– 2,071 0·712 –––––– 1,475 –––––– 4 $000 1,236 (1,000) –––––– 236 (386) –––––– (150) 1,000 –––––– 850 0·636 –––––– 541 –––––– 5 $000 E Year Sales of small houses (houses/year) Sales of large houses (houses/year) Small house variable cost ($000/house) Large house variable cost ($000/house) Variable cost (small houses) ($000/year) Variable cost (large houses) ($000/year) Fixed infrastructure costs PL Year Fixed costs ($000/year) Inflated fixed costs ($000/year) Alternative NPV calculation Year Before-tax cash flow Tax-allowable depreciation –––––– 53 1,000 –––––– 1,053 0·893 –––––– 940 –––––– $000 4,276 (4,000) –––––– 276 –––––– SA M Taxable profit Taxation 1 $000 1,053 (1,000) –––––– 53 Profit after tax Add back allowances After-tax cash flow Discount at 12% Present values PV of future cash flows Initial investment (b) (71) –––––– (71) (71) 0·567 –––––– (40) –––––– Calculation of return on capital employed (ROCE) Total before-tax cash flow Total depreciation Total accounting profit $6,299,000 $4,000,000 ––––––––– $2,299,000 Average annual profit ($000/year) = 2,299,000/4 = $574,750 Average investment ($000) = 4,000,000/2 = $2,000,000 ROCE (ARR) = 100 × 574,750/2,000,000 = 28·7% ©2015 DeVry/Becker Educational Development Corp. All rights reserved. 1035 FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT (F9) – REVISION QUESTION BANK Discussion The ROCE is greater than the 20% target ROCE of the investing company and so the proposed investment is financially acceptable. However, the investment decision should be made on the basis of information provided by a discounted cash flow (DCF) method, such as net present value or internal rate of return. Answer 19 HDW CO Net present value of investment in new machinery Year Sales income Variable cost Cash flow Taxation Tax-allowable depreciation tax benefits After-tax cash flow Working capital Scrap value 3 $000 6,580 (2,642) –––––– 3,938 (289) –––––– 3,649 (709) 4 $000 6,844 (2,787) –––––– 4,057 (304) –––––– 3,753 (730) –––––– 3,447 (24) 250 –––––– 3,108 (25) 188 –––––– 3,128 (26) –––––– 3,423 0·893 –––––– 3,057 –––––– –––––– 3,083 0·797 –––––– 2,457 –––––– –––––– 3,102 0·712 –––––– 2,209 –––––– 141 –––––– 3,164 (27) 250 –––––– 3,387 0·636 –––––– 2,154 –––––– SA M Net cash flow Discount at 12% 2 $000 6,327 (2,504) –––––– 3,823 (276) –––––– 3,547 (689) 5 $000 PL Contribution Fixed costs 1 $000 6,084 (2,374) –––––– 3,710 (263) –––––– 3,447 E (a) Present values PV of future cash flows Initial investment Working capital NPV (751) 372 –––––– (379) –––––– (379) 0·567 –––––– (215) –––––– $000 9,662 (5,000) (500) –––––– 4,162 –––––– As the net present value of $4·161 million is positive, the expansion can be recommended as financially acceptable. WORKINGS 1036 Year Selling price ($/unit) Sales (units/year) Sales income ($000) 1 676·00 9,000 6,084 2 703·04 9,000 6,327 3 731·16 9,000 6,580 4 760·41 9,000 6,844 Year Variable cost ($/unit) Sales (units/year) Variable cost ($000) 1 263·75 9,000 2,374 2 278·26 9,000 2,504 3 293·56 9,000 2,642 4 309·71 9,000 2,787 ©2015 DeVry/Becker Educational Development Corp. All rights reserved. REVISION QUESTION BANK – FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT (F9) Year Tax-allowable depreciation Tax benefit Year Working capital Incremental 1 $000 1,250·0 250 2 $000 937·5 188 3 $000 703·1 141 4 $000 1,859·4 372 1 $000 523·50 24 2 $000 548·11 25 3 $000 573·87 26 4 $000 600·84 27 Alternative NPV calculation where tax-allowable depreciation is subtracted and added back Taxable profit Taxation After-tax profit Tax-allowable depreciation After-tax cash flow Working capital Scrap value 3 $000 3,649 (703) –––––– 2,946 (522) –––––– 2,424 703 –––––– 3,127 (26) –––––– 3,423 0·893 –––––– 3,057 –––––– –––––– 3,083 0·797 –––––– 2,457 –––––– –––––– 3,101 0·712 –––––– 2,208 –––––– SA M Net cash flow Discount at 12% –––––– 2,197 1,250 –––––– 3,447 (24) 2 $000 3,547 (938) –––––– 2,609 (439) –––––– 2,170 938 –––––– 3,108 (25) 4 $000 3,753 (1,859) –––––– 1,894 (589) –––––– 1,305 1,859 –––––– 3,164 (27) 250 –––––– 3,387 0·636 –––––– 2,154 –––––– 5 $000 (379) –––––– (379) PL Cash flow Tax-allowable depreciation 1 $000 3,447 (1,250) –––––– 2,197 E Year Present values –––––– (379) –––––– (379) 0·567 –––––– (215) –––––– NPV = 9,661 – 5,000 – 500 = $4·161 million Tutorial note: The model answer ignores the recovery of working capital at the end of the four year evaluation period on the justification that the machinery will be replaced and hence the investment in working capital would continue. However, there is a strong argument that the recovery of working capital should be shown, in which case there would be a cash inflow at the end of the fourth year of 575 (500 + 25 +26 + 26). (b) Nominal v real approach A nominal (money terms) approach to investment appraisal discounts nominal cash flows with a nominal cost of capital. Nominal cash flows are found by inflating forecast values from current price estimates, for example, using specific inflation. Applying specific inflation means that different project cash flows are inflated by different inflation rates in order to generate nominal project cash flows. A real terms approach to investment appraisal discounts real cash flows with a real cost of capital. Real cash flows are found by deflating nominal cash flows by the general rate of inflation. The real cost of capital is found by deflating the nominal cost of capital by the general rate of inflation, using the Fisher equation: (1 + real discount rate) × (1 + inflation rate) = (1 + nominal discount rate) ©2015 DeVry/Becker Educational Development Corp. All rights reserved. 1037 FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT (F9) – REVISION QUESTION BANK The net present value for an investment project does not depend on whether a nominal terms approach or a real terms approach is adopted, since nominal cash flows and the nominal discount rate are both discounted by the general rate of inflation to give real cash flows and the real discount rate, respectively. Both approaches give the same net present value. Tutorial note for illustrative purposes: The real after-tax cost of capital of HDW Co can be found as follows: 1·12/1·047 = 1·07 (i.e. the real after-tax cost of capital is 7%). Nominal NCF Real NCF Discount at 7% Present values 1 $000 3,423 3,269 0·935 –––––– 3,057 –––––– 2 $000 3,083 2,812 0·873 –––––– 2,455 –––––– 3 $000 3,102 2,703 0·816 –––––– 2,206 –––––– 4 $000 3,387 2,819 0·763 –––––– 2,151 –––––– 5 $000 (379) (301) 0·713 –––––– (215) –––––– PL Year E The following illustration deflates nominal net cash flows (NCF) by the general rate of inflation (4·7%) to give real NCF, which are then discounted by the real cost of capital (7%). Allowing for rounding, the illustration shows that the present values of the real cash flows are the same as the present values of the nominal cash flows, and that the real terms approach NPV of $4·154 million is the same as the nominal terms approach NPV of $4·161 million. The two approaches produce identical NPVs and offer the same investment advice. SA M Answer 20 DARN CO (a) NPV using nominal method Calculating the net present value of the investment project using a nominal terms approach requires the discounting of nominal (money terms) cash flows using a nominal discount rate, which is given as 12%. Year Sales revenue Costs Net revenue Tax payable Tax-allowable depreciation tax benefits After-tax cash flow Working capital Project cash flow Discount at 12% Present values 1038 1 2 3 4 5 $000 $000 $000 $000 $000 1,308·75 2,817·26 7,907·87 5,443·58 (523·50) (1,096·21) (2,869·33) (2,102·93) ––––––––– ––––––––– ––––––––– ––––––––– 785·25 1,721·05 5,038·54 3,340·65 (235·58) (516·32) (1,511·56) (1,002·20) 150·00 112·50 84·38 253·13 ––––––––– ––––––––– ––––––––– ––––––––– ––––––––– 785·25 1,635·47 4,634·72 1,913·47 (749·07) (150·86) (509·06) 246·43 544·36 ––––––––– ––––––––– ––––––––– ––––––––– ––––––––– 634·39 1,126·41 4,881·15 2,457·83 (749·07) 0·893 0·797 0·712 0·636 0·567 ––––––––– ––––––––– ––––––––– ––––––––– ––––––––– 566·51 897·75 3,475·38 1,563·18 (424·72) ––––––––– ––––––––– ––––––––– ––––––––– ––––––––– ©2015 DeVry/Becker Educational Development Corp. All rights reserved. REVISION QUESTION BANK – FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT (F9) $000 6,078·10 (2,000·00) (130·88) ––––––––– NPV 3,947·22 ––––––––– The net present value is $3,947,220 and so the investment project is financially acceptable. PV of future cash flows Initial investment Working capital WORKINGS Year Costs ($000) Inflated costs ($000) 3 6,890 7,907·87 4 4,530 5,443·58 1 500 523·50 2 1,000 1,096·21 3 2,500 2,869·33 4 1,750 2,102·93 1 1,308·75 130·88 (130·88) Year Tax-allowable depreciation ($000) Tax benefit ($000) (b) 2 2,570 2,817·26 2 3 4 2,817·26 7,907·87 5,443·58 281·73 790·79 544·36 (150·86) (509·06) 246·43 PL Year Inflated sales revenue ($000) Working capital ($000) Incremental ($000) 1 1,250 1,308·75 E Year Sales revenue ($000) Inflated sales revenue ($000) 1 500·00 150·00 2 375·00 112·50 3 281·25 84·38 4 843·75 253·13 NPV using real method SA M Calculating the net present value of the investment project using a real terms approach requires discounting real terms cash flows with a real discount rate. Real terms cash flows are found by deflating nominal cash flows by the general rate of inflation. Since only the general rate of inflation is available, the real terms operating cash flows are those given in the question. The nominal discount rate is 12% and the general rate of inflation is 4·7%. The real discount rate is therefore 7% (1·12/1·047). Year Sales revenue Costs Net revenue Tax payable Tax-allowable depreciation tax benefits After-tax cash flow Working capital Project cash flow Discount at 7% Present values 1 2 3 4 $000 $000 $000 $000 1,250 2,570 6,890 4,530 (500) (1,000) (2,500) (1,750) ––––––––– ––––––––– ––––––––– ––––––––– 750·00 1,570·00 4,390·00 2,780·00 (225·00) (471·00) (1,317·00) 5 $000 (834·00) 150·00 112·50 84·38 253·13 ––––––––– ––––––––– ––––––––– ––––––––– 750·00 1,495·00 4,031·50 1,547·38 (580·87) (132·00) (432·00) 236·00 453·00 ––––––––– ––––––––– ––––––––– ––––––––– ––––––––– 618·00 1,063·00 4,267·5 2,000·38 (580·87) 0·935 0·873 0·816 0·763 0·713 ––––––––– ––––––––– ––––––––– ––––––––– ––––––––– 577·83 928·00 3,482·28 1,526·29 (414·16) ––––––––– ––––––––– ––––––––– ––––––––– ––––––––– ©2015 DeVry/Becker Educational Development Corp. All rights reserved. 1039 FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT (F9) – REVISION QUESTION BANK PV of future cash flows Initial investment Working capital NPV $000 6,100·24 (2,000·00) (125·00) ––––––––– 3,975·24 ––––––––– WORKING 1 1,250 125 (125) 2 2,570 257 (132) 3 6,890 689 (432) 4 4,530 453 236 PL Year Sales revenue ($000) Working capital ($000) Incremental ($000) E The net present value is $3,975,240 and so the investment project is financially acceptable. The difference between the nominal terms NPV ($3,947,220) and the real terms NPV is due primarily to two factors. First, the tax benefits from tax-allowable depreciation are not affected by inflation and so will have different present values due to the change in discount rate. Second, the working capital cash flows are timed differently to the sales income on which they depend, and so their inflation effects are timed differently to the related inflation effects in the discount rate. Examiner’s note: An alternative approach is to deflate the nominal project cash flows from part (a) by 4.7% per year to give real terms project cash flows, before discounting by the real discount rate of 7%. Year SA M Project cash flow Deflate at 4.7% Discount at 7% 1 2 3 4 5 $000 $000 $000 $000 $000 634.39 1,126.41 4,881.15 2,457.83 (749.07) 605.91 1,027.55 4,252.87 2,045.34 (595.37) 0.935 0.873 0.816 0.763 0.713 ––––––––– ––––––––– ––––––––– ––––––––– ––––––––– 566.53 897.05 3,470.34 1,560.59 (424.50) ––––––––– ––––––––– ––––––––– ––––––––– ––––––––– Present values PV of future cash flows Initial investment Working capital NPV $000 6,070.01 (2,000.00) (130.88) ––––––––– 3,939.13 ––––––––– Answer 21 REPLACEMENT CYCLES (a) Problems in investment appraisal (i) Asset replacement decisions The problem here is that the net present value investment appraisal method may offer incorrect advice about when an asset should be replaced. The lowest present value of costs may not indicate the optimum replacement period. 1040 ©2015 DeVry/Becker Educational Development Corp. All rights reserved. SA M PL E FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT (F9) – REVISION QUESTION BANK 1128 ©2015 DeVry/Becker Educational Development Corp. All rights reserved. E PL ABOUT BECKER PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION Becker Professional Education provides a single destination for candidates and professionals looking to advance their careers and achieve success in: Accounting • International Financial Reporting • Project Management • Continuing Professional Education • Healthcare SA M • For more information on how Becker Professional Education can support you in your career, visit www.becker.com. ® E This ACCA Revision Question Bank has been reviewed by ACCA's examining team and includes: The most recent ACCA examinations with suggested answers • Past examination questions, updated where relevant • Model answers and suggested solutions • Tutorial notes SA M PL • www.becker.com/ACCA | acca@becker.com ©2015 DeVry/Becker Educational Development Corp. All rights reserved.