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The International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC) was formed in August 2010 and brings together a cross-section of representatives from a wide variety of business sectors.

 The primary purpose of the IIRC's framework is to help enable an organsation to communicate how it:

A.

minimises the environmental impact of its business processes.

B.

creates value in the short, medium and long term.

C.

contributes positively to the economic well being of the environment in which it operates.  

D.

ensures that the conflicting needs of different stakeholder groups are met in an optimal manner.

Which THREE of the following statements are correct in respect of the issuance of debt securities.

A.

A bond issuer must appoint at least one market-maker to ensure that there is a liquid market in its traded bonds.

B.

The redemption yield on a corporate bond can be determined by calculating the internal rate of return based on the cash flows arising during the duration of the bond.

C.

Investors in traded bonds have an ownership (or equity stake) in the company which issued the bonds.

D.

A corporate entity coming to the bond market for the first time will find it easier to issue corporate bonds than to arrange a conventional term loan.

E.

Governments are the most frequent issuers of bonds and the proceeds are used to fund government expenditure or service the national debt.

Company R is a well-established, unlisted, road freight company.

In recent years R has come under pressure to improve its customer service and has had some cusses in doing this However, the cost of improved service levels has resulted In it marketing small losses in its latest financial year. This is the forest time R has not been profitable.

R uses a’ residual divided policy ad has paid dividends twice in the last 10 years.

Which of the following methods would be most appropriate for valuating R?

A.

The earnings yield method, adjusting the earnings yield of a listed company downloads to reflect R’s unlisted status.

B.

The divided valuation mode.

C.

Valuing the tangible assets and intangible assets of R.D. The P/E method, adjusting the P/E of a listed company downwards to reflect R’s unlisted status.

B, a European based modern art dealer, frequently imports and sells single high value items created in the United States. The price is fixed at the date of sale but the items are commissioned and made to order with a lead time of three to nine months depending on the individual specification

B holds payment for his customers from the point of purchase and passes funds when the items are shipped However, despite putting the money on short term deposit, there have been times when B's profits have been almost entirely eroded by adverse movements m interest rates Advise B by matching the appropriate instrument to B's requirements.

A company has a covenant on its 5% long term corporate bond.

   • Covenant - The earnings must not fall below $7 million

The bond has a nominal value of $60 million.

It is currently trading at 80% of its nominal value.

The projected earnings before interest and taxation for next year are $11.5 million.

The company retains 80% of its earnings. It pays tax at 20%.

 

Advise the Board of Directors which of the following covenant conditions will apply next year?

A.

The earnings will be = $7.28 million (The covenant will not be breached).

B.

The earnings will be = $11.50 million (The covenant will not be breached).

C.

The earnings will be = $6.80 million (The covenant will be breached).

D.

The earnings will be = $5.44 million (The covenant will be breached).

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

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

• Unsecured bank borrowings.

• Convertible bonds.

Which of the following statements is correct?

A.

If the share price does not increase sufficiently for conversion to take place the company will have more expensive debt with a convertible bond than with unsecured borrowings.

B.

Additional finance will be raised upon conversion of the convertible bond but not with unsecured borrowings.

C.

The coupon rate of a convertible bond is likely to be lower than for unsecured borrowings.

D.

If the convertible bond holders eventually convert to shares the company's gearing ratio will rise whereas it will be unaffected if finance is with unsecured borrowings.

A consultancy company is dependent for profits and growth on the high value individuals it employs.

The company has relatively few tangible assets.

 

Select the most appropriate reason for the net asset valuation method being considered unsuitable for such a company.

A.

It does not account for the intangible assets.

B.

It accounts for the intangible assets at historical value.

C.

It accounts for intangible assets at net realisable value.

D.

It does not account for tangible assets.

A major energy company, GDE, generates and distributes electricity in country A. The government of country A is concerned about rising inflation and has imposed price controls on GDE, limiting the price it can charge per unit of electricity sold to both domestic and commercial customers. It is likely that price controls will continue for the foreseeable future.

 

The introduction of price controls is likely to reduce the profit for the current year from $3 billion to $1 billion.

 

The company has:

   • Distributable reserves of $2 billion. 

   • Surplus cash at the start of the year of $1 billion. 

   • Plans to pay a total dividend of $1.5 billion in respect of the current year, representing a small annual increase as in previous years. However, no dividends have yet been announced. 

 

Which THREE of the following responses would be MOST appropriate for GDE following the imposition of price controls?

A.

Announce a reduction in the annual dividend to a more sustainable level given the new price controls regime.

B.

Carry out a wide-ranging review of costs and staffing levels to identify possible cost savings and redundancies.

C.

Actively investigate potential new ways of generating revenue by the sale of related goods and services that are outside the scope of the price controls.

D.

Raise funds by means of a rights issue in order to maintain historical dividend levels.

E.

Actively look for a private equity investor to introduce new and innovative business and financial strategies to the business.

A venture capitalist invests in a company by means of buying

* 6 million shares for $3 a share and

• 7% bonds with a nominal value of $2 million, repayable at par in 3 years' time

The venture capitalist expects a return on the equity portion of the investment of at least 20% a year on a compound basis over the first 3 years of the investment

The company has 8 million shares in issue

What is the minimum total equity value for the company in 3 years' time required to satisfy the venture capitalist's expected return?

Give your answer to the nearest $ million

A company has announced a rights issue of 1 new share for every 4 existing shares. 

 

Relevant data:

   • The current market price per share is $10.00.

   • Rights are to be issued at a 20% discount to the current price.

   • The rate of return on the new funds raised is expected to be 10%.

   • The rate of return on existing funds is 5%.

What is the yield-adjusted theoretical ex-rights price?

 

Give your answer to two decimal places.

 

$ ?