(a) Individuals (and institutions) become shareholders for economic motives (dividends/capital
growth). The ability of a company to meet shareholders? objectives by paying a high
dividend and/or having an increasing share price depends upon the future profitability of the
company. If decision making was in the hands of the shareholders then one would assume that all
decisions would be made in the pursuit of profitability. However, the divorce of ownership and
control has put the responsibility for decision-making in the hands of professional
directors/managers. It follows that decisions made by directors/managers ought to be consistent
with shareholder wealth objectives. However, the directors/managers have considerable scope for
pursuing their own personal objectives which might not be identical with those of the shareholders
ie, there is likely to be a lack of complete goal congruence, and shareholders? objectives
might be subordinated to managerial objectives.
Share option schemes for managers (and other schemes discussed below) are intended to harmonize
managerial and shareholder objectives by giving management the same wealth objectives as the
shareholders. Managerial and shareholder objectives are still unlikely to become perfectly congruent
since managers are likely to have objectives other than wealth maximization to be satisfied through
their employment (e.g. power, status/esteem, control over resources etc) which might not be
perfectly correlated with wealth maximization.
If managers are motivated by wealth objectives then they are likely to take decisions in line with
maximizing the share price at the exercise date and to maintain/increase the price thereafter, in
which case shareholders interests will benefit.
Share option schemes for employees (as opposed to managers with decision making authority) are
introduced for the same reason as those for managers, to improve profitability by working more
efficient/effectively.
For a reward to be effective as a motivator it needs to be of a significant amount and
the recipient needs to associate the reward with the actions which gave rise to it (i.e, efficient
working leading to higher profit). In the case of share option schemes for employees if the number
of shares which the employees could take up is high, and the company is fairly labour
intensive then the shareholders equity could well be diluted. If the number of shares per
employee is small then the scheme is unlikely to act as a motivator.
If the options were to be given every year or twice per year, it would be difficult for the employees to
associate such a reward with their own effort. For any particular employee the amount
of corporate profit will almost entirely be outside his/her control. Managerial decisions, conditions
in resource and profit markets, competitive actions etc. all have a very significant effect upon the
level of profit and are not controllable by employees throughout the year. It is doubtful whether a
share option scheme based on annual profit could motivate an employee to work more efficiently
during any particular day or week his/her effort in any short period would have no
noticeable/measurable affects on the corporate profit for the year. Shorter term bonus schemes
relating to the efforts of individuals or small groups and based on their measurable performance are
more likely to act as motivators.
In summary, share option schemes for managers are likely to benefit shareholders while those for
employees in general are less likely to have much benefit except to the extent that they may influence
employees to take a greater interest in the affairs of the company.
(b) Other schemes can be sub-divided into two sections:
(i) those giving rewards based on overall corporate financial performance;
(ii) those giving rewards based on the financial performance of the sub-unit for which the
individual manager is responsible. (Investment center, profit center, revenue center or cost center.)
The latter type may well be preferable since they relate reward with individual responsibility.
Rewards can be in terms of cash bonuses or equity. Giving financial benefits to managers
based on profits greater than budget or costs (lower than budget) on a periodic basis may well lead
managers to take action to maximize profit or minimize cost in each accounting period. It is doubtful
whether such actions would be consistent with the maximization of shareholder wealth since
managers focus on attention is the short term. Profits can be boosted in the short term by foregoing
expenditures necessary for longer term profitability. If the benefit is in the form of equity then to
harmonize shareholder and management objective some restrictions should be imposed concerning the
sale by management of their equity, otherwise short-termism could be pursued.
Share option schemes can overcome such problems of concentrating on the short term by careful
selection of the exercise date of the options. The exercise date should not be too early because of
short-termism nor too late because this would considerably reduce the motivational force.
Kavungya answered the question on April 22, 2021 at 06:52
- Describe the main types of foreign exchange rate system. Briefly discuss how such systems might affect the
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Date posted: April 22, 2021. Answers (1)
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A major institutional shareholder has criticized the level of dividend payment of the...(Solved)
The following data relates to a large company operating in the electronics industry:
A major institutional shareholder has criticized the level of dividend payment of the company suggesting that it should be substantially increased.
Required:
(a) Briefly discuss the factors that are likely to influence the company's dividend policy, and
(b) Discuss whether or not the institutional shareholder's criticism is likely to be valid.
Date posted: April 22, 2021. Answers (1)
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You are required to discuss how the achievement of this objective might be...(Solved)
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Date posted: April 22, 2021. Answers (1)
- Fuelit plc is an electricity supplier in the UK. The company has historically generated the majority of its
electricity using a coal fueled power station, but...(Solved)
Fuelit plc is an electricity supplier in the UK. The company has historically generated the majority of its
electricity using a coal fueled power station, but as a result of the closure of many coal mines and
depleted coal resources, is now considering what type of new power station to invest in. The alternatives
are a gas fueled power station, or a new type of efficient nuclear power station.
Both types of power station are expected to generate annual revenues at current prices of Sh.800 million.
The expected operating life of both types of power station is 25 years.
Other information:
(i) Whichever power station is selected, electricity generation is scheduled to commence in three
years time.
(ii) If gas is used most of the workers at the existing coal fired station can be transferred to the new
power station. After tax redundancy costs are expected to total Sh.4 million in year four. If nuclear
power is selected fewer workers will be required and after tax redundancy costs will total Sh.36
million, also in year four.
(iii) Both projects would be financed by Euro-bond issues denominated in Euros. The gas powered
station would require a bond issue at 8.5% per year, the bond for the nuclear project would be
at 10% reflecting the impact on financial gearing of a larger bond issue.
(iv) Costs of building the new power stations would be payable in two equal installments in one and two
years time.
(v) The existing coal fired power station would need to be demolished at a cost of Sh.10 million in
three years time.
(vi) The company‟s equity beta is expected to be 0.7 if the gas station is chosen and 1.4 if
the nuclear station is chosen. Gearing (debt to equity plus debt) is expected to be 35% with gas
and 60% with nuclear fuel.
(vii) The risk free rate is 4.5% per year and the market return is 14% per year. Inflation is currently 3%
per year in the UK and an average of 5% per year in the member countries of the Euro bloc in
the European Union.
(viii) Corporate tax is at the rate of 30% payable in the same year that the liability arises.
(ix) Tax allowable depreciation is at the rte of 10% per year on a straight line basis.
(x) At the end of twenty-five years of operations the gas plant is expected to cost Sh.25 million
(after tax) to demolish and clean up the site. Costs of decommissioning the nuclear plant are
much less certain, and could be anything between Sh.500 million and Sh.1,000 million (after tax)
depending upon what form of disposal is available for nuclear waste.
Required:
(a) Estimate the expected NPV of EACH OF investment in a gas fueled power station and
investment in a nuclear fueled power station.
State clearly any assumptions that you make.
(NB: It is recommended that annuity tables are used wherever possible)
(b) Discuss other information that might assist the decision process.
Date posted: April 22, 2021. Answers (1)
- Excluding foreign exchange risks, discuss, with examples, how the risks of foreign trade might be managed.(Solved)
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Date posted: April 22, 2021. Answers (1)
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company is to maximize the wealth of its shareholders. (Do...(Solved)
Justify and criticize the usual assumption made in financial management literature that the objective of a
company is to maximize the wealth of its shareholders. (Do not consider how this wealth is to be measured).
Date posted: April 21, 2021. Answers (1)
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Date posted: April 21, 2021. Answers (1)
- Maltec plc is a company that has diversified into five different industries in five different countries. The investments are each approximately equal in value. The...(Solved)
Maltec plc is a company that has diversified into five different industries in five different countries. The investments are each approximately equal in value. The company's objective is to reduce risk
through diversification, and it believes that the return on any investment is not correlated with the return on any other investment. The estimated risk and return (in present value terms) of the five investments are shown below:
Required:
(a) Estimate the risk and return of the portfolio of five investments, and briefly explain the significance of your results.
(b) Discuss the validity to investors of Maltec's objective of risk reduction through international
diversification.
Date posted: April 21, 2021. Answers (1)
- Discuss the main features of:
(i) Corporate share repurchases (buy-backs); and
(ii) Share (stock) splits;
and why companies might use them. Include in your discussion comment on the...(Solved)
Discuss the main features of:
(i) Corporate share repurchases (buy-backs); and
(ii) Share (stock) splits;
and why companies might use them. Include in your discussion comment on the possible effects on share
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Date posted: April 21, 2021. Answers (1)
- The finance department of Beela Electronics has been criticized by the company's board of
directors for not undertaking an assessment of the political risk of the...(Solved)
The finance department of Beela Electronics has been criticized by the company's board of
directors for not undertaking an assessment of the political risk of the company's potential
direct investments in Africa. The board has received an interim report from a consultant that provides
an assessment of the factors affecting political risk in three African countries. The report assesses key variables on a scale of –10 to +10, with –10 the worst possible score and +10 the best.
The consultant suggests that economic growth and political stability are twice as important as the
other factors.
The consultant states in the report that previous clients have not invested in countries with a total weighted score of less than 30 out of a maximum possible 100 (with economic growth and political stability double weighted). The consultant therefore recommends that no investment in Africa should be undertaken.
Required:
(a) Discuss whether or not Beela electronics should use the technique suggested by the consultant in
order to decide whether or not to invest in Africa.
(b) Discuss briefly how Beela might manage political risk if it decides to invest in Africa.
Date posted: April 21, 2021. Answers (1)
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Date posted: April 20, 2021. Answers (1)
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- Assume that your company has invested in 100,000 shares of Unglow plc, a manufacturer of light bulbs. You are concerned about the recent volatility in...(Solved)
Assume that your company has invested in 100,000 shares of Unglow plc, a manufacturer of light bulbs. You are concerned about the recent volatility in Unglow's share price due to the unpredictable weather
in the United Kingdom. You wish to protect your company's investment from a possible fall in
Unglow's share price until winter in three months time, but do not wish to sell the shares at present. No dividends are due to be paid by Uniglow during the next three months.
Market data:
Uniglow's current share price: Sh.20
Call option exercise price: Sh.20
Time to expiry: 3 months
Interest rates (annual): 6%
Volatility of Uniglow's shares 50% (standard deviation per year)
Assume that option contracts are for the purchase or sale of units of 1,000 shares.
Required:
(i) Devise a delta hedge that is expected to protect the investment against changes in the share price
until winter. Delta may be estimated using N(d1).
(ii) Comment upon whether or not such a hedge is likely to be totally successful.
Date posted: April 20, 2021. Answers (1)
- Briefly discuss the meaning and importance of the terms 'delta', 'theta' and 'vega' (also known as
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Date posted: April 20, 2021. Answers (1)
- The managers of Strayer plc are investigating a potential Sh.25 million investment. The investment would be a diversification away from existing mainstream activities and into...(Solved)
The managers of Strayer plc are investigating a potential Sh.25 million investment. The investment would be a diversification away from existing mainstream activities and into the printing industry. Sh.6 million of the investment would be financed by internal funds, Sh.10 million by a rights issue and Sh.9 million by long term loans. The investment is expected to generate pre-tax net cash flows of approximately Sh.5 million per year, for a period of ten years. The residual value at the end of year ten is forecast to be Sh.5 million after tax. As the investment is in an area that the government wishes to develop, a subsidized loan of Sh.4 million out of the total Sh.9 million is available. This will cost 2% below the company's normal cost of long-term debt finance, which is 8%.
Strayer's equity beta is 0.85, and its financial gearing is 60% equity, 40% debt by value. The average
equity beta in the printing industry is 1.2, and average gearing 50% equity, 50% debt by market value.
The risk free rate is 5.5% per annum and the market return 12% per annum.
Issue costs are estimated to be 1% for debt financing (excluding the subsidized loan), and 4% for
equity financing. These costs are not tax allowable.
The corporate tax rate is 30%.
Required:
(a) Estimate the Adjusted Present Value (APV) of the proposed investment.
(b) Comment upon the circumstances under which APV might be a better method of evaluating a
capital investment than Net Present Value (NPV).
Date posted: April 20, 2021. Answers (1)
- Summarized financial details of Jetter plc are shown below:
Reserves ...(Solved)
Summarized financial details of Jetter plc are shown below:
Reserves 122
12% debentures June 2006 71
243
The company's ordinary shares are currently trading at Sh.22.00, and the debentures at
Sh.105.50. The debenture is redeemable at its par value of Sh.100.
The company's equity beta is 1.25.
Jetter plc is considering investing in one of three projects. The company has Sh.50 million that is currently earning 5.8% in short-term money market deposits. Any surplus funds after the investment in one of the projects will continue to be invested in the money market.
The company has employed an external consultant to estimate risk/return data relevant to the three projects.
Required:
(a) Evaluate which project should be selected. Do not use information provided later in the question
requirements in your evaluation.
State clearly any assumptions that you make in all parts of this question.
(b) Estimate Jetter's cost of capital prior to undertaking the investment. Briefly discuss (do not
calculate) what effect the project selected in (a) is likely to have on Jetter's cost of capital.
The profitability index of 1.3 also relates to this part of the question.
(c) The consultant has suggested that beta estimates should be adjusted by using the formula: [(0.67 x
unadjusted beta) + 0.33] in any estimate of required returns.
Briefly discuss the reason for using an adjusted beta such as this:
Date posted: April 20, 2021. Answers (1)
- Summarized financial data for TYR plc is shown below:
TYR's cost of equity is estimated to be 11%.
Required:
(a) Explain, with supporting evidence, the current dividend policy...(Solved)
Summarized financial data for TYR plc is shown below:
TYR's cost of equity is estimated to be 11%.
Required:
(a) Explain, with supporting evidence, the current dividend policy of TYR plc, and briefly discuss
whether or not this appears to be successful.
(b) Identify and consider additional information that might assist the managers of TYR in assessing
whether the dividend policy has been successful.
(c) Evaluate whether or not the company's share price at the end of 2001 was what might have
been expected from the Dividend Growth Model. Briefly discuss the validity of your findings.
Date posted: April 20, 2021. Answers (1)
- Components Manufacturing Corporation (CMC) has an all-common-equity capital structure. It has 200,000 shares of Sh.2 par value common stock outstanding. When CMC's founder, who has...(Solved)
Components Manufacturing Corporation (CMC) has an all-common-equity capital structure. It has 200,000 shares of Sh.2 par value common stock outstanding. When CMC‟s founder, who has also its research director and most successful inventor; retired unexpectedly to the South Pacific in late 2000, CMC was left suddenly and permanently with materially lower growth expectations and relatively few attractive new investment opportunities. Unfortunately, there was no way to replace the founder's contributions to the firm.
Previously, CMC found it necessary to plow back most of its earnings to finance growth, which averaged 12 percent per year. Future growth at a five percent rate is considered realistic, but that level would call for an increase in the dividend payout. Further, it now appears that new investment projects with at least the 14 percent rate of return required by CMC's stockholders (ks= 14%) would amount to only Sh.800,000 for 2001in comparison to a projected Sh.2,000,000 of net income. If the existing 20 percent dividend payout were continued, retained earnings would be Sh.1.6 million in 2001, but as noted, investments that yield the 14 percent cost of capital would amount to only Sh.800,000.
The one encouraging thing is that the high earnings from existing assets are expected to continue, and
net income of Sh.2 million is still expected for 2001. Given the dramatically changed
circumstances, CMC's management is reviewing the firm's dividend policy.
(a) Assuming that the acceptable 2001 investment projects would be financed entirely by earnings
retained during the year, calculate DPS in 2001 if CMC follows the residual divided policy.
(b) What payout ratio does your answer to part a imply for 2001?
(c) If a 60 percent payout ratio is maintained for the foreseeable future, what is your estimate of
the present market price of the common stock? How does this compare with the market price
that should have prevailed under the assumptions existing just before the news
about the founder's retirement? If the two values of P0 are different, comment on why.
(d) What would happen to the price of the stock if the old 20 percent payout were continued? Assume
that if this payout is maintained, the average rate of return on the retained earnings will fall to 7.5
percent and the new growth rate will be
g = (1.0 – Payout ratio)(ROE)
= (1.0 – 0.2)(7.5%) = (0.8)(7.5%) = 6.0%
Date posted: April 20, 2021. Answers (1)