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  • The CMA (Capital Markets Authority) has put in place several tax incentives to encourage investments in capital markets. Highlight some of the tax incentives by the...(Solved)

    The CMA (Capital Markets Authority) has put in place several tax incentives to encourage investments in capital markets. Highlight some of the tax incentives by the Capital Markets Authority.

    Date posted: December 14, 2021.  

  • Millennium Investments Ltd. wishes to raise funds amounting to Sh.10 million to finance a project in the following manner: Sh.6 million from debt; and Sh.4 million from floating...(Solved)

    Millennium Investments Ltd. wishes to raise funds amounting to Sh.10 million to finance a project in the following manner: Sh.6 million from debt; and Sh.4 million from floating new ordinary shares. The present capital structure of the company is made up as follows: 1. 600,000 fully paid ordinary shares of Sh.10 each 2. Retained earnings of Sh.4 million 3. 200,000, 10% preference shares of Sh.20 each. 4. 40,000 6% long term debentures of Sh.150 each. The current market value of the company's ordinary shares is Sh.60 per share. The expected ordinary share dividends in a year's time is Sh.2.40 per share. The average growth rate in both dividends and earnings has been 10% over the past ten years and this growth rate is expected to be maintained in the foreseeable future. The company's long term debentures currently change hands for Sh.100 each. The debentures will mature in 100 years. The preference shares were issued four years ago and still change hands at face value. Required: (i) Compute the component cost of: - Ordinary share capital; - Debt capital - Preference share capital. (ii) Compute the company's current weighted average cost of capital. (5 marks) (iii) Compute the company's marginal cost of capital if it raised the additional Sh.10 million as envisaged. (Assume a tax rate of 30%).

    Date posted: December 14, 2021.  

  • The Apollo Credit Collection Company Ltd. employs agents who collect hire purchase instalments and other outstanding amounts on a door to door basis from Monday...(Solved)

    The Apollo Credit Collection Company Ltd. employs agents who collect hire purchase instalments and other outstanding amounts on a door to door basis from Monday to Friday. The agents bank their collections at the close of business everyday from Monday to Thursday. At the close of business on Friday the week's bankings are withdrawn and, together with Friday's collections, are remitted to the head office. The takings are evenly spread daily and weekly. The budget for the next year shows that total collections will amount to Sh.26 million. The bankings are used to reduce an overdraft whose interest rate is 19%. The collection manager has suggested that instead of banking collections, they be remitted daily to the head office by the collectors. Required: Determine the increase in annual interest if the collection manager's suggestion was adopted.

    Date posted: December 14, 2021.  

  • The financial data given below shows the capital structure of Akabebi Company Limited. The structure is considered optimum and the management would wish to maintain this...(Solved)

    The financial data given below shows the capital structure of Akabebi Company Limited. 3.png The structure is considered optimum and the management would wish to maintain this level. Akabebi Company Limited intends to invest in a new project which is estimated to cost Sh.16,800,000 with an expected net cash flow of Sh.3,000,000 per annum for 10 years. The management has proposed to raise the required funds through the following means: 1. Issue 100 10% debentures at the current market value of Sh.5,000 per debenture. 2. Utilize 60% of the existing retained earnings. 3. Issue 10% Sh.20 preference shares at the current market price of Sh.25 per share 4. Issue ordinary shares at the current market price of Sh.45 per share. Floatation cost per share is estimated to be 12% of the share value. The company's current dividend yield is 5% which is expected to continue in the near future. Corporation tax rate is 30%. Required: (a) Determine the current dividend per share. (b) Determine the number of ordinary shares to be issued. (c) Determine the marginal cost of capital for Akabebi Company Ltd based on the above information. (d) Evaluate whether it is viable to invest in the proposed project (Round off your answer for cost of capital to the nearest 1) (e) Explain clearly the sense in which depreciation is said to be a source of funds to business firms.

    Date posted: December 14, 2021.  

  • Andreas Company Ltd. currently pays a dividend of Sh.2 per share and this dividend is expected to grow at an annual rate of 15% for...(Solved)

    Andreas Company Ltd. currently pays a dividend of Sh.2 per share and this dividend is expected to grow at an annual rate of 15% for the first 3 years then at a rate of 10% for the next 3 years after which it is expected to grow at a rate of 5% thereafter. (i) What value would you place on the stock if an 18% rate of return were required? (ii) Would your valuation change if you expected to hold the stock for only 3 years? Explain.

    Date posted: December 14, 2021.  

  • Mwomboko Company Ltd currently operates with terms of net 30 days. The company has sales of Sh.12 million and its average collection period is 45...(Solved)

    Mwomboko Company Ltd currently operates with terms of net 30 days. The company has sales of Sh.12 million and its average collection period is 45 days. To stimulate demand, the company is considering the possibility of offering terms of net 60 days. If it offers these terms sales will increase by 20%. After the change the average collection period is expected to increase to 75 days with no difference in payments habits between old and new customers. The company has variable costs of Sh.70 for every Sh.100 of sales. The required rate of return on receivables is 20%. Required: Should the company extend its credit period? (Assume a year has 360 days).

    Date posted: December 14, 2021.  

  • PQR Ltd. operates a chain of supermarkets. Its strategy has been to adjust product prices to accommodate differences in customers, products, locations and other variables....(Solved)

    PQR Ltd. operates a chain of supermarkets. Its strategy has been to adjust product prices to accommodate differences in customers, products, locations and other variables. The market has become increasingly competitive and PQR Ltd. has decided to change its strategy. In future, it will provide a high quality service by introducing Total Quality Management (TQM) techniques in every supermarket. Explain the relevance of a programme of TQM for PQR Ltd. in the implementation of its new strategy.

    Date posted: April 24, 2021.  

  • With reference to the measurement of portfolio risk, distinguish between Portfolio theory and the Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM).(Solved)

    With reference to the measurement of portfolio risk, distinguish between Portfolio theory and the Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM).

    Date posted: April 23, 2021.  

  • Cotts Importers Ltd, a company based in Kenya, has been a regular importer of goods from the United States of America (USA). The Kenyan currency is...(Solved)

    Cotts Importers Ltd, a company based in Kenya, has been a regular importer of goods from the United States of America (USA). The Kenyan currency is the Shilling (Sh.) while the USA currency is the dollar (Usd) On 1 June 2004, Cotts Ltd imported a consignment of goods from a supplier in the USA. The consignment cost usd 1,000 and was payable on 1 September 2004. fig37234545.png Required: i) Show how Cotts Ltd could have used a futures contract as a hedging tool, indicating any hedging profit or loss. ii) How many futures contracts would Cotts Ltd. have purchased if the contract size was Sh.2 million?

    Date posted: April 23, 2021.  

  • Karim plc and Roshan plc are quoted companies. The following figures are from their current balance sheets: Both companies earn an annual profit, before charging debenture...(Solved)

    Karim plc and Roshan plc are quoted companies. The following figures are from their current balance sheets: fig31234532.png Both companies earn an annual profit, before charging debenture interest of Sh.500,000 which is expected to remain constant for the indefinite future. The profits of both companies, before charging debenture interest, are generally regarded as being subject to identical levels of risk. It is the policy of both companies to distribute all available profits as dividends at the end of each year. The current market value of Karim Ltd.‟s ordinary shares is Sh.3.00 per share cum div. An annual dividend is due to be paid in the very near future. Roshan Ltd. has just made annual dividend and interest payments both on its ordinary shares and on its debentures. The current market value of the ordinary shares is Sh.1.40 per share and of the debentures, Sh.50.00 percent. Mr. Hashim owns 50,000 ordinary shares in Roshan Ltd. He is wondering whether he could increase his annual income, without incurring any extra risk, by selling his shares in Roshan Ltd and buying some of the ordinary shares of Karim Ltd. Mr. Hashim is able to borrow money at an annual compound rate of interest of 12%. You are required: (a) to estimate the cost of ordinary share capital and the weighted average cost of capital of Karim Ltd and Roshan Ltd; (b) to explain briefly why both the cost of ordinary share capital and weighted average cost of capital of Karim Ltd differ from those of Roshan Ltd; (d) to prepare calculations to demonstrate to Mr. Hashim how he might improve his position in the way he has suggested, stating clearly any reservations you have about the scheme; and (d) to discuss the implications of your answers to (a), (b) and (c) above for the determination of a company‟s optimal financial structure in practice.

    Date posted: April 23, 2021.  

  • Mirror Young Cycles Ltd. wishes to design a new sports bicycle. The Company would have to invest Ksh.10,000 at the beginning of the first year for...(Solved)

    Mirror Young Cycles Ltd. wishes to design a new sports bicycle. The Company would have to invest Ksh.10,000 at the beginning of the first year for the design and model testing of the new bicycle. Mirror's managers believe that there is a 60% probability that this phase will be successful and the project will continue. If phase 1 is not successful the project will be abandoned with zero salvage value. The next phase, if undertaken would consist of making the molds and producing two prototype bicycles. This would cost Ksh.500,000 at the end of the first year. If the bicycles test well, Mirror would go into production. If they do not, the molds and prototypes could be sold for Ksh.100,000. The managers estimate that the probability is 80 percent that the bikes will pass testing and that Phase 3 will be undertaken. Phase 3 consists of changing over one current production line to produce the new design. This would cost Ksh.1 million in Year 2. If the economy is strong at this point, the net value of sales would be Ksh.3 million, while if the economy is weak the net value would be Ksh.1.5 million. Both net values occur during Year 3, and the two states of the economy are equally likely. Mirror's cost of capital is 12 percent. Required: (a) Construct a decision tree and determine the project's expected NPV assuming that the project has average risk. (b) Calculate the project's standard deviation of NPV and coefficient of variation of NPV. (c) If Mirror's average project had a coefficient of variation of between 1.0 and 2.0, would this project be of high, low or average stand-alone risk?

    Date posted: April 23, 2021.  

  • The following data have been developed for the Ujasiri Company Limited: The yield to maturity on Treasury Bills is 0.066 and is expected to remain at...(Solved)

    The following data have been developed for the Ujasiri Company Limited: fig27234517.png The yield to maturity on Treasury Bills is 0.066 and is expected to remain at this point for the foreseeable future. Required: (a) The equation of the Security Market Line. (b) The required return for the Ujasiri Company Limited. (c) Is the Company correctly priced, underpriced or overpriced in the market? Explain.

    Date posted: April 23, 2021.  

  • You are given that assets X and Y are perfectly correlated such that Ry = 6 + 0.2RX and the probability distribution of X is: What...(Solved)

    You are given that assets X and Y are perfectly correlated such that Ry = 6 + 0.2RX and the probability distribution of X is: fig24234513.png What is the percentage of your wealth to put into asset X to achieve zero variance?

    Date posted: April 23, 2021.  

  • Let R1 and R2 be the returns from two securities with E(R1) = 3% and E(R2) = 8%, VAR(R1) = 0.02, VAR(R2) = 0.05, and COV(R1...(Solved)

    Let R1 and R2 be the returns from two securities with E(R1) = 3% and E(R2) = 8%, VAR(R1) = 0.02, VAR(R2) = 0.05, and COV(R1 R2) = -0.01. Assuming that the two securities above are the only investment vehicles available: (i) If we want to minimize risk, how much of our portfolio will we invest in Security 1? (ii) Find the mean and standard deviation of a portfolio that is 40% in Security 1.

    Date posted: April 23, 2021.  

  • Rodfin plc is considering investing in one of two short-term portfolios of four short-term financial investments in diverse industries. The correlation between the returns of the...(Solved)

    Rodfin plc is considering investing in one of two short-term portfolios of four short-term financial investments in diverse industries. The correlation between the returns of the individual components of these investments is believed to be negligible. fig19234507.png fig20234507.png The managers of Rodfin are not sure of how to estimate the risk of these portfolios, as it has been suggested to them that either portfolio theory or the capital asset pricing model (CAPM) will give the same measure of risk. The market return is estimated to be 12.5% and the risk free rate 5.5%. Required: (a) Discuss whether or not portfolio theory and CAPM give the same portfolio risk measure. (b) Using the above data estimate the risk and return of the two portfolios and recommend which one should be selected.

    Date posted: April 23, 2021.  

  • Kianjoya company Ltd has 2 million ordinary shares outstanding at the current market price of Sh.60 per share. The company requires Sh.8 million to finance a...(Solved)

    Kianjoya company Ltd has 2 million ordinary shares outstanding at the current market price of Sh.60 per share. The company requires Sh.8 million to finance a proposed expansion project. The board of directors has decided to issue a 2 for 25 rights at a subscription price of Sh.50 per share. The expansion project is expected to increase the firm's annual cash flows by Sh.1,660,000. Information on this project will be released to the market together with the announcement of the rights issue. The company paid a dividend of sh.6 per share last year. This dividend together with the company‟s earnings is expected to grow at 6% annually. Required: (i) Compute the price of the shares after the announcement of the rights issue but before they start selling ex-rights. (ii) Compute the theoretical value of rights and the theoretical ex-rights price of the shares.

    Date posted: April 23, 2021.  

  • Canalot Ltd is an all equity company with an equilibrium market value of Sh.32.5 million and a cost of capital of 18% per year. The company...(Solved)

    Canalot Ltd is an all equity company with an equilibrium market value of Sh.32.5 million and a cost of capital of 18% per year. The company proposes to repurchase Sh.5 million of equity and to replace it with 13% irredeemable loan stock. Canalot Ltd's earnings before interest and taxes are expected to be constant for the foreseeable future. Corporate tax is at the rate of 30%. All profits are paid out as dividends. Required: Using the assumptions of Modigliani and Miller explain and demonstrate how this change in capital structure will affect: (i) the market value (ii) the cost of capital (iii) the cost of equity of Canalot Ltd.

    Date posted: April 23, 2021.  

  • Karim Ltd has annual earnings before interest and taxes of Sh.150 million. These earnings are expected to remain constant. The market price of the company's ordinary...(Solved)

    Karim Ltd has annual earnings before interest and taxes of Sh.150 million. These earnings are expected to remain constant. The market price of the company's ordinary shares is Sh.8.60 per share cum dividend and of debentures sh.1055.0 per debenture ex. Interest. An interim dividend of Sh.0.60 per share has been declared. Corporate tax is at the rate of 30% and all available earnings are distributed as dividends. Karim's long term capital structure is shown below: fig13234459.png Required: Calculate the cost of capital of Karim Ltd according to the traditional theory of capital structure. Assume it is now 31.12.X1 and the capital structure is optimal.

    Date posted: April 23, 2021.  

  • XYZ company Limited is considering a major investment in a new productive process. The total cost of the investment has been estimated at Sh.2,000,000 but if...(Solved)

    XYZ company Limited is considering a major investment in a new productive process. The total cost of the investment has been estimated at Sh.2,000,000 but if this were increased to Sh.3,000,000, productive capacity would be substantially increased. Because of the nature of the process, once the basic plant has been established, to increase capacity at some future date is exceptionally costly. One of the problem facing management is that the demand for process output is very uncertain. However, the market research and finance departments have been able to produce the following estimate: fig10234456.png Required: Compute the expected NPV of each of the project and state the one to be chosen.

    Date posted: April 23, 2021.  

  • You are the chief accountant of Deighton Plc. which manufactures a wide range of building and plumbing fittings. It has recently taken over a small unquoted...(Solved)

    You are the chief accountant of Deighton Plc. which manufactures a wide range of building and plumbing fittings. It has recently taken over a small unquoted competitor, Linton Ltd. Deighton is currently checking through various documents at Linton's head office. Including a number of investment appraisals. One of these, a recently rejected application involving an outlay of equipment of Sh.900,000, is produced below. It was rejected because it failed to offer Linton‟s target return on investment of 25% (average profit to- initial investment outlay). Closer inspection reveals several errors in the appraisal. Evaluation of profitability of proposed project NT17 (all values in currency year prices) fig8234453.png You discover the following further details: 1. Linton's policy was to finance both working capital and fixed investment by a bank overdraft. A12% interest rate applied at the time of the evaluation. 2. A 25% writing down allowance (WDA) on a reducing balance basis is offered for new investments. Linton's profits are sufficient to utilize fully this allowance throughout the project. 3. Corporate tax is paid a year in arrears. 4. Of the overhead charge, about half reflects absorption of existing overhead costs. 5. The market research was actually undertaken to investigate two proposals, the other project also having been rejected. The total bill for all this research has also been paid. 6. Deighton itself requires a nominal return on new project of 20% after taxes, is currently ungeared and has no plans to use any debt finance in the future. Required: (a) Identify the mistakes made in Linton's evaluation. (b) Restate the investment appraisal in terms of post-tax net present value and recommend whether or not Deighton should undertake the project.

    Date posted: April 23, 2021.  

  • Outline the major causes of public projects failure.(Solved)

    Outline the major causes of public projects failure.

    Date posted: April 23, 2021.  

  • Discuss the major theories that explain the behaviour of the yield curve and discuss the implication of yield curve analysis in financial management.(Solved)

    Discuss the major theories that explain the behaviour of the yield curve and discuss the implication of yield curve analysis in financial management.

    Date posted: April 23, 2021.  

  • Mr. Kakai Manufacturing Co. Ltd has an average selling price of Sh.1000 for a component it manufactures for sale in the local market. Variable costs are...(Solved)

    Mr. Kakai Manufacturing Co. Ltd has an average selling price of Sh.1000 for a component it manufactures for sale in the local market. Variable costs are Sh.700 per unit and fixed costs amount to Sh.17 million. The company has financed its assets by having issued 40,000 ordinary shares. Another company in the same industry, Bantu Manufacturers, has the same operating information but has financed its assets with 20,000 ordinary shares and a loan, which has an interest payments of Sh.160,000 per year. Both companies are in the same 40% tax bracket and have sales of Sh.70 m in the current financial year. Required: (a) For each company, determining the degree of operating leverage and the degree of financial leverage. (b) Calculate the degree of combined leverage for each firm. Explain the difference in the result. (c) Compute the break-even points for the two companies. What are your observations? (d) Calculate the earnings per share (EPS) at the point of indifference between the two companies earnings. (f) Explain the position of Modigliani and Miller (MM) with respect to the use of leverage in a firm.

    Date posted: April 23, 2021.  

  • The following data have been provided with respect to three shares traded on the Nairobi Stock Exchange (NSE). ...(Solved)

    The following data have been provided with respect to three shares traded on the Nairobi Stock Exchange (NSE). Share A Share B Share C Risk free rate of return 0.120 0.120 0.120 Beta coefficient 1.340 1.000 0.750 Return on the NSE index 0.185 0.185 0.185 Required: (i) What is the beta coefficient? (ii) Interpret the beta coefficient of shares A, B and C. (iii) Using the Capital Asset Pricing Model, compute the expected return on shares A, B and C. (iv) Can the beta coefficient be less than zero? Explain

    Date posted: April 23, 2021.  

  • The Capital Asset Pricing Model is a powerful technique in the estimation of risk of a particular security. It nevertheless is not applicable in the real...(Solved)

    The Capital Asset Pricing Model is a powerful technique in the estimation of risk of a particular security. It nevertheless is not applicable in the real world due to its many limiting assumptions. Required: Discuss the above statement.

    Date posted: April 23, 2021.  

  • You have been provided with the following information about a project, which XYZ Ltd. is planning to undertake soon. Required: (a) Calculate the project?s net investment. (b) Using...(Solved)

    You have been provided with the following information about a project, which XYZ Ltd. is planning to undertake soon. fig30224625.png Required: (a) Calculate the project‟s net investment. (b) Using the net present value method, show whether or not the project should be undertaken by the company. (c) Suppose in addition to the information given above you are provided with the following cash flows certainty equivalents: Year 0: 1.00 Year 1: 0.90 Year 2: 0.80 Year 3: 0.60 Year 4: 0.50 Year 5: 0.40 Does your conclusion about the acceptability of the project in part (c) above change? Explain.

    Date posted: April 22, 2021.  

  • Explain briefly what is meant by foreign currency options and give examples of the advantages and disadvantages of exchange traded foreign currency options to the...(Solved)

    Explain briefly what is meant by foreign currency options and give examples of the advantages and disadvantages of exchange traded foreign currency options to the financial manager.

    Date posted: April 22, 2021.  

  • You are required to discuss whether a multinational company should hedge translation exposure by incurring transaction exposure.(Solved)

    You are required to discuss whether a multinational company should hedge translation exposure by incurring transaction exposure.

    Date posted: April 22, 2021.  

  • A company operating in a country having the dollar as its unit of currency has today invoiced sales to the United Kingdom in sterling, payment being...(Solved)

    A company operating in a country having the dollar as its unit of currency has today invoiced sales to the United Kingdom in sterling, payment being due three months from the date of invoice. The invoice amount is £3,000,000 which, at today's spot rate of 1.5985 is equivalent to USD4,795,500. It is expected that the exchange rate will decline by about 5% over the three month period and in order to protect the dollar proceeds from the sale, the company proposes taking appropriate action through either the foreign exchange market or the money market. The USD/£ three-months forward exchange rate is quoted as 1.5858-1.5873. the three-months borrowing rate for Eurosterling is 15.0% and the deposit rate quoted by the company's own bankers is currently 9.5%. You are required to Explain the alternative courses of action available to the company, with relevant calculations to four decimal places, and to advise which course of action should be adopted.

    Date posted: April 22, 2021.  

  • Fidden is a medium-sized UK company with export and import trade with the USA. The following transactions are due with the next six months. Transactions...(Solved)

    Fidden is a medium-sized UK company with export and import trade with the USA. The following transactions are due with the next six months. Transactions are in the currency specified. Purchases of components, cash payment due in three months: £116,000 Sales of finished goods, cash receipt due in three months: USD 197,000 Purchase of finished goods for resale, cash payment due in six months: USD 447,000 Sale of finished goods, cash receipt due in six months: USD 154,000 fig24224612.png Assume that it is now December with three months to expiry of the March contract and that the option price is not payable until the end of the option period, or when the option is exercised. You are required: (i) to calculate the net sterling receipts/payments that Fidden might expect for both its three and six month transactions if the company hedges foreign exchange risk on: the forward foreign exchange market; the money market. (ii) If the actual spot rate in six months time was with hindsight exactly the present six months forward rate, calculate whether Fidden would have been better to hedge through foreign currency options rather than the forward market or money market. (iii) to explain briefly what you consider to be the main advantage of foreign currency options.

    Date posted: April 22, 2021.