CIMA F3 Exam With Confidence Using Practice Dumps

Current PBIT = $25m

Existing debt = $60m at 5% → interest = 0.05 × 60 = $3m

Current interest cover = 25 / 3 = 8.3 times (as stated).

New borrowing: $20m at 10% → extra interest = 0.10 × 20 = $2m

Total interest after borrowing = 3 + 2 = $5m

PBIT in first year is unchanged at $25m, so:

New interest cover=255=5 times\text{New interest cover} = \frac{25}{5} = 5 \text{ times}New interest cover=525​=5 times

Loan covenant requires minimum cover of 4 times. New cover (5x) is above this, so covenant is not breached.

Correct answer: D – Interest cover would reduce to 5 times and the covenant would NOT be breached.

Current values (before project):

Equity = 1,100

Debt = 500

Firm value = 1,600

Project cost = 200; NPV = +10.

After the project:

Financed by rights issue (equity only)

Equity = 1,310 → increase of 210

But shareholders have to inject 200 cash themselves.

Net gain in shareholder wealth = 210 − 200 = 10

Financed by bond issue (all debt)

Equity = 1,150 → increase of 50

No new equity cash is put in by shareholders.

Net gain in shareholder wealth = 50

This equals: project NPV (10) + tax shield on extra debt (0.20 × 200 = 40).

Financed by mix of debt & equity at existing D/E

Equity = 1,260 → increase of 160

New equity raised ≈ 137 (since extra debt is 63, total 200).

Net gain = 160 − 137 = 23 (NPV 10 + extra tax shield ≈ 13).

The company’s objective is maximisation of shareholder wealth, so it should choose the financing that gives the highest net increase, which is the bond issue (all debt) with a gain of $50m to equity holders.

This is exactly what Modigliani & Miller with corporate tax predicts: increasing gearing creates value for shareholders via the interest tax shield.

Answer: B. $50 million if financed by debt

If the company switches from a residual dividend policy to a stable, growing dividend and increases its use of debt:

A. This does signal to the market that the company may be entering a more stable, mature growth phase – True.

B. A more stable dividend stream can attract a different type of investor (clientele effect) – True.

C. Directors still need to consider shareholder preferences; this statement is incorrect – False.

D. Retained earnings have an opportunity cost equal to the cost of equity and are generally not cheaper than debt – False.

E. More debt increases financial gearing and therefore financial risk – True.

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