CIMA F3 Questions Answers

PBIT = $4m

Interest on loan = 10% × $10m = $1m

Profit before tax = $3m

Tax at 20% → earnings after tax = $3m × 0.8 = $2.4m

Use the P/E multiple for the food-processing sector (10x), as this best reflects the business risk and industry.

Equity value = $2.4m × 10 = $24m

Answer: D. $24 million

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

Increase initially then decrease

This question tests understanding of the traditional theory of capital structure, a core topic within CIMA F3 under Cost of Capital and Capital Structure. The traditional view differs from Modigliani and Miller by arguing that there is an optimal capital structure where a company’s Weighted Average Cost of Capital (WACC) is minimised.

According to traditional theory, at low levels of gearing, introducing debt into the capital structure reduces WACC. This occurs because debt is generally cheaper than equity, largely due to lower risk for lenders and the tax deductibility of interest payments. Initially, equity holders do not perceive a significant increase in financial risk, so the cost of equity remains relatively stable. As a result, replacing some equity with cheaper debt lowers the overall WACC.

However, as gearing continues to rise beyond a certain point, the financial risk borne by both debt holders and equity holders increases substantially. Lenders demand higher interest rates to compensate for increased default risk, and shareholders require a higher return due to greater earnings volatility. This leads to rising costs of both debt and equity. Beyond the optimal gearing level, these rising costs outweigh the benefits of cheaper debt, causing WACC to increase.

CIMA F3 study guidance therefore concludes that under traditional theory, WACC:

Falls initially as gearing increases, and

Rises after the optimal capital structure is exceeded.

Since the directors are increasing gearing toward an industry average, the most appropriate description of WACC behaviour under traditional theory is that it will decrease initially and then increase.

Vertical integration means moving up or down the value chain (suppliers or distributors), not acquiring similar producers (horizontal integration) or unrelated accessory businesses. Buying a listed international logistics firm brings distribution in-house and so is the clearest example of vertical integration that could improve margins.