ACCA Professional Level

Paper P4
Advanced Financial Management

Mock Exam

You are allowed three hours and 15 minutes to answer this question paper.
You are strongly advised to carefully read ALL the question requirements before
attempting the question concerning (that is, all parts and/or sub-questions).
Answer ALL of the question in Section A.
Answer TWO questions only from Section B.
Maths Tables and Formulae are provided.
The list of verbs as published in the syllabus is given for reference on the inside back
cover of this question paper.

Instructions:
Take a few moments to review the notes on the inside of this page titled, 'Get into good exam habits now!' before
attempting this exam.

DO NOT OPEN THIS PAPER UNTIL YOU ARE READY TO START UNDER
EXAMINATION CONDITIONS
Get into good exam habits now!
Take a moment to focus on the right approach for this exam.

Effective time management

 Watch the clock, allocate 1.95 minutes to each mark and move on if you get behind.
 Take a few moments to think what the requirements are asking for and how you are going to
answer them.
 Remember one mark is usually allocated for each valid point you give in a discursive question.

Effective planning
 This paper is in exactly the same format as the real exam.
 Read the requirements carefully: focus on mark allocation, question words (see below) and
potential overlap between requirements.
 Identify and make sure you pick up the easy marks available in each question.

Effective layout
 Present your numerical solutions using the standard layouts you have seen. Show and reference
your workings clearly.
 With written elements try and make a number of distinct points using headings and short
paragraphs. You should aim to make a separate point for each mark.
 Ensure that you explain the points you are making ie why is the point a strength, criticism or
opportunity?
 Give yourself plenty of space to add extra lines as necessary, it will also make it easier for the
examiner to mark.

2
Common terminology
Advise To counsel, inform or notify
Analyse Examine in detail the structure of
Calculate/compute To ascertain or reckon mathematically
Compare and contrast Show the similarities and/or differences
Define Give the exact meaning of
Describe Communicate the key features of
Discuss To examine in detail by argument
Distinguish Highlight the differences between
Evaluate To appraise or assess the value of
Explain Make clear or intelligible/state the meaning of
Identify Recognise, establish or select after consideration
Interpret Process information to explain its meaning
Justify To produce reasons in support of
List State short pieces of information on separate lines
Prepare To make or get ready for use
Recommend To advise on a course of action
Summarise To express the most important facts of

3
SECTION A – 50 MARKS
[the indicative time for answering this section is 98 minutes]
Compulsory question

1 Valtick
Valtick plc is a company located in Wales which specialises in the production of digital clocks. A slump in
demand during the last two years has meant that the company has moved into a loss-making situation.
Prospects for the future are poor, unless the company can find new markets. Valtick's managing director has
been to South America where she has been discussing a possible joint venture in the country of Marantinta. A
company in Marantinta would like to use the technical expertise and patent rights of Valtick, and set up a
manufacturing operation in Marantinta, which would sell clocks to the South American market, an area to which
Valtick has never exported. Due to differences in labour costs the Marantintan company expects to manufacture
the clocks for 40% less than it costs to manufacture in Wales. The Marantintan company has agreed that it would
not export to Europe within the next four years.
Valtick would be required to:
(i) Provide 30% of the total capital of 45 million pesos required to establish production in Marantinta. 5
million pesos of the total capital would be for working capital, the remainder for depreciable fixed assets.
(ii) Grant full patent rights to produce the clocks in Marantinta. The patent has four years until it expires.
(iii) Provide technical expertise to assist in setting up the joint venture.
(iv) Provide ongoing technical aid.
The joint venture agreement would be for a period of four years, after which time a new agreement would be
negotiated, or the Marantintan company would guarantee to buy Valtick's share of the venture, including future
patent rights to produce the clocks for a sum of 30 million pesos, after any tax liabilities. The joint venture
agreement would provide for equal share of profits or losses from the venture.
The clocks are expected to sell in South America for a price in year 1 of 480 pesos per unit. Prices will then
increase by the expected rate of inflation in Marantinta. 40,000 units are expected to be sold in South America in
the first year, rising by 10% per year for the next three years. The joint venture would also sell an expected
10,000 units per year to the USA at a constant price of $30 per unit. Valtick currently exports similar clocks to the
USA, providing a pre-tax contribution of £80,000 per year. Because of the cheaper price of clocks manufactured
in Marantinta it is expected that 40% of these exports would be lost.
Provision of initial technical assistance would cost Valtick £105,000, and ongoing aid would cost £50,000 per
year in salaries, at current prices. Neither would be tax allowable expenses in Marantinta, although the salaries
would be tax allowable in the UK. Use of the patent would have no cash cost, but would mean that the patent
could not be sold to another South American company which was willing to pay a constant £40,000 per year for
the patent.
In year 1, direct costs in Marantinta will be 200 pesos per unit, and fixed costs 4 million pesos per annum; both of
these costs are expected to increase by the inflation rate in Marantinta.
Tax allowable depreciation in Marantinta is available at 50% per year on a reducing balance basis. The tax rate
in Marantinta is 20% and in the UK 30%. A bilateral tax agreement exists between Marantinta and the UK. Tax is
payable one year in arrears.

4
Expected inflation rates (%):
UK Marantinta USA
Years 1–2 3 20 5
Years 3–5 3 15 5
Spot exchange rates:
Marantintan pesos 32.78/£ Marantintan pesos 18.32/US$
Valtick's cost of capital is 14%. Because of the risk of operating in South America Valtick's finance director is
proposing to use 18% as the cost of capital for the joint venture.
Required
(a) Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of establishing international operations by means of joint
ventures. (11 marks)
(b) Produce a report, to the Board, which evaluates whether Valtick plc should participate in the joint venture.
Include as part of your evaluation discussion of:
(i) The proposed financial contribution of Valtick and the Marantintan company to the joint venture,
and
(ii) Any other factors that you consider to be relevant to the decision
State clearly any assumptions that you make.
Relevant calculations should be included as part of your evaluation. (35 marks)
Approximately 24 marks available for calculations, and 11 marks for discussion.
Professional marks will be awarded for the report’s clarity, presentation & style.
(4 marks)
(Total = 50 marks)
(Total for Section A = 50 marks)

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SECTION B – 50 MARKS: TWO questions ONLY to be attempted
[the indicative time for answering this section is 98 minutes]

2 Macawber
Assume that it is now mid December.
The finance director of Macawber lnc, has recently reviewed the company's monthly cash budgets for the next
year. As a result of buying new machinery in three months time, his company is expected to require short-term
financing of $20m for a period of six months until the proceeds from a factory disposal became available. The
finance director is concerned that, as a result of increasing wage settlements, the Central Bank will increase
interest rates in the near future.
LIBOR is currently 6% per annum and Macawber can borrow at LIBOR + 0.9%. Derivative contracts may be
assumed to mature at the end of the relevant month.
Three types of hedge are available:
(1) Three month futures ($500,000 contract size, $12.50 tick size)
December 93.870
March 93.790
June 93.680
(2) Options on three month sterling futures ($500,000 contract size, premium cost in annual %)
Calls Puts
December March June December March June
93750 0.120 0.195 0.270 0.020 0.085 0.180
94000 0.015 0.075 0.155 0.165 0.255 0.335
94250 0 0.085 0.085 0.400 0.480 0.555
(3) FRA prices:
3v6 6.11 – 6.01
3v5 6.18 – 6.10
3v9 6.38 – 6.30
Required
(a) Prepare a report for the finance director, which:
(i) Discusses the relative advantages and disadvantages of the three types of hedge
(ii) Illustrates how the short-term interest rate risk might be hedged, and the possible results of the
alternative hedges, if interest rates increase by 0.5%
All relevant calculations must be shown. (17 marks)
(b) The following five-year loan interest rates are available to Stentor Ltd, an AA credit rated company in the
Macawber group, and to Evnor Ltd, a BB+ rated company. Stentor wants to borrow at a floating rate of
interest, and Evnor wants to borrow at a fixed rate of interest.
Fixed rate Floating rate
Stentor 8.75% LIBOR + 0.50%
Evnor 9.50% LIBOR + 0.90%
A bank is willing to act as an intermediary to facilitate a five year swap, for an annual fee of 0.05% of the
swap value. Both of these fees are payable by EACH of the companies. Taxation may be ignored.
Evaluate, using an illustrative swap, whether or not an interest rate swap may be arranged that is
beneficial to both companies. (8 marks)
(Total = 25 marks)

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3 Semer
A proposal has been put to the board of directors of Semer Inc that the company should increase its capital
gearing to at least 50%, in order to reduce the company's cost of capital and increase its market value. The
managing director of Semer is not convinced by the logic of the proposal, or the accuracy of the calculations, but
is unable to explain the reasons for his reservations.
A summary of the proposal and its implications is shown below.
Proposal to increase the capital gearing of Semer Inc
The company's current weighted average cost of capital is estimated to be 10.6%. If the proportion of debt is
increased to 50% of total capital, by the repurchase of ordinary shares at their current market value, the cost of
capital may be reduced to 9.9%. A reduced cost of capital means that the value of the company will increase
which will be welcomed by our shareholders. Calculations supporting the above proposal are shown below:
Existing cost of capital
Cost of equity using the capital asset pricing model: 4% + (10.5% – 4%) 1.2 = 11.8%
Cost of debt: 8%
Weighted average cost of capital:
$350m $169m
11.8%  + 8%  = 10.56%
$519m $519m
Estimated new cost of capital
$259.5m $259.5m
11.8%  + 8%  = 9.90%
$519m $519m
Impact on the value of the company:
$60m
Current value = $568 million
0.1056
$60m
Expected new value = $606 million
0.099
Other information
(a) The current price of Semer's ordinary shares is 410 cents.
(b) The market price per $100 nominal value of 8% loan stock is $112.
(c) The market return is 10.5% and the risk free rate 4.0%.
(d) Semer's equity beta is 1.2.
(e) Semer currently pays $15 million in dividends.
(f) Most recent summarised statement of financial position
Semer Inc $m
Non-current assets (net) 442
Current assets 345
Less current liabilities (268)
519
Issued ordinary shares (50 cents par) 80
Reserves 270
Liabilities falling due after one year:
8% loan stock redeemable in 5 years ($100 par value) 169
519
(g) The corporate tax rate is 30%.
(h) The company currently generates a free cash flow of $60 million (after tax) per year, which is expected to
increase by approximately 3% per year.

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Required
(a) Produce revised estimates of the company's current cost of capital and current value which correct for
any mistakes. Brief explanation of the reasons for any revisions should be included.
(13 marks)
(b) Assuming that the cost of equity and cost of debt do not alter, estimate the effect of the share repurchase
on the company's cost of capital and value. Discuss the advantages of the proposed strategy to increase
gearing, and explain whether or not these estimates are likely to be accurate.
(12 marks)
(Total = 25 marks)

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4 Lammer
Lammer plc is a UK based company that regularly trades with companies in the USA. Several large transactions
are due in five months' time. These are shown below. The transactions are in '000' units of the currencies shown.
Assume that it is now 1 June and that futures and options contracts mature at the relevant month end.
Exports to Imports from
Company 1 $490 £150
Company 2 — $890
Company 3 £110 $750

Exchange rates $US per £

Spot 1.9156 1.9210
3 months forward 1.9066 1.9120
1 year forward 1.8901 1.8945
Annual interest rates available to Lammer plc
Borrowing Investing
Sterling up to 6 months 5.5% 4.2%
Dollar up to 6 months 4.0% 2.0%

CME $ per £ currency futures (£62,500)

September 1.9045
December 1.8986
CME currency options prices, $ per £ options £31,250 (cents per pound)
CALLS PUTS
Sept Dec Sept Dec
1.8800 4.76 5.95 1.60 2.96
1.9000 3.53 4.70 2.36 4.34
1.9200 2.28 3.56 3.40 6.55
Required
(a) Prepare a report for the managers of Lammer plc on how the five-month currency risk should be hedged.
Include in your report all relevant calculations relating to the alternative types of hedge.
(20 marks)
(15 marks are available for calculations and 5 marks for discussion)
(b) In a typical financial year Lammer plc has net dollar imports of $4.2m. This is expected to continue for five
years.
The company's cost of capital is estimated to be 11% per year. Taxation may be ignored, and cash flows
may be assumed to occur at the year end.
Assuming that there is no change in the physical volume or dollar price of imports, estimate the effect on
the expected market value of Lammer plc if the market expects the dollar to strengthen by 3% per year
against the pound.
(5 marks)
(Total = 25 marks)

9
Formulae sheet
Present value table
Present value of 1 ie (1+r)–n where r = discount rate, n = number of periods
Discount rates (r)
Periods
(n) 1% 2% 3% 4% 5% 6% 7% 8% 9% 10%
1 0.990 0.980 0.971 0.962 0.952 0.943 0.935 0.926 0.917 0.909
2 0.980 0.961 0.943 0.925 0.907 0.890 0.873 0.857 0.842 0.826
3 0.971 0.942 0.915 0.889 0.864 0.840 0.816 0.794 0.772 0.751
4 0.961 0.924 0.888 0.855 0.823 0.792 0.763 0.735 0.708 0.683
5 0.951 0.906 0.863 0.822 0.784 0.747 0.713 0.681 0.650 0.621

6 0.942 0.888 0.837 0.790 0.746 0.705 0.666 0.630 0.596 0.564
7 0.933 0.871 0.813 0.760 0.711 0.665 0.623 0.583 0.547 0.513
8 0.923 0.853 0.789 0.731 0.677 0.627 0.582 0.540 0.502 0.467
9 0.914 0.837 0.766 0.703 0.645 0.592 0.544 0.500 0.460 0.424
10 0.905 0.820 0.744 0.676 0.614 0.558 0.508 0.463 0.422 0.386

11 0.896 0.804 0.722 0.650 0.585 0.527 0.475 0.429 0.388 0.350
12 0.887 0.788 0.701 0.625 0.557 0.497 0.444 0.397 0.356 0.319
13 0.879 0.773 0.681 0.601 0.530 0.469 0.415 0.368 0.326 0.290
14 0.870 0.758 0.661 0.577 0.505 0.442 0.388 0.340 0.299 0.263
15 0.861 0.743 0.642 0.555 0.481 0.417 0.362 0.315 0.275 0.239

11% 12% 13% 14% 15% 16% 17% 18% 19% 20%
1 0.901 0.893 0.885 0.877 0.870 0.862 0.855 0.847 0.840 0.833
2 0.812 0.797 0.783 0.769 0.756 0.743 0.731 0.718 0.706 0.694
3 0.731 0.712 0.693 0.675 0.658 0.641 0.624 0.609 0.593 0.579
4 0.659 0.636 0.613 0.592 0.572 0.552 0.534 0.516 0.499 0.482
5 0.593 0.567 0.543 0.519 0.497 0.476 0.456 0.437 0.419 0.402

6 0.535 0.507 0.480 0.456 0.432 0.410 0.390 0.370 0.352 0.335
7 0.482 0.452 0.425 0.400 0.376 0.354 0.333 0.314 0.296 0.279
8 0.434 0.404 0.376 0.351 0.327 0.305 0.285 0.266 0.249 0.233
9 0.391 0.361 0.333 0.308 0.284 0.263 0.243 0.225 0.209 0.194
10 0.352 0.322 0.295 0.270 0.247 0.227 0.208 0.191 0.176 0.162

11 0.317 0.287 0.261 0.237 0.215 0.195 0.178 0.162 0.148 0.135
12 0.286 0.257 0.231 0.208 0.187 0.168 0.152 0.137 0.124 0.112
13 0.258 0.229 0.204 0.182 0.163 0.145 0.130 0.116 0.104 0.093
14 0.232 0.205 0.181 0.160 0.141 0.125 0.111 0.099 0.088 0.078
15 0.209 0.183 0.160 0.140 0.123 0.108 0.095 0.084 0.074 0.065

10
Annuity Table
1  (1  r)n
Present value of an annuity ie where r = discount rate, n = no. of periods
r
Interest rates (r)
(n) 1% 2% 3% 4% 5% 6% 7% 8% 9% 10%
1 0.990 0.980 0.971 0.962 0.952 0.943 0.935 0.926 0.917 0.909
2 1.970 1.942 1.913 1.886 1.859 1.833 1.808 1.783 1.759 1.736
3 2.941 2.884 2.829 2.775 2.723 2.673 2.624 2.577 2.531 2.487
4 3.902 3.808 3.717 3.630 3.546 3.465 3.387 3.312 3.240 3.170
5 4.853 4.713 4.580 4.452 4.329 4.212 4.100 3.993 3.890 3.791

6 5.795 5.601 5.417 5.242 5.076 4.917 4.767 4.623 4.486 4.355
7 6.728 6.472 6.230 6.002 5.786 5.582 5.389 5.206 5.033 4.868
8 7.652 7.325 7.020 6.733 6.463 6.210 5.971 5.747 5.535 5.335
9 8.566 8.162 7.786 7.435 7.108 6.802 6.515 6.247 5.995 5.759
10 9.471 8.983 8.530 8.111 7.722 7.360 7.024 6.710 6.418 6.145

11 10.368 9.787 9.253 8.760 8.306 7.887 7.499 7.139 6.805 6.495
12 11.255 10.575 9.954 9.385 8.863 8.384 7.943 7.536 7.161 6.814
13 12.134 11.348 10.635 9.986 9.394 8.853 8.358 7.904 7.487 7.103
14 13.004 12.106 11.296 10.563 9.899 9.295 8.745 8.244 7.786 7.367
15 13.865 12.849 11.938 11.118 10.380 9.712 9.108 8.559 8.061 7.606

11% 12% 13% 14% 15% 16% 17% 18% 19% 20%
1 0.901 0.893 0.885 0.877 0.870 0.862 0.855 0.847 0.840 0.833
2 1.713 1.690 1.668 1.647 1.626 1.605 1.585 1.566 1.547 1.528
3 2.444 2.402 2.361 2.322 2.283 2.246 2.210 2.174 2.140 2.106
4 3.102 3.037 2.974 2.914 2.855 2.798 2.743 2.690 2.639 2.589
5 3.696 3.605 3.517 3.433 3.352 3.274 3.199 3.127 3.058 2.991

6 4.231 4.111 3.998 3.889 3.784 3.685 3.589 3.498 3.410 3.326
7 4.712 4.564 4.423 4.288 4.160 4.039 3.922 3.812 3.706 3.605
8 5.146 4.968 4.799 4.639 4.487 4.344 4.207 4.078 3.954 3.837
9 5.537 5.328 5.132 4.946 4.772 4.607 4.451 4.303 4.163 4.031
10 5.889 5.650 5.426 5.216 5.019 4.833 4.659 4.494 4.339 4.192

11 6.207 5.938 5.687 5.453 5.234 5.029 4.836 4.656 4.486 4.327
12 6.492 6.194 5.918 5.660 5.421 5.197 4.988 4.793 4.611 4.439
13 6.750 6.424 6.122 5.842 5.583 5.342 5.118 4.910 4.715 4.533
14 6.982 6.628 6.302 6.002 5.724 5.468 5.229 5.008 4.802 4.611
15 7.191 6.811 6.462 6.142 5.847 5.575 5.324 5.092 4.876 4.675

11
Standard normal distribution table
(x  ) 0.00 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.05 0.06 0.07 0.08 0.09
Z

0.0 .0000 .0040 .0080 .0120 .0160 .0199 .0239 .0279 .0319 .0359
0.1 .0398 .0438 .0478 .0517 .0557 .0596 .0636 .0675 .0714 .0753
0.2 .0793 .0832 .0871 .0910 .0948 .0987 .1026 .1064 .1103 .1141
0.3 .1179 .1217 .1255 .1293 .1331 .1368 .1406 .1443 .1480 .1517
0.4 .1554 .1591 .1628 .1664 .1700 .1736 .1772 .1808 .1844 .1879
0.5 .1915 .1950 .1985 .2019 .2054 .2088 .2123 .2157 .2190 .2224
0.6 .2257 .2291 .2324 .2357 .2389 .2422 .2454 .2486 .2517 .2549
0.7 .2580 .2611 .2642 .2673 .2704 .2734 .2764 .2794 .2823 .2852
0.8 .2881 .2910 .2939 .2967 .2995 .3023 .3051 .3078 .3106 .3133
0.9 .3159 .3186 .3212 .3238 .3264 .3289 .3315 .3340 .3365 .3389
1.0 .3413 .3438 .3461 .3485 .3508 .3531 .3554 .3577 .3599 .3621
1.1 .3643 .3665 .3686 .3708 .3729 .3749 .3770 .3790 .3810 .3830
1.2 .3849 .3869 .3888 .3907 .3925 .3944 .3962 .3980 .3997 .4015
1.3 .4032 .4049 .4066 .4082 .4099 .4115 .4131 .4147 .4162 .4177
1.4 .4192 .4207 .4222 .4236 .4251 .4265 .4279 .4292 .4306 .4319
1.5 .4332 .4345 .4357 .4370 .4382 .4394 .4406 .4418 .4429 .4441
1.6 .4452 .4463 .4474 .4484 .4495 .4505 .4515 .4525 .4535 .4545
1.7 .4554 .4564 .4573 .4582 .4591 .4599 .4608 .4616 .4625 .4633
1.8 .4641 .4649 .4656 .4664 .4671 .4678 .4686 .4693 .4699 .4706
1.9 .4713 .4719 .4726 .4732 .4738 .4744 .4750 .4756 .4761 .4767
2.0 .4772 .4778 .4783 .4788 .4793 .4798 .4803 .4808 .4812 .4817
2.1 .4821 .4826 .4830 .4834 .4838 .4842 .4846 .4850 .4854 .4857
2.2 .4861 .4864 .4868 .4871 .4875 .4878 .4881 .4884 .4887 .4890
2.3 .4893 .4896 .4898 .4901 .4904 .4906 .4909 .4911 .4913 .4916
2.4 .4918 .4920 .4922 .4925 .4927 .4929 .4931 .4932 .4934 .4936
2.5 .4938 .4940 .4941 .4943 .4945 .4946 .4948 .4949 .4951 .4952
2.6 .4953 .4955 .4956 .4957 .4959 .4960 .4961 .4962 .4963 .4964
2.7 .4965 .4966 .4967 .4968 .4969 .4970 .4971 .4972 .4973 .4974
2.8 .4974 .4975 .4976 .4977 .4977 .4978 .4979 .4979 .4980 .4981
2.9 .4981 .4982 .4982 .4983 .4984 .4984 .4985 .4985 .4986 .4986
3.0 .4987 .4987 .4987 .4988 .4988 .4989 .4989 .4989 .4990 .4990
This table can be used to calculate N(d1), the cumulative normal distribution functions needed for the Black-
Scholes model of option pricing. If d1>0, add 0.5 to the relevant number above. If d1<0, subtract the relevant
number above from 0.5.

12
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Student self-assessment
Having completed this paper take a few minutes to consider what you did well and what you found difficult. Use
this as a basis to focus your future study on effectively improving your performance.

Common problems Future emphasis if you answer Yes

Timing and planning

Did you finish too early? Y/N Focus your planning time on generating more ideas.
Use models to help develop breadth to your thinking.
Did you overrun? Y/N Focus on allocating your time better.
Practise questions under strict timed conditions.
If you get behind leave space and move on.
Did you waffle? Y/N Focus your planning time on developing a logical structure to
your answer.

Layout
Was your answer difficult to follow? Y/N Use headings and subheadings.
Use numbering sequences when identifying points.
Leave space between each point.
Did you fail to explain each
point clearly? Y/N Show why the point identified answers the question set.
Did you fail to show any workings
or were your workings unclear? Y/N Give yourself time and space to make the marker's job easy.

Content
Did you struggle with:
Interpreting the questions? Y/N Learn the meaning of common terminology (inside front cover).
Learn subject jargon (key terms in study text).
Read questions carefully noting all the parts.
Practise as many questions as possible.
Understanding the subject? Y/N Review your notes/text.
Work through easier examples first.
Classroom students please contact your tutor for further help.
Home Study students please contact ACCA queries for further
help ([email protected]).
Remembering the notes/text? Y/N Quiz yourself constantly as you study. You need to develop your
memory as well as your understanding of a subject.

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