Professional Documents
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M.Sc. Finance
M.Sc. Investment and Finance
M.Sc. International Banking and Finance
and
M.Sc. International Accounting and Finance
40901: Finance I
40902: Finance II
Friday 8th January 2010 10.00am – 1.00pm (3 hours)
Instructions for Candidates
Answer ALL Questions from Section A (in the spaces provided), ONE Question from
Section B (in the answer book) and ONE Question from Section C (in the answer book)
[Failure to comply will result in papers not being marked]
Calculators must not be used to store text and/or formulae nor be capable of
communication. Invigilators may require calculators to be reset. All answers are to be written in the
exam paper provided in ink. Please write clearly as illegible writing cannot be marked. Failure to follow
these requirements will lead to a deduction of marks.
To Be Issued: Discount Tables
To Be Completed (please write clearly) Registration Number 2009
Family Name:
Other Name:
Course (please indicate by ticking appropriate box)
Finance Investment & Fin. Int. Banking & Fin Int. Accounting & Fin
Please Note: This question paper is to be returned along with your examination answer
booklet, you should complete the above and slip this paper into your answer booklet.
Under no circumstances is a copy of this paper to leave the exam room.
For Examiners Use Only
Comments
SOLUTIONS
TOTAL MARKS
AWARDED SECTION A
M.Sc. Finance, M.Sc. Investment & Fin, M.Sc. Int. Banking & Fin. And M.Sc. Int. Accounting & Fin. 1 of 10
Section A
Answer ALL Questions
Q1. a) An investment of £20,000 is expected to produce a constant cash flow of £7,150 at the end of
each of the next four years. Determine the approximate value of the investment’s internal
rate of return and its NPV if the required rate of return is 12 per cent.
(3 marks)
NPV = ‐£20,000 + £7,150 x PVAF4/0.12
= ‐£20,000 + £7,150 x 3.0373
= £1,717
NPV = ‐0 = £20,000 + £7,150 x PVAF4/i
PVAF4/i = 20,000/7150 = 2.7972
PVAF4/0.16 = 2.7982
i = 16 per cent (approximately)
b) An investment of £100,000 is expected to produce a constant annual net cash flow in
perpetuity that produces an internal rate of return of 15 per cent. Determine its NPV if the
required rate of return is 12 per cent.
(2 marks)
Constant NCF (in perpetuity ) = IRR x Investment = 0.15 x 100,000 = 15,000
NPV = 0 = - 100,000 + 15,000 x PVAF ∝ | 0.12
1
NPV = 0 = - 100,000 + 15,000 x
0.12
NPV = 0 = - 100,000 + 15,000 x 8.3333
NPV = 0 = - 100,000 + 125,000
NPV = 0 = 25,000
⎛i-r⎞ ⎛ 0.15 - 0.12 ⎞ 0.03
NPV = I⎜ ⎟ = 100,000 ⎜ ⎟ = 100,000 = 100 ,000 x 0 .25
⎝ r ⎠ ⎝ 0.12 ⎠ 0.12
= 25,000
c) The government of Powys has borrowed quite extensively in the international capital markers
to fund improvements in its transportation system. However, for the development of a new
section of a motorway the two international companies that have put in bids to undertake
the work have also offered financing packages. A French company has submitted a bid for
$100 million to be paid for in the form of five equal annual instalments of $25,045,650. The
second company submitted is from the UK and has a bid of $105 million to be paid for in eight
equal annual instalments of $15,584,100. Determine the implicit interest rates for the French
and UK financing proposal. If the government usually borrows dollars at 12 per cent which of
these bids should it accept. Explain briefly the basis of your decision.
(4 marks)
French Bid UK Bid
NPV = 0 = ‐100 + 25.045650 PVAF5/i NPV = 0 = ‐105 + 17.584100 PVAF8/i
PVAF5/i = 100/25.045650 = 3.9927 PVAF8/i = 105/17.584100 = 5.9713
PVAF5/0.08 = 3.9927 PVAF8/0.07 = 5.9713
i = 8 per cent (approximately) i = 7 per cent (approximately)
Evaluate 12 per cent
PV (bid – France) = 25.04565m x PVAF5/0.12
= 25.04565m x 3.6048 = 90.284m
PV (bid – UK) = 17.5841 x PVAF8/0.12
= 17.5841 x 5.9676 = 87.351m
M.Sc. Finance, M.Sc. Investment & Fin, M.Sc. Int. Banking & Fin. And M.Sc. Int. Accounting & Fin. 2 of 10
d) The expected next cash flows for a possible investment have been specified utilising today’s
prices:
0 1 → 3
‐50,000 +23,000
The required rate of return based on current market rates is 16 per cent. The expected rate
of inflation is 5 per cent. Determine the NPV of the investment, assuming that there is
general agreement that the rate of inflation will remain at 5 per cent for the next three years.
(3 marks)
Use either
1. The real cash flows and the real required rate of return
OR
2. Adjustment the net cash flows for inflation and use the market based required rate of
return.
1. The real required rate of return
r* = (r – f)/(1 + f) = (0.16 – 0.05)/1.05 = 0.10476 = 0.105
Time NCF PVF PV
0 ‐50,000 1.0000 ‐50,000
1 ‐ 3 +23,000 2.4662 +56,723
NPV = 6,723
2. Adjust NCF
Time NCF (real) Inflation Factor NCF (inflated) PVF (16%) PV
0 ‐50,000 1.0000 ‐50,000 1.0000 ‐50,000
1 23,000 1.0500 +24,150 0.8621 +20,819
2 23,000 1.1025 +25,358 0.7432 +18,845
3 23,000 1.1576 +26,625 0.6407 +17,058
NPV = 6,722
Q2. A proposed strip mining investment has the following expected net cash flows:
Time 0 1 → 4 5 6
Net Cash Flows (800,000) 263,360 148,150 (160,000)
The negative cash flow at the end of the life is the result of the expected cost of restoring land to its
previous use. The company’s cost of capital for projects of this nature is 8 per cent. Use the
modified rate of return to evaluate the project, briefly explaining your approach.
(2 marks)
Period NCF Adjusted NCF Revised NCF
0 800,000 ‐100,000
1 263,360 263,360
2 263,360 263,360
3 263,360 263,360
4 263,360 263,360
5 148,150 148,150
6 160,000
M.Sc. Finance, M.Sc. Investment & Fin, M.Sc. Int. Banking & Fin. And M.Sc. Int. Accounting & Fin. 3 of 10
NPV = ‐0 = ‐800,000 + 263,360 x PVAF4/i
PVAF4/i = 800,000/263,360 = 2.7972
PVAF4/0.12 = 3.0373
Modified rate of return is approximately 12 per cent.
Q3. A company has to choose between developing a new product using a capital intensive method of
production or a more traditional approach. Given the following information on the two competing
investments identify the investment consistent with the company’s value maximising objective,
using an appropriate discounted rate of return approach rather than the NPV to take your decision.
The required rate of return is 7 per cent.
0 1 → 5 IRR
Capital Intensive ‐108,000 29,950 12%
Traditional ‐72,000 20,970 14%
(3 marks)
Increment Investment
0 1 → 5
Capital Intensive ‐108,000 29,950
Traditional 72,000 20,970
Incremental NCF ‐36,000 8,980
NPV = ‐0 = ‐36,000 + 8,980 x PVAF5/i
PVAF5/i = 4.0089
PVAF5/0.08 = 3.9927
Incremental return is approximately 8 per cent.
Q4. Analysts expect Buchanan plc, an all equity financed company, to produce earnings next year of £60
million. The company is expected to continue with its long standing policy of paying out 40 per cent
of earnings as dividends and reinvesting the residual 60 per cent in the company. (The company
finances all of its investment from retentions.) It is anticipated that the investment next year will
produce a return of 40 per cent, but analysts also recognise the company is finding it more and more
difficult to generate high rates of return on investments as competition intensifies. In year two it is
anticipated that the return on new investment will fall to 30 per cent. The return on investment is
expected to fall further in year three to 20 per cent, the return required by investors on shares of
this risk character. From year three onwards the company is expected to continue to earn 20 per
cent on its investments and to reinvest 40 per cent of its earnings. Determine the value of the
company using the dividend and the earnings based models.
(4 marks)
Yr Earnings Payout Ratio Dividend Retentions Rate of Incremental NPV
Return Earnings
1 60.00 0.40 24.00 36.00 0.40 14.4 36.00
2 74.40 0.40 29.76 44.64 0.30 13.39 22.38
3 87.79 0.40 35.12 52.67 0.20 10.53 0
Earnings based model
V = 60.00 1/0.20 + 36(1 + .2)‐1 + 22.38 (1 ‐ .2)‐3 = 345.54
Dividend based model
V = 24/1.20 + 29.76/1.202 + 87.79 1/(.20) (1 + .2)‐2 = 345.49
M.Sc. Finance, M.Sc. Investment & Fin, M.Sc. Int. Banking & Fin. And M.Sc. Int. Accounting & Fin. 4 of 10
Q5. Crosby plc is considering the replacement of some equipment with a more efficient model that has
now become available. The existing equipment is fully depreciated for tax purposes, but could be
sold for scrap to realise £0.6 million. It is in good working order and could be used for another 5
years. The new equipment would cost £10million and would also be used for five years, after which
it is anticipated that it could be sold to realise about £1.3million. Under the country’s tax system the
investment would be written off for tax purposes on a straight line basis over five years. Annual cost
savings of £4 million per annum are expected if the new equipment is acquired, and it will also be
possible to reduce working capital requirements by £ 2.5 million. Is this a profitable investment if
the tax rate is 40 per cent and the required rate of return is 12 per cent?
(4 marks)
Q6. Given the following correlation matrix for five securities and their respective standard deviations
determine the expected standard deviation of an equally weighted portfolio made up of the five
securities.
1 2 3 4 5
1 1.00 0.40 0.60 0.20 0.70
2 0.40 1.00 0.50 0.30 0.40
3 0.60 0.50 1.00 0.65 0.80
4 0.20 0.30 0.65 1.00 0.45
5 0.70 0.40 0.80 0.45 1.00
Standard Deviation
1 2 3 4 5
12 16 23 19 14
(3 marks)
M.Sc. Finance, M.Sc. Investment & Fin, M.Sc. Int. Banking & Fin. And M.Sc. Int. Accounting & Fin. 5 of 10
Average variance = (122 + 162 + 232 + 192 + 142)/5 = 1486/5 = 297.2
1 2 3 4 5
1 144.0 76.8 165.6 45.6 117.6
2 76.8 256.0 198.0 131.1 89.6
3 165.6 198.0 529.0 284.1 257.6
4 45.6 131.1 284.1 361.0 119.7
5 117.6 89.6 257.6 119.7 196.0
Average Covariance = 148.57
VAR(Rp) = 1/5 x 297.2 + 4/5 x 148.57 = 178.30
SD(Rp) = 13.35
Q7. Assume that the average variance and average covariance calculated in Q6 is representative of
securities as a whole. On this basis determine the standard deviation of portfolios of 1, 5, 10 and
20 securities and provide a graph to display your results. Explain briefly what is implied by the
graph.
(2 marks)
No of Securities Adjusted Variance Term Adjusted Covariance Term Variance SD(R)
1 292.20 ‐ 292.20 17.09
5 58.44 118.86 177.30 13.32
10 29.22 133.71 162.93 12.76
20 14.61 141.14 155.75 12.48
SD(R)
17.09
13.32
12.70 12.48
N
Q8. The beta for a company’s shares has been estimated at 0.60, the risk free rate of return is 5 per
cent and the expected rate of return on the market portfolio is 12 per cent. Last year the market
portfolio exceeded expectations, recording a return of 18 per cent. The return on the company’s
shares over the same period was 16 per cent. Determine the abnormal return on the shares last
year and briefly explain the basis of your analysis.
(3 marks)
E(R D ) = R F + β D (E(R M ) − R F ) = 5 + 0.60(12 - 5) = 9.20
E(R Dt | R Mt ) = R F + β A (R Mt − R F ) = 5 + 0.60(18 - 5) = 12.80
AR Dt = R Dt − E(R Dt | R Mt ) = 16 - 22.8 = 3.20
M.Sc. Finance, M.Sc. Investment & Fin, M.Sc. Int. Banking & Fin. And M.Sc. Int. Accounting & Fin. 6 of 10
Q9. The finance director of Darren plc is reviewing the company’s capital budgeting procedures. Up
until now a single cost of capital has been employed in the evaluation of investment proposals for
the company’s two divisions. The finance director believes the risks of the divisions differ and
different required rates of return should be employed in the two divisions to reflect the risk
differences. The company’s equity beta has been estimated at 1.60 and the company employs 40
per cent debt in its financing. The first division accounts for 75 per cent of the company’s assets
and its business is very similar to an all equity financed company that has a beta of 1.10. If the
risk free rate of interest is 6 per cent and the required rate of return on the market portfolio is 16
per cent, what rate of return should be set for divisions one and two?
(3 marks)
w 1 = 0 . 75 w 2 = 0 . 25
β A = w E β E = 0 . 60 x 1.60 = 0.96
β 1 = 1 . 10
β A = 0 . 96 = w 1 β 1 + w 2 β 2 = 0 . 75 x 1.10 + .25 β 2
0 . 96 − 0 . 75 x 1.10
β 2 = = 0 . 54
0 . 25
Given β 1 = 1 . 10 and β 2 = 0 . 54
E(R 1 ) = 6 + (16 - 6)1.10 = 17.00
E(R 2 ) = 6 + (16 - 6)0.54 = 11.40
E(R E ) = 6 + (16 - 6)1.60 = 22.00
E(R A ) = 6 + (16 - 6)0.96 = 15.60
= 0 . 40 x 6 + 0.60 x 22 = 15.60
Q10. a) The expected return on security X is 16 per cent and it has a beta of 1.40, whereas security Y
has an expected return of 10 per cent and a beta of 0.60. Determine the risk free rate of
interest and the expected return on the market portfolio.
(3 marks)
E ( R X ) = R F + β X x RP = 16 . 00 = R F + 1 . 40 x RP
E (RY ) = R F + β Y x RP = 10 . 00 = R F + 0 . 60 x RP
6.00 = 0 . 90 x RP
RP = 6 . 00 / 0 . 80 = 7.50
E (R X ) = R F + β X x RP = 16 . 00 = R F + 1 . 40 x 7.50
R F = 16.00 - 1.40 x 7.50 = 5.50
E(R M ) = R F + RP = 5.50 + 7. 50 = 13.00
b) Determine the correlation of the returns on X with those on the market portfolio if the
standard deviation of the return on the security is 20 per cent and the standard deviation of
the market returns is 12 per cent.
(2 marks)
β = ρ
SD(R X )
= 0 . 50 = ρ
16
X AM
SD(R M ) 12
0 . 50 x 12
ρ XM = = 0 . 3756
16
SD(R Y ) 30
β Y = ρ = 1 . 50 = ρ BM
SD(R M ) 12
1 . 50 x 12
ρ YM = = 0 . 60
30
M.Sc. Finance, M.Sc. Investment & Fin, M.Sc. Int. Banking & Fin. And M.Sc. Int. Accounting & Fin. 7 of 10
Q11. Specify the composition of an efficient portfolio that will produce an expected return of 18 per cent
if the risk free rate is 6 per cent and the expected return on the market portfolio is 14 per cent
(3 marks)
E(RP ) = (1− w) x R F + w x E(RM ) = 18 = (1− w) x 6 + w x 14
18- 6
w= = 1.50
8
150% of wealth in the market portfolio – borrow 50 per cent at the risk free rate.
Q12. a) Given the following information on the prices of calls on the shares of Scottish Rail for
different exercise prices and maturity dates develop a straddle using March options with an
exercise price of 550. Draw a diagram to illustrate your answer and comment on the results
Calls Puts
Dec March June Dec March June
Scot Rail plc 500 32.0 42.0 48.5 0.5 9.5 17.0
(*531.0) 550 1.5 14.0 20.5 20.0 33.0 40.0
Straddle ‐ Invest in a March “550” call and put, the net cost would be 47 and this combination
would produce a net profit if the price at maturity exceeds 578 or falls below 503.
(4 marks)
b) Explain when an investor can expect a straddle to be a profitable investment
(2 marks)
TOTAL 50 MARKS
[Please Turn Over]
For Examiners Use Only
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Total
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Section B
Answer ONE Question
Q1. “The internal rate of return is not a good investment criterion as a result of its failure to deal with
the problems posed by mutually exclusive investments and multiple rates of return”. Explain and
discuss.
(25 MARKS)
Q2. “The assumptions on which Gordon’s dividend valuation model is based are not very realistic and
this limits usefulness of the model”. Discuss.
(25 MARKS)
Q3. Explain what is meant by the price earnings ratio and consider its primary determinants.
(25 MARKS)
Q4. Critically evaluate the use of payback as a basis for the evaluation of investment proposals. Does
the discounted payback provide any useful information for the evaluation of investments?
(25 MARKS)
[Please Turn Over]
M.Sc. Finance, M.Sc. Investment & Fin, M.Sc. Int. Banking & Fin. And M.Sc. Int. Accounting & Fin. 9 of 10
Section C
Answer ONE Question
Q1. Explain what is meant by the capital market line and its relationship to the risk return tradeoff.
(25 MARKS)
Q2. Empirical studies suggest that the risk of randomly selected portfolios fall as the number of
securities included in the portfolios increases but at a decreasing rate. What can portfolio theory
tell us about the results of such studies?
(25 MARKS)
Q3. Explain the role of beta as a measure of risk and discuss the primary determinants of a share’s beta.
(25 MARKS)
Q4. Explain what is meant by a covered call, discuss the potential payoffs, and possible rationale for
adopting such a strategy.
(25 MARKS)
End of Paper
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