CIMA F3 Exam With Confidence Using Practice Dumps

A. The issue of bonds might limit the availability of debt finance in the future.

If the project is financed by a bond, gearing rises to 2:5, increasing financial risk and using up debt capacity. A rights issue instead reduces gearing to 1:5, preserving future borrowing capacity.

C. The rights issue will lead to less pressure on the operating cash flows of the programme.

Bond finance requires fixed interest payments (and eventual redemption), which must be met regardless of project cash flow variability. Equity raised via a rights issue has no mandatory interest and dividends are discretionary, so it places less strain on operating cash flows.

So the answer is:

Answer: A and C

Price to buy each target (equity market value):

A = 25

B = 62

C = 67

D = 60 (all $m)

Combined equity value before deducting cash consideration:

Z + A = 620

Z + B = 655

Z + C = 666

Z + D = 652 (all $m)

After paying cash, equity value = “combined value” − “price paid”:

A: 620 − 25 = 595

B: 655 − 62 = 593

C: 666 − 67 = 599

D: 652 − 60 = 592

Best post-acquisition value is with C (599m).

Answer: C – Acquire Company C.

Under typical takeover regulation and CIMA F3 principles, the following are legitimate post-offer defences:

A. Independent professional revaluation of assets

This is legitimate: providing better information to shareholders to show that the bid undervalues the company.

C. Make a counter-bid for Company A (a “Pac-Man defence”)

This is acceptable if it can be justified as enhancing shareholder wealth.

E. Refer the bid to competition authorities

It is a legitimate defence to challenge the bid on competition/antitrust grounds if it may reduce competition.

In contrast:

B (altering the articles to change acceptance thresholds mid-bid) is a classic frustrating action, usually not allowed without shareholder approval during an offer period.

D (publishing knowingly unrealistic optimistic forecasts) is misleading and not permitted under market and takeover rules.