CIMA F3 Exam With Confidence Using Practice Dumps

Company X is an established, unquoted, specialist IT advisory firm with steady results, predictable dividends and cashflows. Company P is only buying 30% (a minority stake).

B. Dividend based using DVM – Very suitable because dividends are predictable and regular. For a minority stake, dividends are often the main measurable return, so a dividend valuation model is appropriate.

C. Cash based using free cash flow before interest – A DCF valuation based on free cash flow to the firm is also appropriate for a profitable, growing, going concern. You can value the whole business using FCFF and then take 30% of the equity value.

Asset-based (A) is less relevant for a specialist service company with relatively few tangible assets. P/E-based methods (D and E) are less ideal given there are few direct competitors, making comparables unreliable.

Once Division B is sold, Division A becomes heavily reliant on B as a major external customer. If the new owner reduces purchases or switches supplier, Division A’s volumes and viability are at risk. That makes:

C. Division A's going concern is highly dependent on its relationship with Division B – the main risk.

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.