ACCA FM Syllabus F. Business Valuations - Using PE ratio - Past Papers ^{2 / 5}

Par Co currently has the following long-term capital structure:

The 8% loan notes are convertible into eight ordinary shares per loan note in seven years’ time. If not converted, the loan notes can be redeemed on the same future date at their nominal value of $100. Par Co has a cost of debt of 9% per year.

The ordinary shares of Par Co have a nominal value of $1 per share. The current ex dividend share price of the company is $10·90 per share and share prices are expected to grow by 6% per year for the foreseeable future. The equity beta of Par Co is 1·2.

The loan notes are secured on non-current assets of Par Co and the bank loan is secured by a floating charge on the current assets of the company.

Which of the following statements are problems in using the price/earnings ratio method to value a company?

(1) It is the reciprocal of the earnings yield
(2) It combines stock market information and corporate information
(3) It is difficult to select a suitable price/earnings ratio
(4) The ratio is more suited to valuing the shares of listed companies

A. 1 and 2 only
B. 3 and 4 only
C. 1, 3 and 4 only
D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

The 8% loan notes are convertible into eight ordinary shares per loan note in seven years’ time. If not converted, the loan notes can be redeemed on the same future date at their nominal value of $100. Par Co has a cost of debt of 9% per year.

The ordinary shares of Par Co have a nominal value of $1 per share and have been traded on a large stock exchange for many years. Listed companies similar to Par Co have been recently reported to have an average price/earnings ratio of 12 times.

Required:
(b) Calculate the share price of Par Co using the price/earnings ratio method and discuss the problems in using this method of valuing the shares of a company. (5 marks)

The shares of GWW Co have a nominal (par) value of 50c per share and a market value of $4·00 per share. The business sector of GWW Co has an average price/earnings ratio of 17 times.

The expected net realisable values of the non-current assets and the inventory are $86·0m and $4·2m, respectively.

In the event of liquidation, only 80% of the trade receivables are expected to be collectible.

Required:
(a) Calculate the value of GWW Co using the following methods:

(iii) price/earnings ratio method using the business sector average price/earnings ratio.

Note: The total marks will be split equally between each part. (6 marks)

GWW Co is a listed company which is seen as a potential target for acquisition by financial analysts. The value of the company has therefore been a matter of public debate in recent weeks and the following financial information is available:

Statement of financial position information for 2012

The shares of GWW Co have a nominal (par) value of 50c per share and a market value of $4•00 per share. The cost of equity of the company is 9% per year. The business sector of GWW Co has an average price/earnings ratio of 17 times. The 8% bonds are redeemable at nominal (par) value of $100 per bond in seven years’ time and the before-tax cost of debt of GWW Co is 6% per year.

The expected net realisable values of the non-current assets and the inventory are $86•0m and $4•2m, respectively. In the event of liquidation, only 80% of the trade receivables are expected to be collectible.

Required:

Calculate the value of GWW Co using the price/earnings ratio method using the business sector average price/earnings ratio

Corhig Co is a company that is listed on a major stock exchange. The company has struggled to maintain profitability in the last two years due to poor economic conditions in its home country and as a consequence it has decided not to pay a dividend in the current year. However, there are now clear signs of economic recovery and Corhig Co is optimistic that payment of dividends can be resumed in the future. Forecast financial information relating to the company is as follows:

The company is optimistic that earnings and dividends will increase after Year 3 at a constant annual rate of 3% per year.

Corhig Co currently has a before-tax cost of debt of 5% per year and an equity beta of 1·6. On a market value basis, the company is currently financed 75% by equity and 25% by debt.

During the course of the last two years the company acted to reduce its gearing and was able to redeem a large amount of debt. Since there are now clear signs of economic recovery, Corhig Co plans to raise further debt in order to modernise some of its non-current assets and to support the expected growth in earnings.

This additional debt would mean that the capital structure of the company would change and it would be financed 60% by equity and 40% by debt on a market value basis. The before-tax cost of debt of Corhig Co would increase to 6% per year and the equity beta of Corhig Co would increase to 2.

The risk-free rate of return is 4% per year and the equity risk premium is 5% per year. In order to stimulate economic activity the government has reduced profit tax rate for all large companies to 20% per year.

The current average price/earnings ratio of listed companies similar to Corhig Co is 5 times.

Required:

Estimate the value of Corhig Co using the price/earnings ratio method and discuss the usefulness of the variables that you have used.