The Examiner's Answers – F3 - Financial Strategy Nov 2011

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The Examiner's Answers – F3 - Financial Strategy Some of the answers that follow are fuller and more comprehensive than would be expected from a well-prepared candidate. They have been written in this way to aid teaching, study and revision for tutors and candidates alike.

SECTION A Answer to Question One

(a) Three alternative uses of the funds have already been suggested by the Board of the Newspaper Division. These are: • • •

Reinvest in a new project. Repay debt. Pay a one-off dividend.

Investments, funding and dividend decisions are the main financial decisions facing all companies and are closely interrelated as each decision affects the others. Reinvest in a new project Reinvestment of the funds into a new project that has a positive NPV would help M plc achieve its growth targets as stated in its financial objectives. As we know from the pre-seen material, the key shareholders (that is, the bank, charity and financial institution) are putting pressure on the Board to devise a strategic plan aimed at achieving M plc’s stated financial objectives. Growth in revenue and profits between 2011 and 2012 met profit growth targets but not revenue growth targets as the following analysis shows:

Revenue Operating profit

2011

2012

274 68

200 73

Growth achieved 2.2% 7.3%

Target growth per financial objectives 4.0% 4.0%

A company such as M plc is likely to have a wide range of projects with positive NPVs to consider. These need to be assessed as to their contribution towards meeting M plc’s financial and strategic objectives. With the disposal of FR, M plc will lose control over the pan European newspaper that FR produces and which helps to meet one of its strategic objectives (strategic objective number 3). M plc may therefore wish to consider whether it is possible to provide a news service to native English speakers over a wide geographical spread (strategic objective number 2) by

Financial Strategy

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November 2011


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