F9 ACCA - Notes You Will Not Forget
F9 ACCA - Notes You Will Not Forget
F9 ACCA - Notes You Will Not Forget
BY
Hafiz Muhammad Adnan Rana
F9 ACCA
June 2011 Part A
Financial Management Function
Introduction:
In this chapter, after introducing the nature and purpose of financial management, we
consider the objectives of Sialkot Sports Limited (organization). We go on to examine
the influence of stakeholders (refer F1) on stakeholder objectives.
The final part of this chapter examines objectives in not-for-profit organizations like
Sialkot Hospital Limited.
Exam Guide:
Mr Adnan, ACCA is a Finance manager of Sialkot Sports Limited (SSL) who usually
takes the following decisions to achieve the financial objectives (profit maximization) of
Sialkot Sports Limited:
1-Investment
2-Finance
3-Dividend
4-Risk Management
(Ref-fast forward and paragraph of 1.1)
Connected Thinking:
In Pakistan private and public companies are defined in Section 2(28) of Companies
Ordinance, 1984 and the subject matter is share capital while in UK private sector
means organizations which are not owned by government for providing public services
like electricity, gas and water etc.
Solve question related to 1.4 on page 6 of BPP edition 2010 and also refer to
PodCast (audio).
Finance manager of Sialkot Sports Limited always make sure sufficient funds are
available for short, medium and long term plans of SSL and such plans are as follows:
(Para 1)
(a’) ensure that sufficient funds are available for working capital of SSL (short term).
Note:
Working capital is also called “net current assets” and is current assets minus current
liabilities. And working capital cycle is accounts receivables days (ratio) plus inventory
turnover days (ratio) minus accounts payable days (ratio).
(b’) ensure that sufficient funds are available for non current assets of SSL (medium/long
term)
Decisions in (a) and (b) above are taken by Mr ACCA after analyzing the financial data
by using Ratios (some of them are identified in (a) above and also in the light of financial
objectives of SSL. Source of information for decision making are cost data (short term
decision making (refer F5 chapters on short term decision making) as well as financial
data (refer F7 chapters regarding financial ratios).
Because 1.2 relates to planning the other part of the hierarchy is control (refer F1 for
planning and control diagram). Mr ACCA usually carry outs the comparison of actual
performance with forecasted (not budgeting) performance (refer F5 for difference
between forecast and budget and standard cost).
2.1 Strategy
Comments:
Strategy
Sialkot Sports Limited has decided to purchase (outflow of resources) state-of-the-art
machine to produce footballs on machine so that the deadlines (objective) of orders of
Manchanter United are met on time. Because orders are usually late by 10 days (goal to
reduce) and this is earning bad name for SSL.(refer para 1)
Financial strategy
The strategy to purchase state-of-the-art machine is a strategy……. and investment (NPV
– outflow minus inflow) and objectives to meet to deliver on time is financial strategy to
avoid losses to SSL (refer key term)
Read case study related to 2.1 on page 7 of BPP edition 2010 and also refer to
PodCast (audio).
Corporate objectives of Sialkot Sports Limited are related to Key Success Factors (KSF)
which are as follows:
Generally financial targets of SSL are earnings, earning per share (EPS refer F7),
dividend per share (DPS refer F7), Gearing level (refer Ratios in F7), Profit retention
(retained earnings) and operating profitability (both in income statement and cash flows).
These are described in the following five sub headings: (fast forward)
(a) SSL has prepared its statement of financial position on going concern basis because
SSL will continue its operations for foreseeable period (going concern assumption) and
total assets value is important for investor and also profit figure is reviewed.
(b) break up basis only uses when company is liquidated (no going concern assumption)
(c) market value method only related to shares of Sialkot Sports Limited (public
companies - whose shares are listed on stock exchange)
Comments:
=(P1-PO+D1)/PO
From perspective of management of SSL they expect that earnings and dividends per
share (both are ratios) are rising so share price (capital gain) for shareholders will be
available which will attract them to invest in the SSL shares.
From perspective of SSL the financial objective is to increase 10% of thrice profit,
dividend per share, and earnings per share.
(refer 2.3.1)
2.3.2 Profit maximization
Profit figure calculated by Accountant of SSL is different from profit figure on the desk
of Finance Manager who is considering risk (perceived by shareholders, however this is
also the risk (business risk or financial risk – refer gearing ratios of F7) perceived by SSL
(as per (b) below) despite of profitable operations of SSL but SSL itself hdue to the
following factors:
(a) Accounting profits are manipulated (creative accounting – refer T5, F1 and F7) by
creating/not creating provisions (IAS 37), Accumulated Depreciation (IAS 16),
capitalization of expense (IAS 38) and adding FOH to closing inventory (F2 –
Marginal and Absorption costing)
(b) Already covered
(c) Profit alone is not performance measure of investment. Rather ROCE (ratio –
refer F7), EPS (ratio – refer F7) and Dividend Yield (ratio – refer F7) are used.
(d) Profits figures are used by short term investors while performance of company
need to be analyzed in detail by long term investors (subsidiary or associate level
investment).
Solve question related to 2.3.2 on page 10 of BPP edition 2010 and also refer to
PodCast (audio).
2.3.3 Earning per share growth (Ratio – Refer F7 and also refer IAS 33)
Shareholders of SSL should read directors report (where past 5 to 10 years dividend
history is given and also earnings are reported for calculation of EPS).
(a) SSL has decided that its debt equity ratio (refer F7) will never exceed 1:1 (refer -
i)
(b) SSL has decided that dividend cover (refer F7) should never exceeds 2.5 times.
(c) SSL has decided that minimum Profit ratio (refer F7) should be 10% and
minimum ROCE (refer F7) should be 20%.
Comments:
These targets (secondary financial targets) are not financial objectives (primary financial
targets) but help SSL to achieve its main financial objectives. (para 2)
2.3.5 Example: financial target
Other non financial objectives are growth, diversification and leadership in research
and development and quality of products. However, also these non financial
objectives are sometimes more important to fulfill than financial objectives.
Sialkot Sports Limited understands that there are followings individual and groups whose
interest is directly affected by the activities of SSL.(fast forward/key term)
Connected Shareholders
Debenture holders
Customers
Bankers
Suppliers
Competitors
External Government
Pressure groups
Local and national communities
Professional and regulatory bodies
(d) employees
refer 2.4 (a)
(e) government
-government grants (refer IAS 20 F7)
-tax on profit of SSL
-health and safety regulation compliance
-training of employees
(f) management
refer 2.4 (b)
Comments:
As we have learned from 3.1 and 2.4 that stakeholders have interest in Sialkot Sports
Limited and this effects the strategic decision making.
Shareholders of Sialkot Sports Limited are owners of SSL and directors are working on
theirs’ behalf (under stewardship or agency relationships (refer F1 and key term).
Directors prepares the financial statements and submits them for approval from
shareholders in theirs’ AGM. Shareholders have no right to inspect books of accounts.
Auditor provides them assurance on the financial statements. However, they also base
theirs’ decisions on financial statements, information from stock brokers and investment
journals including daily newspapers. (para 1& 2)
(a) directors takes the decision to obtain finance from banks etc.
(b) creditors provide the loan on the security of assets. And in case of non payment
they exercise the security or apply to court for winding up of the company.
(c) Shareholders hopes that finance is injected into Sialkot Sports Limited and this
will result in more profit for both dividend and retained earnings.
3.5 shareholders, managers and government
(a) Taxation
Sialkot Sports Limited acts as tax collector of income tax on salaries of
employees and VAT/Sales Tax on sales of SSL.
Shareholders decided whether to go for capital gain (short term purchase and sale
of shares) or earn dividend (on which tax is deducted).
(d) legislation
-Companies Ordinance, 1984 in Pakistan
-Legislation on employment
-Health and Safety regulations
-Legislation on consumer protection
-Consumer rights
-Environmental legislation
Financial control (comparison between actual and budgeted figures to identify variances)
in Sialkot Sports Limited (SSL) is achieved by ratio analysis (refer F7) (other ways are
standard costing – refer F2). (fast forward and 4.1).
Comments:
The key to obtain meaningful information from ratio analysis is comparison. That is
comparing ratios over a number of periods from 2005 to 2010 to establish that business
of Sialkot Sports Limited is improving or declining. And also comparing ratios between
similar businesses.
Examiners have said, more than once, that knowledge of how to calculate and interpret
key ratios is a weak point for many candidates. Mare sure that it is one of your strong
points.
Profit growth of Sialkot Sports Limited is only assessed with relation to the amount of
funds (capital employed) and is calculated with the following formula:
Where PBIT is taken because to know the amount of profit which the company earned
before paying interest to providers of loan finance. Also, tax is not considered because
there is always unusual (under or over provision) of taxation and in fact tax charge would
not affect profitability of the Sialkot Sports Limited.
Whereas capital employed is shareholders fund (equity) plus long term liabilities and
long term provision. Alternatively this figures is calculated by deducting current
liabilities from total assets.
ROCE of SSL is also compared with current borrowing interest rate and is satis-
factory.
4.4.3 secondary ratios
Strong sales growth is usually indicated with high sales volume growth as well as
increase in sales revenue and sales growth is one of the signs of prosperous company.
Remember that capital is not just shareholders’ funds; this was highlighted as a frequent
mistake in previous exams.
A high return on equity reflect that Sialkot Sports Limited has effectively managed its
expenses and has invested in profitable projects.
4.4.5 gross profit margin, the net profit margin and profit analysis
Solve example F9 (BPP – page 19) – June 2010 edition. Also, refer to PodCast
(audio)
Debts ratios of Sialkot Sports Limited uses debt ratios to consider how much the
company owes in relation to its size and whether it is getting higher debts or improving
the situation.
Gearing is the amount of debt finance (long term liabilities) as compared to equity
finance.
Refer chapter 14 for debt and equity ratios of Sialkot Sports Limited.
4.6 liquidity ratios: cash and working capital
Sialkot Sports Limited needs liquid assets so that it can meet its payment of debts when
they fall due in 2010 and onwards. The main liquidity ratios are described in Chapter 4.
Sialkot Sports Limited will only raise equity finance if investors of SSL think that the
return (dividend and capital gain – increase in market share price) is satisfactory in view
of the business and finance risk of Sialkot Sports Limited (refer para 2)
Comments:
Gross figures of dividend (including withholding tax) is considered. And in turn gross
dividend yield is compared with gross interest yield of bonds. So that investors should
make a decision to either invest in Sialkot Sports Limited or invest in bonds.
Cum dividend means that purchaser of shares is entitle to receive the next dividend
payment.
Ex dividend means that the purchase of shares is not entitle to receive the next dividend
payment.
Market price per share (ex dividend) = Market price per share (cum dividend) –
forthcoming dividend per share.
Solve example F9 (BPP – page 20) – June 2010 edition. Also, refer to PodCast
(audio)
4.7.3 earning per share (EPS)
The P/E ratio is the used to assess the worth of a single share of Sialkot Sports Limited.
Solve example F9 (BPP – page 21) – June 2010 edition. Also, refer to PodCast
(audio)
4.7.6 changes in EPS: the P/E ratio and the share price
(c) If EPS (denominator) of P/E ratio is changes then share price (numerator) should
also change giving a new share price.
For example, if EPS of SSL in 2009 was 30c and share price $3.6, its P/E ratio is
12. However, in 2010 if EPS is 33c and we expect that P/E ratio is same i.e 12
then share price goes up. How ? there are two methods. One is by putting the
figure in the formula and calculating and another is simply multiplying P/E with
EPS and it comes to $3.96.
Owners of Sialkot Sports Limited monitors the management (Directors) of SSL and
provides the incentives (listed below) to management. So that theirs’ personal goals
meets with goals of SSL (goal congruence) – (refer fast forward and key term)
(a) BOD has the responsibility for strategy and policy decision.
(b) Directors representing BOD of SSL have appropriate skills.
(c) HR committee oversees all the appointments in SSL.
(d) Responsibilities of CEO and Chairman (both are different persons in SSL) are
separate.
(e) Non-Executive Directors (for NED refer F1, P1, P3 – these are those
executives that are not permanent employees of SSL) and represent in BOD.
(f) & (g) Salary of full time directors is set by Remuneration committee of
NED’s and may vary according to individual performance.
(h) As per IAS 24 (refer 24) remuneration of key management personnel is
in financial statements of SSL.
(i) BoD has responsibility to review risk management and internal control system
of SSL.
(j) Audit committee of NED is encouraged which deals with both external as well
as internal auditors and review audited accounts and internal controls of SSL.
(k) AGM is held by SSL annually.
(l) Annual report of SSL not only includes Directors Report, Financial Statements
but also includes review report of auditors on statement of compliance with
Code of Corporate Governance prepared and included by BoD in Financial
statements.
5.2.2 Stock exchange listing regulations (these relates to UK)
Comments:
Public limited companies are required to follow rules and regulations for listing on stock
exchange. And these rules and regulations indirectly ensures stock market operates fairly
and efficiently for all parties involved.
Primary market – Sialkot Sports Limited has obtained equity finance by issuing
shares form public (new shares) or right shares(existing shareholders)
Secondary market – Buyers and sellers purchase and sale shares to earn capital
Gain (refer F6).
6 Not for profit organizations
Sialkot Hospital Limited is a not for profit organization (NPO). Its main objective is
efficient use of resources (rather than profit). (refer fast forward)
Comments:
However, as regards NGO’s; they can be both NPO and public companies (not the one
that is listed or not listed on stock exchange but the one that serves the community). But
one has to be very careful they provide money for a purpose (mission) that is why they
called it missionaries (promoting certain religion not cast – mind you).
In Pakistan NPO are registered under Section 42 of Companies Ordinance, 1984 while
NGO’s are given the option to either register itself under Section 42 if they want theirs
operations throughout Pakistan or register itself with local laws of a Province of Pakistan
where they want to work.
Connected thinking:
From 6.1 to 6.7 please refer F5 Chapter of BPP June 2010 edition. Please refer to my
audio lecture (PodCast) of relevant chapters. There is no need in wasting time and
efforts here.