Project Financing - Associateship
ISQ Examination (Summer-2007)


Q.1 Please write the alphabate of selected choice in the answer column: (15)
i

The principal discounting criteria in selection of projects is :

A)      Payback period                              B) The internal rate of return
C)     The accounting rate of return           D) Both payback period and internal rate of return
E)      None of the above

ii

When evaluating projects, which of the following should be incorporated as a part of project’s estimated cash flows :

A)     Any sunk costs that were incurred in the past prior to considering the proposed project.
B)     Any opportunity costs that are incurred if the project is undertaken.
C)    Any externalities ( both positive and negative) that are incurred if the project is undertaken
D)    Statements B and C are correct
E)     None of the above

iii

Which of the following is not considered a capital component for the purpose of calculating the average weighted cost of capital (WACC) of a project

A) Long-term debt                                        B) Common stock
C) Accounts payable and accruals                 D) Preferred stock
E) None of the above

iv

To gauge the effective demand in the past and the present, the starting point typically is apparent consumption which is defined as

A) Total production                               B) Total production plus imports
C) Total production minus exports         D) Total production plus imports minus exports
E) None of the above

v

The forced sale value of mortgaged/pledged assets once determined for the purpose of classification of loans, must remain in force for

A) 2 years          B) 3 years          C) 4 years              D) 5 years              E) None of the above

vi

When property in the goods is charged as security for a loan from the bank and ownership and possession remains with the borrower, it is known as

A) Hypothecation      B) Floating charge      C) Equitable mortgage      D) Pledge     E) None of the above

vii

The principal sources of working capital finance are

A) Bank loans                     B) Bank loans and trade credit
C) Accruals and provisions, and long-term sources of financing
D) B and C                         E) None of the above

viii

Certificate of commencement of business to a joint stock company is issued by

A) Registrar of Property                         B) The Stock Exchange
C) The Auditors of the company            D) Registrar of Companies
E) None of the above

ix

What is the difference between accounting profit and economic profit?

A)       Economic profit includes a charge for all providers of capital while accounting profit includes only a            charge for debt
B)       Economic profit covers the profit over the life of the firm, while accounting profit only covers the most            recent period
C)      Accounting profit is based on current accepted accounting rules while economic profit is based on cash           flows
D)     All of the above                                  E) None of the above

x

Eldec Industries has purchased a machine for Rs 1,200,000 and will depreciate it using straight line depreciation over 10 years to a salvage value of Rs 5000. The accumulated depreciation after 4 years will be


A) Rs 480,000        B) Rs 500,000      C) Rs 460,000         D) Rs 478,000        E) None of the above

xi

The following balance sheet items generally vary directly with sales


A) Common stock    B) Inventory      C) Marketable securities     D) Both B and C    E) None of the above

xii

If conflict arises in ranking alternatives, the superior method to use is

A) NPV B) IRR          C) Payback period           D) Profitability Index          E) None of the above

xiii

XYZ Company has actual sales of Rs 200,000. Its break-even sales are Rs 150,000. Therefore, the margin of safety in percentage is

A) 25%          B) 33.33%          C) 50%           D) 66.67%          E) None of the above

xiv

What type of ratios best measure the short- term ability of a firm to pay its maturing obligations and to meet unexpected needs for cash

A) Leverage B) Profitability C) Solvency
D) Liquidity E) None of the above

xv

XYZ has a quick ratio of 1.5. It has total current assets of Rs 100,000 and total current liabilities of Rs 25,000. If sales are Rs 200,000, what is the inventory turnover ratio?

A) 2.5                 B) 2.9              C) 3.2                D) 4.1            E) None of the above


Q.2
State True or False in the answer column. Give brief reason for your selection at the space provided below the question: (15)
i
The cost of new common stock is generally higher than the cost of retained earnings.
ii
In a developing country like Pakistan, it can be safely assumed that effective demand and apparent consumption are equal.
iii
Stock dividend when declared is paid out in cash from the net profit after tax.
iv
Over-run costs are the unplanned increases in costs which could be due to delay in finishing the project or the the expected increase in the cost of inputs.
v
For many industrial products proximity to the source of raw material or the centre of consumption may not be very important.
vi
Preference shares with a provision of redemption are part of the borrowers equity as stipulated by the State Bank of Pakistan.
vii
By comparing the present value of the incremental benefits with the present value of incremental costs, scale or size of the project is increased until NPV of the incremental net benefits is negative.
viii
Subordinated loan means a secured loan extended to the project by its sponsors, subordinate to the claim of the bank/DFI.
ix
Tangible security, as per Prudential Regulations, means readily realizable assets and includes mortgage of land, plant, building, machinery, other fixed asset, and inventories.
x
The unrealized mark-up on loans (declassified after rescheduling/ restructuring) should not be taken into income account unless at least 60% of the amount is realized in cash.
xi
Banks are required to review, at least on a quarterly basis, the collectibility of their loans/ advances portfolio and properly document the evaluation so made.
xii
Evaluators on the panel PBA are eligible to conduct only three Full-scope valuations consecutively of a company’s mortgaged and pledged assets.
xiii
Contigent liability does not create credit risk.
xiv
In general the cost of debt is lower than the cost of equity.
xv
Increase in working capital is a source of funds.

Q.3
Fill in the blanks: (10)
i
A(n)________ is a written agreement specifying the terms of long-term debt financing.
ii
Return on owners’ equity is by dividing _______by ___________________.
iii
Internal rate of return is the rate at which ______________ equals ___________.
iv
The pro forma_______________ shows the expected operating results for the budgeting year, while the pro forma ____________________ shows the expected financial condition at the end of the budgeting year.
v
PERT stands for _________________________________________________
vi
KIBOR stands for ________________________________________________
vii
FOR stands for ___________________________________________________

Q.4
Based on the following data on ABC Ltd., project its balance sheet as on December 31 for the coming year (20X1). (10)
 
Present sales Rs 500,000
Next year’s sales Rs 800,000
After-tax profit 5% of sales
Dividend pay-out ratio 40%
Present retained earnings Rs 200,000
Cash as a percent of sales 4%
Accounts receivable as a per cent of sales 10%
Inventory as a per cent of sales 30%
Net fixed assets as a per cent of sales 7%
Accruals as a per cent of sales 15%
Next year’s common stock Rs 200,000

Q.5
It is generally observed that sponsors tend to overstate profitability of their projects. What are the reasons for such optimistic bias? (10)

Q.6
What is the role of feedback and early warning systems in project financing? Describe the tools of feedback and early warning signals which you may use as project officer. (10)

Q.7
Distinguish between census survey and market survey, and discuss their merits and limitations. (10)

Q.8
You have been engaged as a consultant for developing a new project. Discuss the factors which you would consider in determining the plant capacity. (10)

Q.9
You have received a contract for technology for your proposed project. What are the various aspects of the contract which you would carefully scrutinize before finalizing it? (10)