Study Questions Deck 1 Flashcards
Which of the following are important uses of variance analysis in comparing actual cash flows with projected cash flows?
I. Identifying unanticipated changes in inventory
II. Enhancing short-term investment income
III. Validating a capital budget
IV. Identifying delays in accounts receivable collections
A. I and II only
B. I and IV only
C. II and IV only
D. I, II, III, and IV
Answer : B. I and IV only
An instrument that gives the right to buy a stated number of shares of common stock at a specified price is known as:
A. an equity warrant
B. a put option
C. a zero coupon bond
D. a subordinated debenture
Answer : A. an equity warrant
A company plans to issue additional equity within the next 12 months but needs to issue debt at a low interest rate now. Which of the following instruments would BEST meet this objective?
A. Convertible bonds
B. Private placement issue
C. Preferred stock
D. Subordinated debentures
Answer: A. Convertible bonds
An arrangement in which a borrower makes periodic payments to a separate custodial account that is used to repay debt is known as a:
A. sinking fund
B. balloon payment
C. mortgage
D. zero-coupon bond
Answer : A. sinking fund
Which of the following instruments simplifies the paperwork connected with loans that have multiple advance features?
A. Master note
B. Banker’s acceptance
C. Indenture agreement
D. Note purchase agreement
Answer : A. Master note
A put option on a company’s stock has an exercise price of $20. On the delivery date, the stock is trading at $24 per share. What should the investor who has paid $2 for the option do?
A. Not exercise the option and lose $2.
B. Not exercise the option and lose $6.
C. Exercise the option and gain $2.
D. Exercise the option and gain $4.
Answer : A. Not exercise the option and lose $2.
A call option for a company has an exercise price of $50. The stock is currently trading at
$60. At maturity, what should an investor who paid $3 for the option do?
A. Exercise the option and gain $7.
B. Exercise the option and gain $10.
C. Not exercise the option and lose $3.
D. Not exercise the option and lose $13.
Answer : A. Exercise the option and gain $7.
In a typical swap transaction, two parties agree to exchange:
A. notional principal amounts.
B. amortization schedules.
C. maturity dates of obligations.
D. cash flows at future points in time.
Answer: D. cash flows at future points in time.
A Chicago meat processor is concerned about the volatility of pork belly prices. Which of the following derivative products would be used to fix these prices within a given range?
A. Collar
B. Swap
C. Cap
D. Spot purchase
Answer : A. Collar
On the basis of the following exchange rates,
which of the following currency amounts has the greatest value in U.S. dollars?
A. C$750,000
B. £850,000
C. €900,000
D. ¥5,000,000
Answer : B. £850,000
Which of the following is a characteristic of giro systems used in countries in Europe?
A. They operate through their postal systems.
B. They are primarily used for company-to-company payments.
C. They do not replace checks for the payment of bills.
D. They do not allow the use of direct debits and credits.
Answer : A. They operate through their postal systems.
Answer : A. They operate through their postal systems.
Netting is used by which of the following as a cross-border payment technique?
A. European giro providers
B. Foreign subsidiaries of a company
C. Counterparties in a letter of credit transaction
D. TARGET participants
Answer : B. Foreign subsidiaries of a company
In which of the following international cash management methods is title for goods transferred for intercompany sales?
A. Pooling
B. Internal factoring
C. Multilateral netting
D. Re-invoicing
Answer : D. Re-invoicing
A company is based in the United States and has an operating subsidiary in Germany.
With a stable U.S. dollar and a depreciating euro, the company’s cash manager may elect to:
A. pool excess funds in the United States to offset German deficits.
B. implement a dollar-based multilateral netting system.
C. start leading receivables from the German subsidiary.
D. establish a multicurrency account in the United States.
Answer : C. start leading receivables from the German subsidiary.
Account analysis statements should be examined for which of the following reasons?
I. To verify volumes processed -
II. To determine daily cash shortages
III. To verify the accuracy of bank service charges
IV. To ensure that company-initiated transactions have occurred
A. I and IV only
B. I and III only
C. II and III only
D. II and IV only
Answer : B. I and III only
An optimal concentration system minimizes all of the following EXCEPT:
A. administrative costs.
B. disbursement float.
C. excess balances.
D. transfer costs.
Answer : B. disbursement float
A bank issues a letter of credit (L/C) and receives a request for payment under the L/C.
The buyer notifies the issuing bank not to make payment because there is a dispute over the quality of the merchandise. However, the documents received fully comply with the terms of the L/C. Which of the following statements is true?
A. The buyer may immediately return the merchandise and cancel the L/C.
B. The bank may delay payment until reimbursed by the buyer.
C. The bank may delay payment, provided the seller is notified of the dispute within three business days.
D. The bank must make payment and is entitled to immediate reimbursement from the buyer.
Answer : D. The bank must make payment and is entitled to immediate reimbursement from the buyer.
The KEY decision in using CCD+ and CTX formats for B2B payments is:
A. whether to keep the payment and remittance information together or separate.
B. whether to use the Internet or an EDI spoke to transmit electronic payments.
C. whether to use an EDI or a UN/EDIFACT protocol to transfer the value electronically.
D. whether an evaluated receipts or paid-on-production technique is being used for the transfer.
Answer: A. whether to keep the payment and remittance information together or separate.
Which one of the following ties a user’s private key to a user’s public key?
A. A digital signature
B. A digital certificate
C. A digitized signature
D. A digital token
Answer : B. A digital certificate
A French company conducts business strictly within the euro zone (the EMU). Which type of risk is of LEAST concern?
A. Terrorist
B. Regulatory
C. Payment
D. Currency
Answer : D. Currency
For a defined benefit plan,
A. plan assets equal plan liabilities.
B. plan assets can be less than plan liabilities.
C. plan assets are greater than plan equity.
D. plan assets always equal plan equity.
Answer : B. plan assets can be less than plan liabilities.
A public corporation may value a defined contribution plan highly because it:
A. allows the corporation to capture plan investment surpluses.
B. allows proxy voting in favor of management.
C. shifts investment shortfall risk to employees.
D. defines allowed investments within the plan.
Answer : C. shifts investment shortfall risk to employees.
Which of the following is MOST LIKELY to have a significant impact on the financial condition of an organization?
A. Defined benefit pension plans
B. Defined contribution pension plans
C. 401(k) plans
D. Tax-deferred annuities
Answer : A. Defined benefit pension plans
Company XYZ is now required to make electronic payments by its suppliers. To prevent an increase in costs, the company should.
A. negotiate a change in payment timing with its suppliers.
B. institute a just-in-time inventory system.
C. negotiate a change in cash disbursement with its concentration bank.
D. institute a modified RSA system for its inventory.
Answer : A. negotiate a change in payment timing with its suppliers.
A company’s capital structure includes $800,000,000 in total capital, of which $200,000,000 comes from debt. The firms after-tax cost of debt is 6%, and its cost of equity is 12%. The marginal tax rate is currently 40%. What is the company’s weighted average cost of capital?
A. 9.9%
B. 10.3%
C. 10.5%
D. 10.8%
WACC by applying the formula:WACC = [(E/V) x Re] + [(D/V) x Rd x (1 - Tc)], where: E = equity market value. Re = equity cost.
Answer : C. 10.5%
The stock of a manufacturing company is priced so that its expected rate of return is below its required rate, as calculated by the Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM). Which of the following will occur in an efficient capital market?
A. Buying pressure for the firm’s stock will drive the price up.
B. Buying pressure for the firm’s stock will drive the price down.
C. Selling pressure for the firm’s stock will drive the price up.
D. Selling pressure for the firm’s stock will drive the price down.
Answer : D. Selling pressure for the firm’s stock will drive the price down.
XYZ Company is considering selling treasury stock but is concerned about the amount of capital it will raise given the current high volatility of the stock market. What is the BEST strategy a firm can employ to reduce its uncertainty?
A. Hire an investment banker to underwrite the stock on a full underwriting basis.
B. Hire an investment banker to issue the stock using a master registration statement.
C. Hire an investment banker to underwrite the stock with no flotation costs.
D. Hire an investment banker to underwrite the stock on a best efforts basis.
Answer : A. Hire an investment banker to underwrite the stock on a full underwriting basis.
Company A is a large public company with annual revenue of $1.2 billion and high fixed costs. Its stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Company B is a mid-sized company with annual revenue of $100 million and low fixed costs. Its stock is listed on the NASDAQ. Which of the following statements is MOST LIKELY to be true when comparing Company A and Company B?
A. Company A has greater reporting requirements and more marketable stock than Company B.
B. Company A has greater reporting requirements and less marketable stock than Company B.
C. Company B has greater reporting requirements and more marketable stock than Company A.
D. Company B has greater reporting requirements and less marketable stock than Company A.
Answer : A. Company A has greater reporting requirements and more marketable stock than Company B.
An investor concerned about taxes on dividend distributions will MOST LIKELY purchase stock on which of the following dates?
A. Ex-dividend date
B. Record date
C. Declaration date
D. Payment date
Answer : A. Ex-dividend date
A large mature company with limited growth opportunities (positive NPV projects) achieved abnormally high profits this year. After paying mandatory principal, interest, and taxes, the company has $200 million in surplus cash on hand. Assuming its investor base is most concerned with capital appreciation, which of the following is the BEST option for the company?
A. Declare a special dividend.
B. Reinvest cash into the company.
C. Declare a cash dividend.
D. Repurchase shares of outstanding stock.
Answer : D. Repurchase shares of outstanding stock.
Over the past 3 years XYZ Company has expanded into multiple countries and significantly grown its banking relationships. The company now incurs significant expenses related to payment transaction costs and maintaining multiple bank connections. What should the company use to combat these rising costs?
A. SWIFT network
B. ACH Network
C. CHIPS network
D. TARGET 2
Answer : A. SWIFT network
With respect to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, a company may avoid additional reporting requirements by:
A. issuing shares in an IPO.
B. providing an SSAE 16.
C. redeeming bond issues.
D. delisting its securities.
Answer: D. delisting its securities.
Which of the following would be expected to happen on the ex-dividend date?
A. The stock is sold with the dividend attached.
B. The stock price drops.
C. The stock’s volume increases.
D. The stock’s dividend is paid.
Answer: B. The stock price drops
Which of the following is subject to transaction exposure?
A. A U.S. company’s foreign subsidiary in Japan has a receivable denominated in Yen.
B. A Japanese company’s foreign subsidiary in the U.S. has a receivable denominated in Yen.
C. A U.S. company’s foreign subsidiary in Japan has a payable denominated in Yen.
D. A Japanese company’s foreign subsidiary in the U.S. has a payable denominated in dollars.
Answer: B. A Japanese company’s foreign subsidiary in the U.S. has a receivable denominated in Yen.
Which of the following is NOT a key area to consider when establishing treasury policies?
A. Equity method investments accounting
B. Medium-term financing
C. Management reporting
D. Foreign currency management
Answer: C. Management reporting
The Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) is the authoritative standard- setting body for which of the following?
A. Private universities
B. Healthcare organizations
C. Public works agencies
D. Publicly traded companies
Answer: C. Public works agencies
A cash manager has determined that the break-even amount for justifying a wire transfer over an ACH for concentration of funds is $145,000. Using a wire instead of an ACH givesthe company use of the funds two days earlier to make overnight investments. Based on a wire transfer cost of $10.00 and an ACH transaction cost of $0.70, what is the company’s overnight investment interest rate on a 365-day year basis?
A. 0.95%
B. 1.17%
C. 2.34%
D. 2.57%
Set up the equation:
The interest earned in 2 days on the $145,000 investment should equal the cost savings difference.
The cost savings difference is $9.30.
Answer: B. 1.17%
Determine the cost savings of using an ACH:
- Cost of a wire transfer: $10.00
- Cost of an ACH transaction: $0.70
- Savings per transaction by using ACH:
$10.00 - $0.70 = $9.30
Therefore:
145,000 \times r \times \frac{2}{365} = 9.30
Solve for r :
Which of the following is NOT a drawback to using ROI as a performance measure?
A. It may be misleading when cash flows are not evenly distributed over time.
B. It does not consider the profit generated by a project.
C. It does not include a charge for cost of capital.
D. It may lead to rejection of a positive NPV project.
Answer: B. It does not consider the profit generated by a project.
A company is starting a project to redesign its cash management information systems. What would be an important tool in this effort?
A. ERP software
B. Treasury operations manual
C. Cash application
D. Treasury workstation
Answer: B. Treasury operations manual
The treasury management department of a company hires a consulting firm to provide research on how other companies in the industry have structured their treasury operations. This is an example of which practice?
A. Outsourcing
B. Benchmarking
C. Re-engineering
D. Restructuring
Answer: B. Benchmarking
A company has a line of credit and a bond trustee agreement with a bank. To prevent a decline in the company’s bond rating from having a negative impact on the company’s line of credit, the bank should have which of the following in place?
A. Code of conduct
B. Confidentiality agreement
C. Notional barrier
D. Risk profile
r
Answer: C. Notional barrier
ABC Company is a national retail company and uses XYZ Bank for its collections and payroll services. XYZ has recently experienced financial problems; what is the greatest risk to ABC Company?
A. Damage to their working relationship
B. Deterioration of service quality
C. Increase in service fees
D. Loss of assets
Answer: D. Loss of assets
A public company’s risk profile is currently in balance. The management’s mission statement is to minimize stock devaluation. However, it is forecasting a need for working capital in the short term. Which of the following solutions would BEST assist management in accomplishing its mission?
A. Redeem outstanding shares
B. Issue additional shares
C. Use debt financing
D. Pay out dividends
Answer: C. Use debt financing
Company A regularly modifies its capital structure by repurchasing stock. Which one of the following is a true statement?
A. Investors may feel that management is manipulating the stock price.
B. Stock repurchases are not an attractive alternative to dividend payments.
C. Partial disclosure to the SEC is required for repurchases.
D. Stock repurchases do not offer tax deferral advantages over dividends.
Answer: A. Investors may feel that management is manipulating the stock price.
A lender is evaluating the creditworthiness of a company that has high levels of operating leverage. In determining the debt capacity of the company, the bank would MOST LIKELY prefer a:
A. high total liabilities to total assets ratio.
B. high debt to tangible net worth ratio.
C. low long-term debt to capital ratio.
D. low times interest earned ratio.
Answer: C. low long-term debt to capital ratio.
A distribution business has used several bank loans to finance its expansion plans. After a fire destroyed the company’s facility and inventory, it went out of business due to the loss of revenue during the month it was closed. What type of insurance coverage should the company have had to prevent its demise?
A. Cost reimbursement
B. Property
C. General liability
D. Business interruption
Answer: D. Business interruption
Assume the cost of an ACH transaction is $0.80, the charges for a wire transfer are $30.00, the monthly account maintenance fee is $10.00, and the company earns interest at an annual rate of 1.825% on overnight investments. What is the break-even point where the interest earned on overnight investments offsets the incremental wire costs?
A. $3,840
B. $5,840
C. $284,000
D. $584,000
Answer: D. $584,000
An analyst for a landscaping company wants to adjust her cash-flow forecast to account for the seasonality of outflows. How can this be accomplished?
A. Simple moving average
B. Regression analysis
C. Accounts receivable balance pattern
D. Contingency forecasting
Answer: B. Regression analysis
A company has negotiated a credit facility with the following terms:
$5,000,000 line of credit $3,000,000 average borrowing 30 basis point commitment fee on the unused portion of the line Interest rate on advances is 1-month LIBOR plus 4% 1-month LIBOR is currently 2%
What is the annual interest rate on the line of credit?
A. 6.0%
B. 6.2%
C. 9.0%
D. 9.3%
Answer: B. 6.2%