The Board of Directors of a small listed company engaged in exploration are currently considering the future dividend policy of the company. Exploration is considered a high-risk business and consequently the company has a low level of debt finance.
Forecasts indicate a period of profit fluctuation in the next few years as the company is planning to embark on a major capital investment project. Debt finance is unlikely to be available due to the project's high business risk.
Which THREE of the following are practical considerations when determining the company's dividend/retention policy?

The shares of a company in a high technology industry have been listed on a stock exchange for 10 years.
During this period, it has paid no dividends but invested all retained earnings in growth. The company is now entering a period of relatively stable growth and the directors are considering beginning to pay dividends They are reviewing the following suggestions made by members of the board:
* Pay cash dividends linked to growth in earnings
* Use a residual theory approach to establish cash dividends
* Issue scrip dividends (shares instead of cash)
* Continue to pay no dividends as dividends are irrelevant to the value of the company Which THREE of the following are correct statements for the directors to take into consideration when making a decision about future dividend policy?

Company B is an all equity financed company with a cost of equity of 10%.
It is considering issuing bonds in order to achieve a gearing level of 20% debt and 80% equity.
These bonds will pay a coupon rate of 5% and have an interest yield of 6%.
Company B pays corporate tax at the rate of 25%.
According to Modigliani and Miller's theory of capital structure with tax, what will be Company B's new cost of equity?

A company wishes to raise additional debt finance and is assessing the impact this will have on key ratios.
The following data currently applies:
* Profit before interest and tax for the current year is $500,000
* Long term debt of $300,000 at a fixed interest rate of 5%
* 250,000 shares in issue with a share price of $8
The company plans to borrow an additional $200,000 on the first day of the year to invest in new project which will improve annual profit before interest and tax by $24,000.
The additional debt would carry an interest rate of 3%.
Assume the number of shares in issue remain constant but the share price will increase to $8.50 after the investment.
The rate of corporate income tax is 30%.
After the investment, which of the following statements is correct?

The following information relates to Company ZZA's current capital structure:

Company ZZA is considering a change in the capital structure that will increase gearing to 35:65 (Debt Equity).
The risk-free rate is 4% and the return on the market portfolio is expected to be 12%.
The rate of corporate tax is 25%
Using the Capital Asset Pricing Model, calculate the cost of equity resulting from the proposed change to the capital structure.