You have received the following email from Marcus Svenson, Finance Director:
From: Marcus Svenson, Finance Director
To: Senior Finance Manager
Subject: Biomass proposal
Hi,
The Board has just heard a presentation by an engineering consultancy concerning a proposal to develop a biomass power station adjacent to our North Forest.
The Board has asked us to put together some thoughts about the merits of this proposal. We would proceed on the basis that we would build the power station and sell the resulting electricity to the national power generator which has a number of coal-fired power stations, each of which is nearing the end of its useful life and the coal has to be shipped in, so we should find it relatively easy to guarantee sales. The power generator has indicated that it would be possible to negotiate a three year contract in the first instance, with the expectation that this would be extended by subsequent three year contracts, subject to price and performance.
We would be responsible for building and operating the power plant and we would also have to pay for 50% of the cost of power lines for connecting to the national electricity grid, with the other 50% being funded by the national power generator.
Please draft a briefing paper that I can present to the Board on the following:
How can we predict whether the share price is likely to increase or decrease if we commit ourselves to this project? You should identify the challenges associated with answering that question and indicate how we might address them.
What are the long-term risks associated with future revenues from the sale of electricity? How might we manage these?
Marcus
Reference Material:
Wodd’s Chairman enters your office:
"I am glad I caught you, I am looking for some advice, but I do not wish to involve your boss at this stage, or any of the other executive directors.
I have been approached by Darrell’s Chairman concerning the possibility of a merger between our two companies. I was a little surprised because it has apparently, according to a press article, been in talks with at least one of our competitors and I suspect that it is keen to merge with any large company that can offer some synergy. I understand that Tabel, another major forestry company, has already rejected its proposal.
I happen to know that Darrell has invested a little too heavily in its new MDF factory. It is state of the art, but it has to operate at close to full capacity in order to be economic and Darrell just hasn’t got sufficient forestry resources to keep the factory operating at full volume without destroying its own forests.
We are attractive to merge with because we own large forests that can sustain Darrell’s needs. We don’t manufacture MDF ourselves, but we have lots of experience of supplying this market with raw material. We would divert lots of this output to Darrell’s factory. Darrell believes that it would be possible to dominate the MDF industry if it merged with a company such as ourselves. The fact that we were quite liquid at the end of last year also helps, because I understand that Darrell is having a few cash flow problems.
Its Chairman proposes a full merger. This will be achieved by the creation of a new parent company which will acquire existing equity in both companies through an exchange of shares. He and I will head a special nomination committee to select the most suitable Board for the new company and then I will step down from the Board while he continues as Chairman of the new company.
Needless to say, this is all highly confidential.
Do you think that it sounds as if there are potential and achievable synergies between Wodd and Darrell?
Would you regard it as a gross ethical breach to keep this conversation just between the two of us for the time being, without warning your boss, until I have had the chance to negotiate further with my counterpart at Darrell?"
Reference Material:
The formal merger with Darrell has been negotiated and the legal formalities have been completed. The two company management teams are working on the integration of the two businesses.
You receive an email from Peter Sorchi, the Chief Executive of the merged company:
From: Peter Sorchi, Chief Executive Officer
To: Senior Finance Manager
Subject: Integration of IT and treasury
Hi,
I need you to advise me on a couple of matters. The attached press clipping shows how sensitive this is.
We need to integrate the IT and treasury functions of the former Wodd and Darrell. I thought that it would be a simple matter of identifying the common ground and slimming down both companies’ departments to cover the new entity, but I have the heads of both IT and treasury from each company arguing that their approaches are better for the merged group and that they should take the lead.
Wodd’s Treasurer claims to be an expert in natural hedging of currency risks and Darrell’s argues that her department was highly successful because it makes excellent use of derivatives for hedging. Both agree only on the fact that they cannot work together. I am afraid that I have to agree with them on that and the Board will have the difficult decision of choosing between them.
I have the opposite problem with the IT function. The two Heads of IT are excited to be able to combine their databases and to develop their respective interests in Big Data. They claim that we should retain all of the professional staff in both departments and possibly even expand the merged IT Department beyond that. Given the rationalisation in all of our other functions, I do not think that we can agree to that, but I would hate to throw away a worthwhile opportunity.
Please give me your thoughts on the following:
What approach to hedging is more likely to meet our needs: natural hedging or heavy use of derivatives?
Ignoring hedging, what other factors should we consider in deciding between the two treasurers?
Are the two heads of IT likely to be correct in arguing that we need to retain all existing IT staff in order to exploit synergies in data, particularly opportunities to leverage Big Data?
What would the challenges be in motivating them to reduce their joint staffing levels and how might we deal with these?
Peter
A further eight weeks have passed since the discussion concerning Wodd’s creation of an accredited Forest Certification Service.
Wodd’s Chairman has asked you to a meeting:
"I thought that we had a lucky escape over the Barry Crauder story from a recent news article, but the Government is considering modifying the tax arrangements associated with forestry. Professional forestry companies such as Wodd will continue to pay no tax on forestry profits, but private individuals such as Mr Crauder will be taxed on profits just as they would for any other business. The Government is taking this action because public opinion is against granting generous tax relief to wealthy individuals.
For the moment, this is all highly secret. The minister responsible for forestry has spoken to the chairmen of all of the major forestry companies on the basis that each gives a personal guarantee to respect the Government’s confidence. The minister has done so because she is concerned that stock markets will panic when the news of the tax changes are announced next week. If the shareholders incorrectly believe that we will lose the tax shield on our profits then the share price will drop like a stone. We will be able to announce that we are aware of the changes and that we will not be taxed differently because of them.
I have spoken to the Board about this, making them promise not to repeat any of this information. We have called in and briefed the key analysts who advise the main institutional investors in Marland on the forestry industry.
As things stand, we can expect a lot of the wealthy individuals who own forests to divest themselves as soon as they discover that there are no more tax incentives. That will have significant implications for Wodd, both directly and indirectly.
The Board believes that the markets will overreact when the tax changes are first announced and that we will be unable to do much to manage that. One suggestion that has been put forward is that we should increase the dividend slightly as a signal that we are confident in the future strength of the industry. I suspect that the executive directors are just a little too concerned with the fact that they all have stock options that can only be exercised on a date that falls just after the government is due to announce its intentions on tax.
I need your thoughts in order to have an independent viewpoint from that voiced by the Board:
What effect will the tax changes have on our business?
Do you agree that briefing the analysts will mitigate the risk of our share price overreacting when the tax changes are announced?
Will the additional dividend payment help to maintain the share price?
Is granting executive stock options always a sound basis for aligning the interests of the executive directors and the shareholders?"
You have received the following email from Marcus Svenson, Finance Director:
From: Marcus Svenson, Finance Director
To: Senior Finance Manager
Subject: News reports
Hi,
I have sent you a link to a news site on the internet. Things are getting complicated in Bravador.
Every Board member has been asked to attend a brainstorming session this afternoon, before the CEO flies out to Bravador this evening. We will be considering the following four matters:
Is it acceptable for us to develop this forest, given the commitment that we have made with respect to indigenous peoples’ rights? They have been quoted at the end of the news article.
Is it fair for the environmental protestors to complain that our operations are unsustainable?
Would it be unethical to offer to build a village, with a proper school and medical clinic, for the tribe and to offer them work in our forestry operations?
Is it really a good idea for the CEO to fly to Bravador just to appear on the television news in his boots and overalls?
Please email me your thoughts on each of these matters before I leave for the meeting this afternoon.
Marcus
From: Jan Archibald, Group Chief Financial Officer, Fouce Oil
To: William Seaton, Director of Finance
Subject: Sale of oil fields
Dear William,
As you know, the Board of Fouce Oil is keen that you should operate in an autonomous manner. However, we believe that it is our duty to ask you to reconsider a key issue in Slide’s approach to doing business.
Over the years you have been very successful indeed in finding significant oil fields and bringing those to production. We have been gratified to observe your efforts in doing so and we believe that all shareholders have benefitted from the wealth that you have created.
The Board of Fouce Oil believes that the time has come for Slide to stop giving the fruits of its labour away to other companies. We believe that Slide should retain any successful oil wells and start to earn revenues from the sale of the oil itself rather than the sale of the oil wells. We believe that the stock market would respond favourably to such a development, to the mutual benefit of all.
Best Wishes
Jan
The following email has been forwarded to you by William Seaton, Director of Finance:
From: William Seaton, Director of Finance
To: Finance Manager
Subject: Yesterday’s Board meeting
Hi,
One of my fellow Board members made a brief presentation to the Board. I am attaching the slides that were used in this presentation.
I have to say that I thought that some of the advice being offered to the Board was incorrect, but I would rather make a positive contribution to the discussion and so I said very little.
I need you to email me your thoughts on the following:
Your views on the presentation relating to tax matters
Your views on the briefing relating to the decision making process
Your views on the briefing’s recommendations on driving performance
Finally, an alternative briefing note on driving performance. Ideally, that should be two or three headings, with a
clear explanation for each.
As usual, this is urgent. Many thanks for your help so far with this project.
William
The slides can be found by clicking on the Reference Materials button.
Six months have passed since you first heard of the possibility that Slide might relocate its Head Office to the Middle East.
You have been called into William Seaton, the Director of Finance’s office:
“After lots of deliberation, the Board has reached a final decision on the Head Office move. It has been decided that we will relocate to the Middle East.
I need you to draft a report on the following matters:
First of all, we need a strategy for the choice of country to which we are going to relocate. I need you to think about the strategic decisions that will have to be taken so that we obtain the best possible value from the relocation.
Secondly, we have to think about the change management issues with respect to Slide’s senior managers. We have a good team of senior managers and Board members and we wish to see them relocate with the company. I need your thoughts on this.
Thirdly, there will be significant change issues for the other staff members. We cannot justify moving all of them to the Middle East, but we will be relying on them to ensure an orderly transition from the current Head Office to the new one. They will be busy for several months, then most will be made redundant. The rest will be offered new jobs with Slide because we will need a scaled down administrative presence in Kayland. Again, I need your suggestions for this.
Finally, we need to put together a transition team to deal with the many administrative issues that the move will create. I need you to suggest a clear job description for the transition team that explains the main operational tasks required, so that the directors can be left free to focus on the strategic management.”
Three weeks have passed since you were informed that the relocation would definitely proceed.
You have received the following email from William Seaton, Director of Finance:
From: William Seaton, Director of Finance
To: Finance Manager
Subject: Detailed issues associated with the relocation
Hi,
Congratulations, you are now officially in charge of the transition team! I am confident that you will do an excellent job and that it will be an opportunity to enhance your career.
I realise that the transition team is expected to reduce the pressure on the Board, but I have been asked to keep an eye on things and to ensure that your team has everything that it needs. I won’t interfere, but I will stay in touch.
There are a few matters that I think you should address as a matter of urgency.
Firstly, we need to have plans in place to ensure that our information systems are ready. What changes will we have to make in order to best align the information system with the company’s needs? I am not asking about hardware issues or the physical relocation, but the changes to the information system itself.
Secondly, how might we make use of the data in our own records and external sources to ensure that the new Head Office is managed as efficiently as possible? Remember that the present Head Office is a large and complex operation in its own right and it costs a significant amount to run.
Thirdly, our relocation will create a number of challenges for our corporate treasury team. I need you to identify the key challenges and suggest how they might be dealt with.
Finally, I would like you to identify the criteria against which the success or failure of your team will be judged once the transition is complete. I need your recommendations to be relevant and measurable.
William
The Director of Finance, William Seaton, has invited you into his office.
“This will come as a bit of a shock, but the Board has decided that it would be in our best interests to relocate our Head Office from Kayland to the Middle East. We have interests there, including a regional office, already. We know that the oil industry is welcome and there are several governments which are very open to such foreign direct investment from the West.
Nothing has been decided for certain, but there are compelling tax advantages to us relocating. We would also be subject to slightly less restrictive legal requirements. We can retain our listing on the Kayland stock exchange, albeit as a foreign company.
Things are very much under consideration at the moment, so please don’t tell anybody about this conversation.
I want to check that I have thought of everything at the strategic level before we make an irreversible decision to move. I need you to write me a report on the following:
What are the strategic implications of moving our Head Office from Europe to the Middle East?
What are the strategic risks that might arise and how might we deal with them?
I need to have your thoughts soon because the Board is holding a special meeting this afternoon.”
TESTED 31 Oct 2025