Browsing by Author "Lord, Jeremy William."

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Capital gains tax : a base cost and valuation appraisal.
(2002) Dempster, Darin.; Lord, Jeremy William.
This study investigates the implications of the introduction of Capital Gains Tax that came into effect on the 1st October 2001 through the Income Tax Act. The study poses two questions, the first being, whether to elect the actual value of an asset at 1 October 2001 for base cost purposes, or to accept the 'default' time apportionment method? The second question posed raises the subject of whether an asset owner should delay doing a valuation exercise on the assets they presently own or proceed with a valuation exercise now? A number of actual examples were obtained from accounting firms and analysed to see what values the different methods of determining the base cost gave and hence the amount of tax payable. The results clearly show that the longer the asset has been owned by the business or individual prior to the implementation date, the bigger the impact the Time Apportionment Formula has on the answer. The reason for this is the Time Apportionment Formula that states the following "the effect of the formula is to multiply the actual pre-valuation economic expense by a factor, which increases it in the ratio of the pre-valuation period to the whole period of ownership. When this amount is deducted from the actual proceeds, it gives the effect of the gain having arisen at an equal amount per annum over the whole period of ownership". The Market Value Method comes into play when the assets are less than two years old. The results obtained also answer the second part of the question posed of whether to wait or do the valuation exercise now. A quote from the tax planning journal answers the question in the best possible way 'to delay is to pay'. In some of the cases presented the difference between the two methods is substantial and the taxpayer would have had to pay the amount given by the Time Apportionment Formula due to the fact that the Market Value Method has a time restriction placed on it. The Act is quite explicit in the use of the Market Value Method and it's cut off date. The conclusion drawn from the study indicates that it is in the best interest of businesses and individuals to do a valuation exercise on all capital assets owned without delay. These valuation exercises will then help those businesses and individuals determine which base cost calculation method will be in their best interest.
Do mergers and acquisitions (M&A) lead to higher share prices of the acquired and acquiring firms listed on the Johannesburg Securities Exchange and thus higher shareholders' returns? : a case study.
(2003) Mkhize, Henry.; Viegi, Nicola.; Lord, Jeremy William.
No abstract available.
Integrated employee participation schemes in the South African gold-mining industry : a study of their effects and dynamics.
(2010) Lord, Jeremy William.; Coldwell, David A. L.
This research study is concerned with the effects and dynamics of 'integrated' schemes of employee participation, where workers are involved in both work-related decision-making, and also share in the profits of their employer. Prior research and the literature on employee participation has tended to concentrate on the process and effects of either financial participation in isolation, or of decision-making participation, but seldom on situations where both are employed simultaneously. Based on a thorough literature review, this study presents a 'Model of Integrated Employee Participation (incorporating moderating effects)'. The model explicates a process through which both types of worker involvement may operate together, leading to a set of behavioural and performance outcomes. Where the formal participation schemes are operationalised such that, combined, they lead to perceptions equivalent to 'psychological ownership', a substantial goal-congruence and integration of the employee with the organisation occurs. These processes lead, in turn, to influences on individual and organisational outcomes. Antecedent and moderating variables to the operation of such 'integrated' participation schemes are identified in the model. Specifically, the effects of the schemes are postulated to be moderated by employees' biographical and personality factors, by their perceptions of managerial commitment to employee participation, and by their perceptions of aspects of the organisation's managerial system of communication and control. The relevance and implications of the model to the South African gold-mining industry are discussed. Major pillars of this 'Model of Integrated Employee Participation (incorporating moderating effects)' were tested within a detailed investigation of the participation schemes in operation at a profitable South African gold-mining company. This investigation was longitudinal in nature, with two major surveys being performed over a ten-month period. The findings suggested that while the effects of the 'integrated' schemes on employees' job satisfaction, performance and stability were as anticipated, the proposed moderating effects were generally non-existent or insignificant. In order to obtain greater clarity of the dynamics of 'integrated' schemes of employee participation, a path analytic exploration of the interrelationships between the measured variables of the study was then undertaken. A detailed path model was developed and then tested, at three levels of the organisational hierarchy as well as on the entire workforce. The path model was substantially supported for the 'entire workforce', and for the largest stratum of the mine's employees, being the 'unskilled and semi-skilled' workers. Satisfaction with participation was found to be positively and significantly associated with perceived extent of participation. This applied to both the financial and decisional elements of the schemes. Job satisfaction and employee performance were also found to be positively associated with perceived extent of participation and / or satisfaction therewith. Employees' perceptions of managerial commitment to 'integrated participation' predicted their satisfaction therewith. Aspects of the organisation's system of managerial communication and control were found to significantly affect levels of job satisfaction and employee performance in the participative environment of the mine. The model was only partially supported, however, at the more senior levels of 'management' and 'supervisors and artisans'. It thus appeared that 'integrated participation' schemes may not enhance job satisfaction and performance at the higher levels of the organisational hierarchy, and that the schemes' effects may thus be moderated by employee seniority. The empirical findings were supportive of much of the literature on participation programmes. They were particularly consistent with 'affective' and 'contingency' explanatory models of the effects of -participation. The findings did not, however, support 'cognitive' explanatory models of the effects of participation.
An investigation into the capital budgeting practices of ELCT Iringa diocese, Iringa, Tanzania.
(2003) Ugulumu, Enoch Stanley.; Lord, Jeremy William.
Discounted cash flow (DCF) techniques for capital investment appraisal perform very crucial and important roles that relate to issues ranging from financial to technical, policy and socio-economic environments. Analyses need to be carried out when an organization undertakes capital expenditure on projects and programs. Capital budgets coordinate the development of the organization's long-term capital expenditure projections based on its long-term strategic plans. This dissertation is a result of a descriptive study conducted in the Iringa diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania located in Iringa district. The purposes of this study were the following: > To undertake descriptive research to understand the practice of DCF capital· budgeting by key heads of programs and projects of the ELCT Iringa diocese. >To identify key problem areas pertaining to capital budgeting that led to the deterioration of finances in the diocese of Iringa. >To provide recommendations on the alleviation of those identified problems. The study used various forms of data including, the ELCT statistical reports, financial guidelines, a library literature review and a long questionnaire that was distributed to the heads of the particular program/project. The study established the following: > The diocese of Iringa has strategic plans some of which extend to a period of three years. > The heads of programs do not have the necessary skills to pursue DCF Capital budgeting techniques for cash flows estimates falling within the estimated time frame. > The available guidelines issued by the ELCT head office that are currently used do not include the discounting rates and the time value of money when analyzing and evaluating projects and programs. > Since 1997 there has been a decrease in the income that ELCT Iringa diocese is receiving. > There is a need for ELCT Iringa to concentrate more on public relations exercises to attract key donors who could support the running of its programs and projects. In order to reduce the degree of vulnerability and improve her financial viability, it is recommended that ELCT Iringa diocese employ DCF capital budgeting techniques by developing new and better guidelines for capital budgets. Program and project heads also need to be trained in the use of newly developed guidelines. The ELCT Iringa diocese is also advised to improve its handling of finances in order to inspire confidence from its donors.
The mean variance efficiency of the JSE all share index (ALSI) and it's implications for portfolio management.
(2001) Roopanand, Rahul.; Lord, Jeremy William.
The use of proxies in the CAPM model to determine assets expected return has implications for portfolio management. An inefficient proxy can result in the lowering of beta estimates due to a weak regression relationship resulting in the misallocation of capital. For the CAPM equation to be satisfied would require that the proxy should at least have an alpha that centred on zero over a period of time. This would allow the linearity of the model to hold and we would advocate a passive portfolio strategy. If the proxy were mean variance inefficient would indicate that alpha values are present in asset returns that can allow us to rebalance portfolios using optimisation techniques. We test the hypothesis that alpha averages around zero using the market model by regressing Industrial and Gold index excess returns on the market premium. When tested from the SA investor perspective we find that the alpha of the ALSI regression is not zero for the Gold Index but centred on zero for the Industrial Index. The implications are that SA investors would get a fair return holding the ALSI index instead of trade in industrial shares. The result warrants a passive strategy. However, portfolio optimisation demonstrates that a higher return can be achieved by rebalancing the portfolio The regression using the Gold index produced a negative alpha implying that investors should actively sell Gold shares from their portfolios. The ALSI was not an adequate proxy of risk to the SA investor for gold shares. Overall the ALSI is inefficient since it has a nonlinear relationship to one sector of the lSE. Portfolio analysis and rebalancing is required to attain an optimal return. The Markowitz model recommends that all SA investment capital should be fully weighted in the Industrial index only. Introducing an international investment proxied by the Dow Jones significantly improved the returns to SA investors. This is evident in the improved Sharpe ratio achieved by the rand adjusted Dow Jones available to the SA investor. In the absence of exchange restrictions the model recommends that 87% of local investors assets should be moved abroad under the present investment conditions. When tested from the US investor's perspective using dollar returns the data estimates achieved from the regression analysis were: The alpha value of the Industrial index is non-zero and the Gold index alpha centres on zero. The results are a reversal of the Rand tests of the SA investor. Gold shares priced fairly in dollar terms as opposed to Industrial shares. Currency effects of Rand depreciation priced into the dollar return of Industrial shares led to their non-participation in the US investors' portfolio. Due to trade of gold in dollars, the gold shares were priced to provide a fair return to the dollar-adjusted ALSI as opposed to the rand denominated test. Overall, the ALSI was inefficient due to the Industrial sector pricing in dollars resulting in abnormal alpha values over time. Currency depreciation resulted in the distortion ofthe CAPM relationship between the INDI and ALSI. The US investor's domestic index, the Dow Jones was found to lie on the efficiency frontier for tests using the ALSI and the INDI. There was no reason to invest in SA, but if the US investor did chose to invest in SA shares then gold had the lowest beta and the lowest correlation to the Dow Jones. The beta values of the SA indices were all significant and the alpha values were negative when regressed against the Dow Jones. The implication of this would be to invest as much as possible in the international index portfolio as possible. Regression Statistics ALSIXS I:\DIXS GOLDIXS P-values ntercept a 1.18E-05 0.001992 1.51 E-OS DOWJONES 9.87E-15 1.32E-11 5.27E-05. Coefficients intercept a -0.09833 -0.07281 -0.15206 DOWJONES 1.082276 0.985812 0.831916. The Dow Jones introduces a significant diversification benefit to the SA investor's portfolio by increasing returns significantly per unit of risk. The Markowitz model recommends that 87% of SA investor's portfolio should be in the Dow Jones and 13% in the Industrial index. Due to independent pricing of the gold and industrial sectors, the former by international markets in dollars and the latter in rands in SA, a dichotomy is created in the local market. From an SA investor's point of view the CAPM would not capture the correct return of gold shares. It would overstate the expected return since beta of the SA market premium will not include dollar returns. The ALSI is an incorrect proxy for the SA investor analysing gold shares. The Gold sector is only correctly priced from the US investor's perspective once the ALSI is dollar adjusted. The industrial index can use CAPM analysis reliably with the ALSI as market proxy but higher returns are achievable through portfolio rebalancing. Active portfolio management is recommended. Nevertheless, this will not produce results significantly different to the CAPM once standard errors of the mean are accounted for. The results found currency depreciation of the Rand as a major factor contributing to the exodus of SA capital. The dollar had an expected mean return of 12,6% p.a. This substantially increased the rand adjusted Sharpe ratio of the international portfolio compared to its dollar return. The increased Sharpe ratio of the rand denominated international portfolio resulted in a substantial shift of the optimal portfolios weighting away from the domestic portfolio and towards the Dow Jones. International investors optimal portfolios were similarly impeded due to the depreciating currency.
Mergers and acquisitions : do they create shareholder value?
(2001) Aves, Bridget.; Lord, Jeremy William.
The topic of mergers and acquisitions, and their ability to create shareholder value, is one that continues to raise a fair amount of debate. Many studies have been carried out, both locally and abroad. They have attempted to analyse the wealth effects of mergers and acquisitions on both the shareholders of the acquiring and acquired firms. In some instances the findings have been fairly consistent across companies on the various stock exchanges, while other have produced controversial results. Generally the findings regarding the acquired firms have been consistent, across most studies, but the results regarding the acquiring firms has been less straightforward. This paper discusses the various types of mergers and acquisitions that a company may undertake, as well as the possible rationale for undertaking such investments. Some of the more recent and well-known studies that have been undertaken are then discussed, and an attempt is made to find a common thread amongst all the various studies. Further factors which "research has found to have an impact on the success or failure of mergers and acquisitions are then discussed, with the purpose of trying to identify the key reasons for merger failure, and hence the failure to create shareholder value for the acquiring firm. In other words, what are the traits or key factors that lead to successful mergers and acquisitions, ones that do not destroy shareholder value? Finally, the area of divestitures is discussed, because it is often believed that they are a key admission of the failure of past merger activity. Trends in merger and divestiture activity are also examined. Finally, a conclusion is drawn from the various studies and readings that have been done. The basis of this paper is primarily a secondary literature review. Two case studies are then undertaken; one which focus's on acquisitions by an IT Company which fail to create shareholder value, and the second examines an unrelated acquisition and subsequent divestiture by a listed company in the transport sector. A significant limitation that was encountered in doing research on the topic was the lack of availability of recent studies undertaken. The majority of the work done on this subject was researched during the 1960's to 1980's. With the only significant South African study being conducted by Aftleck-Graves et al in 1988. Although recent articles and commentary on the subject have been written in the late 1990's, I was unable to find any recent studies. The majority of research undertaken has also been done in the American and European markets, with as mentioned, only one or two studies being conducted on the JSE.
Portfolio management issues in Mauritius.
(2002) Uppiah, Krishnaveni.; Lord, Jeremy William.
This dissertation relates to the study of the financial market of Mauritius, which is categorised as "Emerging". Its performance as an exchange system has been assessed with a view to find whether it is operationally efficient. Consequently, two issues in portfolio management have been analysed. In the first instance, the risk reduction effect of increasing portfolio size, based on the simple diversification strategy has been experienced. Secondly, the hypothesis that investment in low P/BV shares on average yields higher returns than investment in high P/BV shares has been tested.