(c) Discuss the ethical and social responsibilities of the Beth Group and whether a change in the ethical and

social attitudes of the management could improve business performance. (7 marks)

Note: requirement (c) includes 2 professional marks for development of the discussion of the ethical and social

responsibilities of the Beth Group.

5 You are an audit manager in Fox & Steeple, a firm of Chartered Certified Accountants, responsible for allocating staff

to the following three audits of financial statements for the year ending 31 December 2006:

(a) Blythe Co is a new audit client. This private company is a local manufacturer and distributor of sportswear. The

company’s finance director, Peter, sees little value in the audit and put it out to tender last year as a cost-cutting

exercise. In accordance with the requirements of the invitation to tender your firm indicated that there would not

be an interim audit.

(b) Huggins Co, a long-standing client, operates a national supermarket chain. Your firm provided Huggins Co with

corporate financial advice on obtaining a listing on a recognised stock exchange in 2005. Senior management

expects a thorough examination of the company’s computerised systems, and are also seeking assurance that

the annual report will not attract adverse criticism.

(c) Gray Co has been an audit client since 1999 after your firm advised management on a successful buyout. Gray

provides communication services and software solutions. Your firm provides Gray with technical advice on

financial reporting and tax services. Most recently you have been asked to conduct due diligence reviews on

potential acquisitions.

Required:

For these assignments, compare and contrast:

(i) the threats to independence;

(ii) the other professional and practical matters that arise; and

(iii) the implications for allocating staff.

(15 marks)

(d) Corporate annual reports contain both mandatory and voluntary disclosures.

Required:

(i) Distinguish, using examples, between mandatory and voluntary disclosures in the annual reports of

public listed companies. (6 marks)

3 Palm plc recently acquired 100% of the ordinary share capital of Nikau Ltd from Facet Ltd. Palm plc intends to use

Nikau Ltd to develop a new product range, under the name ‘Project Sabal’. Nikau Ltd owns shares in a non-UK

resident company, Date Inc.

The following information has been extracted from client files and from a meeting with the Finance Director of Palm

plc.

Palm plc:

– Has more than 40 wholly owned subsidiaries such that all group companies pay corporation tax at 30%.

– All group companies prepare accounts to 31 March.

– Acquired Nikau Ltd on 1 November 2007 from Facet Ltd, an unrelated company.

Nikau Ltd:

– UK resident company that manufactures domestic electronic appliances for sale in the European Union (EU).

– Large enterprise for the purposes of the enhanced relief available for research and development expenditure.

– Trading losses brought forward as at 1 April 2007 of ￡195,700.

– Budgeted taxable trading profit of ￡360,000 for the year ending 31 March 2008 before taking account of ‘Project

Sabal’.

– Dividend income of ￡38,200 will be received in the year ending 31 March 2008 in respect of the shares in Date

Inc.

‘Project Sabal’:

– Development of a range of electronic appliances, for sale in North America.

– Project Sabal will represent a significant advance in the technology of domestic appliances.

– Nikau Ltd will spend ￡70,000 on staffing costs and consumables researching and developing the necessary

technology between now and 31 March 2008. Further costs will be incurred in the following year.

– Sales to North America will commence in 2009 and are expected to generate significant profits from that year.

Shares in Date Inc:

– Nikau Ltd owns 35% of the ordinary share capital of Date Inc.

– The shares were purchased from Facet Ltd on 1 June 2003 for their market value of ￡338,000.

– The sale was a no gain, no loss transfer for the purposes of corporation tax.

– Facet Ltd purchased the shares in Date Inc on 1 March 1994 for ￡137,000.

Date Inc:

– A controlled foreign company resident in the country of Palladia.

– Annual chargeable profits arising out of property investment activities are approximately ￡120,000, of which

approximately ￡115,000 is distributed to its shareholders each year.

The tax system in Palladia:

– No taxes on income or capital profits.

– 4% withholding tax on dividends paid to shareholders resident outside Palladia.

Required:

(a) Prepare detailed explanatory notes, including relevant supporting calculations, on the effect of the following

issues on the amount of corporation tax payable by Nikau Ltd for the year ending 31 March 2008.

(i) The costs of developing ‘Project Sabal’ and the significant commercial changes to the company’s

activities arising out of its implementation. (8 marks)

(ii) analytical procedures, (6 marks)

might appropriately be used in the due diligence review of MCM.