Question 130 marks
Question
Energy Solutions (ES) ES is a public limited company in country X. The business was set up in 1980. For 25 years most of ES’s revenue came from coal mining. Although ES still owns many coal mines, the business now specialises in hydraulic fracturing, known as fracking. This is a process used to extract gas from underneath the ground. The government of country X encourages firms like ES to grow. The growth of ES has led 5 to economies of scale and lower unit costs. ES considers the effects of fracking on all the stakeholders of the business. Fig. 1.1 is an extract from a recent newspaper article about fracking. Fracking is not liked by everyone. On the positive side it could produce enough gas to mean that country X can produce its own energy for the next 100 years. This is also 10 likely to mean lower energy prices for both businesses and consumers. Competing companies in the market have taken full advantage of fracking and are expecting to increase their revenue and profit substantially in the future. However, people who live near the fracking sites have reported many minor earthquakes. These have not damaged any buildings but the price of houses in those areas has 15 decreased significantly. There has also been a concern that fracking could lead to pollution and a loss of wildlife. Fig. 1.1: Extract from a recent newspaper article about fracking Despite the complaints from some external stakeholders, ES plans to increase the number of fracking sites in country X. This will require ES to buy licences from the government of 20 country X. Each licence costs $50m and ES will require both internal and external sources of finance to fund this purchase. ES employs over 1000 people. Every worker benefits from a profit-sharing scheme (see Table 1.1) as well as their basic pay. Table 1.1: Profit-sharing scheme at ES 25 Profit in 2019 $12m Each director’s share of profit 0.25% Each manager’s share of profit 0.1% Each of other employees’ share of profit 0.002% (a) (i) Define the term ‘revenue’ (line 2). [2] (ii) Explain the term ‘unit costs’ (line 6). [3] (b) (i) Refer to Table 1.1. Calculate the difference in dollars received by each director and each manager from the profit-sharing scheme. [3] (ii) Explain one disadvantage to ES of using a profit-sharing scheme. [3] (c) Analyse one internal source of finance and one external source of finance that ES could use to purchase a fracking licence. [8] (d) Evaluate how two external stakeholders of ES might be affected by the company continuing to use the fracking process. [11]
Mark scheme
1(a)(i) Define the term ‘revenue’ (line 2). 2 Knowledge Marks A correct definition 2 A partial, vague or unfocused definition 1 No creditable content 0 Content A correct definition should include the following elements (allow one mark for each element): • Revenue is the money received (by a business) • for selling its products and services. Alternatively, a candidate can gain BOTH marks for a correct formula: • Price × quantity sold (2) Exemplar Mark Rationale Revenue is the money a firm gets 2 Both elements from sales Price × Quantity 2 Valid formula The income of a firm 1 First element only Revenue is the profit of a firm 0 Incorrect 1(a)(ii) Explain the term ‘unit costs’ (line 6). 3 Award one mark for each point of explanation: Rationale Marks C Example or some other way of showing good 1 understanding – only if both A and B marks have been gained B An understanding of unit – must be an idea of a 1 single product/good A An understanding of costs – must be an idea that a 1 cost is something paid by a business or incurred from production 1(a)(ii) Content Exemplar Marks Rationale The amount that a business must pay 3 All three marks out (A) to produce a single item (B). For example, this may be what ES has to pay out to produce a single unit of energy. How much a business pays (A) to 2 Both A and B marks make a single produce (B). Total costs/output. 2 Both A and B marks Costs are incurred by a business by 1 A mark only production. The total costs, which include fixed 1 Clear understanding of and variable costs of products divided a single unit, but no by the number of products (B). explanation of what a cost is. What it costs for a unit (B). 1 ‘…a unit’ is enough for the B mark. The cost of one (B) unit of a good. An 1 A clear idea of a single example would be the cost of one can unit. However, of cola. example mark cannot be given without A and B marks awarded. The cost of units. 0 Neither unit or cost is explained. 1(b)(i) Refer to Table 1.1. Calculate the difference in dollars received by each 3 director and each manager from the profit-sharing scheme. Rationale Marks Correct answer with or without correct working or $ 3 Correct calculation of Directors share and Managers share 2 Correct calculation of Directors share or Managers share 1 No creditable content 0 Content • Directors share of the profit = 0.25% = 0.25% of $12 m = $30 000 ($0.03 m) • Managers share of the profit = 0.1% = 0.1% of $12 m = $12 000 ($0.012 m) • $30 000 – $12 000 = $18 000 Answer = $18 000 ($0.018 m) OFR – award for the answer if there is clear working shown for the two earlier numbers (even if both of these numbers are wrong) Common answers Answer Mark Rationale 18 000 3 Correct answer – does not need $ $12 m 1 Candidate has inverted the profit- 0.25 = $48 m sharing formula for both Directors and Managers, which are not creditable. $12 m However, the candidate then 0.1 = $120 m completes the last stage correctly and based on their own figure (OFR) $48 m + $120 m = should be awarded one mark. $168 m *OFR means the use of the own figure rule – this aims to reward a candidate for the stages of a calculation that are correct, even if an earlier stage or figure used is incorrect. An early mistake, for example, would create all following calculations to have wrong answers, but these are still rewardable (if correct when using a candidate’s own figures) Therefore the candidate cannot gain marks for the stage that was incorrect, but can gain all the subsequent marks. 1(b)(ii) Explain one disadvantage to ES of using a profit-sharing scheme. 3 Level Knowledge and Application Marks 2b (APP) Explanation of one disadvantage to ES of a profit- 3 sharing scheme in context 2a (K+K) Explanation of one disadvantage to a business of 2 a profit-sharing scheme 1a (K) Identification of one disadvantage to a business of 1 a profit-sharing scheme 0 No creditable content 0 Content • ES might not have enough retained profit to invest in the new licenses for fracking. • ES shareholders might sell their shares because of low dividends leading to the company being taken over. • Increases the costs of the business and therefore could make ES less competitive (many competitors in the market). • May cause employer/employee issues because of the different shares gained (use of previous answers – OFR). Example of how responses should be marked Identification of a Explanation Possible context disadvantage The owners get less Which may lead to Because ES is a public profit them selling their limited company shares There is less retained Which may lead to Which might stop their profit for ES lower growth for ES expansion into future fracking sites 1(c) Analyse one internal source of finance and one external source of 8 finance that ES could use to purchase a fracking license. Level Knowledge and Marks Analysis Marks Application (4 marks) (4 marks) 2b Shows understanding 4 Good analysis of one 4 of one internal and one internal and one external source of external source of finance in context finance in context 2a Shows understanding 3 Good analysis of one 3 of one internal or one internal or one external source of external source of finance in context finance in context 1b Shows knowledge of 2 Limited analysis of 2 one internal and one one internal and one external source of external source of finance finance 1a Shows knowledge of 1 Limited analysis of 1 one internal or one one internal or one external source of external source of finance finance 0 No creditable content 0 Content Internal • Retained earnings – ES made $12m profit in 2018, so likely to have some retained earnings to use as a source of finance • Sale of assets – ES owns some old coalmines – could these be sold to raise finance for the licenses. External • Selling shares – plc so able to raise funds in this way – profitable and may be able to sell on the basis of publicity that profits will increase • Government grants – government of country X is very supportive of fracking, so may be willing to give a grant to ES • Bank loans – profitable business, promising future returns Allow a rights issue (to current shareholders) as an internal source of finance. However, simply selling shares (with no explicit reference to selling to current shareholders) is an external source of finance. 1(c) Example of an Examples of Examples of possible internal source of application/context analysis (AN + DEV) finance (K) (APP) Retained profit (K) ES had $12m retained Does not need to be profit in 2019 (APP) repaid (AN) but there is an opportunity cost (DEV) Example of an Examples of Examples of possible external source of application/context analysis (AN + DEV) finance (K) (APP) Sell shares (K) ES is a Public Limited So, by selling shares Company (APP) this can release cash to finance the purchase of the fracking license (AN), however, this may lead to a loss of control by the current owners (DEV) 1(d) Evaluate how two external stakeholders of ES might be affected by the 11 company continuing to use the fracking process. Knowledge and Marks Analysis and Evaluation Marks Application (4 marks) (7 marks) Justified evaluation based 7 on arguments in context Developed evaluation 6 based on arguments in context An evaluative statement 5 based on arguments in context Shows understanding of 4 Arguments based on the 4 two external stakeholders effect on two external in context stakeholders in context Shows understanding of 3 Arguments based on the 3 one external stakeholder effect on one external in context stakeholder in context 2 Limited analysis of the 2 Shows knowledge of two effect on two external external stakeholders stakeholders 1 Limited analysis of the 1 Shows knowledge of one effect on one external external stakeholder stakeholder No creditable content 0 1(d) Content • Local community/society – devaluation of houses, earthquakes, pollution • Activists/environmentalists/pressure groups – damage to the natural environment, pollution etc. • Potential investors – attracted to future profit but could be put off by bad publicity (not current shareholders) • Potential employees – Growth in jobs • Customers – cheaper energy, cost of living • Suppliers – increased demand because of ES growing • Lenders – risk of bad publicity or government changing mind at a later date • Government – increase energy self-sufficiency, increased tax revenue, economic growth • Competitors – May lead them to having to purchase a fracking license and increasing costs to compete Analysis should be focussed on the effect on each stakeholder (not the business). Evaluation is most likely to be demonstrated by: • The relative level of effect on each stakeholder • Which stakeholder is likely to be most affected • Whether the effect on each stakeholder is likely to be all bad or all good • How external stakeholder’s effects might be mitigated 1(d) Examples of how an answer could develop and how it should be annotated. K APP AN DEV EVAL Government Gain money Allows the Which may The local (K). from selling government increase community the licenses to invest in the welfare are likely to (APP). infrastructure of the be most (AN). citizens of affected country X (EVAL) (DEV). because they also have to suffer from earthquakes Local Who live This means Which whereas the community near a their houses might government (K). fracking site are worth less mean they will get the may see a (AN) get less money from reduction in money if the licenses the price of they sell no matter their home their home what (APP). (DEV). (EVAL). However, this depends on whether the people keep voting for the government (EVAL). 1(d) K APP AN DEV EVAL Customers May get Which And have The (K). cheaper means the more money customers energy customers to spend on are likely to through ES have to pay household only benefit growing less for their goods from ES (APP). energy (AN). (DEV). continuing to use the Competitors May find Which And may fracking (K) more increases reduce their process competition their costs profit (DEV). (EVAL) for fracking (AN). because licenses increased (APP). competition may lead to even lower prices (EVAL). However, this depends on whether ES and their competitors reduce their prices (EVAL).