分类: 特许公认会计师(ACCA)国际认证资格考试(二区)

  • 2015年6月ACCA P4考试真题及答案

    2015年6月ACCA P4考试真题及答案

    Advanced Financial
    Management
    Thursday 4 June 2009

    In recent years commercial property values have risen in real terms by 4% per annum. Current inflation is 2·5% per
    annum. Property rentals currently earn an 8% return.
    The proposal is that 50% of the property portfolio (land and buildings) and 50% of the assets under construction
    would be sold to a newly established property holding company called RPH that would issue bonds backed by the
    assured rental income stream from BBS Stores. BBS Stores would not hold any equity interest in the newly formed
    company nor would they take any part in its management.
    BBS Stores is currently financed by equity in the form of 25c fully paid ordinary shares with a current market value
    of 400c per share. The capital debt for the company consists of medium-term loan notes of which $360 million are
    repayable at the end of two years and $770 million are repayable at the end of six years. Both issues of medium-
    term notes carry a floating rate of LIBOR plus 70 basis points. The interest liability on the six year notes has been
    swapped at a fixed rate of 5·5% in exchange for LIBOR which is also currently 5·5%. The reduction in the firm’s
    gearing implied by option 1 would improve the firm’s credit rating and reduce its current credit spread by 30 basis
    points. The change in gearing resulting from the second option is not expected to have any impact upon the firm’s
    credit rating. There has been no alteration in the rating of the company since the earliest debt was issued.
    The BBS Stores equity beta is currently 1·824. A representative portfolio of commercial property companies has an
    equity beta of 1·25 and an average market gearing (adjusted for tax) of 50%. The risk free rate of return is 5% and
    the equity risk premium is 3%. The company’s current accounting rate of return on new investment is 13% before
    tax. You may assume that debt betas are zero throughout.
    The effective rate of company tax is 35%.
    Required:
    On the assumption that the property unbundling proceeds, prepare a report for consideration by senior
    management which should include the following:
    (a) A comparative statement showing the impact upon the statement of financial position and on the earnings
    per share on the assumption that the cash proceeds of the property sale are used:
    (i) To repay the debt, repayable in two years, in full and for reinvestment in non-current assets;

  • 2015年6月ACCA P5考试真题及答案

    2015年6月ACCA P5考试真题及答案

    Advanced Performance
    Management
    Friday 5 June 2009

    Section A – BOTH questions are compulsory and MUST be attempted
    1 The Royal Laurel Hospital (RLH) and The King Hardy Hospital (KHH) are government funded institutions which are
    managed by the Glasburgh Trust. The following information is available for the year ended 31 May 2009.
    RLH RLH KHH
    Actual Budget Actual
    Total inpatients 37,000 36,500 40,000
    Number of inpatients waiting >5 weeks for admission 3,330 365 320
    Number of inpatients waiting >11weeks for admission 740 0 0
    Total outpatients 44,000 43,800 44,000
    Number of outpatients waiting >5 weeks for treatment 4,400 2,190 352
    Number of outpatients waiting >11 weeks for treatment 1,320 438 220
    Number of outpatients waiting >13 weeks for treatment 220 0 0
    Achievement (%) of target maximum waiting time of 2 weeks for
    admission to Rapid Access Chest Pains Clinic 70 98 100
    Number of emergency admissions 300 400 300
    Number of 12 hour ‘trolley’ waits for emergency admissions 4 0 0
    Achievement (%) of target of 4 hours or less time spent in
    accident and Emergency ward 96 98 100
    Number of complaints received 1,620 803 420
    Number of complaints responded to within 25 days 1,539 803 416
    Number of deaths (all inpatients) 600 730 800
    Infection control – number of instances of infections reported 2 6 0
    Number of drug administration errors 80 100 20
    Number of staff shortages 80 60 20
    Staff productivity measure (number of patient days per staff member) 8·4 7·4 9·2
    Number of times of Government or agency staff usage 80 60 20
    Bed occupancy (number of inpatient bed days) 138,750 146,000 134,320
    Theatre utilisation (%) ? ? ?
    % of inpatients requiring a single operation 80% 80% 80%
    Number of operations performed 29,008 ? 31,840
    Revenue from clinical and non-clinical activities ($m) 54·2 55·2 60·2
    Medical staff costs ($m) 22·3 22·2 19·6
    Other staff costs ($m) 5·5 5·5 4·0
    Income and expenditure surplus margin (1·0) 0·0 4·0

  • 2015年6月特许公认会计师(ACCA)P6考试真题及答案

    2015年6月特许公认会计师(ACCA)P6考试真题及答案

    Advanced Taxation
    (United Kingdom)
    Monday 1 June 2009

    2 An extract from an e-mail from your manager following a meeting he has had with Charleston Dance is set out below.
    I attach a memorandum summarising the matters discussed in a meeting I had yesterday with Charleston. I also
    attach a calculation of the inheritance tax due on his father’s death as prepared by his friend, Lindy. I have not had
    the chance to look at this in detail but I can confirm that the annual exemptions and the taper relief have been
    applied correctly and that there are no arithmetical errors; please review it with care.
    I want you to write a letter from me to Charleston covering the following issues.
    (i) Inheritance tax
    – Brief explanations of any errors you find when you review Lindy’s calculation of the inheritance tax due
    on Charleston’s father’s death and the effect of correcting the errors on the total inheritance tax due.
    (ii) Investments and pensions
    – The suitability of investing in venture capital trusts and a summary of the tax reliefs available in respect
    of such an investment.
    – The maximum tax allowable pension contributions that can be made by Charleston and Betty and the
    effect on this, if any, of purchasing further rental properties.
    (iii) Income tax planning
    – Calculations, with supporting explanations to show that the total tax payable would increase (rather than
    decrease!) if he were to transfer all of the quoted shares and government stocks to a company wholly
    owned by him. Use the income figures from Lindy’s inheritance tax calculation for these purposes and
    assume that the whole of the new company’s post-tax income would be paid as a dividend to Charleston.
    – The income tax advantages of Charleston transferring investments to Betty or their children.
    – The points that Charleston needs to be aware of in connection with tax avoidance schemes and the
    taxation of the Balboan properties.
    Thank you

  • 2015年6月特许公认会计师(ACCA)P7考试真题及答案

    2015年6月特许公认会计师(ACCA)P7考试真题及答案

    Advanced Audit and
    Assurance
    (International)
    Tuesday 2 June 2009

    2 (a) Explain FOUR reasons why a firm of auditors may decide NOT to seek re-election as auditor. (6 marks)
    The Dragon Group is a large group of companies operating in the furniture retail trade. The group has expanded rapidly
    in the last three years, by acquiring several subsidiaries each year. The management of the parent company, Dragon
    Co, a listed company, has decided to put the audit of the group and all subsidiaries out to tender, as the current audit
    firm is not seeking re-election. The financial year end of the Dragon Group is 30 September 2009.
    You are a senior manager in Unicorn & Co, a global firm of Chartered Certified Accountants, with offices in over 150
    countries across the world. Unicorn & Co has been invited to tender for the Dragon Group audit (including the audit
    of all subsidiaries). You manage a department within the firm which specialises in the audit of retail companies, and
    you have been assigned the task of drafting the tender document. You recently held a meeting with Edmund Jalousie,
    the group finance director, in which you discussed the current group structure, recent acquisitions, and the group’s
    plans for future expansion.
    Meeting notes – Dragon Group
    Group structure
    The parent company owns 20 subsidiaries, all of which are wholly owned. Half of the subsidiaries are located in
    the same country as the parent, and half overseas. Most of the foreign subsidiaries report under the same financial
    reporting framework as Dragon Co, but several prepare financial statements using local accounting rules.
    Acquisitions during the year
    Two companies were purchased in March 2009, both located in this country:
    (i) Mermaid Co, a company which operates 20 furniture retail outlets. The audit opinion expressed by the
    incumbent auditors on the financial statements for the year ended 30 September 2008 was qualified by a
    disagreement over the non-disclosure of a contingent liability. The contingent liability relates to a court case
    which is still on-going.
    (ii) Minotaur Co, a large company, whose operations are distribution and warehousing. This represents a
    diversification away from retail, and it is hoped that the Dragon Group will benefit from significant economies
    of scale as a result of the acquisition.
    Other matters
    The acquisitive strategy of the group over the last few years has led to significant growth. Group revenue has
    increased by 25% in the last three years, and is predicted to increase by a further 35% in the next four years as
    the acquisition of more subsidiaries is planned. The Dragon Group has raised finance for the acquisitions in the
    past by becoming listed on the stock exchanges of three different countries. A new listing on a foreign stock
    exchange is planned for January 2010. For this reason, management would like the group audit completed by

  • ACCA P3冲刺讲义-PPT讲座下载

    ACCA P3冲刺讲义-PPT讲座下载

    Opening Speech

    An unique and interesting course
    characteristics of the examination
    Narrative (English writing skill)
    Analytic (no right answer)
    Exam skills: theory plus imagination
    points plus example

    Strategic process
    In General
    Levels of strategy
    Process, content of strategy
    Design, experience, idea of strategy

    Linkage with other models: culture, mission & objective
    Environmental Scanning suitability analysis

    PESTEL analysis
    Porter’s diamond
    The five forces model
    Market Mix
    Market Segments

    PESTEL
    Political (Legal) factor : mandatory
    Economy factor: adapting
    Social factor: adapting and leading
    Technology factor: using & compensate when lack
    Environmental protection: social trends and responsibility

    Macro environment analysis, rarely used isolated, unless required.

    Character
    Overlapping among factors
    Vary due to regional change: national/global

    Linkage with other models: stakeholder mapping, SWOT,

  • 中国工商银行ACCA培训班F6串讲讲义PPT课件

    中国工商银行ACCA培训班F6串讲讲义PPT课件

    Course Contents
    Revision on Syllabus Contents
    The UK tax system
    Income tax liabilities
    Corporation tax liabilities
    Chargeable gains
    National insurance contributions
    Value added tax
    The obligations of taxpayer and/or their agents
    Mock Exam Illustration
    Calculations of Income Tax Liabilities
    Calculations of Corporation Tax Liabilities
    Questions on Value Added Tax
    Calculations of Chargeable Gains
    Calculations of Tax Planning – Assessment of Trading Income, Loss Relief, Pay Packages, Group Relief
    Miscellaneous Topics

    Course Contents
    Revision on Syllabus Contents
    The UK tax system
    Income tax liabilities
    Corporation tax liabilities
    Chargeable gains
    National insurance contributions
    Value added tax
    The obligations of taxpayer and/or their agents
    Mock Exam Illustration
    Calculations of Income Tax Liabilities
    Calculations of Corporation Tax Liabilities
    Questions on Value Added Tax
    Calculations of Chargeable Gains
    Calculations of Tax Planning – Assessment of Trading Income, Loss Relief, Pay Packages, Group Relief
    Miscellaneous Topics

    The UK tax system
    The overall UK tax system mainly runs as self-assessment. A number of economic and social factors determine details of tax treatment: encourage of individual saving habits, giving to charity, environmental protection; discourage motoring, smoking & alcohol and environmental pollutions

    F6 discuss five tax types including Income Tax, Corporation Tax, Value Added Tax, Capital Gain Tax and National Insurance Contribution. However, general rules are similar 1)there must be a chargeable person (individual vs incorporated entity) for tax assessment 2)there must be a chargeable period for tax assessment – the main task in F6 for candidates is to assess different kinds of taxable profit/income and determine applicable tax rates for calculation of tax liabilities

    Exam in 2008 Dec still base on Finance Act 2007 with reference to all kinds of case laws in place

    Tax planning means realization of tax avoidance with uses of charges, allowances and reliefs. Only most tax beneficial method is regarded as the correct answer. Tax evasion is forbidden and discloser of such issues will cause punishment.
    Course Contents
    Revision on Syllabus Contents
    The UK tax system
    Income tax liabilities
    Corporation tax liabilities
    Chargeable gains
    National insurance contributions
    Value added tax
    The obligations of taxpayer and/or their agents
    Mock Exam Illustration
    Calculations of Income Tax Liabilities
    Calculations of Corporation Tax Liabilities
    Questions on Value Added Tax
    Calculations of Chargeable Gains
    Calculations of Tax Planning – Assessment of Trading Income, Loss Relief, Pay Packages, Group Relief
    Miscellaneous Topics

    Income Tax Liabilities
    Income tax is a tax levied on individuals by reference to their taxable income for a fiscal year.

    In Exam Question One is an income tax question which most likely contain trading income and income tax computation. There may also be marks for trading losses benefits pensions and national insurance contributions and the residence status of an individual.

    Subtopics
    Classification of different sources of income
    Income Tax Computation – Taxable Income Computation, Calculation of Liability
    Aging Allowance and Extended Band of Basic Rate
    Tax payable, Balancing Payment and Payment on Accounts
    Assessment of Taxable Trading Profit – Adjustment of Trading Profit, Partnership, Basis Period Adjustment
    Business Property Income
    Employment Income
    Loss Reliefs
    Classification of Different Sources of Income
    Taxable income computation
    Taxable income computation
    Income Tax Liability
    Sample of Income Tax Liability
    Aging Allowance
    Extended Band of Basic Rate
    Tax payable, Balancing Payment, Payments on Account
    Assessment of Taxable Trading Profit
    Adjustment of Account Profit to Taxable Profit
    NET PROFIT PER ACCOUNTS X

    ADD BACK:
    – Expenditure not deductible for tax purpose (X)
    X
    DEDUCT:
    – Income assessable under other categoriesX
    – Non-taxable income X
    (X)
    ADJUSTED PROFITS X

    Less: CAPITAL ALLOWANCES *business related
    – Plant & machinery (X)
    – Industrial buildings (X)

    Tax adjusted trading profitsX

    Typical Expenditure by a business
    Typical Expenditure by a business
    Sample
    Tips for Adjustment of Account Profit to Taxable Profit
    Disallowed
    Capital expenditure
    General provision
    Entertainment (exempt. For staff/ customer conditional)
    Donation
    Legal and professional charges

    Re-class
    Gift aid donation
    Legal and professional charges
    interest related
    Capital Allowance On P & M
    Short Life Asset
    Long Life Asset
    Private use assets
    Sample of Capital Allowance – P& M

  • 中国工商银行ACCA培训班F7串讲讲义PPT课件

    中国工商银行ACCA培训班F7串讲讲义PPT课件

    PAPER F7
    FINAL REVIEW
    GROUP ACCOUNTING
    The concepts and basic principles in relation to consolidated financial statements are involved in:

    IFRS 3 Business Combinations (revised in January 2008)
    IAS 27 Consolidated and Separate Financial Statements
    IAS 28 Investments in Associates
    What you are required at Paper F7 stage
    Preparation of consolidated statement of financial position under the circumstance of a single group

    Calculation of goodwill, NCI and consolidated reserve
    Dealing with FV adjustments
    Dealing with intercompany items
    Dealing with pre-acquisition dividend
    Dealing with associate
    inclusion in or exclusion from consolidation

    What you are required at Paper F7 stage
    Preparation of consolidated income statement under the circumstance of a single group

    Use of a worksheet
    Dealing with associate
    Dealing with intercompany items
    The effects of newly issued IFRS3 on exam
    Under old IFRS3
    Goodwill = cost of business combination
    – P% (FV of NA of sub. at acq.)
    Only g/w attributable to Parent is calculated.

    Implicit assumption:
    At the date of acquisition
    MI = MI% (FV of NA of sub. at acq.)
    The effects of newly issued IFRS3 on exam
    Under new IFRS3 (contents marked with★ are what you are required to grasp)

    ★Goodwill = consideration transferred by Parent (B)
    + NCI (A)
    – FV of NA of sub. at acq. (C)

    In (A), (B) and (C) there is something you must keep in mind.

    The effects of newly issued IFRS3 on exam
    (A) At acq. ★NCI is measured
    ① NCI% (FV of NA of sub. at acq.)
    Calculation of g/w is the same as old IFRS3.
    ② FV of shared held by NCI
    attributable to Parent
    consideration P – P% (FV of NA of sub. at acq.)
    g/w =
    NCI – NCI% (FV of NA of sub. at acq.)
    attributable to NCI
    The effects of newly issued IFRS3 on exam
    (B) Consideration transferred by Parent

    ★Acquisition-related costs shall be expensed.
    ★Contingent consideration is measured as acquisition-date FV.
    Whether or not part of exchange for acquiree.

    The effects of newly issued IFRS3 on exam
    (C) FV of NA of sub. at acq.
    All identifiable intangible assets acquired in business combination shall be recognised separately from goodwill.

    Thus under new IFRS3 more intangible recognised.
    The effects of newly issued IFRS3 on exam
    The effects of newly issued IFRS3 on exam
    The effects of newly issued IFRS3 on exam
    The effects of newly issued IFRS3 on exam
    The effects of newly issued IFRS3 on exam
    SOFP (if NCI is measured at FV at acq.)
    Asset
    goodwill: – unimpaired total g/w

    Equity and liabilities
    consolidated reserve:
    P + P% (post acq. reserve of sub.) – impaired g/w to P
    NCI:
    NCI% (FV of FV of sub. at y/e) + unimpaired g/w to NCI
    Technical issues –Tip
    Technical issues – Associate
    You shall apply equity method when dealing with associate in preparation of consolidated financial statements.
    In the consolidated statement of financial position
    “Investment in associates”
    – Initial cost of investment + group’s share ofassociate’s
    post-acquisition retained profit
    – Group’s share of associate’s net assets at y/e + g/w
    Technical issues – Associate
    In the consolidated income statement
    “Group’s share of the associate’s post-tax profit” should be shown as a single figure in the consolidated income statement. However, in examination the presentation showing “Group’s share of the associate’s pre-tax profit” and “group’s share of the associate’s tax” is also acceptable.
    Technical issues – Inter-company items
    At Paper F7 stage the inter-company items with which we would most likely be faced are inter-company sales and current account between group members.

    In addition, we should also pay attention to intra-group fixed asset transfers and intra-group dividends and proposed dividends.
    Technical issues – Inter-company items
    You should be able to deal with inter-company sales with resulting unsold inventory both between parent and subsidiary and between parent and associate.
    The key point to dealing with intra-group fixed asset transfers is to identify who recognised unrealised profit on transfer (i.e. who made the sale) and who recognised additional depreciation.
    For intra-group dividends and proposed dividends you should make clear whether or not the company involved have accounted for dividends or proposed dividends in their own accounts.
    Technical issues – Pre-acquisition dividend
    Pre-acquisition dividends are paid after acquisition but arise from pre-acquisition accumulated profits.
    The most likely circumstances under which you are required to deal with pre-acquisition dividend is when acquisition took place during the period and the acquiree paid dividend after acquisition.
    The parent would treat its share of the post-acquisition dividend as realised in its own accounts; its share of the pre-acquisition dividend would be treated as unrealised and credited against the consideration paid for the subsidiary.

  • ACCA P1、P2、P3冲刺串讲讲义资料下载

    ACCA P1、P2、P3冲刺串讲讲义资料下载

    ACCA_P1讲义_Dec2009.pdf

    PAPER_P2_final_review.ppt

    ACCA P3冲刺讲义.ppt

    ACCA_P1讲义_Dec2009.pdf

    PaperP1

    Professional Accountant

    REVISION COURSE

    For Dec. 2009 Exam

    Lecturer: Mr. Chen

    PAPER_P2_final_review.ppt

    Effects of newly issued IFRS3 in Paper F7
    Effects of newly issued IFRS3 in Paper F7
    Effects of newly issued IFRS3 on simple group question
    (B) Consideration transferred by Parent

    ★Acquisition-related costs shall be expensed.
    ★Contingent consideration is measured as acquisition-date FV (▲subsequent measurement required in Paper P2).
    Whether or not part of exchange for acquiree (▲required in Paper P2).

    Effects of newly issued IFRS3 on simple group question
    Subsequent measurement of contingent consideration

    if due to additional information
    –measurement period adjustment
    if due toevents after acquisition
    –contingent consideration

    liability or assetequity

    IAS39 / IAS37not remeasured

    Effects of newly issued IFRS3 on simple group question
    Whether or not part of exchange for acquiree
    The transaction

    No Yes
    (separate transaction)
    Effects of newly issued IFRS3 on simple group question
    (C) FV of NA of sub. at acq.
    All identifiable intangible assets acquired in business combination shall be recognised separately from goodwill.

    Thus under new IFRS3 more intangible recognised.
    Effects of newly issued IFRS3 in Paper F7
    SOFP (if NCI is measured at FV at acq.)
    Asset
    goodwill: – unimpaired total g/w

    Equity and liabilities
    consolidated reserve:
    P + P% (post acq. reserve of sub.) – impaired g/w to P
    NCI:
    NCI% (FV of FV of sub. at y/e) + unimpaired g/w to NCI

    ACCA P3冲刺讲义.ppt

    Porter’s Diamond
    Demand conditions: customer
    Favorable factor conditions: general & specific, how to make it fav~
    Relating and supporting industries: upstream & downstream
    Firm strategy, structure and rivalry: competitiveness

    Usage of this model:
    Global competition or similar situation
    Inward and outward use
    Function of government : catalyst
    Different stage of globalization has different character in 4 factors

    Linkage with other models: 5 forces, globalization (motivation)
    Five forces model
    Treats from potential entrants: market share
    Suppliers’ bargaining power: price, quality
    Buyers’ bargaining power: price & quality
    Treats from substitutes: price, quality
    Competitive rivalry: price, market share

    Key points:
    Power, consequence and countermeasures of different forces
    Competitiveness and collaboration

    Linkage with other models: Porter’s diamond, product life cycle, marketing issue
    Market Mix
    Product: life cycle, BCG
    Place: channel, logistics
    Promotion: AIDA, media (promotion mix)
    Price: strategic clock
    People: Value chain (for service industry)
    Processes: Value chain (for service industry)
    Physical evidence (for service industry)
    Market Segmentation
    Base of the segmentation
    B2C
    B2B
    E-business

    Customer and market strategy
    Niche
    Differentiated
    mass marketing

    Linkage with other models: Product, value chain, 5 forces, marketing issues (7 Ps)

  • acca p2培训录音下载

    acca p2培训录音下载

    acca p2培训录音文件下载,文件大小108M

  • ACCA P3历年试题大全(2002年-2014年)

    ACCA P3历年试题大全(2002年-2014年)

    包含(2002年-2014年)ACCA P3历年考试真题及答案,文件列表如下:
    Dec-2002.PDF、Dec-2003.PDF、Dec-2004.PDF、Dec-2005.PDF、Dec-2006.PDF、Dec-2007.PDF、Dec-2008.PDF;
    June-2003.PDF、June-2004.PDF、June-2005.PDF、June-2006.PDF、June-2007.PDF、June-2008.PDF;

    Business Analysis
    Wednesday 11 June 2008

    Time allowed
    Reading and planning: 15 minutes
    Writing: 3 hours
    This paper is divided into two sections:
    Section A – This ONE question is compulsory and MUST be attempted
    Section B – TWO questions ONLY to be attempted

    Section A – This ONE question is compulsory and MUST be attempted
    The following information should be used when answering question 1.
    1 Introduction
    AutoFone was established almost twenty years ago at the beginning of the mobile telephone boom. It was formed by
    a dynamic Chief Executive Officer (CEO) who still remains a major shareholder of the company.
    AutoFone brought two new concepts to the market. Firstly, it established retail shops where customers could go and
    handle the products and discuss mobile phone options with trained sales people. Before AutoFone, all mobile
    telephones were sold through the customer directly contacting the telephone network provider (like conventional home
    land line services) and were generally aimed at business rather than leisure users. Secondly, AutoFone sold products
    and services from all the four major network providers licensed by the government to provide telecommunications
    services in the country. Previously, customers could only choose products and services from within one network
    provider’s range. AutoFone allowed customers to choose products and services across the range of the four providers
    and reflected this in the company’s motto ‘ethical advice: the customer’s choice’.
    In 1990, AutoFone signed a thirty-year supply contract with each provider. Although, in retrospect, these deals were
    on commercially favourable terms for AutoFone, the network providers were happy to agree these deals because none
    of them believed that mobile telephones could be successfully sold through retail shops. However, speaking in 2003,
    the managing director of one of the networks suggested ‘that AutoFone had got away with incredible profit margins’
    when they signed the deals in 1990. The four network providers themselves had re-signed twenty-five year licence
    deals with the government in 1995. Under the terms of these deals, licences will be restricted to the four current
    providers until their renewal date of 2020.
    Retail shops Division
    AutoFone currently has 415 shops around the country. To reduce costs most shops are on the edge of (but not in)
    the main shopping area of the town they serve. It is usual for AutoFone to sign a fifty-year shop lease in return for
    low initial annual rental and a rent-free period at the start of the lease while the company fits out the shop to reflect
    AutoFone’s corporate image. In 1997, AutoFone floated on the country’s stock market to assist the funding of further
    shops and so continue its organic growth. The national coverage of its shops, the publicity generated by its CEO and
    a successful television advertising campaign culminated, in 2005, with it being rated by consumers as one of the top
    20 brands in the country.
    The CEO of AutoFone established the retail shops along, in his words, ‘entrepreneurial lines’. He regards each shop
    as an independent business, having to achieve a profit target but without being closely monitored within these targets.
    He believes that the company is ‘about providing opportunity to its employees, providing them with autonomy and
    responsibility to achieve their goals. It is not about monitoring them every hour of the day, stifling creativity and
    enthusiasm.’ To support this approach, sales staff are given a relatively low basic salary with a substantial element of
    profit-related pay linked to the profit targets of the shop. Commission is also paid to sales staff who successfully sell
    mobile phone insurance to the customer. Each shop is relatively small, usually employing three or four people.
    In recent years the CEO has been increasingly involved in television, sports promotion and charity work. At AutoFone
    he has established a strategic planning committee of senior headquarters managers to develop and implement the
    company’s business strategy. This committee includes the two longest serving board directors. The strategy still
    continues to have at its heart the central business idea of giving independent and impartial advice to customers so
    that they can choose the best equipment and network for their needs.
    Marketplace trends
    Since AutoFone’s arrival into the market, two significant trends have emerged:
    (i) The licensed network providers have opened their own retail stores, usually in city centres. AutoFone has reacted
    to the opening of these shops by stressing AutoFone’s independence and impartiality. Only at AutoFone can
    impartial advice be received on all four competing networks and their supporting services. The CEO now refers
    to this as ‘our central business idea’ and, as well as being core to their strategy, it is heavily emphasised in all
    their promotional material.