Exam 20: Mergers and Acquisitions and Financial Distress

Which of the following is the type of financial distress in which a firm's operating cash flows are not sufficient to pay its liabilities as they come due?

The main motive for a merger is:

Suppose a linear probability model you have developed finds there are two factors influencing the past bankruptcy behavior of firms: the debt ratio and the profit margin. Based on past bankruptcy experience, the linear probability model is estimated as: PD_i = 0.20 (debt ratio) + 0.15 (profit margin) A firm you are thinking of lending to has a debt ratio of 55 percent and a profit margin of 10 percent. Calculate the firm's expected probability of default, or bankruptcy.

LD Inc. declared bankruptcy through a Chapter 7 filing. Consider the following data in millions of dollars and determine the funds available for secured creditors. -Proceeds from the liquidation of assets = $395 -First mortgage = $102 -Administration expenses associated with the bankruptcy = $5 -Notes payable to the banks = $205 -Subordinated debentures = $350 -Taxes due to federal, state, and other governmental agencies = $17 -Wages due employees (2,000 employees) = $6

Which of the following is an incorrect priority of claims in the event of liquidation? (Note: The first item would be paid first.)

A survey of a local market provided the following average cost data: Johnson Construction Corp. (JCC) has assets of $5 million and an average cost of 15 percent; Anderson Architects (AA) has assets of $8 million and an average cost of 20 percent; Cole Home Builders (CHB) has assets of $8 million and an average cost of 17 percent. For each firm, average costs are measured as a proportion of assets. JCC is planning to acquire AA and CHB with the expectation of reducing overall average costs by eliminating the duplication of services. If JCC plans to reduce operating costs by $300,000 after the merger, what will the average cost be for the new firm?

A survey of a local market provided the following average cost data: Johnson Construction Corp. (JCC) has assets of $4 million and an average cost of 10 percent; Anderson Architects (AA) has assets of $5 million and an average cost of 20 percent; Cole Home Builders (CHB) has assets of $5 million and an average cost of 15 percent. For each firm, average costs are measured as a proportion of assets. JCC is planning to acquire AA and CHB with the expectation of reducing overall average costs by eliminating the duplication of services. What should be the average cost after the acquisition for JCC to justify this merger?

A merger of two companies within the same industry is a ________.

Which of the following is a voluntary liquidation proceeding that passes the liquidation of the firm's assets to a third party that is designated as the assignee or trustee?

Jenny's Day Care is considering a merger with Lionel's Diaper Manufacturers. Jenny's total operating costs of producing services are $350,000 for sales volume of $1.4 million. Lionel's total operating costs of producing services are $300,000 for a sales volume of $1.3 million. For a sales volume of $2.7 million, calculate the reduction in production costs the merged firms need to experience such that the total average cost (TAC) for the merged firms is equal to 20 percent.

Stubborn Motors, Inc., is asking a price of $10.5 million to be purchased by Rubber Tire Motor Corp. Rubber Tire currently has total cash flows of $6 million which are growing at 1 percent annually. Managers estimate that because of synergies the merged firm's cash flows will increase by 4 percent for the first four years following the merger. After the first four years, incremental cash flows will grow at a rate of 3 percent annually. The WACC for the merged firms is 9.75 percent. Calculate the NPV of the merger. Should Rubber Tire Motor Corporation agree to acquire Stubborn Motors for the asking price of $10.5 million?

A linear probability model you have developed finds there are two factors influencing the past bankruptcy behavior of firms: the debt-to-equity ratio and the profit margin. Based on past bankruptcy experience, the linear probability model is estimated as: PD_i = 0.01 (debt/equity) + 0.76 (profit margin) A firm you are thinking of lending to has a debt-to-equity ratio of 121 percent and its expected probability of default, or bankruptcy, is estimated to be 8.125 percent. If sales are $1 million, calculate the firm's net income.

George's Dry Cleaning is considering a merger with Weezzie's Laundry Supply Stores. George's total operating costs of producing services are $590,000 for sales volume (SG) of $4.7 million. Weezzie's total operating costs of producing services are $152,000 for a sales volume (SW) of $2.3 million. For a sales volume of $7 million, calculate the reduction in production costs the merged firms need to experience such that the total average cost (TAC) for the merged firms is equal to 9 percent.

Which of the following is a type of merger in which two firms that sell the same products in different market areas are combined?

Cathy Corp. is considering a merger with Russell, Inc. Cathy's total operating costs of producing services are $200,000 for a sales volume (SC) of $700,000. Russell's total operating costs of producing services are $400,000 for a sales volume (SB) of $1 million. If the two firms merge, calculate the total average cost (TAC) for the merged firm assuming no synergies.

The managers of BSW Inc. have been approached by EAG Corp. for a possible merger. EAG Corp. is asking a price of $20.5 million to be purchased by BSW Inc. The two firms currently have cumulative total cash flows of $1 million that are growing at 3 percent annually. Managers of EAG estimate that because of synergies the merged firm's cash flows will increase to 4 percent for the first three years following the merger. After the first three years, managers of EAG have estimated that cash flows will grow at a rate of 2 percent. The WACC for the merged firms is 8 percent. Managers of BSW Inc. agree that cash flows should grow at an additional 4 percent for the first three years, but are unsure of the long-term growth rate in cash flows estimated by EAG. Calculate the minimum growth rate needed after the first three years such that BSW Inc. would see this merger as a positive NPV project.

Suppose that the financial ratios of a potential borrowing firm took the following values: X₁ = Net working capital/Total assets = 0.15, X₂ = Retained earnings/Total assets = 0.27, X₃ = Earnings before interest and taxes/Total assets = 0.28, X₄ = Market value of equity/Book value of long-term debt = 0.68, X₅ = Sales/Total assets ratio = 0.9. Calculate and interpret the Altman's Z-score for this firm.

If Verizon buys the Green Bay Packers, this would be an example of a:

Which of the following is the type of financial distress in which the return on a firm's assets is less than the firm's cost of capital?

Which of the following is NOT one of the sources of value enhancing synergy in a merger?