Chapter 25 provides knowledge of mergers, LBOs, divestitures, and holding companies. This topic will describe: Types of mergers; merger analysis; role of investment bankers; LBOs, divestitures, and holding companies. | CHAPTER 25 Mergers, LBOs, Divestitures, and Holding Companies Topics in Chapter Types of mergers Merger analysis Role of investment bankers LBOs, divestitures, and holding companies What are some valid economic justifications for mergers? Synergy: Value of the whole exceeds sum of the parts. Could arise from: Operating economies Financial economies Differential management efficiency Taxes (use accumulated losses) (More.) Valid Reasons (Continued) Break-up value: Assets would be more valuable if broken up and sold to other companies. What are some questionable reasons for mergers? Diversification Purchase of assets at below replacement cost Acquire other firms to increase size, thus making it more difficult to be acquired Differentiate between hostile and friendly mergers Friendly merger: The merger is supported by the managements of both firms. (More.) Hostile merger: Target firm’s management resists the merger. Acquirer must go directly to the target firm’s stockholders, try to get 51% to tender their shares. Often, mergers that start out hostile end up as friendly, when offer price is raised. Reasons why alliances can make more sense than acquisitions Access to new markets and technologies Multiple parties share risks and expenses Rivals can often work together harmoniously Antitrust laws can shelter cooperative R&D activities Do mergers really create value? According to empirical evidence, acquisitions do create value as a result of economies of scale, other synergies, and/or better management. Shareholders of target firms reap most of the benefits, that is, the final price is close to full value. Target management can always say no. Competing bidders often push up prices. What is a leveraged buyout (LB0)? In an LBO, a small group of investors, normally including management, buys all of the publicly held stock, and hence takes the firm private. Purchase often financed with debt. After operating privately for a number of years, investors take the firm public to “cash out.” What are the advantages and disadvantages of going private? Advantages: Administrative cost savings Increased managerial incentives Increased managerial flexibility Increased shareholder participation Disadvantages: Limited access to equity capital No way to capture return on investment What are the major types of divestitures? Sale of an entire subsidiary to another firm. Spinning off a corporate subsidiary by giving the stock to existing shareholders. Carving out a corporate subsidiary by selling a minority interest. Outright liquidation of assets. What motivates firms to divest assets? Subsidiary worth more to buyer than when operated by current owner. To settle antitrust issues. Subsidiary’s value increased if it operates independently. To change strategic direction. To shed money losers. To get needed cash when distressed. What are holding companies? A holding company is a corporation formed for the sole purpose of owning the stocks of other companies. In a typical holding company, the subsidiary companies issue their own debt, but their equity is held by the holding company, which, in turn, sells stock to individual investors. Advantages and Disadvantages of Holding Companies Advantages: Control with fractional ownership. Isolation of risks. Disadvantages: Partial multiple taxation. Ease of enforced dissolution.
