Why Might Shareholders of an Acquiring Firm Prefer to Finance

question 21

Multiple Choice

Why might shareholders of an acquiring firm prefer to finance mergers with stock rather than with cash?

• A) Stock financing is always less costly due to tax consequences.
• B) EPS fall when mergers are financed with cash.
• C) Target-firm shareholders will bear part of the cost if merger benefits were overestimated.
• D) All merger gains go to the acquirer when financed with stock.

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Definitions:

Optimal Distribution Policy

The distribution policy that maximizes the value of the firm by choosing the optimal level and form of distributions (dividends and stock repurchases).

Capital Gains

Capital gains are the profits realized from the sale of assets such as stocks, bonds, or real estate, which exceed the purchase price of these assets.

Stock Dividends

The payment of additional shares of a company to its existing shareholders instead of cash.

Stock Splits

A corporate action in which a company divides its existing stock into multiple shares to increase the liquidity of the shares, though the market capitalization remains the same.