Deck 15: International Corporate Governance and Control

Question 1

Exhibit 15-1
Klimewsky, Inc., a U.S.-based MNC, has screened several targets. Based on economic and political considerations, only one eligible target remains in Malaysia. Klimewsky would like you to value this target and has provided you with the following information:

Refer to Exhibit 15-1. The target's board has indicated that it finds a premium of 30 percent appropriate. You have been asked to negotiate for Klimewsky with the Malaysian target. What is the maximum percentage premium you should be willing to offer?

A) 30.0%.
B) 25.9%.
C) you should not offer any premium because the market's valuation is below Klimewsky's valuation.
D) none of the above

Answer 1

B

Question 2

Which of the following tax-related factors need not be considered in assessing a foreign target?

A) corporate tax rates in the host country.
B) withholding tax rates in the host country.
C) withholding tax rates in the home country.
D) corporate tax rates in the home country.
E) all of the above must be considered in assessing a foreign target.

Answer 2

C

Question 3

An international alliance typically requires a ____ initial outlay than an international acquisition, and the cash flows to be received will typically be ____ than the cash flow resulting from an international acquisition.

A) smaller; larger
B) smaller; smaller
C) larger; smaller
D) larger; larger

Answer 3

B

Question 4

Which of the following is not an advantage of international acquisitions over the establishment of a new subsidiary?

A) The firm can immediately expand its international business.
B) An international acquisition typically generates quicker cash flows than the establishment of a new subsidiary.
C) International acquisitions are generally cheaper than the establishment of a new subsidiary.
D) An international acquisition typically generates larger cash flows than the establishment of a new subsidiary.
E) All of the above are advantages of international acquisitions.

Question 5

According to your text, U.S. firms pursue more international acquisitions in ____ than in other countries.

A) the U.K.
B) Mexico
C) Japan
D) Germany
E) France

Question 6

At present, U.S. firms acquire more targets in the former Soviet Union than in any other country.

Question 7

Which of the following types of international corporate control transaction is probably the most difficult to value by an MNC?

A) international acquisition.
B) newly privatized foreign business.
C) international alliance.
D) international divestiture.

Question 8

The U.S. is one of the few countries with agencies that monitor mergers and acquisitions.

Question 9

Based on information in your text, all of the following factors should be considered in an international acquisition, except:

A) the target's willingness to be acquired.
B) the target's previous acquisition history.
C) the target's previous cash flows.
D) the target's local economic conditions.

Question 10

Which of the following is not true regarding a target's previous cash flows?

A) They may serve as an initial base from which future cash flows may be estimated after accounting for other factors.
B) It may be easier to estimate the cash flows to be generated by a target than to estimate the cash flows to be generated from a new foreign subsidiary.
C) They are always good indicators of future cash flows.
D) All of the above are true.

Question 11

Exhibit 15-1
Klimewsky, Inc., a U.S.-based MNC, has screened several targets. Based on economic and political considerations, only one eligible target remains in Malaysia. Klimewsky would like you to value this target and has provided you with the following information:

Refer to Exhibit 15-1. The Malaysian target's value based on its stock price is $____ million.

A) 1.4
B) 1,673.9
C) 111.5
D) 88.6
E) none of the above

Question 12

A previously undertaken project in a foreign country may no longer be feasible because:

A) interest rates have declined.
B) the MNC's cost of capital has decreased.
C) the host government has increased its tax rates substantially.
D) exchange rate projections changed from a depreciation to an appreciation of the foreign currency.

Question 13

Which of the following factors is least likely to cause the required rate of return to vary among MNCs assessing the same foreign target?

A) differences in the timing of remittances from the target to the parent.
B) differences in the desired use of the target.
C) differences in the local risk-free interest rate.
D) differences in the ability to use financial leverage.

Question 14

As far as the managerial talent of the target is concerned:

A) the manner in which the acquirer plans to deal with the managerial talent will affect the estimated cash flows to be generated by the target.
B) downsizing will reduce expenses and increase productivity and revenues.
C) governments of some countries are likely to intervene and prevent the acquisition if downsizing is anticipated.
D) all of the above
E) A and C only

Question 15

Since the cash flows generated by a foreign target will eventually be converted to the parent's currency, there is no need to consider the foreign exchange rate in the capital budgeting process.

Question 16

Even if an existing business adds value to an MNC, it may be worthwhile to assess whether the business would generate more value to the MNC if it was restructured.

Question 17

Which of the following would probably not cause the stock price of a foreign target to decrease?

A) Its expected cash flows decline.
B) General stock market conditions in the foreign country are deteriorating.
C) Investors anticipate that the target will be acquired.
D) All of the above will cause the target's stock price to decrease.

Question 18

Exhibit 15-1
Klimewsky, Inc., a U.S.-based MNC, has screened several targets. Based on economic and political considerations, only one eligible target remains in Malaysia. Klimewsky would like you to value this target and has provided you with the following information:

Refer to Exhibit 15-1. Based on the information provided above, the net present value of the Malaysian target is $____ million.

A) 155.9
B) 111.5
C) 138.0
D) 143.0
E) none of the above

Question 19

The government of a country may prevent a foreign firm from acquiring local targets and downsizing the targets.

Question 20

International governance is achieved by all of the following except:

A) poison pills.
B) board of directors.
C) institutional investors.
D) blockholders.
E) All of the above achieve governance.

Question 21

An MNC that plans to acquire a target would prefer to time its bid for the target when the local stock market prices in the target's country are generally high.

Question 22

An international acquisition is different from the establishment of a new subsidiary in that the MNC can immediately expand its international business since the target is already in place.

Question 23

The valuation of a target (from the parent's perspective) should increase when the potential acquirer's cost of capital increases.

Question 24

An acquirer based in a low-tax country may be able to generate higher cash flows from acquiring a foreign target than an acquirer based in a high-tax country.

Question 25

Regarding the valuation of privatized businesses in less developed countries, ____ can normally be estimated with a high degree of accuracy.

A) future cash flows
B) future exchange rate movements
C) the proper discount rate
D) none of the above

Question 26

The valuation of newly privatized businesses is generally more difficult than the valuation of a foreign target that has operated privately for several years.

Question 27

Premiums required to entice a target's board of directors to approve an acquisition are usually between 1 and 3 percent of the target's market price.

Question 28

The initial outlay for a project in a foreign country may decline if property values in that country decline.

Question 29

U.S. firms acquire more target firms in ____ than in any other country.

A) Spain
B) Italy
C) Belgium
D) United Kingdom

Question 30

Firms based in ____ tend to acquire more U.S. target firms than the other countries listed here.

A) Canada
B) Japan
C) Germany
D) Mexico

Question 31

A foreign target's expected future cash flows generally vary among different MNCs valuing the target.

Question 32

Acquirers may have different required rates of return because of differences in the ability to use financial leverage.

Question 33

The sale of a subsidiary by an MNC is referred to as a divestiture.

Question 34

Privatization involves the sale of previously government-owned businesses by the government.

Question 35

An MNC should periodically reassess its investments to determine whether to divest them.

Question 36

If potential acquirers are based in different countries, their required rates of return when considering a specific target will only vary if the desired use of the target is different.

Question 37

Other things being equal, a foreign subsidiary in China would more likely be divested by the U.S. parent if new information caused the parent to suddenly anticipate that:

A) the Chinese yuan would depreciate in the future.
B) the Chinese yuan would appreciate in the future.
C) the Chinese yuan would remain somewhat stable in the future.
D) none of the above; the value of the Chinese yuan has no impact on the feasibility of a divestiture.

Question 38

Which of the following is not directly considered in the decision by a U.S.-based MNC to divest a subsidiary?

A) the required rate of return on the subsidiary.
B) forecasted exchange rates of the subsidiary's currency relative to the dollar.
C) the initial outlay on the project.
D) the possible selling price of the project.

Question 39

An MNC's parent would consider investing in a target only if the estimated present value of the cash flows it would ultimately receive from the target over time ____ the initial outlay necessary to purchase the target.

A) is less than
B) is the same as
C) is greater than
D) none of the above

Question 40

From an acquirer's perspective, the ideal conditions would be a weak foreign currency at the time of acquisition and a strengthening of the foreign currency over time as funds are remitted back to the parent.

Question 41

If an MNC targets a successful foreign company with plans to continue the target's local business in a more efficient manner, the risk of the business will be relatively ____, and therefore the MNC's required return from acquiring the target will be relatively ____.

A) high; high
B) high; low
C) low; high
D) low; low

Question 42

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires more accountability by executives and the board of directors when assessing acquisitions.

Question 43

Potential targets in countries where economic conditions are ____ are more likely to experience strong demand for their products in the future and may generate ____ cash flows.

A) strong; lower
B) weak; higher
C) weak; lower
D) strong; higher

Question 44

If a target is privately held, general stock market conditions will not affect the amount that an acquirer has to pay for a foreign target.

Question 45

When viewed as a project, the international acquisition usually generates quicker and larger cash flows than the establishment of a new subsidiary, but it also requires a larger initial outlay.

Question 46

The earnings of a private European firm are €5 million, and the average P/E ratio of publicly traded European firms in the same industry is 12. This firm is considering the possibility of going public in which it would issue one million shares. If the private firm has similar growth potential and other characteristics similar to other publicly traded firms in the industry, its value can be estimated as ____ million euros.

A) 2.4
B) 60.0
C) 41.7
D) 12

Question 47

Even after an MNC's accept/reject decision of a foreign acquisition has been made, it should be reassessed at various times. In fact, this analysis may indicate that a previously accepted project should be divested.

Question 48

An MNC that plans to acquire a target would prefer to make a bid at a time when the local stock market prices are generally ____. Assume that economic conditions are held constant when completing this statement.

A) low
B) high
C) volatile
D) none of the above

Question 49

If the foreign currency ____ by the time the acquirer makes payment, the acquisition will be more costly, and the cost of the acquisition changes ____ the change in the exchange rate.

A) appreciates; by a lesser percentage then
B) depreciates; in the same proportion as
C) appreciates; in the same proportion as
D) appreciates; by a greater percentage than

Question 50

A foreign target's expected future cash flows generally vary among different MNCs valuing the target.

Question 51

An acquirer based in a low-tax country may be able to generate higher cash flows from acquiring a foreign target than an acquirer based in a high-tax country.

Question 52

When an MNC assesses targets among countries, it would prefer a country in which the growth potential for its respective industry is high and the competition within the industry is not excessive.

Question 53

When an MNC assesses targets among countries, it would prefer a country where the growth potential for its industry is ____ and the competition within the industry is ____.

A) low; not excessive
B) high; excessive
C) high; not excessive
D) low; excessive

Question 54

Economic conditions in the host country are probably more important for an MNC that intends to use the target to generate revenues in the host country than an MNC that intends to focus on exporting from the target's home country.

Question 55

Downsizing reduces expenses but may also reduce productivity and revenue.

Question 56

Because of errors in cash flow or exchange rate estimates, the estimated net present value of acquiring a foreign target could be underestimated.

Question 57

A target's previous cash flows are typically an accurate indicator of future cash flows, especially when the target's cash flows would have to be converted into the acquirer's home currency as they are remitted to the parent.

Question 58

An international acquisition may be preferable to the establishment of a new subsidiary because the firm can immediately expand its international business and benefit from existing customer relationships.

Question 59

Which of the following would not enhance the value of a target from the acquirer's perspective?

A) Expected sales of the target have increased.
B) The subsidiary's currency is expected to strengthen after the acquisition.
C) The required rate of return from investing in the target has increased.
D) All of the above would enhance the value of the target.

Question 60

An international acquisition will typically require that the acquirer pay a premium of 30 percent or more for a public target.

Question 61

It is always the best course of action to divest of a foreign project if the expected cash flows from the project decline substantially.

Question 62

If potential acquirers are based in different countries, their required rates of return when considering a specific target will only vary if the desired use of the target is different.

Question 63

Which of the following would probably not cause the stock price of a foreign target to decrease?

A) Its expected cash flows decline.
B) General stock market conditions in the foreign country are deteriorating.
C) Investors anticipate that the target will be acquired.
D) All of the above will cause the target's stock price to decrease.

Question 64

The valuation of a proposed international divestiture can be determined by comparing the present value of the cash flows if the project is continued to the proceeds that would be received (after taxes) if the project is divested.

Question 65

While acquisitions of privatized businesses may be attractive because of the potential for MNCs to increase their efficiency, the valuation of these businesses is generally more difficult.

Question 66

The ideal time to purchase a foreign company is when the spot rate of that company's currency is perceived to be very high and is expected to decrease over time.

Question 67

The valuation of a newly privatized business is generally more difficult than the valuation of a publicly traded firm because:

A) It has previously operated in environments of very high competition.
B) Interest rates in the countries where privatization takes place are extremely high.
C) The stock markets in the countries where privatization takes place are overvalued.
D) Economic conditions in the countries where privatization takes place are very uncertain.
E) None of the above

Question 68

The value of an MNC (from the parent's perspective) is independent of the MNC's desired scheduling of remitted funds from the target.

Question 69

According to your text, all of the following are factors to be considered in an international acquisition, except

A) the target's willingness to be acquired.
B) the target's previous acquisition history.
C) the target's previous cash flows.
D) the target's local economic conditions.

Question 70

An MNC valuing a foreign target for acquisition purposes must account for all of the following, except:

A) the foreign exchange rate.
B) withholding taxes imposed by the host government.
C) blocked-funds restrictions.
D) income taxes imposed by the U.S. government.
E) An MNC must account for all of the above.

Question 71

Which of the following is not a reason why the valuation of a foreign target may vary among MNCs?

A) Differences in estimated cash flows to be generated by the foreign target
B) Differences in estimated exchange rates
C) Differences in required rates of return
D) All of the above are possible reasons why the valuation of a foreign target may vary among MNCs

Question 72

The stock price of a target may decrease if investors anticipate that the target will be acquired, since they are aware that stock prices of targets fall abruptly after a bid by the acquiring firm.

Question 73

A simple method of valuing a private company is to apply the price-earnings ratios of publicly traded firms in the same industry to the private company's earnings.

Question 74

Which of the following is not an advantage of international acquisitions over the establishment of a new subsidiary?

A) The firm can immediately expand its international business.
B) The firm benefits from existing customer relationships.
C) International acquisitions are generally cheaper than the establishment of a new subsidiary.
D) An international acquisition typically generates quicker and larger cash flows than the establishment of a new subsidiary.
E) All of the above are advantages of international acquisitions.