Question 1

Company X has 5 million shares in issue and Company Y 15 million. On day 1 the market value per share for Company X is 5.0, and for Company Z is 3.0. On day 2, the management of Company X decides at a private meeting, to make a cash takeover bid for Company Y at a price of 4.00 per share. The takeover will produce large operating savings with a value of 18 million. On day 4, Company X publicly announces an unconditional offer to purchase all the shares of Company Y at a price of 4.00 per share with settlement on day 20. Details of the large savings are not announced and are not public knowledge. On day 12, Company X announces details of the savings, which will be derived from the takeover.

Required:

a. Ignoring tax and the time-value of money between days 1 and 20, and assuming the details given are the only factors having an impact on the share prices of Company X and Y, determine the day 2, day 4, and day 12 share prices of Company X and Company Y if the market is:

1. Semi-Strong Efficient.

2. Strong Form Efficient.

In each of the following circumstances:

i. The purchase consideration is cash as specified above, and

ii. The purchase consideration, decided upon on day 2, and publicly announced on day 4, is one newly issued share of Company Y for each share of Company X. (15 marks)