Chap 019
Chap 019
    2. Under the terms of Bank Merger Act, the federal regulating agencies must give top priority to
       the______________________ of the proposed merger.
       Answer: competitive effects
    5. If the earning per share of the merged firm has declined then the shareholders have suffered a
       problem known as____________________________________________ .
       Answer: dilution of earnings
    6. The______________________ tells how may shares of stock the shareholders of the acquired
       firm will receive from the acquiring firm.
       Answer: exchange ratio
    12. To most authorities, the recent upsurge in mergers reflects the expectation of the stockholders that
        the____________________________________________ will increase once the merger is
        completed. This allows the merged bank to maximize future earnings.
        Answer: profit potential
    13. One reason banks pursue mergers is for______________________. This allows the bank to
        reduce fluctuations in revenues and net income.
        Answer: risk reduction
    14. One reason banks pursue mergers is for______________________. This allows the bank to enter
        new markets and find new sources of revenue.
        Answer: market positioning benefits
    15. When the existing ownership of the bank experiences a loss in their share of the company due to
        an increased number of shares going to new stockholders it is known as
        ______________________.
        Answer: dilution of ownership
    17. One of the reasons for a merger is                      . This where the merger is encouraged
        by the FDIC as a way to conserve scarce federal deposit insurance resources.
        Answer: because of failing institutions
    18. Many mergers arise from expected                           . This takes place particularly when the
        acquired firm has earnings losses that can be used offset taxable profits of the acquirer.
        Answer: tax benefits
   20. When a bank expands the number of service options it offers after acquiring another financial
       firm they have practiced                                    .
       Answer: product line diversification
   21. When a bank enters into a new market area as the result of a merger with another financial
       institution they have practiced                                .
       Answer: geographic diversification
   22. When a national bank wants to acquire another bank they must apply to the                for
       approval.
       Answer: Comptroller of the Currency
   24. The executive body of the EU has emerged as a key arbiter if mergers involving European
       businesses and uses the doctrine of                             .
       Answer: collective dominance
   25. When a merger takes place some banks have been asked to                          themselves of
       some of their branches. Many of these are sold to third parties.
       Answer: divest
True/False Questions
   T    F 26. In recent years banking has ranked in the top five of all U.S. industries in the number of
               reported merger transactions.
        Answer: True
   T    F 27. If a bank with a higher stock-price-to-earnings ratio acquires a bank with a lower price-
               earnings ratio, earnings per share of the combined organization will increase even if
               combined earnings fall after the merger.
        Answer: False
    T   F 29. According to the textbook the financial success of a bank merger depends heavily upon
               the comparative dollar amounts of earnings reported by the two banking organizations
               and their relative price-earnings ratios.
        Answer: True
    T   F 30. A proposed merger between two or more banks must be ratified by the board of directors
               of each bank involved and by the management of each of the banks and then the merger
               can proceed once regulators' approval is received.
        Answer: False
    T   F 31. Under the terms of the Bank Merger Act each federal agency must give top priority to the
               competitive effects of a proposed merger.
        Answer: True
    T   F 32. Mergers with anticompetitive effects can only be approved at the federal level if one of
               the banks involved is failing.
        Answer: False
    T   F 33. A market area served by one bank which is the only provider of financial services in that
               market would have an HHI of 100 percent.
        Answer: False
    T   F 34. A market served by just two banks, equal to each other in size, would have an HHI of
               5,000.
        Answer: True
    T   F 35. According to a recent survey, many European bank mergers in the 1980s and 1990s were
               motivated by the search for cost savings (economies of scale).
        Answer: True
    T   F 36. The acquisition of First City Bancorporation of Texas by Chemical Bank of New York
               was motivated by both banks seeking market-positioning benefits.
        Answer: False
    T   F 37. The merger of Bank of America and Security Pacific in 1992 resulted in an expansion of
               branch offices at both banks.
        Answer: False
   T    F 39. Bank executives identify the most important factor in choosing a merger target as the
               ability of the merged bank to better accommodate their corporate customers.
        Answer: False
   T    F 40. One of the major motives behind the rapid growth of mergers in recent years is that
               stockholders expect the profit potential will increase once the merger is completed.
        Answer: True
   T    F 41. Some merger partners anticipate reduced earnings risk as a result of the merger. One
               reason for this may be that the merger opens up new markets with different economic
               characteristics.
        Answer: True
   T    F 42. If one of the banks is in financial difficulty a merger is not allowed to take place.
        Answer: False
   T    F 43. The passage of the Garn-St. Germain Depository Institutions Act allowed bank holding
               companies to acquire failing banks and thrifts in other states.
        Answer: True
   T    F 44. The most important goal of any merger should be to increase the market value of the
               surviving firm.
        Answer: True
   T    F 45. Mergers with anticompetitive effects cannot go unchallenged by federal authorities unless
               the banks can show that the resultant bank would have significant public benefits.
        Answer: True
   T    F 46. As a result of many bank mergers, research indicates that goodwill on many bank balance
               sheets has exploded in recent years.
        Answer: True
   T    F 47. According to FASB, goodwill must now be amortized over its useful life.
        Answer: False
    T     F 49. A 2002 study by the Federal Reserve indicates that there are economies of scale (cost
                 savings) resulting from small mergers among banks and insurance companies.
          Answer: True
    T     F 50. There is no evidence for cost savings resulting from large financial institution mergers.
          Answer: True
    T     F 51. Recent research indicates that some merger activity may actually stimulate "de novo"
                 bank entry into the marketplace.
          Answer: True
    T     F 52. The 2007 credit crunch resulted in numerous banks experiencing financial distress for
                 which mergers and acquisitions were often the only option.
          Answer: True
    T     F 53. The agency problem described in the textbook is referred to the idea of bank managers
                 driven primarily by their own interest to increase salaries and benefits at the expense of
                 company stockholders.
          Answer: True
    T     F 54. One of the most common motives for large banks to acquire smaller banks is to gain
                 access to capable new management which is always in short supply at larger institutions.
          Answer: False
    T     F 55. Bank regulators may challenge the merger between two institutions but can never require
                 banks to divest themselves of some of their offices in order to secure regulators’ approval.
          Answer: False
    56.     According to the literature on bank mergers these mergers are often motivated by:
          A) Their profit potential
          B) Expected reduction in the risk of fluctuations in cash flow and earnings
   57.     According to the research literature, the principal beneficiaries of most bank mergers appear to
           be:
         A) The stockholders of the bank acquired
         B) The stockholders of the acquiring bank
         C) The public (in the form of new services offered and lower service fees)
         D) The staff of the acquired bank
         E) None of the above.
         Answer: A
   58.     According to the research literature, the lackadaisical profit performance surrounding a merger
           may be explained by the following:
         A) Managerial hubris
         B) The sizeable merger premium that acquirers have to pay to shareholders of the acquired firms
         C) Accounting irregularities when reporting earnings of the combined entity
         D) All of the above
         E) A and B only
         Answer: E
   59. The ratio of the acquired bank's current stock price per share plus the additional amount paid by
       the acquirer for each share of the acquired bank's stock divided by the acquired bank's current
       stock price is the:
       A) Price-earnings ratio
       B) Merger premium
       C) Exchange rate (of a merger transaction)
       D) Combined stock price of the merging banks
       E) None of the above.
       Answer: B
   60. The danger faced by the stockholders of an acquiring firm in a merger if an excessive number of
       new shares are issued relative to the value of their old shares is known as:
       A) More volatile earnings
       B) Reduction of the exchange ratio
       C) Dilution of ownership
       D) Increased risk of bankruptcy
       E) None of the above
       Answer: C
   61. The federal law that requires each U.S. merging bank to notify its principal federal regulatory
       agency and request approval before a merger can take place is the:
       A) Bank Merger Act
    62.     A merger may increase the bank's expected future earnings or reduce its level of risk exposure
            by:
          A) Improved operating efficiency.
          B) Improved earnings per share.
          C) Geographic or product diversification.
          D) All of the above.
          E) A and B, only.
          Answer: D
    64. There are three banks in East Panhandle. First National Bank currently has 40 percent of the
        deposits, while Second State Bank currently has 30 percent, as does New State Bank and Trust.
        What is the Herfindahl-Hirschman Index for East Panhandle?
        A) 100.
        B) 1200.
        C) 3400.
        D) 2400.
        E) None of the above
        Answer: C
    65. There are three banks in East Panhandle. First State Bank currently has 25 percent of the deposits,
        while Second State Bank currently has 40 percent. What is the Herfindahl-Hirschman Index for
        East Panhandle (compute the share of Third State Bank first)?
        A) 100.
        B) 2200.
        C) 3450.
        D) 3640.
        E) None of the above
        Answer: C
   67.   There are three banks in East Panhandle. First State Bank currently has 25 percent of the
         deposits, while Second State Bank currently has 40 percent. Compute the share of the Third State
         Bank in the market. Suppose First State and Third State propose to merge in order to compete
         with Second State Bank. According to the Department of Justice Guidelines, would this merger
         be allowed?
         A) Yes
         B) Yes but with certain regulatory restrictions
         C) No
         D) Not enough information to make the determination
         E) None of the above
         Answer: C
   68. First National Bank's stock is currently selling at $40 per share and the bank recently reported
       earnings per share of $4.50 for its 200,000 shares. Second National Bank has 150,000 shares
       outstanding, with a current market price of $30 per share. Second National just reported its
       earnings per share of $5. If First National acquires Second National in a stock purchase, with the
       two banks agreeing to exchange stock at the current market prices, and post-merger earnings are
       expected to be $1,800,000, what will the post-merger EPS be?
       A) $4.36
       B) $5.76
       C) $5.28
       D) $5.14
       E) None of the above
       Answer: B
  70.    Suppose Bank A's stock price is $75 and Bank B's stock price is $25. Bank A is planning on
         purchasing Bank B and plans on paying Bank B shareholders a bonus of $10 per share. What is
         the merger premium that Bank B shareholders will receive?
         A) 110 percent
     71. Suppose Bank A's stock price is $75 and Bank B's stock price is $25. Bank A is planning on
         purchasing Bank B and plans on paying Bank B shareholders a bonus of $10 per share. If Bank
         B has 100,000 shares outstanding, how many shares of Bank A will the shareholders of Bank B
         receive?
         A) 100,000 shares
         B) 33,333 shares
         C) 46,667 shares
         D) 214,286 shares
         E) None of the above
         Answer: C
     73.     Which of the following are reasons that bank mergers do not work?
           A) Ill-prepared management
           B) A mismatch of corporate cultures
           C) Excessive prices paid by the acquirer for the acquired bank
           D) A failure to take into account customers' feelings and concerns
           E) All of the above are reasons bank mergers do not work
           Answer: E
     74. Andover Bank is thinking about purchasing Berkley Bank. The current market value of
         Andover's stock is $55 per share. The current market value of Berkley's stock is $15 per share
         and Andover is planning on paying Berkley's stockholders a $5 bonus per share. Currently,
         Andover has 100,000 shares outstanding and earnings per share of $12. Currently, Berkley has
         50,000 shares outstanding and earnings per share of $5. What is the market premium that
         Andover is paying on Berkley's shares?
         A) 367 percent
         B) 275 percent
         C) 133 percent
         D) 100 percent
         E) None of the above
         Answer: C
   76. Andover Bank is thinking about purchasing Berkley Bank. The current market value of
       Andover's stock is $55 per share. The current market value of Berkley's stock is $15 per share
       and Andover is planning on paying Berkley's stockholders a $5 bonus per share. Currently,
       Andover has 100,000 shares outstanding and earnings per share of $12. Currently, Berkley has
       50,000 shares outstanding and earnings per share of $5. What should the total number of shares
       outstanding be in the new bank?
       A) 118,182 shares
       B) 150,000 shares
       C) 166,667 shares
       D) 200,000 shares
       E) None of the above
       Answer: A
   77. Andover Bank is thinking about purchasing Berkley Bank. The current market value of
       Andover's stock is $55 per share. The current market value of Berkley's stock is $15 per share
       and Andover is planning on paying Berkley's stockholders a $5 bonus per share. Currently,
       Andover has 100,000 shares outstanding and earnings per share of $12. Currently, Berkley has
       50,000 shares outstanding and earnings per share of $5. Suppose that the earnings of the new
       bank are $1,600,000 and the combined bank will have 118,182 shares outstanding. What will the
       earnings per share of the new bank be?
       A) $17.00 per share
       B) $13.54 per share
       C) $9.67 per share
       D) $12.27 per share
       E) None of the above
       Answer: B
     79. Suppose there are four banks in a local community. Each of these banks has 25 percent of the
         deposits in this community. What is the Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI) for this community?
         A) 10,000
         B) 100
         C) 2500
         D) 625
         E) None of the above
         Answer: C
     80. Suppose there are four banks in a local community. Each of these banks has 25 percent of the
         deposits in this community. This market is:
         A) Unconcentrated
         B) Mildly concentrated
         C) Moderately concentrated
         D) Concentrated
         E) None of the above
         Answer: D
     81.    Suppose there are four banks in a local community. Each of these banks has 25 percent of the
           deposits in this community. Calculate the change in the Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI) if
           two of these banks merge.
           A) 625
           B) 1000
           C) 1150
           D) 1200
           E) 1250
           Answer: E
  83.     Research indicates economies of scale (cost savings) for financial institution mergers which
          are:
        A) Small
        B) Large
        C) Medium
        D) All sizes
        E) No economies of scale have been found
        Answer: A
84. Dorchester County has the following five banks in its market area.
        Using this information, what is the market share of the First National Bank?
        A) 100.00%
        B) 75.00%
        C) 46.15%
        D) 15.38%
        E) None of the above
        Answer: C
85. Dorchester County has the following five banks in its market area.
86. Dorchester County has the following five banks in its market area.
     87.     There are 10 banks in a particular market area all with a market share of
             10%. What is the Hirfindahl-Hirschmann Index for this market area?
           A) 10,000
           B) 5000
           C) 1000
           D) 0
           E) None of the above
           Answer: C
     88. There are 10 banks in a particular market area all with a market share of
         10%. Two of the banks plan to merge. What would the Hirfindahl-
         Hirschmann Index be after the merger?
         A) 5000
         B) 1200
         C) 1000
         D) 0
   89.     There are 10 banks in a particular market area, all with a market share of
           10%. Two of the banks plan to merger and the Hirfindahl-Hirschmann Index
           moves from 1000 to 1200. Would the Justice Department likely bring suit
           against the merger?
         A) Yes
         B) No
         C) Only if the banks divest themselves of half of their branches
         D) Cannot be determined from the information given
         Answer: B
   91. The First State Bank of Wyoming wants to acquire the First State Bank of
       Oklahoma. The management of the bank feels that this geographic
       diversification will increase earnings as new markets will be exploited and
       new services are offered to all of their bank customers. Which motive for a
       merger does this most likely reflect?
       A) Profit Potential
       B) Risk Reduction
       C) Rescue of Failing Institution
       D) Tax and Market-Positioning
       E) Maximizing Management Welfare
       Answer: A
   92. The First State Bank of Wyoming wants to acquire the Second National Bank
       of South Carolina. They want to do this because management feels that
       South Carolina faces very different economic conditions than does Wyoming
       and that this acquisition will reduce variability in earnings in the future. What
       motive for a merger does this most likely reflect?
       A) Profit Potential
       B) Risk Reduction
       C) Rescue of Failing Institution
       D) Tax and Market Positioning
       E) Maximizing Management Welfare
       Answer: B
     94. The First National Bank of Edmond had decided to purchase The First National
         Bank of Plano in Texas. The bank is interested in this purchase because The
         First National Bank of Plano is in financial distress and the First National Bank
         of Edmond thinks this is a cheap way to get a start in the large Texas market.
         The FDIC supports this acquisition because they won’t have to make any
         insurance payouts. What motive for a merger does this most likely reflect?
         A) Profit Potential
         B) Risk Reduction
         C) Rescue of Failing Institution
         D) Tax and Market Positioning
         E) Maximizing Management Welfare
         Answer: C
95.      The State Bank of Stillwater has had record profits this year. They are
         interested in purchasing the National Bank of Durant because they have had
         losses this year. The State Bank of Stillwater feels that they can turn around
         the National Bank of Durant and in the meantime they can enjoy a reduced
         tax burden after this acquisition. What motive for a merger does this most
         likely reflect?
         A) Profit Potential
         B) Risk Reduction
         C) Rescue of Failing Institution
         D) Tax and Market Positioning
         E) Maximizing Management Welfare
         Answer: D