Merger and acquisition strategiesa) are often driven by such strategic objectives as to expand a company's geographic coverage or extend its business into new product categories. b) provide superior means for firms to rapidly increase the vertical scope of their core business. c) tend to be the most often used and most effective strategic options available to multi-business companies. d) are one of the best ways for a company strongly differentiate its product offering. e) are aimed at facilitating a company's shift from a broad differentiation strategy to a low-cost provider strategy.

1) u.s. real gdp is substantially higher today than it was 60 years ago. what does this tell us, and what does it not tell us, about the well-being of u.s. residents? what are the limitations of the gdp as a measure of economic well-being? given the limitations, why is gdp usually regarded as the best single measure of a society’s economic well-being? 2) what is an intermediate good? how does an intermediate good differ from a final good? explain why it is the case that the value of intermediate goods produced and sold during the year is not included directly as part of gdp, but the value of intermediate goods produced and not sold is included directly as part of gdp.

Shrieves casting company is considering adding a new line to its product mix, and the capital budgeting analysis is being conducted by sidney johnson, a recently graduated mba. the production line would be set up in unused space in the main plant. the machinery’s invoice price would be approximately $200,000, another $10,000 in shipping charges would be required, and it would cost an additional $30,000 to install the equipment. the machinery has an economic life of 4 years, and shrieves has obtained a special tax ruling that places the equipment in the macrs 3-year class. the machinery is expected to have a salvage value of $25,000 after 4 years of use. the new line would generate incremental sales of 1,250 units per year for 4 years at an incremental cost of $100 per unit in the first year, excluding depreciation. each unit can be sold for $200 in the first year. the sales price and cost are both expected to increase by 3% per year due to inflation. further, to handle the new line, the firm’s net working capital would have to increase by an amount equal to 12% of sales revenues. the firm’s tax rate is 40%, and its overall weighted average cost of capital, which is the risk-adjusted cost of capital for an average project (r), is 10%. define “incremental cash flow.” (1) should you subtract interest expense or dividends when calculating project cash flow?

Consider 8.5 percent swiss franc/u.s. dollar dual-currency bonds that pay $666.67 at maturity per sf1,000 of par value. it sells at par. what is the implicit sf/$ exchange rate at maturity? will the investor be better or worse off at maturity if the actual sf/$ exchange rate is sf1.35/$1.00