study case
Chapter 1
Case Study: Mars Buys Wrigley in One Sweet Deal
1. Why did Wrigley’s share price not rise to the $80 offer price following the announcement of the merger? Why did competitor Cadbury’s shares gain 3.5 percent following the announcement?
Answer: Some investors did not expect the two family-controlled companies to approve the deal. Cadbury’s shares rose on speculation that it could become a takeover target. Both Kraft and Nestle could be interested in acquiring Cadbury. While Nestle may be precluded from buying Cadbury’s UK chocolate business, it may be interested in acquiring Cadbury’s growing gum brands.
2. Speculate as to how the Wrigley family may have been convinced to sell their firm?
Answer: The primary factors could have included the 28 percent premium, the continued operation of Wrigley as an independent subsidiary, the retention of the Wrigley brand, and allowing William Wrigley Jr. to continue as CEO of the subsidiary.
3. How did factors external to both firms influence their decision to merge? Be specific.
Answer: Escalating commodity prices, declining market share, and intensified competition compelled Mars to seek greater economies of scale and a diversified product line in acquiring Wrigley. Higher commodity prices, particularly for sugar, necessitated achieving larger purchasing discounts from vendors which could only result from increasing the average size of raw material purchases from the combined Mars and Wrigley companies.
4. Would you characterize this transaction as a friendly or hostile takeover? Why was this approach taken? Explain your answer.
Answer: The merger of the two firms probably is best characterized as a friendly combination because Wrigley was a family-owned firm whose shares would have been difficult to purchase if the family had been dissatisfied with the terms of deal. Moreover, Wrigley was treated organizationally as a wholly owned subsidiary of Mars with its senior management
Case Study: Mars Buys Wrigley in One Sweet Deal
1. Why did Wrigley’s share price not rise to the $80 offer price following the announcement of the merger? Why did competitor Cadbury’s shares gain 3.5 percent following the announcement?
Answer: Some investors did not expect the two family-controlled companies to approve the deal. Cadbury’s shares rose on speculation that it could become a takeover target. Both Kraft and Nestle could be interested in acquiring Cadbury. While Nestle may be precluded from buying Cadbury’s UK chocolate business, it may be interested in acquiring Cadbury’s growing gum brands.
2. Speculate as to how the Wrigley family may have been convinced to sell their firm?
Answer: The primary factors could have included the 28 percent premium, the continued operation of Wrigley as an independent subsidiary, the retention of the Wrigley brand, and allowing William Wrigley Jr. to continue as CEO of the subsidiary.
3. How did factors external to both firms influence their decision to merge? Be specific.
Answer: Escalating commodity prices, declining market share, and intensified competition compelled Mars to seek greater economies of scale and a diversified product line in acquiring Wrigley. Higher commodity prices, particularly for sugar, necessitated achieving larger purchasing discounts from vendors which could only result from increasing the average size of raw material purchases from the combined Mars and Wrigley companies.
4. Would you characterize this transaction as a friendly or hostile takeover? Why was this approach taken? Explain your answer.
Answer: The merger of the two firms probably is best characterized as a friendly combination because Wrigley was a family-owned firm whose shares would have been difficult to purchase if the family had been dissatisfied with the terms of deal. Moreover, Wrigley was treated organizationally as a wholly owned subsidiary of Mars with its senior management