preview

Debt Policy at Ust Essay

Better Essays

Debt Policy at UST Inc.
1. What are the primary business risks associated with UST Inc.? What are the attributes of UST Inc.?
Evaluate from the viewpoint of a bondholder. (Your answer should be more qualitative than quantitative!) The following factors weave into the risks and attributes of the company from the creditors’ point of view:
A. UST had seven pending health related lawsuits at the end of 1998. The outcomes of these suits are uncertain. Despite the major Medicaid state settlements, lawmakers are expected to continue to push for new laws to combat youth tobacco use. Other litigation against tobacco companies is expected to continue, especially suits filed by individuals. This uncertain litigation and legislative …show more content…

Now they want to be more aggressively levered since the chance of bankruptcy is rather low.
B. Presumably, the company managers are also shareholders. The recapitalization helps to decrease the total shares outstanding, thus increases the relative percentage owning of the remaining shareholders. Consequently, the insiders will have more weights on the voting of the major policies of the company. Since the value players form a major competing force with UST, in the foreseeable future, UST might choose to lower the price of its products. But his is not in the favor of the stockholders who are looking for short-term income as opposed to long term capital gain. In order for such decisions to pass, the management team has to upgrade their own weights by buying back some of the outstanding stocks through issuing debt.
C. UST wants to signal to shareholders that it still commits to provide generous dividend returns. By issuing more debt and repurchasing stock shares, UST can increase the upfront stock dividend paid to shareholders (Note that whether UST can maintain its dividend policy is the issue discussed in question 4). Although this will not affect the decision of rational investor because by increasing its leverage the investment is also riskier, the higher dividend will appeal to irrational investors and quick cash seekers.
3. Should UST Inc. undertake the $1 billion

Get Access