Multinational Acquisition, Pfizer and Wyeth Company

Introduction

On October 2009, Pfizer completed its acquisition process with Wyeth Company (ltd). The company of Pfizer agreed to acquire one of its main rivals Wyeth, on agreement of $68 billion. Pfizer was at the time, the largest drug producer in the whole world. The company received regulatory approval from concerned government authorities as well as from all shareholders of Wyeth. According to acquisition transaction terms, all shares of stock outstanding belonging to Wyeth were converted to Pfizer’s common stock. A total of $33 was converted in cash without any form of interest.

Challenges faced in preparing financial statements

In preparing the financial statements for consolidation of Pfizer and Wyeth company subsidiaries, the companies faced a challenge on estimations to use that could affect any reported accounts and other disclosures such as acquisition connections. The company also considered the use of estimates when preparing consolidated statements in accounting for any revenue deductions. These revenue deductions included sales returns, chargeback’s and rebates. The use of estimates was also used to determine sales costs and allocating them in depreciation form (Bhagwati, 2004).

The financial estimates can easily prove to be incomplete or some reports may be inaccurate. This therefore resulted to future events not been resolute with precision at all. In multinational acquisitions such as that of Pfizer and Wyeth, negative market conditions may occur therefore increasing the uncertainty of all the assumptions and financial estimates. These market conditions are factors such as foreign currency fluctuations, economic down towns, illiquid credit markets and equity markets that are volatile.

The companies adjusted to their preferred estimates after facts show that there is a need for reform and this can be helpful in avoiding most of the challenges Pfizer was faced by a challenge in appointing the company of Computershare trust to become its agent on merger exchanges. These challenges resulted after shareholders of Wyeth raised questions on the contacts that were given regarding payments on the company’s stocks. Another challenge that will face Pfizer is on how to pay back the credit loan of $22.5 billion to five that had lent it some money. Pfizer acquired Wyeth’s outstanding equity in transaction of cash and stock. The acquisition of Wyeth was accounted using method of acquisition accounting and it required various assets to be acquired and liabilities that were assumed were recorded using the fair value of acquisition. The companies adjusted to their preferred estimates after facts show that there is a need for reform and this can be helpful in avoiding most of the challenges (Bhagwati, 2004).

Special issues related to multinational acquisition

Pfizer and Wyeth started operating jointly as NYSE and WYE on October 2009. Wyeth was not put under liquidation process since its case was to merge with Pfizer but most all its creditors were paid all their liabilities. Its workers were compensated and majority of them were given jobs at the new Pfizer Inc. reorganization of Pfizer Company limited was through use of income approach which resulted to identifying the fair value of intangible assets. In insolvency all incurred liabilities were exempted and principles were measured on fair value that could account for all assets of the business combinations. This was determined by forecasting the net cash flows of all the company assets and presenting the value on a discount rate that is able to reflect on any available risk factors that may be connected to cash flow. The determination of any available discounts as well as premiums on ownership rights as well as business ownership forms between the transactions of guideline companies.

Goodwill

The company also resulted to implied fair value of goodwill that was determined by both companies estimating their fair value. The amount of goodwill created was adequate for the business combination because cash flow was discounted and estimated on terminal value and discounted to the present value. To effectively estimate the value of the goodwill, the market approach was used and this helped in comparing the business segment with other companies that had their securities traded in U.S public markets. In the cases of diversified businesses, Pfizer used income approach whereby the cash flow discounted was estimated on terminal value and discounted to the present value. This resulted to some of the estimates of the goodwill estimation process be based on comparison to guideline firms. Goodwill is determined by preparation of estimated consolidated balance sheets and these results to evaluation and recovery of all assets. In preparing the financial statements, another challenge is on determining the estimations of the book value and reported liabilities. These liabilities may include taxes payable and contingency impacts. The company came up with resolution of accounting for all the implied book value and other valuable assets that had been accounted for (Bhagwati, 2004).

A financial statement for consolidation of subsidiaries on the date of acquisition between Pfizer Inc and Wyeth

2009

$ 2008

$ 2007

Revenues 50,009 48,296 48418

Cost of sales 8,888 8112 11239

% of Revenues 17.8 16.8 23.2

Selling and administrative expenses 14,875 14537 15626

% of Revenues 29.7 30.1 32.3

R& D expenses 7845 7945 8089

% of revenue 15.7 16.5 16.7

Amortization of intangible assets 2877 2668 3128

% of revenue 5.8 5.5 6.5

Acquisition related charges 68 633 283

% of revenue 0.1 1.3 0.6

Restructuring charges 4337 2675 2534

% of revenue 8.7 5.5 5.2

Other (income) deductions- net 292 2032 (1759)

Income from operations before tax 10827 9694 9278

% of revenue 21.7 20.1 19.2

Provision for taxes on income 2197 1645 1023

Effective tax rate 20.3 17.0 11

Discontinued operations- net of tax 14 78 (69)

Less: net income to non controlled interests 9 23 42

Net income attributable to Pfizer Inc 8635 8104 8144

% of revenue 17.3 16.8 16.8

The form of acquisition

The form of the acquisition is absorption of one company by the other, Pfizer and Wyeth. Pfizer being the acquirer absorbed Wyeth retained its name and identity and it acquired all the assets and liabilities of the acquired firm, in this case Wyeth thereby absorbing the acquired firm

Analysis of special issues related to Business Consolidation

Insolvency during Liquidation

The law of insolvency aims at creditors right protections, wile at the same time safeguarding the customers and shareholders of a company interests. Insolvency law therefore is a very special aspect, in that it helps instill discipline and honesty in managing financial matters during consolidation process. It also provide orderly exit of inefficient businesses from the market (Bhagwati, 2004).

During acquisition agreement must clearly indicate, date, place, major agenda of the new company’s shareholder first meeting subsequent to a consolidation. During this first meeting, the charter of the consolidated company shall be adopted by the shareholders, and the board of directors elected.

The commissioner shall, hence forth examine whether there is a violation of the company on its charter, or the state law or is conducting an illegal business for approval, the commissioner will also ensure that the controlling officers of the company submits its books and papers to the inspector of the commissioner and be examined on his concerns, business activities after which the commissioner will either take possession of its property and pronounce its certificate of authorization as null and void

On taking possession of the property and business, commissioner has the mandate to collect its money due to it and those other acts aimed at the conservation of its assets and business, and to liquidate the business affairs thereof, if it cannot safely resume business accordingly as presumed by the commissioner as hereinafter provided.

Moreover, the commissioner shall henceforth give notice of that fact to any and all other corporations, associations, partnerships, and individuals holding, any of its assets, but this knowledge will not grant them a lien or charge for any payment, advance, or clearance thereafter made, or liability thereafter incurred against any of the business assets the commission has taken possession of (Bhagwati, 2004). But the commissioner may at some time grant consent to the resumption of the business upon satisfaction of certain conditions as approved by him.

Consolidation during Liquidation

It is a requirement that any business on liquidation may, with the consent of the commissioner, consolidate with any other company or business, on fulfilling such terms and conditions as authorized by their boards of directors respective to them and with the, consent of a majority of the stockholders, and may transfer to such business or company its entire assets, subject to its existing liabilities. Reorganization during Liquidation

The commissioner, with an aim of restoring the solvency of any company he is taking charge of pursuant to the company law approve the reorganization plan entered into by the shareholders of a company and its unsecured creditors, following which, the company reorganizes. This represent 90 percent of the amount as shareholders and unsecured creditors claim of the company and in such events, both the shareholders and the unsecured creditors are held responsible subject to the same agreement and to the same extent and the same effects as if they had joined in the execution thereof. Their claims shall also be treated in the same manner as if they had joined in the plan to reorganize the company in the event of the company restoration to insolvency or in the execution of the articles.

Change of ownership during Liquidation

During liquidation, a certificate showing a change of name of the business or merger is recorded by the relevant authorities, although not constituting a change in legal entity they are proper link in the chain of title.

Key differences between IFRS and U.S. GAAP

U.S. GAAP recognizes acquired intangible assets at a fair value, IFRS, on the other hand only recognizes the acquired intangible asset at a fair value should they have a future economic benefit and measured reliability. In accounting for inventory, IFRS allows for the use of FIFO while U.S. GAAP employs the use of either LIFO or FIFO in estimating inventories.

When inventory has been written down, IFRS allows for future reversal in any case a designed criterion is not met, while U.S. GAAP prohibits any reversal of inventory once they have been written down. These differences for example, employment of a single inventory costing method could lead to increased comparability removing the need for adjustment of LIFO inventories by analysts thereby increasing profitability of the firm.

Similarities between IFRS and U.S. GAAP

Both IFRS and U.S. GAAP records accounting estimates in the income statement in the current and the future periods. Both of them acknowledges the use of a purchase method as the only method of accounting during business combination. Both of them employ equity method and show share of post tax results in presenting associate results. In both of them require the disclosure of detailed information concerning the assets, liabilities, revenues and profit and loss of the associates.

References

Bhagwati, J., (2004). In Defense of Globalization. Oxford: O U P.